Weather Headlines
–The next significant storm system arrives Thursday night
Main threats
No widespread weather threats in sight at this time.
Summary
We will have our fair share of clouds this week, but we will also see some sunshine. There’s no bitter cold air in sight and no exceptionally warm air in sight.
It might be worth mentioning that these clouds could produce a snow flurry in the morning. It’s so insignificant that I didn’t even put it on the 7-day outlook.
The next best chance for precip arrives Thursday night. That rain will persist through at least the first half of the day Saturday.
Almanac
Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast
Records
On this day in 1957 a tornado touched down in Fentress County. The tornado, reaching F-2 strength at one point, injured one person in the Armathwaite community. The total path length was 15 miles. The tornado destroyed two barns and unroofed two homes in Armathwaite. The map below shows the path of the twister in red.
This same set-up produced a tornado in Alabama that had a 27-mile path that was as straight as an arrow (very odd). One home was picked up by the tornado and dropped 500 feet away, killing one person.
Tropics
We may actually have a storm developing in the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center gives the system a 50% of becoming a named storm over the next couple of days. The system will then encounter unfavorable winds and a cold front, which will lead to its demise. The system, pictured below in orange, is no threat to the US. If named, this system will be Sebastien.
Today’s WeatherTAP WeatherWORD
Airmass
A large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout. An arctic airmass, for example, is bitterly cold throughout and has very little moisture.
WeatherTAP WeatherFACT
Many areas of the world have similar air masses in place year round. For example, the North and South Poles both have very cold, dry air in place year round. The tropics, on the other hand, have a very warm and humid airmass in place year round. It’s those of us in the middle (aka the middle latitudes) that end up in the “battle zone” between these two air masses. This can, of course, lead to some very stormy conditions from time to time.
Pictured below are common air masses found across North America.
NASA Knowledge
NASA will be holding a press conference today to announce additional American companies joining the competitive pool for delivery services to the moon through the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services project. These supplies will be essential for providing astronauts what they need when they are living on the moon. There will be different landing sites on the moon, where astronauts can travel to pick up the dropped-off supplies. I guess it’s kinda like little stores they can go to and just pick up the payload.
News
Winter weather advisories are in effect for much of New England for tonight. They are expecting light freezing rain and snow to make for some treacherous driving conditions.
Winter storm watches are in effect for portions of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California for tonight. Several inches of snow could fall. Those watches are also in effect for portions of southern Utah.
Additional winter storm watches are in effect for parts of western Montana for tonight.
You all have a great day!
