Thanksgiving travel delays

Overall, it looks like Mother Nature will cooperate with this year's travel home for Thanksgiving!

Two areas of unsettled weather over the next few days are outlined on the map below. Heavy rain will extend from the lower Mississippi River Valley to the Ohio River Valley.

Approaching Thanksgiving, a new storm will move into the Pacific Northwest with wind, rain and mountain snow spreading down the west coast.

Here is a look at the 5-day accumulated precipitation forecast for the US.

First sub-zero temps of the year

Check out this pocket of arctic air spilling into the high plains this weekend. The first widespread pool of air temperatures below zero!

Winter will be here soon!!

Deadly day for tornadoes

2011 has been a record breaking year for tornadoes, but it has been several weeks since they have been in the news ... until this week.

An outbreak of tornadoes over the past few days, mostly in the south, but some as far north as central Illinois and western New York, have caused all kinds of damage.

The worst of the storms struck yesterday across the deep south, killing at least 6 and injuring several others.

Here is a map of yesterday's severe weather reports.

100 MPH Winds Hit Colorado

Hold onto your hats was an understatement late Saturday and early Sunday across Grand, Park, Summit, Larimer and Clear Creek Counties.

Check out these wind gusts.

0200 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 S FRISCO              39.51N 106.10W

11/13/2011  M115 MPH         SUMMIT             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0200 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW LOVELAND PASS     39.64N 105.89W

11/13/2011  M100 MPH         SUMMIT             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

1015 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WSW BRECKENRIDGE      39.50N 106.08W

11/12/2011  M115 MPH         SUMMIT             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0945 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST KENOSHA PASS            39.41N 105.76W

11/12/2011  M101 MPH         PARK               CO   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0930 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 6 NNW BERTHOUD PASS     39.88N 105.82W

11/12/2011  M109 MPH         GRAND              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0917 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST SSE BERTHOUD PASS       39.80N 105.78W

11/12/2011  M113 MPH         CLEAR CREEK        CO   AWOS

            SUSTAINED WINDS 86 MPH. MINES PEAK SUMMIT 12500 FEET.

0857 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST SSE BERTHOUD PASS       39.79N 105.77W

11/12/2011  M112 MPH         CLEAR CREEK        CO   AWOS

            SUSTAINED WINDS 84 MPH. MINES PEAK SUMMIT 12500 FEET.

 It was also extremely windy in portions of Boulder, Larimer and Gilpin Counties where winds topped 80 mph!

Fall Severe Weather Season

It's November, and that means the second peak for severe weather season is here.  Now the good news is that it's typically not as big of a peak as we see in the spring.  But the bad news, is we can see some dangerous storms, including killer tornadoes.

A strong storm is going to pull out of the southern Rockies on Monday and set the stage for a potential severe weather outbreak across southern Kansas, much of Oklahoma and north Texas.

This stormy weather will move east into the day on Tuesday, bringing unsettled weather to the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas, stretching down into Louisiana and east Texas.

Historic snow hits New England

It's snowing from the nation's capital up into northern New England.  Much like the snow that came through Denver ealier this week, this is not good news, since the trees are still in full leaf.

The snow adds a lot of weight to the trees, and there will undoubtedly be numerous trees and limbs down.

New York's Central Park has recorded just under two inches of snow so far, breaking a record.  The city that never sleeps has never seen more than an inch of snow in October.

In fact, there are only two measurable snowfalls on record for New York.  One was 0.5" on October 21, 1952.  The other was 0.8" on October 30, 1925.

Soaker across east-central Florida

If you live in Brevard County, Florida (and surrounding areas) get ready for a soaker over the next few hours.  Rainfall rates in excess of two inches per hour are possible.

This is not a tropical storm, although the National Hurricane Center is monitoring to see if it further organizes and gains tropical characteristics.

Winds are gusting to 50 mph along some portions of Florida's Atlantic Coast.

This after some parts of the region have already seen anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of rain since Friday morning.

It was a true weekend soaker!

This map for Brevard County precipitation reports is for the period 7am Friday to 7am Saturday, and is courtesy of the CoCoRaHS network!

Finally some rain for Texas

Heavy rain continues to fall over portions of Texas, but after months of severe drought, the rain is causing some flooding concerns.

Here is the 24-hour rainfall forecast from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center.

Heavy rain also continues to fall over Florida. The cause is a tropical disturbance lingering across the region.

First western winter storm

Well here is comes, the first big winter storm of the season is moving across the west. Snow has spread across the mountains of California, Utah, and now into southwest Colorado.

The first chain laws of the season were posted early this morning for Red Mountain Pass on US 550, just outside of Durango.

Ahead of the storm, it will be extremely windy, along and east of the Rockies.

There is even going to be a small severe weather outbreak over the next few days across the high plains.

The fall storms are exciting! Very dramatic as we make that seasonal transition.

Finally a western weather change

It has been weeks of nice, warm and dry weather across the western US, but that is all changing as we speak. (or type shall I say)

A large trough of low pressure moving in off the Pacific will bring the first significant snow to many of the western mountain chains, especially across California, Utah and Colorado.  Many of these locations are under a winter storm watch already.

In fact, the Sierras of California are under a winter storm warning.

Along with the wetter weather comes a huge cool down.

Out ahead of the storm, red flag warnings are in effect across a good portion of the central plains (east of the Rockies) where strong southerly winds will really crank up the fire danger.

Then as the storm approches over the weekend, we could even see some severe weather develop, much like we do in the spring weather scenarios.

It will be an exciting week to watch the weather!  The transition to fall is officially underway!!

Unusual Waterspout Outbreak

Check this out, so cool!

A cold early season storm system moving over the relatively warm waters of Lake Michigan combined to produce an unusual phenomena.

A series of waterspouts developed along a line of thunderstorms over Lake Michigan, stretching from near Milwaukee down to Chicago.

See this great write up from the Milwaukee NWS office.  Click here to read!

High-altitude tornadoes

This is something you don't hear of everyday, a high-altitude tornado!

While they don't happen often, they do occur.  Click the link below to read more.

Arizona Tornado

Meanwhile, it's now officially fall, and we are expecting a La Nina weather pattern once again. The tropics remain active, but so far, still nothing is a threat to the immediate US.

Season's first cold storm system

It's a sign of the times!  Chilly weather is moving south from Canada. It will spill down the east side of the Rockies over the next few days.

Numerous freeze watches and warnings have already been posted across the upper midwest states.

The first winter weather advisories of the year have been issued across Colorado.  They go into effect for the central mountains starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday.  Some locations above 10,000 feet could see up to six inches of snow!

Denver is expecting a chilly rain with temperatures tumbling into the 40s by late Wednesday.

Lee, Maria may soon form in tropics

Two areas of pretty promising development over the next few days ... the most organized one is in the Gulf of Mexico .. and could become Tropical Storm Lee over the weekend.

In the central Atlantic, north of Bermuda, forecasters are tracking an area of disturbed weather that could be named Maria if it materialized.

A sign that fall is ahead

It's still very hot ... and no relief is in sight for some .... but read the following advisory out of Montana ... it is a sure sign of hope .. that the annual change of seasons is not too far away.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY


FOR EARLY SEASON SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ON LOGAN PASS AND TRAILS IN

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ABOVE 6500 FEET...



A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EARLY SEASON SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ON

LOGAN PASS AND TRAILS IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ABOVE 6500 FEET

REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MDT TODAY.



* IMPACTS/TIMING: SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO ABOUT 6500 FEET TODAY

BRINGING LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE HIGHER TERRAIN IN

GLACIER PARK...INCLUDING OVER LOGAN PASS. MANY OF THE BACK

COUNTRY TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE PARK COULD BE IMPACTED BY LIGHT

SNOW. PERSONS PLANNING TRAVEL OVER LOGAN PASS OR IN GLACIER

NATIONAL PARK WILL WANT TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY.



* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 3 INCHES BY LATE THIS MORNING.



PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...



A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW

WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW

COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE

DRIVING.