Huge Storm Blankets Midwest
National Radar, Image: NOAA
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A large area of low pressure is cutting across the Central Plains. Winter storm warnings cover14 states.
National Watches and Warnings, Image: NOAA
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Up to a foot of snow could fall in places like Little Rock, Arkansas. Other major cities impacted by this storm include Oklahoma City, Memphis and Charlotte.
It will spare the Northeast as it moves to the Mid-Atlantic tomorrow, and then out to sea.
-Dawn Brown
Heavy Rain to Hit Texas, California Spared
- Rain Forecast, Image: NOAA
Northern Texas prepares for a round of heavy rain and or snow this week. The latest precipitation forecast called for 3 inches to fall in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area in the next couple of days. Currently, northern Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas are under winter storm watches.
A storm system developing in Southern California will take aim at these Central Plains states late this week. This low pressure system will combine with cold Canadian air to bring the possibility of wintry weather to the Plains.
California Radar, Image: NOAA
Rain continues to fall in central California today. The Monterey/Salinas area can expect heavy showers throughout the day. Santa Barbara will also experience a rain event, but it looks like the rain will move through quickly this Tuesday. No major problems are expected as homeowners in California try and recover from last weeks’ storms.
East Coast Drenched, Another Round for SoCal
US Watches and Warnings, Image: NOAA
Elmira, Binghamton and Syracuse, New York are all under flash flood warnings this morning as a large storm system spirals off the East Coast. Rainfall rates of more than an inch an hour are expected.
This large area of low pressure takes up the entire eastern half of the United States. Blizzard warnings are in effect in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.
Northeast Radar, Image: NOAA
Another Pacific storm is triggering winter storm warnings in the Sierra. California is bracing for another round of heavy rain and snow tonight into tomorrow.
-Dawn Brown
Advection Fog
Fog is a cloud that is actually on the ground! There are many different ways that fog forms. What’s behind advection fog, though, is pretty interesting. Advection fog is most common along the West Coast of The United States during the spring and first few months of summer. In fact, most of the fog that affects San Francisco, and the nearby coastal areas, is due to the advection fog process. Namely the fog that affects the West Coast is known as sea fog, Advection fog may last for hours, or even days.
Advection Fog From Above
The way advection fog, or more specifically sea fog, is winds blow over warm water that is relatively far out to sea. There, the air picks up warmth and moisture. The winds then take that air and drag it over cooler water nearer to the coast. This process condenses the water vapor out of the air and develops the cloud. The winds then take the cloud, which is near the surface of the water, and drag it over the near-shore areas of the land.
Advection fog can also occur in interactions between warmer water and cool landmass areas.
In fact, advection fog can occur during other seasons and in other parts of the country. On a smaller scale, advection sea fog occurs in the Gulf South during the wintertime months. Here, winds out of the southeast drag air over the warm waters of the central Gulf of Mexico and eventually over much cooler near-shore waters developing fog over places like New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana. In fact, sea fog will be socking in Boothville in far southeast Louisiana prompting fog advisories through Friday morning.
US Watches & Warnings, Image: NOAA
Southern & Western Wallop
Yet another El Nino system is pulling into the California coast. One to three inches of rain has already fallen across the foothills surrounding the Sacramento Valley and more is on the way, creating flooding across many of the lower elevations. Up in the mountains near Lake Tahoe, near blizzard conditions are happening right now with a good 8 to 16 inches of snow on the way for skiers.
National Satellite Image, Image: NOAA
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In the meantime, yet another El Nino storm is moving through the Deep South. This has provided for a couple of inches of rain across the central Gulf Coast and tornado watches from just north of New Orleans, all the way up into Mississippi, east Texas, and southern Arkansas. Tornadoes were even spotted Wednesday afternoon over portions of Southeastern Louisiana. Tornado Watches are in effect for cities like Jackson, MS.
US Watches & Warnings, Image: NOAA
California Climate Expert Calls It “Arctic Oscillation”
A California climate expert is blaming heavy rains and mudslides in California on an arctic oscillation, the same climate pattern that caused an arctic outbreak in the Midwest and East Coast. The CBS affilate in Nashville, Tennessee has some cool graphics as well as a lengthy explanation of this climate pattern as well.
Rainfall Forecast, Image: NOAA
Rain continues to fall across most of California today. Up to 20 inches of rain is possible in isolated locations across Southern California. In higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, that could translate into more than 10 feet of snow!
Check out the latest TV forecast in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Skiers and snowboarders are loving this! Go to my Mammoth Mountain and Tahoe webcams under Ski Weather for the latest conditions.
-Dawn Brown
More Storms Threaten Lives, Homes out West
- West Coast Radar, Image: NOAA
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Heavy rain storms continue to pound the West Coast. Mudslides have forced the evacuation of homes in California. A series of storms is lined up in the Pacific Ocean.
Tonight's Forecast, Image: Unisys Weather
This is a computer model forecast for tonight’s rainfall. You can see the entire state of California will be swamped by this Pacific storm.
The National Weather Service is forecasting more than 7 inches of rainfall for Southern California over the next 3 days.
It will begin to dry out by late Saturday night into Sunday.
We are currently in a moderate El Nino pattern. El Nino is a term to describe a change in the weather pattern in the western Pacific Ocean. An El Nino winter in California can lead to torrential rainfall.
-Dawn Brown
Warmer Air Brings Dense Fog
National Watches and Warnings, Image: NOAA
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Look at the number of states completely blanketed by dense fog advisories this morning. Visibility has to be 1/4 mile or less for the National Weather Service to issue an advisory. Cities such as St. Joseph, MO, Des Moines, IA, and Memphis, TN will be under the dense fog until noontime today.
Fog is a major wintertime hazard. Click here to see my previous blog on the dangers of fog in winter.
West Coast Radar, Image: NOAA
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I don’t know if you saw the Golden Globes last night. But, all the stars needed an umbrella as they strolled the red carpet. We are currently in a moderate El Nino pattern, the West Coast will finally get the rain it needs to feed its rivers and add to the snow-pack in the Sierra. (Last summer, the city of Los Angeles was handing out free rain barrels to feed the plants with excess rainwater when the wells run dry again.)
-Dawn Brown
Heavy Rain Forecast – Gulf South
Doppler Radar Image (Texas), Image: NOAA (Image is dated!)
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2-Day Rainfall Forecast, Image: NOAA
In the next two days, New Orleans, Louisiana could receive up to 4 inches of rain in the metro area. Most of the heavy rain associated with this Gulf low will remain off the coast, but places like Panama City, Florida could also receive a good wallop as well.
Friday's Rain Forecast, Image: NOAA
The storm is moving from the southwest to the northeast across the Gulf of Mexico. You can see the heavier rain totals closer to the center of the storm. Corpus Christi Texas will continue to see rain showers today as the storm exits the area.
By Saturday, the storm stretches to the east, places like Columbia, South Carolina could receive more than 2″ of rain.
-Dawn Brown
Arctic Cold Sent Packing!
Friday's Temperature Forecast, Image: NOAA
The arctic cold entrenched across the middle of the country has been sent packing. Look at these forecast highs for Friday. It’s going to be a beautiful day in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Miami, Atlanta… and I think even folks in New York will like the relief from the cold.
But, it’s still winter. And with the warmer tropical air mass, you raise your chances for heavy rain.
Friday's Rain Forecast, Image: NOAA
The heavy rain is already setting up over parts of Southern Texas, such as Corpus Christi and now San Antonio.
Saturday's Rain Forecast, Image: NOAA
By Saturday, this heavy rain moves to places like New Orleans, Louisiana, where the New Orleans Saints take on the Arizona Cardinals for an NFL Playoff game. Tailgaters will get a good soaking! You can see the heaviest rain activity runs right up through central Mississippi as well.
-Dawn Brown