NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY
JANUARY 2010
1st-9th…New
England saw another snowy day on Sunday, as a strong low pressure system
lingered off the East Coast. The system created a counter clockwise flow that
picked up moisture from the Great Lakes and pour cold and moist air over New
England. This will allow for lake-effect snowfall over the eastern shores of the
Great Lakes. Buffalo, New York reported snowfall rates of 2 inches per hour,
with total accumulation ranging between 8-10 inches. Elsewhere over the
Northeast, snowfall accumulation remained less than 3 inches from Pennsylvania
to Maine. Highs over the lower the region ranged from the upper teens near the
Great Lakes to the lower 30s in New England. Behind this system in the Central
and Southern US saw sunny, cold, and blustery weather as high pressure built in
from Canada. This allowed for below freezing overnight lows as far south as the
Gulf of Mexico, with daytime highs in the 40s. The Northern Plains remained
under mostly sunny skies with highs in the single digits, while the Southern
Plains only reached into the 40s. Meanwhile out West, a trough of low pressure
spun off from a low pressure system in the Pacific Ocean and approached the West
Coast. This pushed cool and cloudy conditions over the Pacific Northwest, with
most of California under cool and sunny conditions with highs in the 40s.
Cold
temperatures gripped the East on Monday as energy from a large and complex
exiting low pressure system reached into the nation. Strong flow associated with
the system ushered Arctic air from the North into the eastern half of the
nation, dropping daytime temperatures to well below seasonal averages. This flux
of cold air across the warm northern lakes also lent a hand in producing areas
of lake-effect snowfall throughout portions of the Upper and Lower Great Lakes,
the Ohio Valley, and New England. Additional pockets of light snowfall developed
across the Eastern Valleys and central Mississippi. Much of the Southeast
remained under Freeze and Hard Freeze Warnings due to additional waves of Arctic
air forecast to bring another dose of frigid early morning and nighttime
temperatures. Out West, an active system in the eastern Pacific brought cloudy
skies and wintry precipitation to areas of the Northwest on Monday. A trough of
low pressure located just off the Pacific Northwest Coast swung a potent weather
disturbance with strong winds, fog, significant amounts of rain, and mountain
snow into the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Intermountain West through the
afternoon. Energy from this system reached across the Rockies and sparked
pockets of light snowfall across the Northern Rockies and the Northern High
Plains. Meanwhile, variable cloud coverage with areas of fog covered portions of
California, the Central Great Basin, and the Southwest as high pressure held
these regions under predominantly dry weather conditions.
A
dynamic winter storm system brought hazardous wintry weather and a surge of
cold, Arctic air into the Central US on Wednesday. Significant amounts of
snowfall blanketed areas from the Northern and Central High Plains through the
eastern portions of the Ohio Valley, while blustery, north winds reduced
visibilities with periods of blowing and drifting snow. Blizzard conditions
developed in central South Dakota through the afternoon and produced snow totals
of up to 6 to 8 inches. Dangerous weather activity in the Central US caused
regions from the Northern High Plains through the Ozarks and Eastern Valleys to
remain under Winter Weather Advisories and/or Winter Storm Warnings. Meanwhile,
the surge of cold, Arctic air gripped the eastern half of the nation and kept
most of the region under frigid temperatures, bitterly cold wind chills, and
numerous Wind Chill and Freeze Advisories/Warnings. In the West, quieter weather
crept back into the Northwest as a ridge of high pressure began to build over
the Pacific Northwest. This transition allowed cooler air to filter into the
region, while offshore flow began to dry out areas the Pacific Northwest coast.
A few light showers persisted in the southwestern corner of Oregon and northern
California. The rest of the West experienced dry weather conditions as high
pressure remained the dominant weather feature of the region.
The
extreme cold air outbreak in the East continued on Friday and will spread
eastward through the weekend. The precipitation associated with a low pressure
system that moved through the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast was a secondary
story to the cold air, but several inches of snow fell in various parts of the
East. Southern New England experienced the heaviest snowfall, but parts of the
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast also observed snowfall. The cold front associated
with the storm pressed off the eastern seaboard in the afternoon, leaving the
East frigid and icy.
The
record-setting Arctic outbreak brought dangerously low wind chills to the Plains
and Southeast as cold air combined with a stiff northwesterly breeze. Wind
chills well below zero were common in these areas and will remain into the
weekend. Multiple minimum temperature records were broken, including in Arkansas
where a minimum of 8 degrees broke a record that was set back in 1909. The cold
air froze many roads and highways, making traveling difficult and causing
accidents. In Florida, the frigid weather brought an interesting mix of
long-lasting freezing temperatures and dry conditions. Thus, Hard Freeze
Warnings were posted alongside Red Flag Warnings that warned of dangerous fire
conditions due to low humidity. The West was spared the truly cold air, but rain
and some high elevation snow pushed onto the West Coast late in the morning and
into the afternoon. The Northern Plains struggled to rise above 0 degrees as
many towns and cities were well below zero degrees throughout the afternoon. The
Northeast rose into the 10s, 20s, and some 30s, while the Southeast continued
its deep freeze with temperatures in the 20s and 30s. The Southern Plains were
also frigid as temperatures could only manage to rise into the 20s and 30s. The
Northwest rose into the 30s and 40s.
10th-16th…Scattered
flurries persisted in the Northeast again on Monday, while frozen rain hit the
Pacific Northwest. A low pressure system that brought much snow over the Great
Lakes and Northeast has greatly weakened as it has hovered over the same area
for a few days now. Flow around this system continued to pick up moisture from
the Great Lakes and has triggered another day of light snow. Snowfall has
diminished to less than a half of an inch in most areas. Also, the weaker system
has not kicked up any lake effect snow over the eastern Great Lakes.
Temperatures in the Northeast and Great Lakes reached into the mid-20s on
Monday. Meanwhile, a low pressure system that dipped into the Great Lakes from
Canada allowed for another trigger for precipitation over the region. Thus,
snowfall stretched into the Ohio River Valley with totals near an inch.
Out
West, a low pressure system lingered off the West Coast and pushed a cold front
over the Pacific Northwest. This brought ample moisture and cold air onshore.
Thus, a sloppy combination of frozen rain, snow, and sleet hit Washington and
Oregon. Precipitation totals remained less than an inch, with 0.83 inches of
rain reported in Matlock, Washington. Elsewhere, high pressure continued to
dominate the weather over the Southern US and the Plains. This brought mostly
sunny skies with cool conditions. The Southeast saw overnight lows drop well
below freezing into the 20s, while highs only reached into the 40s. The Northern
Plains saw a seasonable day with plenty of sunshine and highs in the 20s.
Showery weather continued throughout portions of the West today as an area of
low pressure from the Pacific moved up the Pacific Northwest Coast. Brief
periods of strong, gusty south winds spread across the coastal areas and brought
plenty of moisture ashore. This allowed for areas of light to moderate rain
showers, light high-elevation snow, and fog to develop across the Pacific
Northwest and the Northern Intermountain West. As the low moved northward, an
associated trough pushed into the interior of northern California, while a fast
moving associated cold front trekked through the state, the southern Cascades,
and through Sierra, Nevada. Rain and snow showers, along with gusty winds
accompanying this front began to taper off during the afternoon. Lingering
moisture behind the front continued to spark a few pockets of light showers and
areas of fog throughout the nearby coastal areas of northern California.
Meanwhile, drier weather conditions returned to most of southern California as
lower level flow turned to a drier northwest to north direction by the late
afternoon. In the East, low to mid-level clouds hung over the Midwest and the
Northeast today as cold daytime temperatures remained situated over the
northeastern quadrant of the nation. A bit of active weather developed across
New England today as a warm front passed through New York. Moisture lifting with
this front sparked areas of light, scattered snow showers and freezing drizzle
across portions of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. To the south, high pressure remained the dominant weather feature
over the Southeast and kept dry and clear conditions locked over the region.
Long durations of low humidity levels caused most of Florida to remain at risk
of fire danger, while reinforcing high pressure kept the interior of
southwestern Alabama and northwestern Florida under a Hard Freeze Watch.
Meanwhile, wrap-around flow from the system directed a swath of gulf moisture
into southern Texas, leading to cloudy skies, fog, and scattered rain showers
through the afternoon.
There
were a few active areas of weather on Friday, but nothing like what occurred in
the eastern half of the country a week ago. Instead, a low pressure system in
the western Gulf of Mexico allowed moisture to pour into the Southern Plains and
instigated widespread moderate to heavy rain in southern Texas and Louisiana.
This precipitation was enough to allow Flood Warnings and Watches to be posted
in southern Texas. Meanwhile, a high pressure system stretched from the Great
Basin through the eastern seaboard and provided dry conditions for the middle
portion of the country. Dry conditions were also noted in the Northeast and
warmer air streamed into the Northeast from the south. This finally brought to
an end the cold spell that started over a week ago. In the West, moist flow off
the Pacific Ocean streamed into the Northwest and produced rain and high
elevation snow in Washington and Oregon. This wet weather pattern will persist
for the next several days as multiple storms will slam into the West Coast. This
parade of storms will help the drought in California. The Northeast rose into
the 30s and 40s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the 60s and 70s. The
Upper Midwest rose into the 20s and 30s, while the Northwest saw temperatures in
the 40s.
17th-23rd…California
saw another dose of wet and stormy weather on Monday as a powerful Pacific storm
pounded the state with periods of intense rain and snow, strong winds, building
seas, and strong thunderstorms. Lines of active thunderstorms with winds gusting
to 55 mph, heavy rainfall, and frequent lightning created dangerous weather
conditions and possible flooding near the northern and central coasts and across
the interior valleys. Soaking rains and damaging wind gusts ranging from 40 and
50 mph in most of southwestern California to 75 mph near Santa Barbara and San
Luis Obispo Counties created dangerous weather conditions across southern
California. Significant snowfall also joined this hazardous mix of weather as
the storm reached the higher elevations of northern California. Higher winds and
heavy snowfall with snow fall rates of up to 2 inches per hour or more produced
difficult travel conditions and possible whiteout conditions throughout the
Sierras. Several inches of snow also began to accumulate across the lower
valleys of the region as cold air crept over the mountains. Meanwhile, quieter
weather developed throughout the East as high pressure became the dominate
weather feature of the region. Low-level stratus with areas of fog and freezing
fog developed from the Northern Plains through the Lower Great Lakes and into
portions of the western Northeast as the tail of a cold front trekked through
Minnesota. A few pockets of snow fell across northern New England as wrap-around
flow from a low pressure system in the western Atlantic pulled moisture into
Northeast.
Stormy
weather persisted throughout California today as low pressure located just off
the coast swung a powerful, energetic disturbance into the state. Strong flow
associated with the system ushered abundant moisture into the state, sparking
significant amounts of precipitation. Heavy and persistent rainfall created
chances for minor urban flooding and coastal flooding throughout the day. Lines
of strong thunderstorms with high winds and gusts up to 64 mph accompanied wet
weather activity. Meanwhile, even higher winds and periodic snowfall developed
across the mountains today. Periods of heavy snowfall and winds gusting to 60
mph created very dangerous travel conditions with lowered visibilities. Portions
of the East also experienced active weather today as past Pacific storms marched
through the central and eastern regions of the nation. Low pressure trekked into
the Mid-Mississippi Valley and interacted with a strong frontal boundary to
produce mixed precipitation from the Ohio Valley through the Southeast. A mix of
fog, rain, freezing rain, and snow developed to the north of the boundary as the
low pulled warm gulf moisture across the colder areas of Illinois, Indiana, and
Ohio. Meanwhile, rainfall across the Appalachians began to spread into portions
of the Mid-Atlantic as the system shifted eastward. To the south, deep gulf
moisture and heightened instability translated into swaths of heavy rainfall and
strong to severe thunderstorms.
Elsewhere, light snow fell across areas of northern New England as low pressure
continued to climb up the Maine coast.
More
active winter weather streamed through the West on Friday. A low pressure system
moved through Northern California and into southern Idaho while its associated
front stretched through the Rockies and Southwest. This storm produced heavy
rain and high elevation snow in the Four Corners area and instigated mudslide
and flooding. In addition, widespread showery rain and high elevation snow
continued in California, only adding to the very wet week the state has already
had. The heaviest precipitation was falling in Southern California where
mudslides were an increasing concern. Many areas of the state have received
several inches of rain over the past week, putting a good-sized dent in the
water storage deficient. Ahead of the storm, cold air and an increase in
moisture allowed widespread snow to fall in the Northern Plains. Winter Storm
Warnings were in effect from Montana through northern Wisconsin as the storm was
expected to move to the east. In the East, a low pressure system began the day
over the Tennessee Valley before weakening while moving to the northeast. This
low combined with another low off the eastern seaboard to produce decreasing
rain and a few snow showers from Ohio Valley through the Mid-Atlantic. The
Northeast rose into the 20s and 30s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the
50s, 60s, and 70s. The Northern Plains rose into the 20s and 30s, while the
Northwest saw temperatures in the 30s and 40s.
24th-31st…The
Northern Plains saw blizzard conditions on Monday while the Northeast saw heavy
rain and flooding. A low pressure system spun over the Great Lakes and moved
northeastward into eastern Canada. Flow around this system pushed warm air into
New England and the Northeast, while cool Canadian air poured into the Northern
Plains and Upper Midwest. Thus, the eastern edge of this system saw scattered
rain showers and periods of strong storm development. This system also created a
cold front that stretched down the East Coast and into the Gulf states. In Texas
Valley, New York, 1.68 inches of rain has been reported, 2.28 inches were
reported in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, and strong winds blew down trees in
Frankford, Delaware. Light rain even reached into Maine as temperatures remained
above freezing. Most of the region saw problems with flooding as this
slow-moving front has brought much rain to the same areas Sunday and Monday.
Bitterly cold conditions returned to the Northern Plains. With strong winds
following the back side of this low pressure system, cool air quickly moved in
from central Canada. Most of the region saw highs in the teens and single digits
with wind chills hovering around the negative teens. Bismark, North Dakota
reported 37 mph winds with gusts up to 46 mph. These strong winds allowed for
poor visibility due to blowing snow. Most areas saw new snow accumulation
between 1-3 inches on Monday. Out West, another low pressure system offshore
pushed a cold front through northern California and the Pacific Northwest. This
triggered between a half to one inch of rain in most of northern California and
light snow in the Sierras and Cascades. New snow ranged between 3-7 inches,
while 1.14 inches were reported in Ukiah, California.
Wet
and gloomy weather continued over portions of the West on Wednesday, while new
showers developed in the mid-section of the nation. In the West, fairly
widespread cloud coverage hung over the Central Great Basin and the Southwest as
another Pacific storm from the West Coast approached these regions with
precipitation. The system produced an increasing mix of rain and high-elevation
snow with embedded thunderstorms across Arizona through the afternoon.
Meanwhile, light rain, snow, and freezing fog spread across southern Nevada into
portions of Utah and Colorado, creating hazardous driving conditions across
mountain passes. Southern California also saw a few showers during the morning
hours as another storm became positioned just off the northern Baja Peninsula.
Elsewhere, drier weather prevailed across the remainder of California, as well
as the Pacific Northwest due to returning high pressure. In the East, a stretch
of low to mid-level clouds streamed across Texas through the Mid-Mississippi
Valley as a strong front reached into the Central and Southern Plains and high
pressure remained situated over the Southeast. Southerly winds due to high
pressure in the Southeast ushered abundant gulf moisture into the Southern
Plains through the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Illinois, aiding in the production
of light, isolated rain, freezing rain, and ice pellets in Missouri, Iowa, and
Illinois. To the north, cloudy skies and cold temperatures continued to engulf
the northern tier of the nation. As cold air settled over the warm lake bodies
of the northeastern quadrant of the nation, areas of lake-effect snow developed
downwind of the Great Lakes. Meanwhile, the aforementioned area of high pressure
kept the Southeast under dry conditions.
The
most active weather in the country streamed through the southeastern portion of
the country on Friday. This was due to a massive low pressure system that moved
into southern Texas, pulling significant moisture into the area from the Gulf of
Mexico. This moisture produced widespread precipitation from the eastern Plains
through the Southeast and southward to the Gulf Coast. This precipitation came
in the form of snow in the cold air over the Plains and Tennessee Valley, while
heavy rain fell closer to the Gulf Coast. A mixture of rain and snow fell in
parts of the Plains and Southeast. Winter Storm Warnings were posted for part of
the country the eastern Plains through the Southeast, while the heavy rain in
the Southeast produced Flood Watches and Warnings n ear the Gulf Coast.
In the
West, a Pacific front approached the West Coast and produced scattered rain and
high elevation snow showers from Washington through Northern California. Not
much more than showers was expected from this system. The Northeast rose into
the 10s, 20s, and 30s, while the Southeast saw temperatures in the 30s, 40s, and
50s. The Northern Plains rose into the 0s, 10s, and 20s, while the Northwest saw
temperatures in the 40s and 50s.
Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com
