Big Story Weather – December 10, 2013
redOrbit Meteorologist Joshua Kelly
Big Story Weather from December 9:
Yesterday, we saw some very heavy ice over the Arkansas, Northern Mississippi and Western Tennessee Region. Heavy snowfall fell over parts of Southern Missouri into the Ohio River Valley. The Northern Plains also dealt with snow and blowing snow. SOCAL saw another day of cold weather.
Big Story Weather Discussion for December 10:
Surface Map 11AM: Low pressure pushing across the Northeast along with its associated cold front will bring rain, snow and some freezing rain to the region from Maine to Virginia and then showers from South Carolina to Florida. High pressure will build in over the Mid-Mississippi River Valley bringing drier and cooler weather to the region. This will extend into the Gulf Coast as well. High pressure over the Rockies will bring mostly dry weather to the region, however there will be a few snow showers over the Northern Rockies. The cold air will still be in place over SOCAL.
Surface Map 11PM: Most of the country will enjoy a very tranquil evening with cold air covering much of the country as high pressure will dominate the weather from coast to coast. There will be limited impacts across the country.
Winter Weather: A frost/freeze watch/warning remains in effect for SOCAL with another cold day in store. A frost/freeze watch is also in effect for Southern Texas as the cold air will push south today. There is a pocket over Western Texas of freezing fog which will cause impacts on the roadways. Winter storm watches/warnings remain in effect this morning over the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic as the region will see snow and ice with accumulations likely. There are also winter weather advisories in effect for the Northern Plains as a few lingering snow showers are in the region. Parts of Montana are also watching for possible snowfall today as the region is under a winter weather advisory.
Winds: There will be strong winds over the Lakes with wind gusts near 45mph, There will also be a second area of strong winds over the Northern Rockies and Plains along the new frontal boundary. This region will see 30-40mph wind gusts.
72hr Westward Storm Watch: Storm 1 is now pushing into the island chain of Alaska bringing rain, winds and snow to Southern Alaska along with the island chains. Storm 2 is still over Japan bringing strong winds, rains and snow to the region. The low will start to push northeast as the day goes along putting the low into the Kuril Islands overnight.
Today’s Spotlight Cities Forecast:
Baltimore MD: Cloudy with periods of heavy snow and some freezing rain. High temps around 32F and overnight lows near 16F. Total snowfall around 4 inches and total freezing rain around 0.1 inches. Wednesday partly cloudy with high temps near 29F and overnight lows near 17F. Thursday partly cloudy with a high near 19F and overnight lows near 14F. Friday partly cloudy with high temps around 31F and overnight lows near 22F. Saturday cloudy with rain and snow. High temps around 34F and overnight lows near 30F. Total rainfall near 0.25 inches and total snowfall around 2-4 inches.
Memphis TN: Partly cloudy with a high near 36F and overnight lows near 25F. Wednesday partly cloudy with high temps around 40F and overnight lows near 20F. Thursday partly cloudy with a high near 40F and overnight lows near 27F. Friday mostly cloudy with moderate rain. High temps around 44F and overnight lows near 37F. Total rainfall around 1 inch. Saturday mostly cloudy with showers. High temps near 42F and overnight lows near 26F. Total rainfall near 0.25 inches.
Kansas City MO: Partly cloudy with a high near 31F and overnight lows near 20F. Wednesday partly cloudy with a high near 20F and overnight lows near 13F. Thursday partly cloudy with a high near 35F and overnight lows near 22F. Friday mostly cloudy with high temps around 37F and overnight lows near 24F. Saturday mostly cloudy with light snow, High temps around 24F and overnight lows near 14F. Total snowfall around 1-2 inches.
Denver CO: Partly cloudy with a high near 37F and overnight lows near 13F. Wednesday partly cloudy with a high near 37F and overnight lows near 20F. Thursday partly cloudy with a high near 47F and overnight lows near 26F. Friday partly cloudy with high temps near 42F and overnight lows near 22F. Saturday partly cloudy with a high near 40F and overnight lows near 29F.
Boise ID: Partly cloudy with a high near 25F and overnight lows near 14F. Wednesday partly cloudy with a high near 30F and overnight lows near 20F. Thursday partly cloudy with a high near 35F and overnight lows near 23F. Friday partly cloudy with a high near 36F and overnight lows near 20F. Saturday partly cloudy with high temps around 38F and overnight lows near 26F.
Ask The Weatherman for December 10, 2013:
Question: What makes snow fall?
Answer: When forecasters are looking to see if it will snow or rain, we have to check the upper level weather charts. What we are looking for is at what level of the atmosphere is the freezing level. These levels can be higher for places away from water, while places that have water influences will need lower freezing levels.
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December 10, 2013 Storm Tracker Update:
SST Analysis (right image): The ENSO Phase remains in the neutral phase.
The Peru Current: Today the Peru current is showing a pretty strong signature of colder waters along the coast, which is indicative of remaining in a neutral phase of ENSO.
Eastern Pacific Ocean: Low pressure off the coast of SOCAL will bring colder winds into the region. Low pressure pushing though the Gulf of Alaska will bring winds and snows to Alaska. Low pressure to the southeast of Hawaii continues to track eastward bringing increased seas over the open waters.
Atlantic Ocean: Low pressure moving through the Northeast and Southeast Canada will bring moderate snowfall to the region. Showers will be felt over the Southeast US. Low pressure moving into Western Europe will bring snow to the north along with showers over England. Low pressure moving through Eastern Europe will bring showers to the region along with higher elevation snows.
Western Pacific: Low pressure moving just east of Japan will bring another day of showers and snow showers to Northern Japan and the Kuril Islands.
Indian Ocean: Tropical Cyclone Madi has winds around 70kts and pressure near 970mb. The storm will continue to push southwestward between India and Sri Lanka. A second wave over the tropics region is being watched for possible tropical development.
Southern Hemisphere: Multiple lows moving through the basin will bring impacts to Southern Argentina with showers and thunderstorms. A second low pressure moving south of South Africa will bring winds and a few showers to the region. A third low is impacting Southern Australia with showers and thunderstorms to include the city of Sydney and Auckland.
Major Weather Impacts Discussion for December 10, 2013:
Day 1-3: Low pressure moving along the Eastern US will provide the region with rain, snow and some freezing rain over the region from Maine to Virginia. From the Carolinas to Florida it will be rain. High pressure over the Plains will bring cooler and dryer weather to the region. There will be a weak upper level feature that will bring a few snow showers to parts of Montana. Otherwise, high pressure will dominate most of the Western US including the Rockies. Day two the majority of the United States will enjoy high pressure and cooler weather. The period will finish with a clipper system moving through the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies which will bring a few showers and snow showers to the region.
Day 4-7: The period will start with a storm system developing over the Southern Plains which will bring showers and a few isolated thunderstorms to the region. Day five the storm system will move up the Eastern US making way for heavy snows, heavy coastal rainfall. This will have huge impacts on travel at all the major Eastern US airports. The period will finish with high pressure over the Eastern US and a second high pressure over the Rockies. A weak clipper system will be moving through the Plains and a second one will be over the Great Lakes. Both systems will bring light snowfall to the respective regions.
Day 8-12: The period will start with high pressure over most of the Eastern US. A storm system will push into the Pacific Northwest bringing showers and snow showers to the region. Day nine a major winter storm will be developing over the Rockies. Expect to see heavy snowfall in this region and impacts to holiday travel. Day ten there will be a weak frontal boundary pushing through the Northeast and Ohio River Valley which will bring snow to the region. Another Arctic High pressure will build in the Plains bringing another round of cold weather. A major winter storm will be in the Southwest US. There is the potential for heavy snowfall in this region. The period will finish with a frontal boundary extending from the Northeast back to the Southern Plains. Expect to see heavy snowfall and rain over the majority of the Eastern US, while rain and snow will mix over Texas leading back into the major winter storm over the Southwest where snowfall will be plenty.
Long Range Outlook: The period will start with a major storm system pushing into the Southern Plains and the Gulf Coast. Look for thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and even wintry mix again. High pressure will dominate the Northern Plains and Northern Rockies with another shot of cold air. The middle of the period will have high pressure over the Eastern US and back into the Northern Plains, while a new storm system begins to take shape over the Southwest. The period will finish with heavy rains and snow and some severe weather over the Gulf Coast and the Mid-Mississippi River Valley.
Green Energy Report for December 10, 2013:
Wave Energy: There will be moderate amounts of energy along the entire East Coast along the cold front. There will be limited amounts of energy over the Gulf Coast as high pressure builds in and begins to decrease the winds. The entire West Coast will have moderate amounts of energy.
Hydro Energy: There will be limited amounts of short term energy over the Northern Rockies and Plains. There will also be ample amounts of short term and long term energy over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic as a strong storm system pushes through the region.
Solar Energy: The best places for solar energy will be over the Gulf Coast and most of the Plains where high pressure is building in. The Pacific Northwest will have higher amounts of solar energy today.
Wind Energy: The best place for the wind energy today will be at and behind the cold front that will be pushing through the Eastern US.
Weather and Your Wallet for Biloxi MS:
High pressure will begin to push into the region bringing partly cloudy skies and cooler weather to the area.
Dining: Today will be a cool, so you may want to take a lunch to go and eat at the office.
Transportation: There will be no issues with the roads or the airport today.
Shopping: Make sure to grab your jacket if you’re heading out to the mall.
Electricity: The region will see the need for heating today as the forecasted temps will provide the region around 21HDD’s on the day.
Yard Work: This afternoon should allow everything to dry out and give you time to get the leaves cleaned up.
Construction: The outdoor projects should run fine today.
Outdoor Venues: Today will be on the cool side, but with plenty of sunshine, it will be an enjoyable day for any outdoor plans.
Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113023997/big-story-weather-121013/
