Friday, January 29, 2010

Rough Ride Today Along I-40 Corridor

Winter storm warnings stretch for over 1,000 miles of the I-40 corridor - and covers entire states, such as Tennessee!

Ice has accumulated up to a half-inch in the Tulsa, OK vicinity and across northwest Arkansas. Now snow is falling on top of the ice.

Heavy rain is falling south of the freezing line across portions of central Texas, Louisiana and the deep south.

Even portions of southeast Virginia, in the Norfolf area, may see anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of snow from this winter storm.

Elsewhere across the nation it is fairly quiet with the exception of bitter cold air locked over the upper midwest.


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Winter Storm Begins

Well Denver sits on the extreme northern fringe of the latest winter storm that will hit portions of the southern plains and mid-south very hard.

Light snow began falling here in the Denver area about 9 pm. We are only expecting a few inches - just enough to slow travel in the morning.

Meanwhile, those few inches will stop life for a day or two across portions of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee - esp. since it will fall ontop of a layer of ice.

Areas in east-central Oklahoma are expecting to be hit hard with ice - possibly taking out power for up to a week in rural areas.

Let's hope not. I grew up in Arkansas and have lived through several ice storms. You can get around on snow if you are cautious, but ice just literally freezes everything up! You can't even walk on it when you do the penguin walk!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Old Man Winter Won't Go Away

Although I have no official data to back up the following statement, it sure does seem like this has been a very long and hard winter, especially for areas of the country that aren't as used to pro-longed cold and frozen precipitation.

Check out the map below - more cold is in store for a large part of the nation's center, and another period of wet weather is on the way to the south.

For the mid south, there will be a band of frozen precipitation to round out the work week.The area of greatest concern is along Interstate 40, from Oklahoma to North Carolina, including all of Arkansas and Tennessee.


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Possible Tornado In North Phoenix

Wow - this large, western winter storm just keeps making headlines! There has been a possible tornado near the Desert Ridge Mall in the northeast Phoenix area.

It will be amazing to see the official reports once daylight hits on Friday.

Look at this map of watches, warnings and advisories!!  What a storm!


Stormy Weather Brings Record Low Pressure, Tornadoes, Flooding Rain

I am sure it has happened before, but I honestly don't ever recall seeing a tornado watch for the deserts of Calirfornia and Arizona, including the greater Phoenix area!

There was one tornado reported today near Blythe, along I-10 in extreme southeast California, near the Arizona state line. It blew some semi trailers over.

Outside of the tornado watch area, two weak tornadoes were reported along the coast, northwest of Los Angeles - one in Santa Barbara and one in Ventura.

Strong winds have downed some trees in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, and flooding has been reported along the Salt River in Maricopa County.

The area of low pressure causing the stormy weather has brought a record low barometric pressure reading to several places in northern California and surrounding locations, including Reno.

The pressure fell to 28.94 inches of mercury - breaking the old record of 29.00 inches set on Jan. 27, 1916.

Pressure records were also recorded in Bakersfield, Los Angeles and Fresno  - I am sure there are many more.

The snow has been measured in feet across most mountain locations if California, northern Arizona and southwest Colorado.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Pacific Pounder Brings Rare Tornado

The western US has been whalloped by storms over the past few days - with at least 2 more weather systems on deck.

Tuesday brought 2 rare tornadoes to southern California - with one touchdown reported in the Huntington Beach vicinity. There was some damage but apparently no injuries.

Heavy mountain snow and torrential valley rain along with very strong winds are causing fears of power outages and mudslides from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

There has even been heavy rain in the Phoenix vicinity with most locations seeing anywhere from 3/4" to over 1.00" of rain in the past 24 hours. Up to 3 more inches may fall in a few locations before all is said and done with this series of storms.

In the midwest, Iowa has been hard hit today with freezing rain. Hundreds of schools have been cancelled due to the dangerous driving conditions.

Meanwhile, in the southern Mississippi River Valley today, we have the chance to see some of the first severe thunderstorms of the new year from eastern Texas and Oklahoma, across Arkansas, Louisiana, western Tennessee, Mississippi and western Alabama.


Sunday, January 17, 2010

Winter's Grip, Followed By Thaw, Equals Fog

Widespread fog has gripped much of the nation's center these past few days. Roughly along the Interstate 35 corridor from north of Dallas, through Kansas City and into southern Minnesota.

For several days now, this part of the country has been in the midst of a tight winter grip, with above average snowfall and below average temperatures.

Now, the region is warming up - and as the warm air moves over the cold snow pack and terrain, and it created several mornings with thick, dense fog.

In east-central Kansas, the fog caused a 40-car accident on I-35 that killed at least one and caused dozens of injuries.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Current Weather Hazards

Here are the current weather hazards for the US. Ongoing flooding is possible in the south with more heavy rain expected as we head into the weekend.

Some flooding is also possible in the Great Lakes vicinity on area rivers due to ice jams from the January thaw.

But the main weather stories will turn out west heading into the weekend as some large and powerful storms move on shore with heavy rain and mountain snow, large waves and strong winds.

It is expected to stay extremely cold across northern and central Alaska - not too uncommon for this time of year for that part of the world - but still - potentially colder than normal from Fairbanks northward.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Coldest Of Winter Hits Interior Alaska

THE FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DROPPED BELOW 40 DEGREES BELOW
ZERO FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WINTER. AROUND 7AM THIS MORNING THE
TEMPERATURE AT THE AIRPORT DROPPED BRIEFLY TO 41 DEGREES BELOW
ZERO. THE LAST TIME THE AIRPORT DROPPED BELOW 40 BELOW ZERO WAS
FEBRUARY 4TH 2009.

OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE REGION FELL EVEN LOWER THIS MORNING:

CHICKEN...........................-63
O`BRIEN CREEK AT TAYLOR HWY.......-63
EAGLE.............................-57
CIRCLE HOT SPRINGS................-54
CENTRAL...........................-53
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE............-47
EAST FORT WAINWRIGHT..............-43
GOLDSTREAM VALLEY.................-41
FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...-41

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO WARM SLIGHTLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
DAYS IN FAIRBANKS...BUT WILL REMAIN BELOW NORMAL. THE NORMAL LOW
FOR THE FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TODAY IS 18 BELOW WHILE
THE NORMAL HIGH IS 2 BELOW.

Looking Ahead

Well I started to write more about Florida and the countless records that have been set there over the recent days - but I have to be honest, it's too much for a short blog!

So let's talk about the future.

Very cold temperatures continue to settle over interior Alaska - with air temperatures currently 54 BELOW ZERO in Ft. Yukon and 51 BELOW ZERO in Eagle. It's a little warmer in Fairbanks with 32 BELOW!

That will need to be watched because the bubble of cold air could break away and slide south as we move into the last week of January or first week of February.

In the shorter term, the weather along the west coast looks like it will turn active as we move into the coming weekend. The moisture will be welcomed by most in this part of the world. Afterall, it is the rainy season for our western friends!

Along with the stormy weather will come a lot of wind and waves for the coastline.

The weekend could be somewhat wet and unsettled along the immediate Gulf Coast too. Any precipitation that falls will be rain as temperatures have finally warmed up closer to where they should be this time of year.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Winter's Chill Subsiding

Well after another morning of chill across much of the United States, things are finally about to make a turn for the better.

Say goodbye to the teens and 20s along the Gulf Coast for this go around. Warmer days are indeed ahead!

Last I checked, it was 42 in Key West and 36 in Miami. Tallahassee was 16! That is just amazing.

Another bubble of bitter cold is forming up over portions of interior Alaska today. Temperatures around Fairbanks and vicinity are 30 to 45 below zero.

What we often see happen this time of year is a bubble of bitter cold that sits up there a few weeks, then breaks off and moves down across the lower 48 states for the first few days of February.

We'll have to watch and see if it happens this year!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Wintry Precip Reports From Florida

0715 AM SLEET 3 N DE LAND 29.08N 81.30W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH VOLUSIA FL PUBLIC

MODERATE ACCUMULATION OF ICE PELLETS EVIDENT ON OUTDOOR
FURNITURE...DECK RAILINGS...AND ROOF. EVENT DURATION
APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS


0530 AM SLEET SAN MATEO 29.61N 81.58W
01/09/2010 U0.00 INCH PUTNAM FL EMERGENCY MNGR

THE EMERGENCY MANAGER RECEIVED REPORTS OF A DUSTING OF
SLEET AND SNOW MIXED ON GRASSY AREAS AND CARS FROM SAN
MATEO TO CRESCENT CITY AND BOSTWICK. TIME GIVEN WAS
APPROXIMATE.

0549 AM SLEET OCALA 29.19N 82.13W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH MARION FL LAW ENFORCEMENT

OCALA POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED LIGHT SLEET.

0550 AM SNOW REDDICK 29.37N 82.20W
01/09/2010 E0.0 INCH MARION FL BROADCAST MEDIA

SNOW FLURRIES REPORTED IN REDDICK IN NORTHERN MARION
COUNTY.

0606 AM SNOW OCALA 29.19N 82.13W
01/09/2010 E0.0 INCH MARION FL PUBLIC

SNOW FLURRIES REPORTED IN OCALA.

0615 AM SLEET 4 SW OCALA 29.15N 82.18W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH MARION FL AMATEUR RADIO

HAM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED SLEET ON INTERESTATE 75.
MINIMAL COLLECTION ON THE ROAD.

0615 AM SLEET NE PALM COAST 29.57N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMA RELAYED REPORT OF STEADY SLEET COVERING CAR
WINDSHIELD.

0615 AM SLEET NE PALM COAST 29.57N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMA RELAYED REPORT OF STEADY SLEET COVERING CAR
WINDSHIELD.

0617 AM SLEET PALM COAST 29.57N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL PUBLIC

MOTORIST DRIVING ON I-95 REPORTED SLEET.

0620 AM SLEET FLAGLER BEACH 29.47N 81.13W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL TRAINED SPOTTER

SLEET REPORTED IN FLAGLER BEACH BY SKYWARN SPOTTER.

0624 AM SLEET NE PALM COAST 29.57N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMA RELAYED REPORT OF STEADY SLEET WITH ICE COVERING CAR
WINDSHIELD.

0625 AM SLEET BUNNELL 29.47N 81.26W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMA RELAYED REPORT FROM LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER ON THE
FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY OF STEADY SNOW/SLEET FROM
FAVORETTA TO BUNNELL WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 31. DELAYED
REPORT.

0630 AM SLEET 5 E OCALA 29.19N 82.05W
01/09/2010 U0.00 INCH MARION FL PUBLIC

SLEET AND SNOW MIXTURE WITH A LIGHT COVERING ON CAR.
SLEET WAS REPORTED ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR FROM 530
TO 630 AM.

0639 AM SNOW SW PALM COAST 29.57N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.0 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

SNOW FLURRIES REPORTED SW PALM COAST.

0640 AM SLEET CRESCENT CITY 29.44N 81.52W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH PUTNAM FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMA RELAYED REPORT OF SLEET OCCURRING FOR 30 MINUTES IN
CRESCENT CITY.

0815 AM SLEET OCALA 29.19N 82.13W
01/09/2010 U0.00 INCH MARION FL LAW ENFORCEMENT

LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO AN ICY BRIDGE
ON THE WILLIAMS ROAD OVERPASS OVER I-75. NO INJURIES WERE
REPORTED BUT BRIDGE WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS
MORNING.

0935 AM SNOW FLAGLER BEACH 29.47N 81.13W
01/09/2010 E0.0 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMERGENCY MANAGER REPORTS FLURRIES MIXED WITH RAIN.

0935 AM SLEET 8 S PALM COAST 29.46N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

VERY LIGHT SLEET MIXED WITH RAIN REPORTED 1 MILE WEST OF
INTERSTATE 95.

0936 AM SLEET PALM COAST 29.57N 81.21W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL LAW ENFORCEMENT

AN OFF DUTY OFFICER REPORTED SLEET IN SOUTH CENTRAL PALM
COAST.

0944 AM SLEET 1 NE BUNNELL 29.48N 81.25W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL PUBLIC

SLEET AND SNOW MIX REPORTED IN CYPRESS KNOLL SECTION OF
PALM COAST.


0530 AM SLEET SAN MATEO 29.61N 81.58W
01/09/2010 U0.00 INCH PUTNAM FL EMERGENCY MNGR

THE EMERGENCY MANAGER RECEIVED REPORTS OF A DUSTING OF
SLEET AND SNOW MIXED ON GRASSY AREAS AND CARS FROM SAN
MATEO TO CRESCENT CITY AND BOSTWICK. TIME GIVEN WAS
APPROXIMATE.


0630 AM SLEET 5 E OCALA 29.19N 82.05W
01/09/2010 U0.00 INCH MARION FL PUBLIC

SLEET AND SNOW MIXTURE WITH A LIGHT COVERING ON CAR.
SLEET WAS REPORTED ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR FROM 530
TO 630 AM.

0220 PM SLEET ROCKLEDGE 28.32N 80.73W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

SLEET AND RAIN MIXED FROM 220 PM TO 255 PM. ACCUMULATED
ON CAR AND ROOF OF HOUSE. EXCEEDED 1977 EVENT

0245 PM SLEET 5 W SATELLITE BEACH 28.17N 80.69W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

SLEET PELLETS THE SIZE OF A VERY SMALL PEA REPORTED AT
WINDOVER FARMS IN MELBOURNE

0815 AM SLEET OCALA 29.19N 82.13W
01/09/2010 U0.00 INCH MARION FL LAW ENFORCEMENT

LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO AN ICY BRIDGE
ON THE WILLIAMS ROAD OVERPASS OVER I-75. NO INJURIES WERE
REPORTED BUT BRIDGE WAS CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS
MORNING.

0320 PM SLEET 5 NNE CAMP HOLLY FISH C 28.15N 80.71W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL NWS EMPLOYEE

SLEET REPORTED NEAR LAKE WASHINGTON BY RETIRED NWS
EMPLOYEE

0330 PM SLEET PALM BAY 27.99N 80.66W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

0319 PM SLEET 4 WSW PATRICK AIR FORCE 28.20N 80.67W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

SLEET MIXING IN WITH RAIN AT THE WEST END OF THE PINEDA
CAUSEWAY

0315 PM SLEET 5 WSW PATRICK AIR FORCE 28.19N 80.67W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

SLEET MIXED WITH FLURRIES BRIEFLY HEAVY ENOUGH TO
ACCUMULATE ON PARKED CARS ON PINEDA CROSSING DRIVE IN
MELBOURNE


0310 PM SNOW 3 S COCOA BEACH 28.31N 80.61W
01/09/2010 E0.0 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

SNOW FLURRIES MIXING IN WITH SLEET AND RAIN

0228 PM SLEET TITUSVILLE 28.59N 80.82W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL CO-OP OBSERVER

MODERATE SLEET ACCUMULATING ON WINDSHIELDS, BUT NOT ON
ROAD SURFACES.

0234 PM SLEET PORT SAINT JOHN 28.48N 80.79W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

STICKING ON COLD SURFACES AND GRASSY AREAS. NOT ON
ROADWAYS

0235 PM SLEET ROCKLEDGE 28.32N 80.73W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL PUBLIC

2ND REPORT IN THIS AREA PAST 5 MINUTES

0235 PM SLEET COCOA 28.38N 80.75W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL CO-OP OBSERVER

0235 PM SLEET MELBOURNE 28.08N 80.61W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL NWS EMPLOYEE

WICKHAM AND POST ROAD - VERY LIGHT


0310 PM SLEET 5 WNW INDIALANTIC 28.11N 80.65W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH BREVARD FL NWS EMPLOYEE

SLEET MIXING IN WITH RAIN AT THE NWS OFFICE IN MELBOURNE

0625 AM SLEET BUNNELL 29.47N 81.26W
01/09/2010 E0.00 INCH FLAGLER FL EMERGENCY MNGR

EMA RELAYED REPORT FROM LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER ON THE
FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY OF STEADY SNOW/SLEET FROM
FAVORETTA TO BUNNELL WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 31. DELAYED
REPORT.

Winter Visits Central, South Florida

You don't see weather reports like this too often from the Sunshine State. Almost every reporting station in the state is in the mid to upper 30s with central and south Florida seeing light rain.

Can you believe a few spots are seeing a mix of rain and sleet - maybe even a few snow flakes mixed in too?

Simply amazing - just goes to show you that anything is possible and to never discount anything with Mother Nature.


Here is a news link from a Tampa area television station where viewers are reporting wintry precipitation!

Click here to read more.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Winter Gripping US, UK

Our weather headlines have been so prominent of late that I forgot to mention winter has really got a tight grip on parts of Europe too.

Much of the continent is colder than normal with snow falling in places that don't deal with the white stuff too often, such as in London.

Up to 15 inches of snow on strong north winds is expected to bring traffic to a stop across Germany today.

The continnt usually has a predominantly westerly flow of winds, bringing a somewhat mild breeze off the Atlantic. But of late, the weather pattern has kept north winds blowing cold and wintry weather across that part of the world.

Click here to read more about Europe's winter blast.

Meanwhile, back here in the US, it is so cold in Florida that iguanas are literally freezing in the trees, going into hibernation and falling to the ground. Click here for more.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

2010 Winter Chill

Look at the extent of Old Man Winter's Chill...this isn't a map you see everyday!

Wind chill advisories cover a HUGE chunck of real estate across the center of the nation.

Sub-zero temperatures can be found in several states, with single digits and teens almost all the way to the Gulf Coast!




Lake Effect Snow Storms - Good Info

Great stuff! Ran across this article and wanted to share it with you.

Click here to read about the Lake Effect!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Winter Grips Nation's Center

This is just an amazing map - look at the winter weather watches, advisories and warnings. They stretch essentially from top to bottom across the heartland!

Something you just don't see too often - perhaps once every 10 to 20 years!


Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Near Record Cold Plunges To Florida Keys

Cold weather shelters are open in the Florida Keys this week as overnight lows drop into the 40s.

Key West is expected to dip to around 49 degrees - the all time record low is 41 degrees set in 1981.

Much of Florida, from the burbs of Miami to the Panhandle are under freeze warnings, with some locations in the interior of the peninsula under hard freeze warnings.

A hard freeze means several hours at or below 28-29 degrees - which can be deadly to tender vegetation.

There could even be a stray snow flurry in extreme southeast Georgia on the extreme northern Panhandle of Florida by Friday night if you can believe that!

And for the rest of the country along and east of the Rockies....it is bitter cold with many places in single digits and teens over the next few days. Even some sub-zero weather will be found in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Old Man Winter Grips Lower 48

2010 has began on a frigid note for many in the center part of the nation - complete with snow and single digit or sub-zero temperature readings as far south as central Missouri.

Round 2 is coming by the middle of this week and will reach even further south - with temperatures as cold as 5 below zero possible in the valleys of northern Arkansas.

Teens will be possible in northern Louisiana.

Along with the cold will come a round of snow with several inches possible in the mid and southern Mississippi River valley - in places like Little Rock and Memphis.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Little Rock are saying this could be the coldest arctic outbreak in over a decade!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Lake Effect Snow Machine In Full Operation

Favored areas downwind of the Great Lakes could see 1 to 3 feet of snow over the next 5 days. If you live in these areas get your shovels and snow blowers ready for duty!

Meanwhile, it is just plain COLD across the center of the nation with most of Iowa, Minnesota, northern Missouri, eastern Nebraska, the eastern Dakotas, and portions of western Wisconsin and upper Michigan at or below zero!

That cold air is spilling south and will bring a chance of snow to cities like Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville and Atlanta.