Major Winter Storm to Batter Midwest, Northeast

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
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Powerful winter storm stretching from Midwest to Mid-Atlantic  threatens to reach blizzard conditions

Much below normal temperatures are forecast to continue across the Northern Tier, with heavy snow for portions of the Midwest and Northeast, Thursday and Friday, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

• The mayor of Bridgeport has declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.
• Boston Declares a Snow Emergency

“Very cold temperatures will continue across the Midwest where high pressure continues to linger. Heavy snowfall will be possible today from the Midwest to central New York along a frontal boundary. By tomorrow, several systems will converge toward the Mid-Atlantic resulting in snowfall from northwestern Arkansas to New England, with the heaviest amounts expected from the Appalachians into Maine.”

Blizzard Warning, Winter Storm Warning, High Wind Warning, Storm Warning, Avalanche Warning, Flood Warning, Lake Effect Snow Warning, Gale Warning, Wind Chill Warning, Heavy Freezing Spray Warning, Flood Advisory, Special Weather Statement, Air Quality Alert, Air Stagnation Advisory and Hazardous Weather Outlook are among a plethora of warnings, watches and advisories issued by NWS.

Storm total snowfalls of up to 14 inches is forecast for parts of New York and Massachusetts, according to a Winter Storm Warnings issued for the states.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
Issued 7 am EST Thursday, January 2, 2014 by NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD

High Temperature for Wednesday, January 1, 2014 (as received by 7 am EST January 2)

• 85 degrees (29.4ºC) at Naples, FL

Low Temperature for Thursday, January 2, 2014 (as received by 7 am EST January 2)

• -46 degrees (-43.3ºC) at Embarrass, MN

Temperature Spread:  131 degrees

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Thursday, January 2, 2014. Source: NWS. Map Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH. UPDATE

A complex storm system will raise havoc on the Eastern U.S. late this week

A swath of light snows will continue to develop to the north of a frontal boundary stretched from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the northern Mid-Atlantic states Wednesday evening, while a rich supply of moisture
surrounding a strengthening front in the Gulf of Mexico will continue to fuel an organized axis of rains across Central Gulf coast and Southeast.

On Thursday, these two features will begin to merge as the front stretched from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the northern Mid-Atlantic states pushes east/southeastward as a cold front and a surface low developing along the front in the Gulf lifts northeastward towards northern Florida. The complex interaction of these two systems will raise havoc on the Eastern U.S. late this week.

Accumulating snows are expected across the Ohio Valley, northern Mid-Atlantic states, and northeast, while moderate to heavy rains will push through the Southeast. The bigger story with these merging systems will most likely be the rapidly deepening surface low off the Eastern Seaboard early Friday, which will bring strong winds and bitter temperatures into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. This deepening low will also have the potential to hit coastal New England with heavy snows before it races into the Canadian Maritimes. Source: WPC/NOAA

Multiple Hazard Warnings in Effect Across Much of The U.S.

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Severe weather, damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding hit much of the U.S.

Multiple hazard warnings are in effect across much of the United States this weekend. The Warnings, Watches and Advisories issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) include Flash Flood Warning, Ice Storm Warning, Winter Storm Warning, High Wind Warning, Storm Warning, Flood Warning, High Surf Warning, Heavy Freezing Spray Warning, and Gale Warning.

Alerts for poor Air Quality and Hazardous Weather Outlook have also been issued by NWS.

“A mixed bag of hazards will be possible across much of the U.S. on Saturday. Severe weather with damaging winds and tornadoes will be possible from the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley. Heavy rainfall could cause flooding from the Ark-La-Tex into the Lower Great Lakes. And winter weather will impact the Northwest as well as locations from the southern Plains to New England.” —NWS

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Saturday, December 21, 2013. Source: NWS. Map Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH. UPDATE

U.S. Temperature Range: 103 degrees

High Temperature for Friday, December 20, 2013 (as received by 7 am EST December 21): 86 at Edinburg, TX

Low Temperature for Saturday, December 21, 2013 (as received by 7 am EST December 21):  -17 at Bismarck, ND

Source: National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States), NWS Weather Prediction Center, Issued 7 am EST Saturday, December 21, 2013

Global Temperature Analysis – November 2013

Global November average temperature was highest on record, while year-to-date global average temperature tied for fourth highest on record, reported NCDC/NOAA.

Global Highlights from NCDC Report

• The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for November 2013 was record highest for the 134-year period of record, at 0.78°C (1.40°F) above the 20th century average of 12.9°C (55.2°F).

• The global land surface temperature was 1.43°C (2.57°F) above the 20th century average of 5.9°C (42.6°F), the second highest for November on record, behind 2010. For the global oceans, the November average sea surface temperature was 0.54°C (0.97°F) above the 20th century average of 15.8°C (60.4°F), tying with 2009 as the third highest for November.

• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for the September–November period was 0.68°C (1.22°F) above the 20th century average of 14.0°C (57.1°F), the second warmest such period on record, behind only 2005.

• The September–November worldwide land surface temperature was 1.08°C (1.94°F) above the 20th century average, the third warmest such period on record. The global ocean surface temperature for the same period was 0.52°C (0.94°F) above the 20th century average, tying with 2009 and 2012 as the fourth warmest September–November on record.

• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for the year-to-date (January–November) was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20th century average of 14.0°C (57.2°F), tying with 2002 as the fourth warmest such period on record.

Precipitation

… precipitation anomalies during November 2013 varied significantly around the globe…  record wetness was observed during November over sections of coastal China, central Japan, north central Australia, and north central Mexico.

Record dryness observed across different parts of the globe, including some small sections of coastal South America, parts of north west Africa, a few regions of central and southern Asia, and parts of far west and southern Australia.

Parts of the United States had below average precipitation during the first 11 months of the year.

• California experienced a record low during the first 11 months of 2013.

Select National Highlights

• Russia observed its warmest November since national records began in 1891. Some areas of the Urals, Siberia, south of the Far East region, and on the Arctic islands in the Kara Sea had temperatures that were more than 8°C (14°F) higher than the monthly average.

• Parts of Southern Australia, southern Pakistan, a section of north east Kazakhstan, and eastern Tanzania were record warm. No region of the world’s land areas was record cold.
  • Australia’s September-November mean average temperature was the warmest such period at 1.57ºC above the 1961-1990 average.

Recent Extreme Weather Events

• “Complex” Storm System Buffeting Central and Eastern U.S. December 14, 2013
• Two Winter Storms Impacting the U.S. December 7, 2013
• Major Winter Storm Battering Southern Plains through Ohio Valley December 6, 2013
• Major Winter Storm Affecting Much of the U.S. December 5, 2013
• Massive Winter Storm Engulfs Much of Western, Central and Northern U.S. December 4, 2013
• Massive Storm System Impacting Western and Central U.S. December 3, 2013
• Nor’easter Spawned by Deadly Thanksgiving Storm November 27, 2013
• Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East November 26, 2013

“Complex” Storm System Buffeting Central and Eastern U.S.

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Heavy snowfall and freezing rain forecast this weekend

A complex storm system will impact the Central and Eastern U.S. this weekend: NWS

Heavy snowfall is forecast across parts of the Midwest into the Ohio Valley and on to the Northeast, while freezing rain could impact the central Appalachians into southern New England this weekend,  said NWS.

Up to 10 inches of snow could fall on parts of the affected region, including the state of Maine, starting Saturday night.

Emergency Proclamation for Maine

Meantime, Maine Gov. Paul LePage issued an emergency proclamation on Friday waiving the U.S. Department of Transportation rules for at least two weeks and ensuring that heating fuel transport and delivery trucks could operate extra hours because of the frigid temperatures and a propane shortage throughout the region.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Saturday, December 14, 2013. Source: NWS.

Recent Extreme Weather Events

• Major Winter Storm Battering Southern Plains through Ohio Valley December 6, 2013
• Major Winter Storm Affecting Much of the U.S. December 5, 2013
• Massive Winter Storm Engulfs Much of Western, Central and Northern U.S. December 4, 2013
• Massive Storm System Impacting Western and Central U.S. December 3, 2013
• Nor’easter Spawned by Deadly Thanksgiving Storm November 27, 2013
• Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East November 26, 2013

Hundreds of Daily Min Temp Records Broken in December

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

U.S. Breaks or Ties 355 Daily Lowest Min Temperature Records December 1 – 6

Jordan, Montana set a daily record-low temperature of -41ºC (minus 42 degrees Fahrenheit) for December 7, as Arctic weather gripped much of the United States on Saturday, after a deadly winter storm cut power to hundreds of thousands of people in Texas and Arkansas, made roads impassable and grounded thousands of flight.

Some 298 records were Broken and 57 others tied between 1 and 6 December 2013, according to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, N.C.

The deadly ice storm has been described as the worst winter storm to strike the U.S. in years.

Texas governor declared a State of Disaster in 143 counties across the state on Thursday, due to “the imminent threat of disaster.”

States of Emergency were declared in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee ahead of the ice storm.

Minnesota declared Snow Emergency in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Other cities also proclaimed emergencies including Crystal, West St. Paul, Plymouth, St. Paul, Robbinsdale, Mendota Heights, Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park.

• The storm has been battering much of the US, killing at least a dozen people.

• The storm cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses  in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee Thursday and Friday, and forced about 2,000 flight cancellation on Friday alone.

• The authorities closed thousands of schools from Texas to Wisconsin.

U.S. Daily Lowest Min Temperature Records

U.S. Daily Lowest Min Temperature Records. Some 298 records were Broken and 57 others tied between 1 and 6 December 2013.

Update
National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
NWS Weather Prediction Center, MD
Issued 1 am EST Sunday, December 8, 2013

High Temperature (ºF) for Saturday, December 7, 2013 (as received by 1 am EST December 8 )
86 at Fort Myers, FL
86 at Punta Gorda, FL
86 at Tampa (MacDill AFB), FL
86 at Tampa (Vandenburg), FL

Low Temperature (ºF) for Saturday, December 7, 2013 (as received by 1 am EST December 8)
-42 at Chinook, MT
-42 at Jordan, MT
-42 at 4 miles north northwest of Mizpah, MT

Recent Extreme Weather Events

• Two Winter Storms Impacting the U.S. December 7, 2013
• Major Winter Storm Battering Southern Plains through Ohio Valley December 6, 2013
• Major Winter Storm Affecting Much of the U.S. December 5, 2013
• Massive Winter Storm Engulfs Much of Western, Central and Northern U.S. December 4, 2013
• Massive Storm System Impacting Western and Central U.S. December 3, 2013
• Nor’easter Spawned by Deadly Thanksgiving Storm November 27, 2013
• Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East November 26, 2013

Two Winter Storms Impacting the U.S.

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

DEADLY WINTER STORM continues battering eastern U.S. while a second system begins impacting the West

The deadly ice storm has been described as the worst winter storm to strike the U.S. in years.

Texas governor declared a State of Disaster in 143 counties across the state on Thursday, due to “the imminent threat of disaster.”

States of Emergency were declared in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee ahead of the ice storm.

Minnesota declared Snow Emergency in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Other cities also proclaimed emergencies including Crystal, West St. Paul, Plymouth, St. Paul, Robbinsdale, Mendota Heights, Bloomington, Minneapolis and St. Louis Park.

The storm has been battering much of the US, killing at least a dozen people, so far, including the mayor of Granby, Missouri, whose car skidded off an icy state highway and struck a tree on Thursday.

• The storm cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses  in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee Thursday and Friday, and forced about 2,000 flight cancellation on Friday alone.

• The authorities closed thousands of schools from Texas to Wisconsin.

“Snow, sleet, freezing rain and heavy rainfall will continue to impact the eastern third of the U.S. through the weekend. Extremely cold temperatures will continue to settle into the western two-thirds of the country behind this storm system. In the meantime, a reinforcing shot of cold air is beginning to impact the West Coast as the next system approaches,”  said NWS.

Near Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image. Recorded at 08:00UTC on December 7, 2013. (Source: SSEC/Wisc-Uni)

Multiple Warnings for Extreme Weather

Multiple Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Extreme Weather Events are in effect across the entire country. The warning include Winter Storm Warning,  High Wind Warning, Storm Warning, Flood Warning, Lake Effect Snow Warning, Gale Warning, Wind Chill Warning, Hard Freeze Warning and Freeze Warning, as of posting.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Friday, December 7, 2013. Source and Update: NWS/CRH. Hazmap enhanced by FIRE-EARTH Blog.

Selected Highlights from NWS Weather Forecast

• Freezing rain and sleet forecast from parts of the Lower Mississippi
  Valley to the Central Appalachians/Northern Mid-Atlantic

• Snow from the Middle Missouri Valley to the Upper Great Lakes and over parts of the Mid-Atlantic

• Heavy rain possible from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Tennessee Valley

• Temperatures will plunge as much as 35 degrees below average from the High Plains to Great Lakes/Central Gulf

• A band of freezing rain/sleet will develop over parts of the Tennessee Valley and the Mid-Atlantic on Sunday.

• Snow will cover parts of the Ohio Valley on Sunday morning expanding into the Upper Great Lakes to the Northern Mid-Atlantic by Sunday evening.

A three-inch layer of ice and sleet will stay on roads in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through Sunday, forecasters said.

Recent Extreme Weather Events

• Major Winter Storm Battering Southern Plains through Ohio Valley December 6, 2013
• Major Winter Storm Affecting Much of the U.S. December 5, 2013
• Massive Winter Storm Engulfs Much of Western, Central and Northern U.S. December 4, 2013
• Massive Storm System Impacting Western and Central U.S. December 3, 2013
• Nor’easter Spawned by Deadly Thanksgiving Storm November 27, 2013
• Deadly Thanksgiving Storm Moves East November 26, 2013

Next Blizzard Targets Northern Plains

Major winter storm bringing heavy snow, high winds to Northern Plains

‘A major winter storm will bring heavy snow and strong winds from northeast Colorado into central Minnesota Sunday into Monday.  Snowfall amounts in the hardest hit areas across eastern South Dakota will reach over a foot with 50 mph winds creating whiteout conditions.’ NWS  reported.

• Winter Weather Forecast

U.S. Weather Hazards Map – February 9, 2013 – Source: NWS

Related Links

• States of Emergency Declared in 6 States Amid Blizzard  February 9, 2013
• America Under Siege by Forces of Nature  February 8, 2013