NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY
2010
4th-10th…Wet
weather continued to fall across the West on Monday as a strong cold front
trekked through the western third of the nation. Moisture from the Pacific and
energy associated with this front continued to spark rain showers, periodic
heavy rainfall, snow, and a few rumbles of thunder from the Pacific Northwest
through southern California. Rain showers changed into snow as the front lifted
across the colder terrain of the inland mountains of California and the Northern
Intermountain West. Additional precipitation spread across the Great Basin and
was accompanied by gusty winds. This wintry weather combo created hazardous
travel conditions with slick roads and lowered visibilities. Winter Storm
Warnings and Advisories remained in effect for most of the Intermountain West,
while the Central Great Basin and the Southwest remained under Wind Advisories
and High Wind Watches. To the east, another patch of active weather developed
across the nation's mid-section as a warm front stretched across the Central
Plains into the Mid-Mississippi Valley. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico spread
northward and interacted with this front to produce scattered rain showers and
thunderstorms across areas of the Midwest. The strongest concentration of stormy
weather occurred from northeastern Kansas to southern Iowa and across the
central region of western Illinois. Areas of northeastern Kansas, southeastern
Nebraska, northwestern Missouri, and southern Iowa experienced severe
thunderstorm activity through the afternoon with damaging winds and quarter to
golf ball sized hail (1.00 to 1.75 inches). Meanwhile, the leading edge of the
aforementioned frontal boundary extended through the Ohio Valley into Lower
Great Lakes and triggered areas of light rain showers across the southern Ohio
Valley and the Northeast. Elsewhere, high pressure produced fair weather
activity with warm temperatures from the Southern Plains through the Southeast
and across the Mid-Atlantic.
Friday
was a transition day throughout the country as only one major active weather
system was noticed. This feature was a cold front that raced through the eastern
seaboard in the morning and out into the Atlantic Ocean. This front contained a
significant amount of moisture that produced areas of heavy rain and
thunderstorms along the eastern seaboard. The associated thunderstorms were
severe in nature but did produced areas of very heavy rain in the early morning
in the Carolinas.
By the
afternoon, the associated rain was contained to northern New England as the
southern edge of the cold front had moved into the Atlantic Ocean. This
precipitation represented the only notable precipitation throughout the country
by the afternoon. A high pressure system along the Gulf Coast stretched
northward and provided dry conditions from Texas through the Upper Midwest and
Plains. A weak cold front continued moving through the Rockies, but was lacking
any moisture needed to produce precipitation. The West remained dry and mild.
The
Northeast rose into the 40s and 50s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the
60s and 70s. The Upper Midwest rose into the 40s and 50s, while the Northern
Plains saw temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The Northwest rose into the 40s and
50s.
11th-17th…The
West Coast had wet weather on Monday, as another Pacific storm pushed ample
moisture onshore. A strong low pressure system created a cold front which kicked
up periods of heavy rain over northern California and the Pacific Northwest. As
the front pasted, the low pressure system moved onshore and triggered widespread
scattered showers over most of the West Coast, with light snow at higher
elevations of the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascades. Snowfall totals ranged
between 1-3 inches, while most lower elevations saw between a quarter and a half
of an inch of rain. San Francisco, California reported 0.53 inches of rain,
while Los Angeles, California reported 0.66 inches. Meanwhile in the Plains, the
system in the West created a warm front that stretched over the Dakotas and into
the Upper Midwest. This triggered scattered showers and thunderstorms, some of
which turned severe. Quarter size hail was reported in Frederick, South Dakota,
but hail in Artas, South Dakota started as pea size and increased t golf ball
size. Strong winds were also associated with this system. Bismark, North Dakota
reported 31 mph sustained winds with gusts up to 37 mph. Just to the east in the
Upper Midwest, heavy rain and thunderstorms developed Monday morning. In Harris,
Iowa, 0.32 inches of rain was reported with strong wind gusts up to 30 mph. Hail
was reported in Quimby, Iowa. In the South, a minor low pressure system
developed over northern Mexico and spun over the Texas and Mexico border. Flow
around this system picked up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and spread
moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms onshore. Severe weather has not yet
been reported, but 0.65 inches of rain fell over Sarita, Texas. Further east, a
ridge of high pressure hovered over the East Coast and brought another sunny and
mild weather day. However, these clear skies overnight allowed for overnight
lows to dip to near-freezing in the Northeast. Daytime highs remained in the 50s
and 60s in the North, while the Southeast reached into the 80s. Dry conditions
in the South allowed for fire threats to increase over Georgia, Alabama, and
Florida.
Drier
weather activity returned to most of the Northwest and the Northern Plains on
Wednesday as a low pressure system formerly over the Northern High Plains lifted
into southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Lingering moisture and energy from this
system continued to spark a few patches of light rain and snow showers in
portions of Montana through the afternoon. Strong southwesterly winds associated
with the system ushered dryer and milder air into the Northern Plains. Low
relative humidity levels and windy conditions raised grassland fire danger
concerns across the Dakotas. Meanwhile, a frontal boundary associated with the
aforementioned storm became stretched across the Upper Mississippi Valley and
extended through the Central Plains into eastern New Mexico by the afternoon.
Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico interacted with energy along this front to
produce areas of scattered rain showers just east of the boundary, primarily
across Minnesota. The most unsettling weather activity developed across western
Texas with scattered rainfall and isolated thunderstorms. Persistent rainfall
and periods of heavy rainfall across southwestern Texas created increased risks
of local flooding. To the East, clearer skies and mild to warm temperatures
remained over most of the eastern half of the nation on Wednesday due to a
dominant high pressure system. A combination of warm and dry conditions with
breezy winds raise fire danger concerns across northern Alabama and western
Florida. Near the coast, onshore flow associated with the system triggered
increased cloud coverage and cooler temperatures across portions of North
Carolina and Virginia. Finally, out West, cloudy skies with embedded showers
moved into the northern tier of California as an offshore wave of low pressure
prepared to lift into Oregon. The rest of the West experienced fairer weather
activity with slightly milder temperatures than yesterday.
The
main weather producer in the country on Friday was a long cold front that
initially stretched from the Central Plains through the Upper Midwest before
gradually moving east and southeastward. The tail end of the front provided
heavy rain to northern Texas and Oklahoma. The precipitation along the northern
edge of the front was more scattered in nature as deep moisture produced
thunderstorms in the Ohio Valley and into New England. Some of these
thunderstorms were possibly severe in nature as there were some reports of wind
damage in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. In the afternoon, rain moved
into the colder air over New England. A high pressure system sank southward into
the Northern Plains and kept conditions dry in the Northern Rockies and Northern
Plains. The West remained dry as well in advance of a major pattern change that
will move into the area late in the weekend. The warmest weather was in the
Southeast as the region warmed into the 80s and 90s. The Northwest saw a range
of temperatures from the 40s to the 70s, while the Northern Plains saw
temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The Northwest rose into the 60s and 70s.
18th-24th…The
East Coast saw a end to wet weather on Monday, but the Southern and Northwest
saw scattered showers. A large low pressure system that hovered over the
Northeastern US finally shoved offshore and into the Atlantic Ocean early on
Monday. This allowed for diminishing showers over New England, while a few
scattered showers persisted in the extreme Northeast. In South Lagrange, Maine,
only 0.03 inches of rain have been reported. To the south, a small trough of low
pressure moved eastward from Texas into the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Flow
around this system picked up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and brought warm
and humid air onshore. These conditions kicked up scattered showers and
thunderstorms, none of which have turned severe. A front extended eastward from
this system and stretched over Florida, which allowed for cloudy skies with a
few scattered showers. In the West, a strong low pressure system in the Pacific
Ocean approached the West Coast and pushed a cold front onshore. Because this
system had obtained ample moisture before it moved onshore, it has spread
scattered showers over the Pacific Northwest and northern California. Highs
remained in the 50s and 60s across most of the coast with increasingly cloudy
skies. In the center of the nation, mild weather on Monday as high pressure
built over the Plains and Great Lakes. The North saw plenty of sunshine with
highs in the 60s. The Southwest however, saw a few scattered showers as an upper
level trough moved through Arizona and New Mexico. No Significant rainfall has
been reported.
The
quiet severe weather season was abruptly interrupted on Friday as a strong storm
moved out of the Rockies and brought the threat of severe weather to parts of
the country. The same cold front that provided severe weather, including
thunderstorms and tornadoes, to the western plains on Thursday raced through the
Plains toward the Mississippi Valley on Friday. It pulled a tremendous amount of
moisture into the Lower Mississippi Valley and instigated heavy rain and
thunderstorms in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi in the afternoon. These
thunderstorms were capable of becoming severe, thus Tornado Watches were posted
for this area. Farther to the north, the warm front associated with the storm
produced widespread rain in the Upper Mississippi Valley and into the Northern
Plains, while a mixture of rain and snow continued to fall in the Central
Rockies. Thunderstorms in Nebraska also instigated Tornado Watches. The threat
for tornadoes will persist into the evening, with the biggest threat in the
Lower Mississippi Valley. Residents should monitor local weather conditions and
be prepared for severe weather.
The
Northeast rose into the 50s and 60s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the
70s and 80s. The Northern Plains rose into the 60s and 70s. The Northwest rose
into the 50s and 60s.
The
severe weather season continued in a big way on Saturday. A major storm moved
through the Plains and into the Mississippi Valley, providing active weather for
many areas of the country. The cold front associated with the storm swept into
the Mississippi Valley and pulled a tremendous amount of moisture northward from
the Gulf of Mexico. This moisture provided widespread rain, strong
thunderstorms, and numerous tornadoes throughout the Southeast and into the
Middle Mississippi Valley. Reported tornadoes throughout Mississippi and
northeast Louisiana caused downed trees and structural damage to buildings.
Strong thunderstorms also produced damaging wind in a wider area. One tornado
was also reported in northern Missouri as deep moisture produced widespread
thunderstorms in that state as well. Severe weather is likely to continue for
much of the rest of the day as the storm moves east. Strong thunderstorms rolled
through the Tennessee Valley and Tornado Watches were posted from the central
Gulf Coast through southern Illinois and southern Indiana.
The
West was a stark contrast to this active weather as dry conditions were reported
west of the Rockies. The Northeast rose into the 60s and 70s, while the
Southeast saw temperatures in the 70s and 80s. The Northern Plains rose into the
60s, while the Northwest saw temperatures in the 40s and 50s.
25th-30th…Active
weather continued in the East on Monday as a potent storm system from this past
weekend trekked toward the Atlantic Ocean. Strong winds wrapped around the
system, while numerous showers and thunderstorms persisted from the eastern Ohio
Valley to the northern Mid-Atlantic and southern New England. Meanwhile,
stronger weather activity developed ahead of the tail of an associated cold
front that stretched through the Carolinas and across the Florida Peninsula.
Rainy and stormy weather over southern Florida began to dry out during the
afternoon as storms moved into the nearby Atlantic waters. Behind active weather
in the East, a frontal boundary draped across the Plains and the Upper and
Mid-Mississippi Valleys sparked areas of scattered showers across the Dakotas,
Iowa, and northern Oklahoma. In the West, clouds began to push into the Pacific
Northwest as a Pacific cold front approached the Coast. Cooler temperatures
accompanied increasing clouds through the afternoon and put an end to the
warming trend across the Pacific Northwest and California. The rest of the West
remained under the influence of high pressure with mostly sunny skies and warm
temperatures.
Wet
and snowy weather persisted over the Western half of the country on Wednesday. A
low pressure system continued to move over the West Coast and into the Rocky
Mountains. This system created a cold front that swept over the Central and
Southern Rockies and produced some strong winds. Redvale, Colorado reported 35
mph sustained winds with gusts up to 46 mph. Fire threats increased over the
Southwest due to hot and dry conditions. Meanwhile, the low pressure system
brought some late-season snow to high elevations of the Northern Rockies,
Intermountain West, and Great Basin. Parts of Utah reported 2-4 inches of new
snow, while the Cascades and Sierra Nevadas saw 1-2 inches. The Northern Rockies
also saw some strong winds at high mountain passes. Great Falls, Montana
reported gusts up to 43 mph and only an inch of new snow. Lower elevations of
the West Coast saw light and scattered rainfall throughout the day. Five Cent,
California reported 0.19 inches of rain. Most of the Western US remained in the
40s and 50s on Wednesday. In the East, a slow moving low pressure system pushed
offshore and into the Atlantic Ocean. This system allowed for some light and
scattered showers to persist over the extreme Northeast. A few light flurries
fell at higher elevations of Vermont and New Hampshire. As high pressure built
in from the Plains and Mississippi Valley, cool air was pushed in from Canada
and the Great Lakes. This allowed for overnight lows to dip to near freezing
temperatures over most of the Midwest, Ohio River Valley, and New England.
However, this ridge of high pressure brought plenty of sunshine and allowed for
daytime highs to reach into the 60s and 70s.
Another strong cold front moved through the Plains toward the Mississippi Valley
Friday, renewing severe weather in the area. A tremendous amount of moisture
streamed ahead of the front, producing widespread heavy rain and intense
thunderstorms. Some of these thunderstorms had the possibility of becoming
severe as large hail and damaging winds were produced from eastern Kansas
through southern Minnesota. Tornado Watches were posted for a large swath of the
country from northeast Texas through southern Wisconsin in anticipation of
tornadic development. The front and associated thunderstorms also produced
strong winds in the Middle Mississippi Valley, while the downpour of rains
instigated flooding concerns in the same area. The threat of severe weather was
expected to continue into the evening as the storm moves eastward. Meanwhile,
scattered showers and thunderstorms developed over Florida, and scattered late
season snow showers were reported in the Rockies. The West Coast remained dry
and mild as a high pressure system continued to build over the region. The
Northeast rose into the 70s and 80s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the
80s. The Southern Plains rose into the 80s and 90s, while the Rockies saw
temperatures in the 30s and 40s. The Southwest rose into the 60s and 70s.
Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com
