What Causes an Arctic Outbreak?
Morning Lows, Image: NOAA
Another surge of arctic air is spreading across the US. Temperatures have dropped below zero is as many as 12 states today. These large pools of arctic air produce dangerous conditions for the entire country, especially the Upper Midwest. In the Southern States, the “arctic chilled” air can kill sensitive crops that depend on the warmer climate during the wintertime. The cold air also just stresses our minds, bodies, and heating resources at this time of year!
So what causes these arctic outbreaks? The easy answer is the Arctic Circle, or the North Pole, gets very little sunlight at this time of year. Not only is there very little sunshine to warm the air, the little bit of sun the Arctic gets is reflected away from the landmasses by snow and ice. Short days and long nights make for a VERY COLD WINTER. The long nights can allow temperatures to drop to -40 degrees at the top of the earth!
Arctic Outbreak Explainer, Image: NOAA
So, all winter long, cold air is building in the Arctic Circle. But what finally causes this air to move, to take the plunge south, and bring the “arctic chilled” air to the Central and Southern US?
According to Keith Heidorn from The Weather Doctor,
“… Eventually high-altitude winds catch the air masses and push them outward, usually toward the south and east as huge High pressure systems… Each winter much of central and eastern North America typically receives several great blasts of cold arctic air. They chill us to the bone and often produce ground blizzard and extreme wind chill conditions in addition to the frigidly cold temperatures.”
Yesterday, the cold blast came when an arctic cold front swept across the middle of the country. Temperatures were falling to the teens, then single digits, then below zero in places like Kansas City, Missouri, Lincoln, Nebraska, Des Moines, Iowa, and Butte, Montana.
The temperature dropped 10 degrees in one hour in New Orleans, Louisiana yesterday! After hitting a high of 60, they are now looking at a morning low in the upper 20s.
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-Dawn Brown
More Snow for the Rockies!
National Infrared Satellite, Image: NOAA (Image is OLD!)
Click for the latest satellite image.
More snow for the Rockies! Winter storm warnings are in effect for New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas this Sunday. Winter weather advisories stretch into Texas and Nebraska from the same storm system. Heavy rain out ahead of the cold front has created flash flood warnings in Missouri.
This storm system is expected to continue tracking east by tomorrow.
Another storm will begin to slide into the Pacific Northwest by Monday. Avalanche warnings are in effect for areas outside of Seattle. Another round of heavy rain and more snow is a set up for avalanches in the mountainous West. Portland can also expect heavy rain Monday into Tuesday.
The West Coast is cold! Check out the inland and valley freeze watches and frost advisories for Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Have a beautiful Sunday.
-Dawn Brown
Heavy Rain Forecast for Central Plains
National Forecast, Image: NOAA
A large storm is brewing over the Central Plains. The Storm Prediction Center isn’t currently forecasting any of the storms will become severe. You can see that heavy rains may produce flash flooding in portions of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Rick has now dissipated over a mountainous region of Mexico. An influx of moisture from the Pacific, including Rick, will aid in the storms over the Midwest.
Friday Forecast, Image: NOAA
Friday, the storm system will advance east, bringing heavy rain to the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Areas across the Southeast that have warmed up over the last several days will cool down starting Friday night into Saturday.
-Dawn Brown