DATASTREME DAILY SUMMARY
Friday, 14 December 2001
- ACTIVE WEATHER ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH
- STORMY WEATHER HITS THE NORTHWEST
- WARM WEATHER CONTINUES AROUND THE LAKES
- COLD WEATHER CONTINUES ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST
- UPPER AIR
- TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL US
- ALASKAN WEATHER
- HAWAIIAN WEATHER
- A TIME OUT
- HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS
The following highlights of the national weather have been extracted from
the surface weather map for Thursday night:
ACTIVE WEATHER ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH -- Heavy rains along with strong
to severe thunderstorms continued across the central Gulf Coast and the Lower
Mississippi Valley on Thursday evening. This precipitation shield, which
extended northward to the Ohio Valley, was associated with a low pressure
system that developed during the late afternoon along a frontal boundary that
lay along the Gulf Coast. By evening the low pressure center was situated over
Louisiana. Earlier during the afternoon, some of the thunderstorms produced
high winds that caused damage from east Texas across Arkansas to Mississippi.
Large hail, with diameters up to 1.25 inches in diameter, also fell from these
thunderstorm cells. Severe thunderstorms continued across southern Alabama and
over the Gulf of Mexico near Mobile Bay until after local midnight. A slight
risk of severe weather continues across the lower Mississippi Valley through
Friday morning.
The storm system is expected to move northward, reaching western Kentucky
by daybreak on Friday and to northeast Ohio by evening. A large band of heavy
precipitation is expected to parallel the storm track, with forecasted 24 hour
precipitation totals by Friday evening ranging between 0.50 to 1.75 inches
extending from the Mississippi Delta northward to the Ohio Valley and eastward
into the Middle Atlantic States. Flood and flash flood watches were in effect
across Middle Tennessee and essentially the northern half of Alabama. Some
locations across the watch area had received between 2 to 4 inches of rain on
Thursday.
STORMY WEATHER HITS THE NORTHWEST -- A large precipitation shield
has spread across the Pacific Northwest in association with a frontal system
that reached the coast Thursday evening. This storm consisted of a low pressure
system that was located over Vancouver Island and an occluded front that
extended southward along the Washington and Oregon Coasts before becoming a
cold front that curved southwestward away from the northern California coast.
Rain was falling along the coasts and over the lower elevations from Vancouver
Island southward to northern California and eastward into the some locations in
the eastern portions of Washington and Oregon. Snow was falling over the higher
terrain. Eureka, CA had 2.01 inches of rain on Thursday, a record for the date.
As a result of the recent heavy rains, several rivers in western Washington and
Oregon have reached flood stage.
The storm system is expected to move eastward across the Canadian Rockies
with the trailing frontal system traversing the Cascades and the northern
Montana Rockies by Friday morning. With cold air accompanying the storm as it
moves inland, snow levels are expected to drop. Heavy snow is expected along
the western slopes of many of the mountains, with upward of 2 feet of snow
expected by Friday night in the Washington Cascades at elevations above 2000
feet. Similar amounts are also anticipated for the southern Sierras above 7000
feet near Yosemite National Park. As a result, winter storm warnings have been
posted for the Olympics, the Cascades, the Siskiyous, the Sierra. Additional
winter storm warnings were in effect for the mountains of eastern Washington
and Oregon, northern Idaho, western Montana and northern Nevada.
In addition to the heavy snow, high winds with gusts to more than 70 mph in
some locations are expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, resulting in
significantly reduced visibility. High wind warnings were also issued for many
locations across the western states. Storm warnings for winds in excess of 54
mph were in effect for the coastal waters along the Oregon and Washington
coasts from Point St. George, CA northward, including the Strait of Juan de
Fuca. To the south, gale warnings were posted for the California coastal waters
from Point St. George to Pigeon Point. Heavy surf advisories were posted for
the coast from Cape Flattery, WA to Point Piedras Blancas, CA. A coastal flood
watch was in effect for those areas of Washington along the Strait of Juan de
Fuca and surrounding Puget Sound.
The southern portion of the cold front is expected to travel across the
southern portions of the Great Basin later on Friday. Snow advisories were
posted for Friday afternoon through Saturday morning covering the high plateau
and rim country of northern Arizona, where up to 6 inches of snow could fall.
Winter storm watches were also posted for many of the mountains for Utah and
western Colorado.
WARM WEATHER CONTINUES AROUND THE LAKES -- Unseasonably mild
conditions continued across the eastern Great Lakes and along the Eastern
Seaboard. Afternoon high temperatures across the eastern Lakes and the Ohio
Valley were nearly 20 degrees above the average highs for mid December. Record
high temperatures were also set Thursday afternoon at North Myrtle Beach, SC
(74 degrees), Morgantown, WV (65 degrees) and Zanesville, OH (62 degrees)
COLD WEATHER CONTINUES ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST -- Relatively cold
weather continued across the Southwest, extending from the lower Colorado
Valley in southeastern California eastward across the Four Corners area to
Texas. High temperatures across this region were on the order of 10 degrees
below the long-term average highs for the date.
With another night of anticipated clear skies and weak winds, frost and
freeze warnings were issued for much of southern Arizona.
UPPER AIR -- Both the 500 and 300 mb charts for 00Z Friday had a
height trough that had moved eastward across the Rockies into the Southern
Plains.
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL US -- Thursday's lowest
temperature was 18 degrees below zero at Craig, CO. Thursday's highest
temperature was 85 degrees at Ft. Myers, FL.
ALASKAN WEATHER -- A storm system located in the northern Gulf of
Alaska brought winds and some light precipitation to southern Alaska on
Thursday. The storm consisted of a low pressure center situated near Cordova
and a weakening front that trailed eastward across the Copper River Basin and
Yakutat. This storm system generated high winds in the Prince William Sound
area and other locations on Thursday morning. Whittier had southwest winds to
52 mph while Middleton Island had northwest gusts to 49 mph and at Seward to 45
mph. Another storm system was moving eastward across the eastern Bering Sea
near Nunivak Island. Arctic air remained across much of interior Alaska, where
afternoon temperatures remained below zero. A ridge of high pressure was
situated over the Arctic Ocean and northwest Canada.
The lowest overnight temperature in Alaska on Thursday morning was 35
degrees below zero at McGrath and Sleetmute, while the mid-afternoon highest
statewide temperature was 42 degrees at Annette.
HAWAIIAN WEATHER -- Winds and rains continued across the islands on
Thursday as a trough of low pressure moved westward to the south of Hawaii. A
tightened pressure gradient had developed between the relatively stationary
high pressure cell to the northeast of the Aloha State and the trough to the
south, resulting in stronger trade winds. Clouds and rain accompanied this
trough of low pressure, which was a cold pool of air that extended up into the
mid-troposphere. As the trough moves westward away from the islands and
weakens, improving weather conditions along with weaker trade winds are
expected over the weekend. Winter storm warnings were continued for the summits
of the Big Island, were wind gusts to 80 mph produced blizzard conditions, as
well as the high wind warnings for Haleakala on Maui. With high winds, gale
warnings were in effect for all state waters and a high surf warning was
continued for the east-facing shores of the islands.
A TIME OUT -- Today's Daily Weather Summary discussion is the final
one for the Fall 2001 course. If you are looking for an alternative description
of daily weather, you could try:
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wlead.htm
DataStreme Daily Summaries and Activity files will return with the Spring
2002 DataStreme course during Preview Week on Monday, 21 January 2002. Have a
happy and safe holiday season! EJH
Several noteworthy "sky" events that will occur during the next
several weeks include:
- A SOLAR ECLIPSE -- An annular solar eclipse of the sun will occur
today. This annular eclipse is the result of a new moon passing between the
earth and sun, but the moon does not fully cover the solar disk (as is the case
in a total eclipse), thereby producing a ring or annulus. The path of the
annular eclipse will start over the central Pacific Ocean, cross Central
America (Costa Rica and Nicaragua) to end over the Caribbean Sea. Residents of
the western and central US, along with southern Canada should see a partial
phase of the eclipse, but those along the Eastern Seaboard will not see the
eclipse since it will start after the sun has set for them. Residents of Miami
should see approximately 54 percent of the solar disk covered before the sun
sets, while those in Los Angeles and Chicago should see about 10-12% coverage
and those in Seattle would see only one percent. The annular portion of the
eclipse is forecast to begin at 1910Z, reach the midpoint of the eclipse at
2045Z and end at 2234Z. For more eclipse information, consult
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/ASE2001/ASE2001.html.
Caution! Do not look directly at the sun nor use a telescope. Follow
recommended safe viewing procedures.
- HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE! The winter solstice will occur one week from
today on Friday, 21 December 2001 (at 1921Z, or 2:21 PM EST, 1:21 PM CST, etc.)
as the earth's spin axis will be oriented such that the sun appears to be the
farthest south in the local sky of most earth-bound observers. While most of us
consider this to be the start of astronomical winter, the British call that day
the "Midwinter Day", as the apparent sun will begin its northward
climb again. For essentially all locations in the northern hemisphere, next
Thursday night will be the longest and the daylight on Friday will be the
shortest of the year. Starting Saturday the length of darkness will begin to
shrink as we head toward the summer solstice on 21 June 2002 at 1324Z.
- IN CLOSE -- Earth reaches perihelion, the point in its orbit that is
closest to the sun (147.1 million kilometers or 91.2 million miles), on
Wednesday, 2 January 2002 at 14 Z (9 AM EST, 8 AM CST, etc.).
HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 14 December
From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and
Intellicast
- ...1924...The temperature at Helena, MT plunged 79 degrees in 24 hours, and
88 degrees in 34 hours. The mercury plummeted from 63 degrees above to 25
degrees below zero. At Fairfield, MT the temperature plunged 84 degrees in just
12 hours, from 63 degrees at noon to 21 degrees below zero at midnight. (David
Ludlum)
- ...1987...A powerful storm spread heavy snow from the Southern High Plains
to the Middle Mississippi Valley, and produced severe thunderstorms in the
Lower Mississippi Valley. During the evening an F-3 tornado hit West Memphis,
AR killing six persons and injuring two hundred others. The tornado left 1500
persons homeless, and left all of the residents of Crittendon County without
electricity. It passed within 1200 feet of the Southland dog track which was
packed with nearly 9000 people, then tracked across the Mississippi River into
Shelby County, TN. Meanwhile heavy 12 to 18 inch snows fell from the Texas
Panhandle into northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Kansas City, MO was
blanketed with 10.8 inches of snow, a 24 hour record for December. Strong
winds, gusting to 63 mph at Austin, TX, ushered arctic cold into the Great
Plains, and caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow. (Storm Data) (The
National Weather Summary)
- ...1988...Blowing snow was reported in western Kansas, as snow and gusty
winds plagued the Central Rockies and Central High Plains. Colorado Springs, CO
reported thirteen inches of snow. Low pressure in Wisconsin brought heavy snow
to the Lake Superior snowbelt area, with 22 inches reported at Marquette, MI.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)
- ...1989...High winds and heavy snow prevailed from Montana to Colorado.
Snowfall totals in Wyoming ranged up to 20 inches at Burgess Junction, leaving
up to 48 inches on the ground in the northeast sections of the state. Wind
gusts in Colorado reached 87 mph south of the town of Rollinsville. Strong
northwesterly winds continued to produce heavy snow squalls in the Great Lakes
Region. Totals in northeastern Lower Michigan ranged up to 29 inches at Hubbard
Lake, with 28 inches reported at Posen. Two day totals in northeastern
Wisconsin ranged up to thirty inches. (Storm Data) (The National Weather
Summary)
15 December
- ...1839...The first of triple storms hit Massachusetts Bay. The storm
produced whole gales, and more than 20 inches of snow in interior New England.
There was great loss of life at Gloucester, MA. (David Ludlum)
- ...1901...An intense cold front swept across the eastern U.S. The cold
front produced heavy rain in Louisiana, and heavy snow in the northeastern U.S.
(David Ludlum)
- ...1945...A record December snowstorm buried Buffalo, NY under 36.6 inches
of snow, with unofficial totals south of the city ranging up to 70 inches.
Travel was brought to a halt by the storm. (14th-17th) (The Weather Channel)
- ...1987...A major winter storm hit the Great Lakes Region, intensifying
explosively as it crossed northern Illinois. High winds and heavy snow created
blizzard conditions in southeastern Wisconsin. Winds gusted to 73 mph, and
snowfall totals ranged up to 17 inches at LaFarge. The barometric pressure at
Chicago, IL dropped three quarters of an inch in six hours to 28.96 inches, a
record low reading for December. Up to a foot of snow blanketed northern
Illinois, and winds in the Chicago area gusted to 75 mph. O'Hare Airport in
Chicago was closed for several hours, for only the fourth time in twenty years.
High winds derailed train cars at Avon, IN. Light winds and partly sunny skies
were reported near the center of the storm, a feature typical of tropical
storms. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
- ...1988...High pressure in the Pacific Northwest and low pressure in the
southwestern U.S. combined to produced high winds from Utah to California.
Winds gusting to 70 mph in the San Francisco area left nearly 300,000 residents
without electricity. Winds in Utah gusted to 105 mph at Centerville. (The
National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
- ...1989...A couple of low pressure systems spread heavy snow across the
northeastern U.S. Up to two feet of snow was reported along Lake Erie in
northeastern Ohio, and up to ten inches was reported in Connecticut. Heavy snow
squalls developed over Michigan for the third day in a row. Three Oaks, MI
reported 25 inches of snow in two days. Twenty-six cities in the north central
U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date. The low of 10 degrees below
zero at Wichita, KS was a December record for that location. (The National
Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
- ...1991...Snow squalls unloaded on the Tug Hill plateau in New York east of
Lake Ontario. Totals of 44 inches fell at Highmarket and 30 inches at
Boonville. Snowfall rates reached 6 to 8 inches per hour at Boonville.
(Intellicast)
16 December
- ...1835...New England experienced one of their coldest days of record. At
noon on that bitterly cold Wednesday the mercury stood at four degrees below at
Boston, 15 degrees below at Norfolk, CT, and 17 degrees below at Hanover, NH.
The temperature at Boston was 12 degrees below zero by sunset. Gale force winds
accompanied the severe cold, and that night a great New York City fire
destroyed much of the financial district. (David Ludlum)
- ...1890...A big snowstorm at Pittsburgh, PA dropped 23.9 inches in 24
hours, the greatest 24 hour snow for that city. (Intellicast)
- ...1917...An ice jam closed the Ohio River between Warsaw, KY and Rising
Sun, IN. The thirty foot high ice jam held for 58 days, and backed up the river
a distance of 100 miles. (David Ludlum)
- ...1987...A Pacific storm battered the coast of California with rain and
high winds, and dumped heavy snow on the mountains of California. Winds along
the coast gusted to 70 mph at Point Arguello, and winds in the Tehachapi
Mountains of southern California gusted to 100 mph at Wheeler Ridge. Snowfall
totals ranged up to 24 inches at Mammoth Mountain. Snow fell for two minutes at
Malibu Beach, and Disneyland was closed due to the weather for only the second
time in twenty-four years. A winter storm which began in the Southern Rockies
four days earlier finished its course producing snow and high winds in New
England. Snowfall totals ranged up to 19 inches at Blanchard, ME. (The National
Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
- ...1988...Fairbanks, AK reported freezing rain and record warm
temperatures. The afternoon high of 41 degrees was 43 degrees above normal.
Snow and high winds continued to plague the mountains of southern California.
Mount Wilson, CA reported two inches of rain in six hours during the early
morning, and a storm total of more than 3.50 inches of rain. (The National
Weather Summary)
- ...1989...Fifty-seven cities from the Southern and Central Plains to the
Appalachians reported record low temperatures for the date, including North
Platte, NE with a reading of 17 degrees below zero. Squalls in the Great Lakes
Region produced 18 inches of snow at Syracuse, NY, and 30 inches at Carlisle,
IN. Low pressure brought heavy snow to northern New England, with 18 inches
reported at Derby, VT and Saint Johnsbury, VT. Thunderstorms with heavy snow
were reported at Portland, ME. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
URL Address: datastreme/learn/f_sum.html
Prepared by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D., email hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu
© Copyright, 2001, The American Meteorological Society.