Friday Daily Weather Summary

ONLINE DAILY WEATHER SUMMARY

Friday, 29 January 1999

A PRECIPITATION POTPOURRI ACROSS TEXAS
SNOW ON THE WANE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST
STORMY WEATHER OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
ANOTHER DAY OF RECORDS
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL US
ALASKAN WEATHER
HAWAIIAN WEATHER
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS

WELCOME TO THE PREVIEW WEEK OF ONLINE WEATHER STUDIES- The Daily Weather Summary file will describe the current weather pattern across the U.S. Additional Supplemental Information Files will provide optional background material when appropriate.

A PRECIPITATION POTPOURRI ACROSS TEXAS -- Depending upon the location, different types of precipitation fell across the Lone Star State on Thursday. Snow, ice pellets (also known as sleet) and freezing rain were reported in the cold air across the Panhandle in the vicinity of Amarillo, where winter storm warnings were in effect for as much as 4 inches of snow. Thunderstorms in warm tropical air produced heavy rain across East Texas, from near Dallas east into Arkansas and Louisiana, where Shreveport received more than 4 inches of rain on Thursday. These heavy rains were responsible for flash flooding in some areas. As a result, a large portion of north Texas was under a flash flood watch. Hail was also reported in the thunderstorms, with some of the storms becoming severe as a result of the large hail size.

The wide precipitation shield across Texas and adjacent sections of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana was associated with a low pressure system that was located in the Big Bend region of west Texas coupled with a nearly stationary front that stretched from the Red River Valley near Texarkana westward to near El Paso. Winds carried warm humid Gulf air northward into Texas as part of the counterclockwise circulation around the east side of the low pressure. IN a process called "overrunning", this warm, humid air flowing northward was carried over the cool air that was located near the earth's surface on the north side of the front.

The bulk of the heavy precipitation is expected to shift eastward along the Gulf Coast on Friday. The threat of strong to sever thunderstorms should move eastward into Louisiana. The area of snow and freezing rain should expand eastward toward the mid Mississippi Valley.

SNOW ON THE WANE ACROSS THE NORTHEAST -- A shrinking region of snow was detected across the Northeast in association with a low pressure system located over southern New York State. The snow extended from the Great Lakes eastward into New England. Several inches of snow had fallen across the region by Thursday night. Winter weather advisories were posted in the Champlain Valley and surrounding areas of Upstate New York and Vermont for an additional inch of light snow. This system is expected to move eastward out over the Atlantic Ocean by Friday morning. Some lingering snow should remain near Cape Cod.

STORMY WEATHER OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST -- As of Thursday evening, a storm system was approaching the West Coast. The low pressure center was located approximately 300 miles off shore of the Washington State coastline and a warm front extended eastward through the Columbia Valley. A broad onshore flow of humid air was directed onshore as part of the counterclockwise circulation around the low pressure center. As a result of the southwest winds encountering the terrain , a large region of precipitation fell across western Washington and Oregon. Rain was the rule in low lying coastal regions while snow fell in the higher elevations of the Cascades and Olympic Mountains. Heavy rains have fallen over the region surrounding Puget Sound by late evening. McChord Air Force Base near Seattle, WA had received a record 1.29 inches of precipitation. Winter storm warnings were posted for the northern Cascades for as much as 18 inches of new snow.

The strong southwesterly winds reaching speeds between 39 and 54 mph necessitated gale warnings for the coast, with high wind warnings extending inland. Heavy surf advisories were also posted for portions of the coast.

The low pressure should move toward the northeast by Friday morning, with a trailing cold front approaching the Coast. The precipitation shield should expand eastward into eastern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle and western Montana.

ANOTHER DAY OF RECORDS -- High pressure over the Southeast provided relatively clear skies and a flow of air northward contributing to the warm weather conditions across the Southeast. Record high temperatures were set at Mrytle Beach, SC at 77 degrees; Raleigh/Durham (75 degrees) and Asheville (73 degrees) in North Carolina; Atlanta, GA (73 degrees); Dulles Airport near Washington, DC (67 degrees) and Jackson, KY (67 degrees).

TEMPERATURE EXTREMES ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL US -- Thursday's lowest temperature was 14 degrees below zero at Randolph, UT and the day's highest temperature was 83 degrees at McAllen, TX.

ALASKAN WEATHER -- A storm system over the eastern Gulf of Alaska spread clouds and precipitation across the south and southeast portions of the state. An elongated region of low pressure, with two centers and an accompanying frontal zone that stretched southward along the Panhandle were responsible for the clouds and precipitation. Snow fell across southern Alaska, from the Alaska Peninsula to the north Gulf Coast and over the southeast Panhandle. An arctic air mass associated with a large high pressure cell continued to push southeastward across the central and northern portions of the state from the Arctic Ocean and Siberia. Cold air, with temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees below zero and essentially cloud-free skies were found under this dome of arctic air.

The southeastward movement of this high pressure cell has increased the pressure gradient (difference in pressure over a given distance) between the high and the low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska. As a result, an increase in the northerly winds resulted across the southern portions of the state, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula eastward along the north Gulf Coast. These strong winds from the north helped bring cold air southward. Because of the low temperatures and strong winds, numerous wind-chill advisories were issued for many locations across the state on Friday as wind-chill equivalent temperatures were expected to fall to 60 degrees below zero across southern portions of the state. Along the Arctic coast, 21 mph winds at Prudhoe Bay caused the wind-chill equivalent temperature to reach 80 degrees below zero .

The lowest overnight temperature in Alaska on Thursday morning was 56 degrees below zero at Arctic Village, while the mid-afternoon highest statewide temperature was 36 degrees at Hydaburg, Metlakatla, Shemya and Wrangell.

HAWAIIAN WEATHER --.A strong high pressure system that originated near the Aleutian Islands has moved to southeastward to a location approximately 2000 miles north of Hawaii on Thursday afternoon. As a result, the trade winds over the islands that had weakened slightly over the last several days should increase over the weekend. These persistent winds from the northeast are typically found on the equatorward flank of high pressure systems situated over the subtropical oceans. Trade wind showers were expected along the windward slopes of the islands. Small craft advisories remained in effect.

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON -- The current calendar month of January has two full moons, with the second full moon that will occur this Sunday being commonly called a "blue moon". The first full moon of this month occurred 0249Z on 2 January (or 9:49 PM EST on 1 January) and the second blue moon will be at 1606 Z (or 11:06 AM EST) on Sunday 31 January.

The origin of this meaning of the term "blue moon" is unclear. On occasion, the moon appears bluish in color as the result of airborne particles from forest fires that selectively scatter the light from the moon. The occurrence of two full moons in a calendar month is not that rare, since it occurs every several years. A more unusual event is the fact that this coming March also contains a "blue moon". The occurrence of two blue moons in a single calendar is more rare, happening every 19 years.

HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 29 January

From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast

...1780...On the coldest morning of one of the most severe winters of record in the Northeast, the mercury dipped to 16 degrees below zero at New York City, and reached 20 degrees below zero at Hartford, CT. New York Harbor was frozen for five weeks, allowing a heavy cannon to be taken across the ice to fortify the British on Staten Island. (The Weather Channel)
...1921...A small but intense windstorm resulted in the "Great Olympic Blowdown" in the Pacific Northwest. Hurricane force winds, funneled along the mountains, downed vast expanses of Douglas fir trees, and the storm destroyed eight billion board feet of timber. Winds at North Head, WA gusted to 113 mph. (David Ludlum)
...1983...A series of Pacific coast storms finally came to an end. The storms, attributed in part to the ocean current, "El Niño", produced ocean swells 15 to 20 feet high which ravaged the beaches of southern California. Much of the damage was to homes of movies stars in the exclusive Malibu Colony. (The Weather Channel)
...1987...A strong storm moving out of the Central Rockies spread snow across the north central states, with up to eight inches of snow in Wisconsin, and produced wind gusts to 64 mph at Goodland, KS. A thunderstorm produced three inches of snow in forty-five minutes at Owing Mills, MD. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Rain and snow were primarily confined to the northwestern U.S. An afternoon reading of 34 degrees at International Falls, MN was a record high for the date. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1989...Bitter cold air continued to pour into Alaska. At McGrath, temperature dipped to 63 degrees below zero. Strong winds blowing through the Alaska Range between Fairbanks and Anchorage produced a wind chill reading of 120 degrees below zero at Cantwell. (National Weather Summary)
...1990...Severe thunderstorms in the southeastern U.S. spawned a tornado which destroyed three mobile homes near Blythe, GA injuring six persons. A fast moving cold front produced high winds in the western U.S. Winds along the coast of Oregon gusted to 65 mph at Portland, and high winds generated 22 to 26 foot seas which battered the coast. Winds near Reno, NV gusted to 78 mph. High winds also buffeted the Central High Plains, with gusts to 94 mph reported at La Mesa, CO. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

30 January

...1936...Birmingham, AL established a single storm record and 24 hour record with 11 inches of snow. (29th-30th) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel) (This record was broken in March, 1993. - Intellicast)
...1966...Alabama's record low temperature of 27 degrees below zero was set at New Market. Mississippi's record low temperature of 19 degrees below zero was set near Corinth. North Carolina's record low temperature of 29 degrees below zero was set at Mount Mitchell. (Intellicast)
...1977...The great "Buffalo Blizzard" finally abated after three days. The storm added a foot of new snow to 33 inches already on the ground. Winds gusting to 75 mph reduced visibilities to near zero, produced snow drifts twenty-five feet high, and kept wind chill readings 50 degrees below zero. The blizzard paralyzed the city, and caused 250 million dollars damage as one of the coldest January's on record in the eastern U.S. came to a close. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
...1987...A winter storm brought more heavy snow to the North Atlantic Coast Region, with 13.6 inches reported at Hiram, ME. January proved to be the snowiest of record for much of Massachusetts. Worcester, MA reported an all-time monthly record of 46.8 inches of snow. (National Weather Summary)
...1988...Strong southerly winds, gusting to 53 mph at Kansas City MO, spread warm air into the central U.S. Nineteen cities reported record high temperatures for the date. Snow and strong northwest winds ushered cold arctic air into the north central states. The temperature at Cutbank plunged from 54 degrees to a morning low of 7 degrees below zero. (National Weather Summary)
...1989...The temperature at McGrath, AK dipped to 62 degrees below zero, and Fairbanks reported a reading of 51 degrees below zero, with unofficial readings in the area as cold as 75 degrees below zero. The massive dome of bitterly cold air began to slide down western Canada toward the north central U.S. Strong southwest winds ahead of the arctic front pushed the temperature at Great Falls, MT to 62 degrees, and gusted to 124 mph at Choteau, MT, overturning trucks and mobile homes, and a dozen empty railroad cars. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1990...A major winter storm produced heavy snow from Indiana to New England. It was the biggest storm in two and a half years for eastern New York State. Snowfall totals in the mountains of Maine ranged up to 20 inches at Guilford and Lovell. Other heavy snowfall totals included 17 inches at Utica, NY, and 19 inches at Bethel, VT, Ludlow, VT, and New London, NH. The storm claimed three lives in eastern New York State, and four lives in Vermont. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1996...A snowfall of 6.4 inches on this day pushed the seasonal snowfall to 180 inches at Sault Ste Marie, MI. This set a new seasonal snowfall record for the city. The old record was 178.6 inches set in 1976-77. (Intellicast)

31 January

...1911...Tamarack, CA was without snow the first eight days of the month, but by the end of January had been buried under 390 inches of snow, a record monthly snowfall total for the U.S. (The Weather Channel)
...1937...A snowstorm set records in Oregon with 16 inches recorded at Portland and 25 inches at Salem. (Intellicast)
...1949...The temperature at San Antonio, TX plunged to a record low of one degree below zero. Helena, MT reached 42 degrees below zero. (David Ludlum)
...1966...A blizzard struck the northeastern U.S. When the storm came to an end, twenty inches of snow covered the ground at Washington, DC. (David Ludlum)
...1982...A snowstorm struck Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Twenty-five inches of snow at Greenville, IL, located east of Saint Louis, MO, paralyzed the community. St. Louis, MO recorded 18 inches. The storm left 4000 motorists stranded for two days in Illinois. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
...1987...A storm in the Pacific Northwest produced wind gusts to 85 mph in Oregon, and nearly two inches of rain in twelve hours in the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Ten inches of snow at Stampede Pass, WA brought their total snow cover to 84 inches. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thirty-one cities in the central and northeastern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date, with many occurring during the early morning hours. Temperatures in western New York State reached the 60s early in the day. Strong northerly winds in the north central U.S. produced wind chill readings as cold as 60 degrees below zero in North Dakota. (National Weather Summary)
...1989...An enormous and extremely cold high pressure area over Alaska set record high barometric pressures. The barometric pressure at Norway, AK reached 31.85 inches (1078.4 mb) establishing an all-time record for the North American Continent. The temperature at the time of the record was about 46 degrees below zero (The Weather Channel).
Severe arctic cold began to invade the north central U.S. The temperature at Great Falls, MT plunged 85 degrees in 36 hours. Valentine, NE plummeted from a record high of 70 degrees to zero in just nine hours. Northwest winds gusted to 86 mph at Lander, WY, and wind chill readings of 80 degrees below zero were reported in Montana. Sixty-four cities in the central U.S. reported record highs for the date as readings reached the 60s in Michigan and the 80s in Kansas. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1990...High winds in Montana on the 28th, gusting to 77 mph at Judith Gap, were followed by three days of snow. Heavy snow fell over northwest Montana, with up to 24 inches reported in the mountains. An avalanche covered the road near Essex with six feet of snow. Snow and high winds also plagued parts of the southwestern U.S. Winds gusted to 54 mph at Show Low, AZ, and Flagstaff, AZ was blanketed with eight inches of snow. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1991...The wettest January ever for Apalachicola, FL came to an end as 20.80 inches of rain fell, or 582 percent of normal!! Lake Charles, LA ended up with 14.29 inches of rain for the month which broke the previous record of 12.69 inches set in January 1974. (Intellicast)
...1994...Caribou, ME recorded its coldest month ever. The average temperature for the month was a frigid 0.7 degrees below zero. The old record was 1.3 degrees set in January 1957. (Intellicast)