Author: Meteorologist Mark

Rain on the way

Weather Headlines

Rain moves in later tonight

Rain and thunder for Tuesday (no heavy rain and no strong storms expected)

Possible snow showers for Thursday (watching)

Rain returns by Sunday

Main threats

No significant threats are noted on the 7-day outlook. If, however, snow showers develop on Thursday we could be looking at some slick spots. At this time, that threat appears greatest south of I-40. Monitoring closely.

Summary

Well, many of us got to see some nice sunshine early this morning but clouds are already trying to move back in. Those clouds should continue to be on the gradual increase as we go through the day.

By tonight, those clouds will start to drop some rain. Thankfully, this rain event does not look like a heavy one. Total rainfall amounts across the plateau should stay around one half inch. That’s  a far cry from the 2-5+ inch amounts we’ve seen in weeks past!

The precip ends as some light showers Wednesday morning (perhaps even a snowflake?).

Then, a southern system develops and that could mean some light wintry precip for some of us on Thursday. That system will squirt just to our south, keeping us on the colder side of things. If any moisture makes it this far north, it would fall as snow flakes. That chance is greatest for those of you who live along and south of I-40. I’ll be watching this system closely in the coming days.

Friday and Saturday look good, before our next rain system begins moving in on Sunday.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Wx Hazards Across the Nation

Severe Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories

Flood advisories for numerous streams remain in effect across the Southeast. The green shading is for general thunderstorms today and/or tonight.

Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories

A strengthening storm system will spread accumulating snowfall across parts of the Upper Midwest this afternoon and tonight. Snowfall amounts of 2-5 inches are expected from southern Minnesota to Michigan. Meanwhile, folks out west continue to be affected by a winter storm.

Records

It was mild enough for severe weather on this day in 1956. A powerful F-3 tornado struck Giles and Lawrence Counties in southern Middle Tennessee. Two people were hurt along the tornado’s 10-mile path of destruction.

Another tornado in that system touched down in Fentress County. The F-2 tornado injured two people as it moved along Highway 52, between Jamestown and Allardt.

Monday Sun Day

The sun’s magnetic field has two poles, like a bar magnet. The poles flip every 11 years, during the peak of solar activity.

NASA Knowledge

The launch of the resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was a success on Saturday! The rocket launched from Wallop’s Island Virginia. The resupply spacecraft carried 7,500 pounds of science investigations and cargo to the ISS.

News

There are still a few spots left in my MASTER science class for kids this Thursday! The class meets at 4:30 at Roane State on Thursday. The topic is volcano weather. You must be registered and that form can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPgeoh5RqrXUpy4_8Yt9e-6E7WvUKUdtMD__TAq-MVtYHlKA/viewform

You all have a great day!

A calmer week ahead

Weather Headlines

Cloudy days return

Next rain-maker arrives Tuesday

Turning cooler but drier for the end of the week

Main threats

No widespread hazardous weather in sight.

Summary

We’ll see lots of clouds for the next 48 hours. We may even see a sprinkle or a light shower, but that will be very light activity, if it happens at all.

The next chance for us to all get some rain will come Monday night and Tuesday. We should see around a half inch of rain across the plateau, maybe up to an inch for some. There will be some rumbles of thunder but the risk for severe storms this time around is very, very low. Thank goodness!

Then, we see clouds for the better parts of Wednesday and Thursday. Again, those clouds may drop some sprinkles or a light shower (or a flurry?) but it’s nothing to get excited about.

The only fly in the ointment, so to speak, is that if any of the moisture that is to our south on Wednesday or Thursday makes it this far north, it would fall in the frozen form. Right now, that looks very unlikely, but stay tuned just in case something changes with that system’s track.

By Friday, that southern system will have moved away, allowing our sunshine to return for both Friday and Saturday.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Wx Hazards Across the Nation

Severe Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories

Numerous flood advisories continue for area streams across the Southeast. A chance for t-storms exists across the northern Gulf Coast.

Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories

A winter storm continues to threaten the western US.

Records

On this day in 1899 Washington DC had 30 inches of snow on the ground. To make matter worse, 1.25 inches of rain fell on top of that snow-pack. This is considered the soggiest day on record for the nation’s capital.

Sunday Story

Water, Water Everywhere

One thing is for certain, we have had plenty of rain this year across the plateau! We just have to be so very careful around any flood waters we encounter. The power of water should never be underestimated. 

One of our concerns is hydroplaning. Always slow down when approaching standing water. Hydroplaning occurs when your tire encounters more water than it can scatter away, separating the tire from the road’s surface. The result is loss of control of that tire.

While standing water is certainly dangerous, moving water is even deadlier. In fact, it only takes six inches of water to move most cars. That’s not a lot of water but water is such a powerful force that it doesn’t take much of it to move large things. Even fewer vehicles are any match for just a foot of flowing water. 

Finally, it seems people will never learn to not drive across flooded roads. Every year, time and time again, people take that chance and end up losing their lives. Even having kids in the car doesn’t deter some folks from taking the risk.

It’s hard to understand why some drivers make that fatal decision. More than likely it’s because they were in a hurry. Rather than turn around and take a much longer route, they just drive into the flood waters and hope they make it. Other victims probably just underestimated the power of water. 

Some folks think that the road ahead of them is covered with some water and opt to drive across it. They learn, all too late, that the whole road is gone and the water is actually feet deep and moving rapidly.

Water is essential for life but it’s certainly capable of taking life too. Please be careful and remember, we only have this one life. It’s always better to be late than never. 

A sunny Saturday for a change!

Weather Headlines

A nice Saturday for us (finally!)

Clouds increase again on Sunday

Rain returns for our work week

Main threats

No widespread hazardous weather is expected for the next several days. Just be careful around any flooded streams you may encounter.

Summary

We’ll see a very nice Saturday in store for us! Yes, it’s chilly, but it won’t feel that bad by this afternoon.

By Sunday, the next system starts throwing more clouds our way. Those clouds may drop a shower or sprinkle Sunday afternoon/evening. That slim rain chance sticks with us through Monday.

Then, a stronger system moves in Tuesday. That system will bring more rainfall but it no longer looks like it will bring heavy rainfall. That sure is good news! The storms should stay below severe limits, too. That’s another round of good news. As of now, it looks like rain totals for next week will stay under on inch.

The rest of the week just looks mostly cloudy and chilly.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Wx Hazards Across the Nation

Severe Weather Watches, Warnings and Advisories

Flood advisories continue for numerous streams across the Southeast.

Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories

A new winter storm is threatening the western US.

Records

A major winter storm brought significant snowfall to Middle Tennessee on this day in 1969. Folks just west of Nashville, especially around the Clarksville area, saw nearly a foot of snow. Nashville measured nearly seven inches. The snow tapered off to the east, with those of us on the plateau picking up around four inches.

On this day in 1895 a very unusual and historic winter storm struck the Deep South. Folks who never saw snow were shoveling snow with this event! Houston, Texas measured a whopping 22 inches of snow! Even New Orleans had nine inches! Mobile, Alabama had half a foot. Galveston, Texas had 15 inches! Even Brownsville, Texas had half a foot. Some parts of coastal Louisiana had two feet of snow. What an event that must have been!

Saturday Snow Day

If you ever find yourself stranded in the arctic just build an igloo! (haha) Simple enough, right? Actually, you can just burrow into the snow and you’ll be fine. An igloo, or snow cave, protects you from the wind. That alone helps raise your body temperature. Wind carries heat away from your body, leaving you colder than you would otherwise be.

Snow also is an excellent insulator. Each snowflake is about 90% air and air is an incredible insulator. That’s why you put double pane windows in your house. The air between the panes insulates (fyi, triple pane windows are no better. Double pane is just fine!).

With just one person inside an igloo, the temperature can range from 40-60 degrees. That’s not enough to wear shorts but you’ll be fine with warm clothing. Keep in mind, the arctic can experience temperatures that are tens of degrees below zero.

As the inside of the igloo warms, the inner slow layer melts. However, that melting is short-lived because of the bitter cold air outside. Therefore, it freezes into a layer of ice around the inside of the igloo. This creates yet another layer of nice insulation.

With lots of people, or even the addition of a candle, temperatures inside an igloo have been know to be in the 90s! That’d be cozy, for sure, but it sure would hurt when you have to step back outside into sub-zero temperatures!

NASA News

An International Space Station (ISS) resupply rocket is scheduled to launch from Wallops on the coast of Virginia this afternoon! I sure wish I were there. I’m actually kinda wondering why I didn’t plan that better. (ha) This mission has been rescheduled (I think twice?) but is once again scheduled to head out this afternoon. These missions take new supplies and experiments to the ISS.

Pictured below is an image from the last launch, which I was honored to be in attendance for thanks to a NASA Social invite. This was back in November. Come to think of it, I’m really starting to get rocket fever again……

You all have a great Saturday!