WELCOME TO THE PREVIEW WEEK OF ONLINE WEATHER - The Daily Weather Summary file will describe the current weather pattern across the U.S. Additional Supplemental Information Files will provide optional background material.
A WINTER STORM MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES --The low pressure system in eastern Nebraska moved toward the western Great Lakes on Wednesday. Snow accompanying this storm fell across the Dakotas, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Nearly 8 inches of snow fell on Wednesday along the shores of western Lake Superior near Duluth, MN. A band of freezing precipitation fell across portions of central and northern Wisconsin. As of Wednesday night, an elongated region of low pressure, with one center located over Michigan's lower Peninsula and another center found over Lake Erie. A warm front extended eastward from this more eastern storm, while a cold front trailed to the southwest along the Ohio Valley. With cold air found along the U.S. Canadian border, the precipitation was in the form of snow. While snow lingered across the western Great Lakes, most of the snow spread eastward into the eastern Great Lakes, affecting Upstate New York, and then New England. The low pressure center should move eastward toward eastern Pennsylvania on Thursday. Amounts of an inch of snow or less were expected in New England.
A WEATHER SYSTEM MOVES OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST -- The second of two storms that ushered cold and snowy weather into southern California earlier in the week continued east toward the Southern Plains. By late Wednesday night the low pressure feature had moved eastward to the eastern slopes of the New Mexico Rockies. A cold front extended south into Mexico. High temperatures across the West were below average, with locations in the Great Basin experiencing highs that were nearly 10 degrees below for the corresponding average highs for the date. Widely scattered precipitation associated with this storm was detected in the vicinity of the Four Corners..
This storm system is expected to continue eastward on Thursday. Initially, some of the precipitation especially in the south will fall as rain, but as cold air is brought into the system, snow and freezing rain may spread across New Mexico. Snow advisories were posted for New Mexico and portions of the Texas Panhandle into Thursday. Several inches are anticipated.
Farther west, a wind advisory was posted for the canyons and passes of the Southern California mountains into Thursday afternoon.
A NEW STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES PACIFIC NORTHWEST -- As of late Wednesday night a cold front was making landfall on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula. Some precipitation was detected along the Washington coast in association with the storm system. Another storm system in the eastern Pacific is expected to intensify and reach the Washington Coast on Thursday. Sustained winds with this system could reach 50 mph, with gusts to near 60 mph expected along the coast. Gale warnings for marine interests were posted from Cape Flattery, WA to Point Saint George. Precipitation is expected to expand inland. Winter storm warning for the Olympics and Cascades of Washington State for as much as 15 inches of new snow on Wednesday night. Additional winter storm warnings and snow advisories were posted for the Oregon Cascades, the mountains of Idaho, western Montana
UNSEASONABLY WARM ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST -- The clockwise circulation around a large high pressure cell located off the Carolina coast contributed to another day of above average temperatures across the Southeast. Mostly sunny skies across the region also helped daytime temperatures climb. Afternoon high temperatures across the East ranged from seasonal averages to well above average readings, especially across the lower Ohio and mid Mississippi Valleys where highs were nearly 30 degrees above the average highs. Asheville, NC reached 80 degrees, establishing a new record high temperature for the month of January. Daily record high temperatures were reached at Montgomery (79 degrees) and Huntsville (71 degrees) in Alabama; Columbus (79 degrees) and Atlanta (73 degrees) in Georgia; Chattanooga, TN (75 degrees). Blacksburg (69), Roanoke (75 ) in Virginia. Other records were either tied or exceeded at Champaign and Decatur, IL; Paducah, Jackson and London, KY; Bluefield, Beckley and Huntington, WV; and Mansfield, OH.
Morning fog was a problem over the Southeast, especially on the Florida peninsula, on Wednesday morning. With the continuation of the weather pattern, fog could make a repeat performance on Thursday morning. The clear skies enhance nighttime cooling of the air to saturation with respect to water vapor, resulting in condensation and the formation of fog.
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S. -- Wednesday morning's lowest temperature was 14 degrees below zero at McCall, ID, while the Wednesday afternoon highest temperature was 83 degrees at Laredo, TX.
ALASKAN WEATHER --A strong high pressure system containing extremely cold air pushed southward across the northern portion of the state. This high pressure cell extended across the state from over the Arctic Ocean. Additional high pressure cells were found across eastern Siberia and the Bering Sea. Clear skies were found across a large portion of the state that was under the influence of high pressure. As a result, nighttime temperatures fell to well below zero. A large storm system in the northern Gulf of Alaska continued to produce clouds, precipitation and windy weather across southern Alaska on Wednesday. By midafternoon the low pressure center was east of Middleton Island with a cold front that extended southeastward across the Panhandle and into western Canada. Light snow fell across the Panhandle and the portions of the Gulf Coast, at such locations as Sitka, Juneau and Yakutat. The pressure gradient between the high pressure cell to the north and the low pressure system over the Gulf generated strong winds across southern Alaska. As a result of the low air temperatures and the strong winds, wind-chill advisories were posted for many locations across southern Alaska and the Arctic Slope as wind-chill equivalent temperatures were expected to fall to between 40 below and 60 below zero on Wednesday night.
The lowest temperature in Alaska on Wednesday morning was 54 degrees below zero at Bettles and the highest statewide temperature as of Wednesday afternoon was 39 degrees at Annette Island.
HAWAIIAN WEATHER --The northeast trade winds, the persistent winds from the northeast commonly found across the tropics, have shown signs of weakening over the islands on Wednesday. These winds have been generated by a large high pressure system over the North Pacific Ocean. Earlier this week, this high had reached a 1040 mb central pressure, but by midweek began the high slowly moved eastward and began weakening, causing a slight relaxation of the pressure gradient over the islands. However, another high pressure system to the northwest should cause an intensification of the trade winds later in the week. Fewer trade showers are expected on Thursday. Small craft advisories were continued for coastal waters. However, the high surf advisories that had been in effect were canceled on Wednesday.
AIR MASSES -- For an additional explanation of air masses and their properties, call up the Thursday's optional Supplemental Information.
From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast
Return to Online Weather Homepage
Prepared by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D., email
hopkins@meteor.wisc.edu
© Copyright, 1999, The American Meteorological Society.