NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY
MAY 2010
1st-8th…The
northern Rockies saw another wet and snowy day on Tuesday as a low pressure
system skirted along the US and Canadian Border. The system created a strong
cold front that extended over the Central Rockies and Great Basin, which kicked
up clouds that triggered a few light snow showers. Snowfall accumulation ranged
from 1-3 inches over most of the high elevations of the Northern and Central
Rockies, as well as the Great Basin. Strong winds were associated with this
system. Copper Mountain, Colorado reported 39 mph winds with gusts up to 56 mph.
South of this system and ahead of this front remained hot, sunny, and dry. Due
to strong winds, this increased fire threats over Arizona and New Mexico.
Villanueva, New Mexico reported 33 mph winds with gusts up to 43 mph.
Meanwhile in the East, a strong cold front lingered over the Southeast. This
pulled ample moisture in from the Atlantic Ocean and kicked up scattered showers
and thunderstorms. Albany, Georgia reported 1.39 inches of rain on Tuesday. Wet
weather also persisted in the Northeast as a small trough of low pressure slowly
moved through the region. This also picked up moisture from the Atlantic and
triggered periods of severe thunderstorms. Much of New York state saw strong
winds with gusts over 60 mph with large hail reported in Ithaca, New York.
Light
snow persisted in the Northern Rockies while rain initiated in the upper Midwest
on Wednesday. A low pressure system tacked eastward from the Northern Rockies
into the Great Lakes. The system created a front that swept over the Upper
Mississippi River Valley and up the Ohio River Valley where it kicked up
scattered showers. Rainfall totals remained less than a tenth of an inch in most
areas. Thunderstorm development was expected, but has not yet initiated. The
Midwest saw chilly temperatures with highs in the 50s and 60s. To the West,
another trough of low pressure dipped into the Pacific Northwest from British
Colombia. This system pushed moisture onshore from the Pacific Ocean and allowed
for scattered showers over Oregon and Washington. The combination of this system
in the Northwest, and the low pressure system in the Northern Plains, brought
cool conditions to the Northern Rockies. These troughs also pulled some moisture
into the region, which kicked up another day of light and scattered snow showers
at high elevations. Snowfall totals remained less than an inch over most areas.
To the South, a ridge of high pressure built over the Southwest and Southern
Plains. This allowed for highs to reach into the 80s and 90s. Fires remained a
threat due to hot, dry, and windy conditions. Wind gusts reached up to 29 mph in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. In the Southeast, a front lingered over Florida and
triggered some scattered showers and thunderstorms. These storms have not yet
turned severe.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms persisted over the Great Lakes region on
Friday. A low pressure system continued moving eastward from the northern Plains
and Upper Midwest, into New England. This system created a cold front that
stretched down the Mississippi River Valley, and a warm front that extended
eastward over the Ohio River Valley. Scattered showers developed along and north
of these fronts, with periods of heavy rainfall associated with thunderstorm
development along the warm front. Severe weather has not yet been reported.
Lansing, Michigan reported 0.54 inches of rain with a quarter of an inch
reported to have fallen in one hour. Strong winds also developed along this
front, with gusts up to 33 mph in Dayton, Ohio. Light rain persisted in the
Upper Midwest, with Chanhassen, Minnesota reported 0.33 inches of rain. The
Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as well as northern Wisconsin, saw periods of light
snow as flow around the low pressure system pushed cool Canadian air into the
Upper Great Lakes. Most areas saw less than an inch of snow. Meanwhile, to the
South, a cold front stretched over the Lower Mississippi River and into the
Southern Plains. The system has not yet triggered any precipitation, but kicked
up a few scattered clouds with breezy conditions. Highs remained in the 70s and
80s over the South. In the West, a trough of low pressure in the Pacific Ocean
approached the West Coast, but high pressure prevailed on Friday. The Pacific
Northwest saw a few patchy clouds, while the Southwest saw mostly sunny skies.
The West Coast remained in the 60s.
9th-15th…Severe
weather swept through the Central Plains on Monday, as a low pressure system
moved off the Central Rockies and into the Plains. Flow around this system
created a warm front that stretched over Kansas and eastward into the Mid- and
Lower Mississippi River Valley and also created a cold front that stretched into
the Southern Plains. These fronts obtained moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and
kicked up scattered showers and thunderstorms over the Central states. These
storms turned severe over Kansas and Texas, with two tornadoes reported in
western Kansas. Hail was also reported in Manhattan, Kansas, and strong winds
blew down a steeple of a church in Amarillo, Texas. Periods of heavy rain
developed along the warm front, with 0.52 inches reported to have fallen in 1
hour in Lake Quivira, Kansas. Most areas saw rainfall totals between a quarter
and a half of an inch, with more in areas of thunderstorm development.
Elsewhere, another low pressure system moved onshore in the Pacific Northwest
and kicked up scattered showers that stretch into northern California. This
brought cool conditions with overcast skies with less than a quarter of an inch
of rain in most places. The Southwest remained warm, sunny, and dry under higher
pressure. Fires remained a threat with strong winds over the region. Skyline,
New Mexico reported 29 mph sustained winds with gusts up to 44 mph. In the East,
higher pressure over the East Coast allowed for sunny skies and warm
temperatures. However, clear skies overnight allowed for lows to dip below
freezing over much of the Northeast and New England. The Southeast saw
increasingly cloudy skies as the system approached from the center of the
country.
Severe
weather persisted in the Central and Eastern US on Friday, while the rest of the
country saw mild weather. A low pressure system over the Great Lakes created a
frontal boundary with a warm front extending over the Northeast, while a strong
cold front stretched from the Northeast, down the Ohio River Valley, over the
Mid-Mississippi River Valley, and into the Southern Plains. Flow from the south
pulled moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico, which allowed for warm and humid
conditions to the south of this front. The drastic change in temperature from
the Midwest to Southeast, in addition to high humidity, produced scattered
showers and thunderstorms just ahead of the cold front to the south. The
Southeast remained in the mid-80s, while the Midwest only reached into the 60s.
The Mississippi River Valley remained under flood watches due to these slow
moving storms. In Mount Vernon, Missouri, 0.57 inches of rain was reported,
while 1.05 inches of rain fell in one hour in Bacon, Texas. The tail end of this
front created a tornado, which flipped over a 53 foot trailer that was loaded
with 500 gallons of diesel oil, reported from Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.
Elsewhere, the front kicked up periods of large hail with reports golf ball to
baseball size hail in Britmart, Kentucky, hail ranged from marble to tennis ball
size in Elmo, Kentucky, and quarter size hail in Hartsville, Tennessee. As the
front passed, some areas saw significant decreases in temperatures with Dallas
reported to have dropped from 80 to 66 in 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the Northern
and Central Plains, saw mild weather as a ridge build in from the West. These
areas saw sunny skies with highs in the 60s. Out West, high pressure over the
coast pushed in some coastal clouds, while inland areas remained warm and sunny
with highs in the 70s and 80s.
16th-22nd…Wet
weather initiated in the West, while a cold front over the Eastern U.S. brought
another rainy day with scattered thunderstorms on Monday. A low pressure moved
northeastward up the Ohio River Valley and into the Northeast. This system
created a front that extended down the East Coast, over the Southeast, and into
the Southern Plains. This front kicked up scattered showers, with thunderstorm
development in Texas. Rainfall totals reached between a quarter and a half of an
inch, and neared an inch in areas of thunderstorms. Ward, Texas reported 0.88
inches of rain, while Beech, North Carolina reported 0.28, and 0.30 was reported
in Beckley, West Virgina. Northern Texas saw periods of severe storms with golf
ball size hail in Aspermont, Texas and strong winds blew over two semi-trucks
and damaged three roofs in Floydada, Texas. Behind this system, a ridge of high
pressure built in over the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest on Monday. This
brought mostly sunny skies with a few patchy clouds to the Plains and highs
reached into the 70s. Further West, another low pressure system moved over the
West Coast, after it picked up abundant moisture from the Pacific Ocean. This
brought cloudy skies with increasingly rainy conditions and cool temperatures.
California saw light and scattered sprinkles and the Pacific Northwest saw some
light but continuous showers. Portland, Oregon reported only 0.03 inches of rain
on Monday afternoon, while Fresno, California saw 0.09 inches. Highs remained in
the 50s and 60s over the region.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms persisted in the Southern Plains on
Wednesday. A low pressure system strengthen as it moved off the Central and
Southern Rockies, and into the Plains. Flow around this system pulled moisture
in from the Gulf of Mexico, while it also created two frontal boundaries. A warm
front stretched into the Southeast and towards the Gulf, as a cold front
developed in the Southern High Plains. Scattered showers and thunderstorms
developed in between these two systems, but storms have not yet turned severe.
Most areas saw between a half and a quarter of an inch of rain. Douglas,
Oklahoma reported 0.71 inches, while Windom, Kansas saw 0.55 inches. Wichita
Falls, Oklahoma saw some strong winds with gusts up to 26 mph. These areas were
also threatened by floods as this system has kicked up slow-moving storms and
periods of heavy rain the last few days. To the North, a ridge of high pressure
built over the Great Lakes, as a low pressure system finally moved eastward and
away from the Northeast. The Midwest and Northern Plains saw mostly sunny skies
with pleasant conditions and highs in the mid-70s. The low in the East did
trigger a few scattered showers over the extreme Northeast that quickly
diminished throughout the day. Cossayuna, New York saw 0.21 inches of rain, but
Heartland, Vermont reported 0.61 inches. In the West, another low pressure
system moved onshore over the Pacific Northwest. This system pushed a cold front
over the West Coast, which allowed for another day of light and scattered
showers. Most of northern California and Oregon saw less than a tenth of an inch
of rain.
Multiple weather features brought active weather to the nation on Friday. A low
pressure system continued moving eastward from the southern Plains, over the
Mississippi River Valley and into the Eastern U.S. Flow around this system
created a warm front that lead the system to the east, while a cold front
extended southward down the Mississippi River Valley. Ample moisture from the
Gulf of Mexico filled in between these fronts, allowing for moderate to heavy
showers and thunderstorms to develop over the Southeast and Midwest. Some of
these storms have turned severe with a tornado reported in Hume and Metcalf,
Illinois. Strong winds blew down several trees in Haleyville and Birmingham,
Alabama. Also, rainfall totals surpassed an inch over many areas which caused
floods to remain a threat over the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley. Birmingham,
Alabama reported 1.01 inches of rain, while Tupelo, Mississippi reported 1.48
inches. In the center of the nation, a small ridge of high pressure built over
the Plains, to allow for a short break in wet weather. The region saw a few
patchy clouds and highs remained in the 70s in the north and the 90s in the
South. Further West, another series of low pressure systems moved through the
west. One trough moved over the northern Rockies, where it kicked up light and
scattered showers with snow at higher elevations. Meanwhile, another trough
pushed onshore over the Pacific Northwest, and brought abundant Pacific moisture
with it. This triggered another round of light rain that extended into northern
California, which developed along a cold front.
23rd-31st…Severe
weather swept through the High Plains on Monday as a low pressure system
strengthened as it moved off the Northern and Central Rockies. Flow around this
system pulled moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico, while it also created a warm
front that extended eastward over the Northern Plains. At the same time, a cold
front stretched southward down the Central and Southern Rockies. This kicked up
widespread scattered showers over the center of the country, while moderate to
heavy showers and thunderstorms developed along these fronts. Tennis ball size
hail was reported in Callaway, Minnesota, hail one inch in diameter was reported
in Agate, Nebraska, and gold ball size hail fell over Fort Stockton, Texas.
Strong winds damaged trees in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and 59 mph winds were
reported in Miller, South Dakota. A tornado was spotted in Gering Nebraska.
Meanwhile in the East, a trough of low pressure kicked up some storms over the
Tennessee Valley. Moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf fed strength into
this system, which brought strong winds and heavy rain. In Charleston, South
Carolina, 1.05 inches of rain was reported, while strong winds blew power lines
on a building in downtown Martin, Tennessee. Golf ball size hail was also
reported in Germantown, Tennessee. To the North, the Great Lakes, New England,
and Northeast saw drier conditions as higher pressure hovered over the region.
Highs remained in the 70s and 80s, with a few patchy clouds.
Out
West, another low pressure system and associated cold front approached the West
Coast. This pushed some clouds and cool conditions over the region, with only a
few light and scattered sprinkles, with light flurries at highest elevations.
The Northern Rockies saw a few scattered rain and snow showers as moisture
lingered over the region. Most areas saw light rain, with 0.19 inches reported
at Butte, Montana.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms popped up over the Midwest and Central U.S.
on Wednesday, while the West saw another cool and dreary day. A low pressure
system skirting through Canada produced a cold front that stretched from the
Great Lakes, down the Mississippi Valley, and into the Central Plains. This
system has lost some of its energy from the previous days, but has kicked up a
few scattered thunderstorms over the Mid-Mississippi River Valley and Central
Plains. Rainfall totals in most areas remained less than a quarter of an inch,
with up to an inch in areas of thunderstorm development. Beatrice, Nebraska saw
0.25 inches of rain, while Russel, Kansas saw 0.87 inches of rain. Storms have
not yet turned severe over the Central U.S. Meanwhile, in the East, a low
pressure system in the Mid-Atlantic continued pushing some light moisture
onshore. This kicked up some clouds and scattered showers over the Southeast and
Mid-Atlantic states. To the north, high pressure built over New England and the
Lower Mississippi River Valley, allowing for plenty of sunshine and warm
conditions. Most of the East Coast saw highs in the 80s on Wednesday. Out West,
a low pressure system spinning over the Pacific Northwest allowed for another
day of scattered showers that extended into northern California, with snow at
high elevations. In Vancouver, Washington, 0.49 inches of rain were reported,
while near an inch of snow fell over the Sierra Nevadas and Cascades. Highs
remained in the 50s and 60s over most of the West Coast.
Severe
weather swept through the Midwest on Memorial Day, while most of the East Coast
saw scattered showers. A low pressure system tracked eastward through the Great
Lakes and eastern Canada, and created a strong cold front that stretched down
the Ohio River and Mississippi river Valleys. This system pulled moisture in
from the Gulf of Mexico and allowed for scattered showers and thunderstorms to
develop over the region. Some of these storms turned severe with periods of
heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail. Most areas saw less than a quarter of
an inch of rain, but Franklin, Illinois saw 1.23 inches and were associated with
strong thunderstorms. Strong winds blew down numerous trees and power lines in
Michigan and Illinois, while large hail was reported in Tiffin and Chardon,
Ohio. In the South, a trough of low pressure at high levels in the atmosphere
brought wet weather to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. The system
obtained moisture from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and triggered
widespread scattered showers over the region. Storms have not yet turned severe,
but 0.66 inches of rain fell in Banoak, North Carolina. In the West, wet weather
returned to the Pacific Northwest as a low pressure system moved onshore from
the Pacific Ocean. This system brought overcast skies with a few light
sprinkles, while most of California remained sunny, warm, and dry. Rainfall
totals remained less than a tenth of an inch in Oregon and Washington.
Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com
