Our Record Center shows that for Saturday January 17, 2009 a total of 235 new records were set for the United States. The breakdown by type is as follows:
- Total Records Set/Tied: 205
- Rainfall: 14
- Snowfall: 15
- High Temperature: 35
- Low Temperature: 72
- Low Max Temperature: 87
- High Min Temperature: 21
California dominated the record Highs again for Saturday taking up eight of the top 10 spots, with Arizona sneaking in at number four, and Hawaii making a special appearance! The top few record highs were as follows:
- Chula Vista, CA:82ºF (Tied record 82ºF from 1961)
- Death Valley, CA: 81ºF (Old record 77ºF from 1976)
- Salinas, CA: 80ºF (Tied record 80ºF from 1961)
- Carefree, AZ: 79ºF (Old record 78ºF from 2000)
- Santa Barbara, CA: 79ºF (Old record 79ºF from 1975)
Record lows for Saturday January 17, 2009 were distributed from the northern tip of Main, south to South Carolina with an outlier in Texas, then north through Maine as the arctic airmass continued its eastward propagation. Maine grabbed the top spot but shared the top 10 with Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New Hampshire coming in at #6 in the lineup. The top few are below:
- Fort Kent, ME: -40ºF (Old record -38ºF from 1979)
- Miliaca, MN: -38ºF (Old record -35ºF from 1982)
- Ladysmith, WI:-38ºF (Tied record -38ºF from 1982)
- Blair, WI: -38ºF (Old record -35ºF from 1982)
- Rangeley, ME: -38ºF (Old record -32ºF from 1984)
The number of record low temperatures plummeted to 35 on Sunday January 18, 2009 as the arctic air mass we discussed last week propagated to the eastern United States. The total records for the day was 156 with the breakdown as follows:
- Total Records Set/Tied: 156
- Rainfall: 9
- Snowfall: 53
- High Temperature: 27
- Low Temperature: 35
- Low Max Temperature: 3
- High Min Temperature: 29
The high temperature spread for Sunday drove inland in the Pacific Northwest stretching to montana, Wyoming, and even one in McCook, Nebraska where they tied the record high of 66ºF set in 1964. McCook will actually enjoy a few more warm days until Friday when the high will drop below freezing again. Sorry! =)
However California once again nabbed the majority of the top 10 slots with New Mexico and Nevada jumping in and jumping for joy. The top few records are below:
- Chula Vista, CA: 82 (Old record -82ºF from 2003)
- Roswell, NM: 79ºF (Old record 74ºF from 1950)
- Death Valley, CA: 77ºF (Old record 77ºF from 1994)
- Overton, NV: 73ºF (Old record 72ºF from 2003)
- Lemon Cove, CA: 72ºF (Old record 72ºF from 1986)
As mentioned above the arctic airmass on Sunday was exiting the northeast leaving the last day of large low temperature records set. If memory serves there were two low temperatures left on Monday. Since we were at the final day the areal distribution of record lows was from Maine south to South Carolina. The top few are below:
- Piscataquis, ME (Ripogenus Dam): -31ºF (Old record -26ºF from 1994)
- Dover, ME: -27ºF (Old record -23F from 1982)
- Kane, PA: -21ºF (Old record -20ºF from 1982)
- Parsons, WV: -18ºF (Old record -15ºF from 1982)
- Clarion, PA: -18ºF (Old record -15ºF from 1948)
Our Advisory Center currently displays Hard freeze and freeze warnings for all of Florida and into portions of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. The reason this is not receiving a great deal of press is the difference in the type of airmass that is descending into the deep south.
Last week we entertained an Arctic (cA) airmass type that is shallow, very dry, and extremely cold, to the extent that it is common in higher latitudes in places such as Siberia, and Canada, yet can in winter months descend to lower latitudes as happened last week.
In this scenario we are experiencing a Polar airmass (cP) that is also dry, cold, and deeper than an Arctic airmass, but exists at lower latitudes (compared to Arctic) and can also descend more to deeper latitudes. Thus the warnings in Florida are relatively mild compared to the northern tier we experienced last week, but are important to the people of Florida who normally enjoy more pleasant temperatures, and of course very importantly for Florida Agribusiness.
As an example of the above, note our 18z Forecast Temperature Animation where the thin red line (32ºF) dives down the Florida Peninsula tomorrow morning. For those in the north we might think “gee whiz, thirty degrees, big deal!” However, temperatures near and below freezing are critical for the massive agriculture industry in Florida. Note also that for Thursday morning temperatures remain a concern, but as the airmass saunters east by Friday, things return to a safer level as warmer temperatures stabilize.
Now as we examine the temperatures in Florida Above, the deep area of purple (0ºF or lower) temperatures does not show as it did oh, say on January 14 (note: animation) where the Upper Midwest down to Chicago was pummeled with deep, frigid, nasty cold. Both the Polar (cP) and Arctic (cA) air masses we are discussing made respectable invasions to the south, but in the case of last week we had an Arctic Airmass instead of a Polar, and since the Arctic Airmasses normally hang out at really high latitudes, even at or above the North Pole, they contain very severely cold temperatures as noted above, and add winds to the equation as we had last week, can result in the very severe wind chill temperatures we experienced (note: purples and reds on wind chill animation from January 14).
In the case of this evening and tomorrow, our wind chill temperatures will certainly be unpleasant (note: animation), for the northern tier with a few areas of ~ 0ºF or slightly below for the Great Lakes States and the northeast, a concern for health and safety to be sure, but not the extreme severity previously suffered for the reasons mentioned above.
Also fun to note is the depth of warm air advection on the Temperature Animation above. Places such as Denver, CO will continue to bask in glorious warmth with highs near 70ºF tomorrow, and the mid 60s on Thursday while Matador, Texas will laugh in their faces with a high tomorrow in the mid 70s, and a 3in5 chance of touching the 80 degree mark on Thursday!
The rain moving into the western United States we discussed yesterday appears to be right on track where it will invade the coast spreading rains and snows in higher elevations as it trucks inland tomorrow (note 18z Precipitation Type animation). On Thursday rains and snows will pickup slightly and begin invading the Rockies Friday.
Please be sure to view our Advisory and Radar Centers for the latest updates and developments.
As always stay tuned to your favorite weather outlet, stay informed, and stay safe!
cheers,
–patrick
 Yesterday's Record High Temperatures  Wind Chill Advisories From North to South  Forecast Temperatures Animation  Forecast Wind Chill Temperatures Animation  Precipitation Type Forecast Animation |
One of our customers (Simon) noticed today that there was a 100 degree spread of temperatures within CONUS (Continental United States) by viewing our current conditions map. Nice catch Simon!
Indeed, looking at the records section of our Climate Center, we can see that for yesterday, January 14, there was a total temperature spread in the continental United States of 133 degrees based on new record lows and record highs!
International Falls, Minnesota broke the glass again by tying a previous record low set in 1972 yesterday with a low temperature of -42ºF while the fire station in Santa Ana, California danced in the record high of 91ºF.
The Pomona Fairplex (home of the LA County Fair / trade shows) in Pomona, California came in a close second yesterday with a record high of 89ºF, while Cavalier, North Dakota came in second for record lows with a balmy -36ºF.
Of the top ten record low temperatures yesterday three states received three each in the top ten: Minnesota, Michigan, and North Dakota, with Minnesota and North Dakota Sharing the top 5, while Iowa receives honorable mention with one record in the top ten!
California dominated the record high temperatures yesterday, receiving all but one of the top 27 records ranging from the record high of 91ºF mentioned above, to the 27th slot of Sonora, California with a record high of 69ºF.
We will have more record temperatures to discuss tomorrow, as our Advisory Center currently displays the astounding sight of wind chill warnings and advisories ranging from the aforementioned International Falls, Minnesota as far south as Charlotte County, Florida.
It should be mentioned that for the majority of the country a wind chill advisory in Florida is basically a “relative” thing =) Where the low temperatures we have been discussing all week dipping into Florida, added with the winds means wind chill temperatures of the low 30s to mid 20s. However, with citrus crop production in the state, it is actually a very significant occurrence. Keep an eye on citrus futures!
Our 00z Forecast Temperature animation continues to show the deep arctic air meandering across the midwest through the weekend, where Chicago, Illinois will remain frigid on Friday, gaining relief on Saturday as will Cleveland, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and New York, New York, while Fort Kent, Maine will have to endure arctic conditions for a bit longer.
The west coast shall continue to flaunt their warmth in the faces of the frigid through the weekend with the possibility of more record Highs being set. The warmth shall continue to remain from southwestern California northward along the coast at least through Sunday. View our 00z Forecast Temperature animation for more details.
Our Forecast Wind Chill animation continues to show dangerous wind chill levels for the midwest through the northeast through the weekend. Please recall that wind chill temperatures at these levels pose serious risk to personal health and safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a guide that can be very helpful in preparing yourself for these types of conditions. You may read it here.
As mentioned yesterday, the next in a series of clippers is forecast to stream through entering the northern Great Plains late Friday evening / early Saturday morning. Our Precipitation Type Forecast Animation shows the low streaming south through Minnesota dropping snows in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota as it continues its southerly course before veering east over Chicago on Sunday, then heading towards the northeastern United States on Monday spreading snows all across the Great Lakes states and New England.
The southern United States is also expected to receive liquid precipitation with this system, but snows could spread as far south as Northern Georgia and of course along Appalachia through Monday. The Mid-Atlantic states east of Appalachia should receive rain on Monday with the exception of mountainous terrain in Virginia and North Carolina as the system moves through.
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Please be sure to view our Advisory and Radar Centers for the latest updates and developments.
As always stay tuned to your favorite weather outlet, stay informed, and stay safe!
cheers,
–patrick
Sometimes when a forecast comes together as predicted it causes less than joyous emotions to unfold, and today is a fine example! The cold air we said would descend into the heartland at the beginning of the week, has done so with gusto as wind chill advisories have been issued as far south as Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
The cold has been so severe as to claim a death in Wisconsin, while International Falls, Minnesota had an astounding temperature of -40ºF yesterday, and will not see temperatures above zero until Saturday.
Our current temperature forecast animation shows the arctic air pummeling Chicago, Illinois through late Friday while the deepest push of cold air into the south will occur through Saturday morning.
The coldest days for cities such as Atlanta, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi will experience the coldest temperatures on Thursday and Friday, with cool temperatures Saturday morning until the cold air propagates away from the south on Saturday afternoon.
The northeastern United States will have to suffer through Sunday, as our forecast temperature animation shows Northern New York, Main, New Hampshire, and Vermont under the gun through early Sunday Morning.
 Wind Chill Advisories Bash Nation |
 Forecast Temperature Animation |
 Precipitation Type Forecast Animation |
The wind chill temperatures we have been discussing all week will of course continue to be severe as the arctic cold digs in for the big chill. Our wind chill animation displays the breadth of severity coinciding with temperatures, with a few forays into the -30ºF (note red on animation) that is extremely dangerous.
Wind chill temperatures at the levels that will occur for the majority of the midwest and northeast can pose serious risk to personal health and safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a guide that can be very helpful in preparing yourself for these types of conditions. You may read it here.
What’s left of the clipper will shed snows across the mid-atlantic states through Friday, while the lake effect snows will continue with some nice accumulations for the Great Lakes over the next few days, which is kind of fun to watch on our Forecast Precipitation Type animation.
The next system to move through will enter the northern tier around North Dakota and Minnesota early Saturday morning as the massive high pressure system slowly exits the states. Our animation above shows the system swinging south and then east to impact Chicago on Saturday and Sunday moving swiftly across the Great Lakes state before our animation ends on Sunday Morning.
Please be sure to view our Advisory and Radar Centers for the latest updates and developments.
As always stay tuned to your favorite weather outlet, stay informed, and stay safe!
cheers,
–patrick
 Colddd is Coming, Beware Icy Breath! Credit: Marzy - flickr.com  Forecast Wind Chill Temperature Animation  Chicago Cold Credit: Candice C. Cusic - Chicago Tribune  Precipitation Type Forecast Animation |
The nasty cold temperatures we mentioned yesterday are streaming into the upper midwest with vigor, and will occupy most of the the northern tier for the next few days. Along with the bitter cold, accompanying winds have already wrought wind chill temperatures of -30ºF in upper Minnesota spawning wind chill warnings to be posted, and will soon add to the bitter cold that has seeped into Chicago, and will trek east through the northeastern states.
Wind Chills of at least 0ºF will exist at some point in the next few days from Chicago, through Indiana and Ohio, all the way east to New York, Massachussets, and the majority of New England.
We have a Forecast Wind Chill Temperature Animation that you may view here to see the breadth of areal coverage that this event will entail. While viewing the animation the “purple” colors represent wind chill temperatures of 0ºF outlined by a thin yellow line, the “red” colors represent very dangerous wind chill temperatures of -30ºF where frost bite can occur rapidly, and the thin red line represents 32ºF. Note the scale at the bottom while viewing the animation, and also note the controls where you may advance the frames individually if you so choose.
An additional note along this line is that while dangerous wind chill temperatures will occur for the northern tier, the colder air we mentioned yesterday is still forecast to descend as far south as the Florida Panhandle, with the deepest push to occur on Friday morning, also represented by the forecast wind chill temperatures animation.
Wind chill temperatures at these levels can pose serious risk to personal health and safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted a guide that can be very helpful in preparing yourself for these types of conditions. You may read it here.
Along with the bitter cold the snows we discussed yesterday will be continuing its trek northeast spreading snows along a line from Pennsylvania through Maine (forecast animation). Higher accumulations will occur on the eastern boundaries of Lakes Erie and Ontario with the best chance for accumulations of around 4-5″ in Jefferson County, New York.
Another low pressure system will zip out of Canada through the northern plains trailing light snows through the Dakotas today heading southeast through central Illinois with accumulations of up to 3-4″ in some areas.
Tomorrow the low will veer east along the Great Lakes states bringing a better chance for higher accumulations on the southern shores of Lakes Michigan and Erie. The highest accumulations from this system should be on the southeast side of Lake Michigan, where 6″ + may fall in and around the city of South Bend, Indiana.
While accumulations with the snows mentioned above overall will not be overly dramatic, wind speeds will be hefty in many areas which is the cause for the high wind chills we discussed above. Add the wind speeds with the snows also discussed above, and you have the cause for the blizzard watch issued for Chicago, Illinois and the surrounding area. A blizzard watch means there is potential for falling and/or blowing snows (with the accompanying winds) that can lead to extremely poor visibility.
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Please be sure to view our Advisory and Radar Centers for the latest updates and developments.
As always stay tuned to your favorite weather outlet, stay informed, and stay safe!
cheers,
–patrick
