NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

 

NOVEMBER 2013

 

1^st-9^th…Severe storms persisted across the East Coast on Friday as a strong low pressure system moved over the Northeast and pushed a cold front over the Eastern Seaboard. The system pulled abundant moisture and energy in from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, which allowed for showers and thunderstorms to develop from the Northeast through the Gulf states. Some of these storms turned severe with strong winds and periods of heavy rainfall. Strong winds with gusts from 60 to 70 mph blew down multiple trees and power lines across Pennsylvania and New York state early on Friday. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 2 inches as the tail end of the cold front swept through the Southeast. The back side of the low pressure system allowed for scattered rain and snow showers to persist over the Northern Plains and the Great Lakes. Heavy precipitation was not reported in these areas. Further west, a trough of low pressure over the central Rockies brought some rain and snow showers to Colorado on Friday. Snowfall totals varied around 1 inch at lower levels, with up to 4-6 inches at highest mountain passes. This early season storm brought icy roads and dangerous travel conditions to Colorado. Further west, a ridge of high pressure built over the West Coast and allowed for a warming trend to persist for California and the Pacific Northwest.

 

3^rd-8^th…Rain and snow showers moved across the northern Rockies and through the northern Plains on Friday as a strong low pressure system moved eastward off the Rockies. The system pushed a warm front that produced rain showers across the Upper Midwest, while the back side of this system brought cooler air in from the North and produced snow showers across North Dakota and northern Minnesota. A cold front stretched southward from this system and brought rain and snow showers to the High Plains as well. Further west, moisture lingered over the Intermountain West and northern Rockies, which allowed for rain and mountain snow showers to persist from Idaho through Wyoming. Cold temperatures allowed for early morning low temperatures to drop into the teens across northern Minnesota, with the coldest temperature reported at Hibbing, Minnesota at 10 degrees. Meanwhile in the South, a trough of low pressure over west-central Texas brought rain showers to the region as it moved in from Mexico and pulled some moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico. In the East, limited moisture lingered over the Northeast after the passage of a cold front. This allowed for widespread region of a wintry mix of rain and snow showers to persist across the region from Pennsylvania through Maine and Nova Scotia.

 

10^th-16^th…A low pressure system moved closer to the Pacific Northwest on Monday, while a cold frontal boundary stretched from the Intermountain West to the Great Lakes. Light showers began to fall along the coast of Washington on Monday as a low pressure system approached the region. Temperatures ranged between the 50s and 60s across Washington, Oregon and northern California. Meanwhile, a high pressure system brought very warm conditions to the Southwest on Monday. Temperatures ranged between the 80s and 90s across southern California and Arizona. Tucson, AZ, recorded a midday high of 91 degrees, while Palm Springs, Calif., recorded a midday high of 86 degrees. A cold front brought light snow showers to Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota, while more moderate snow fell in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Rainy conditions associated with this cold front pushed through Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. Madison, SD, reported a midday total of 0.93 inches of snow, while Traverse City, Mich., reported a midday total of 0.35 inches of rain. Very cold conditions associated with this frontal boundary impacted the northern Plains and upper Midwest. Stanley, N.D., recorded a morning low of -2 degrees, while Thief River Falls, Minn., recorded a morning low of 5 degrees. The Southeast experienced warm, muggy conditions and avoided precipitation on Monday due to a ridge of high pressure over the region. Naples, FL, recorded a mid-day high of 87 degrees.

A cold frontal boundary inched closer to the West Coast on Tuesday, while a separate, more extensive cold front stretched from the Southwest to the central portion of the Eastern Seaboard. Hard freeze warnings were issued across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee on Tuesday as a cold front moved across the region. Freeze warnings were also issued in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia as a result of this frontal boundary. Several regions also experienced spotty rain and snow showers as this cold front trekked eastward. Snowy conditions pushed across parts of the upper Midwest and the Northeast, while showers stretched across several Mid-Atlantic States. Scattered showers moved across parts of Washington, Oregon and California on Tuesday as a cold front approached the West Coast. Temperatures ranged between the 40s and 50s in the Pacific Northwest, while temperatures ranged between the 70s and 80s in the Southwest. The southern California and Arizona deserts experienced warmer conditions, as temperatures rose into the 80s and 90s. Tucson, Ariz., recorded a mid-day high of 93 degrees, while El Centro, Calif., recorded a midday high of 87 degrees. Very cold temperatures lingered in parts of the Intermountain West and northern Plains states during Tuesday morning as high pressure brought clear skies to the region. Valley City, ND, recorded a morning low of 1 degree while Havre, Mont., also recorded a morning low of 1 degree.

Cold temperatures persisted for the East on Wednesday, while a weak system brought scattered rain and snow showers to the Intermountain West and northern Rockies. In the East, a strong cold front pushed offshore and into the Atlantic Ocean. A broad ridge of high pressure built in behind this system, which pushes cold air in from Canada. This cold air spread across the Great Lakes, Northeast, Eastern Valleys, and reached the Gulf States. High temperatures ranged in the 40s and 50s across the Southeast, with overnight low temperatures in the 30s. These conditions are 10 to 15 degrees below normal for this time of year. Frost and freeze advisories remained in effect from eastern Texas through Georgia and the panhandle of Florida. Temperatures in the North started to recover, with highs in the 40s and 50s for the Upper Midwest, but the Northeast remained in the 30s on Wednesday, with early morning low temperatures in the teens. Mt. Washington, New Hampshire reported a low temperature of -4 degrees early on Wednesday. Meanwhile in the West, a trough of low pressure moved over the Northwestern states and produced scattered rain and mountain snow showers across Idaho, Wyoming and parts of western Montana.

Heavy rainfall spread across the Southeast on Friday, while scattered rain and snow showers moved across the Rockies. A trough of low pressure in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico pushed moisture into the Southeast, which brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to the region. Periods of heavy rainfall spread across northern and central Florida, as well as Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and moved into Georgia. Heaviest rainfall was reported in Meridian, Mississippi with a midday total of 0.99 inches. To the north, a weak cold front brought a few scattered rain showers to the Dakotas on Friday. The tail end of this system extended southwestward over the central and southern Rockies, which kicked up scattered rain and snow showers in Colorado and New Mexico. Significant precipitation was not reported with this system.

Meanwhile in the West, a low pressure system moved over the Pacific Northwest and pulled abundant moisture in from the Pacific Ocean. This created rain showers across western Washington, with snow showers in the Cascades and into northern Idaho. Snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches across highest mountain passes.

 

17^th-23^rd…A cold frontal boundary stretched across California, Nevada and Idaho on Wednesday, while a separate cold front pushed southward over the central U.S. Winter storm warnings were issued across the Intermountain West and northern Plains on Wednesday as a cold frontal boundary moved over the region. Temperatures were very cold throughout the morning and early afternoon, while moderate snow showers pushed across Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. Gallatin, MT, recorded a midday total of 8.0 inches of snow, while Watford City, ND, recorded a midday total of 6.75 inches of snow. Conditions were blustery across the northern Plains and upper Midwest, as Crosby, ND reported a morning low of 6 degrees, and Williston, ND, recorded a morning low of 10 degrees. A separate cold front pushed showers and thunderstorms across northern California, while light snow showers fell in the Sierra Nevadas and parts of the Great Basin. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest stayed clear of wet weather on Wednesday due to a high pressure system off of the coast of northern Washington. Parts of the Mississippi Valley and upper Midwest also experienced thunderstorms on Wednesday as a cold air mass associated with a cold front interacted with a warm, southerly flow from the Gulf of Mexico. Lamoni, Iowa, recorded a midday total of 0.86 inches of rain. The majority of the East Coast stayed clear of precipitation, with the exception to that being Florida, where thunderstorms formed as a result of a lingering frontal boundary.

Active weather persisted in the West on Friday, while a wintry mix of rain and snow developed across the Southern Plains. A strong low pressure system that brought rain to the West Coast the past few days as moved over the Southwest, pulling more moisture onshore with it. This system has produced rainfall totals over an inch in some areas of the deserts, which has increased flooding concerns for the region. Thus, flood warnings and advisories have been issued from southern California through Arizona. Heaviest precipitation was reported at El Centro, Calif, with a midday total of 1.14 inches of rain. Strong winds developed along the back side of this system, with strongest gusts reported across higher elevations of the Sierra Nevadas. Petaluma, Calif. reported maximum winds up to 50 mph. Meanwhile to the east, the leading edge of this system brought a wintry mix of rain, snow and sleet to the Southern Plains. Texline, Texas saw an inch of snow, while a tenth of an inch of ice was reported at Claredon, Texas. Winter weather advisories and ice advisories remained in effect across the region. Further east, a strong cold front stretched from the Northeast through the Gulf of Mexico, which created heavy rainfall with scattered thunderstorms. heaviest rainfall with this system was reported at El Dorado, Arkansas with a midday total of 2.98 inches of rain.

 

24^th-30^th…Flood warnings were issued across parts of the Southeast on Monday, while winter storm warnings were issued in the Northeast. A surge of moisture pushed over the central Gulf Coast on Monday, which interacted with an arctic air mass. Sleet and freezing rain pushed across eastern Texas, while snow showers impacted Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Further south, flood warnings were issued in Louisiana and Mississippi due to strong thunderstorms over the region. Alexandria, LA., reported a midday total of 0.99 inches of rain, while De Ridder, LA., reported a midday total of 0.90 inches of rain. Meanwhile, blustery temperatures continued to affect the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as an arctic air mass passed over the two regions. Winter storm warnings were issued across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont as a cold front began to inch across the Great Lakes. Mount Washington, NH, recorded a morning low of -14 degrees with a wind chill factor of -58 degrees, while Saranac Lake, NY, recorded a morning low of -2 degrees. Light snow showers began to fall in Ohio and New York, but little to no snow accumulations occurred. A cold frontal boundary extended across the Intermountain West, the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest as light snow showers fell in North Dakota, Minnesota and over parts of the Great Lakes. Snowy conditions also lingered in Colorado and New Mexico on Monday. The West Coast stayed clear of wet weather due to a ridge of high pressure over the region.

A cold frontal boundary moved across the Eastern Seaboard on Wednesday, while a separate cold front moved southward over the Intermountain West and northern Plains. Winter storm warnings and flood warnings were issued across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Wednesday as snow, sleet and rain fell in a handful of states. Light snow showers moved across parts of the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley, while more moderate snow showers fell in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. Sherburne, NY, reported a midday total of 4.50 inches of snow, while Lowell, VT, reported a midday total of 3.50 inches of snow. Coastal regions across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast experienced rainy conditions on Wednesday. Windsor Locks, Conn., reported a midday total of 3.12 inches of rain, while Pawtucket, RI. reported a midday total of 3.01 inches of rain. To the south, hard freeze warnings were issued across eastern Texas, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama due to below average temperatures along the Gulf Coast. Southern Florida continued to experience warm, muggy weather due to an onshore flow from the Atlantic. Kendall, Fla., recorded a high temperature of 80 degrees, while Marathon, FL, recorded a high of 79 degrees. A cold frontal boundary began to move southward over Montana and North Dakota, although no precipitation accompanied this system. The western third of the country stayed clear of wet weather on Wednesday due to high pressure over the region.

Jim G. Munley, jr.
http://www.jimmunleywx.com