Author: Meteorologist Mark

I thought I would give you all a quick update on our wintry weather situation developing for Wednesday night. It still looks like we’ll be plenty warm enough for rain showers during the day Wednesday. I don’t foresee any problems from ice during the daylight hours.

Yesterday, it looked like the colder air would be here in the afternoon. However, that colder air has slowed down and will be arriving a few hours later than previously expected.

Also, keep in mind that winds will be quite gusty tomorrow, as the air masses mix and mingle. Those winds will get colder as the day goes along.

After dark, we’ll be getting cold enough for some snowflakes. There’s still uncertainty in just how much moisture will be leftover for the cold air, so there’s still some uncertainty with accumulation. Regardless, this is another light precipitation event, with many of us seeing a dusting to one half inch. Some of the heavier snow spots may see up to an inch, as it looks right now. If more moisture lags behind than the models are showing (which is entirely possible) we could be looking at more of a widespread one inch snow, with isolated amounts up to two inches.

The favored “heavier snow” spots will be those along the western edges of the plateau, from Mayland to Monterey and up toward Jamestown. Northwest winds hitting the plateau will encourage snowfall, leading to amounts as high as one inch (maybe two inches).

I’ll keep an eye on it for you all the rest of today and all day tomorrow. As you know, timing sometimes changing with these systems, so I’ll be watching that closely. I’ll also keep you posted on how much moisture looks to be hanging around for the colder air. You snowbirds better hope the moisture doesn’t hightail it out of here before the cold air arrives! (ha)

WHAT: Light snow

HOW MUCH: A dusting to around one inch (possible higher totals on western edge of plateau)

WHEN: After 6:00 p.m. Wednesday

FYI, it still looks like some light snow will be possible Friday and Friday night. That again would be a very light event. I’ll keep you posted!

Rain and Snow Chances

Weather Headlines

Rain showers return Wednesday

Snow showers Wednesday night (accumulation of 1″ or less)

Chance snow Friday and Friday night (accumulation 1″ or less)

Main threats

Any snow that falls Wednesday night could cause some slick spots on area roads. Be careful if you’re out and about.

Another round of snow showers may cause some slick driving conditions Friday and Friday night (possibly into Saturday morning).

Summary

We’ll see mostly cloudy skies today, though there will be a peak of sun from time to time. Those peaks of sun should help us warm to 60 degrees by this afternoon. Enjoy it!

Tonight, rain showers develop and those will stick with us through at least the morning hours of Wednesday. As cold air moves in overnight, snow showers will develop across the plateau, with up to one inch of snow accumulation.

For Thursday, skies will likely be slow to clear out (if they even do).

Then, another disturbance passes through, bringing another round of snow showers for some of us on Friday and into that night. Again, accumulations look light, with one inch or less expected across the plateau.

As of now, Sunday looks pretty good, before another rain-maker arrives Monday. Next week is looking very, very wet. Stay tuned for updates on that. If current guidance verifies, we could be looking at more flooding next week.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Wx Hazards Across the Nation

It will be a windy day in southern California, where wind advisories are in place. Red flag warnings for fire danger are in effect for southern New Mexico. Winter weather advisories cover the central plains, as well as northern Missouri and Illinois. Winter storm watches extend from northern Indiana to New England. Dense fog plagues southern Mississippi this morning.

Records

Wind gusts to 100 mph across parts of eastern New Mexico and western Texas, Kansas and Colorado in previous days led to unusually high amounts of dust in the Southeast on this day in 1977. A very dry and windy pattern across the plains led to high amounts of dust being carried eastward, which affected visibilities across the Southeast all the way to Virginia.

Twister Tuesday

The deadliest tornado in US history left a 219-mile path of destruction across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. This is known as the Tri-State tornado. The storm occurred on March 18, 1925. At least 695 people lost their lives to that twister. This is the longest track for a tornado ever recorded in the world.

This tornado was part of a larger outbreak of tornadoes that included a dozen other unusually long-track tornadoes.

At maximum intensity, the Tri-State tornado raged to F-5 strength, obliterating everything in it’s path at times.

NASA Knowledge

I still can’t believe I was selected for Artemis day by this NASA Social! What an exciting event this will be to cover! Stay tuned for more details.

News

Last night’s MASTER science class went so very well! I think this was one of  the best classes yet. We drew the structure of a volcano on our little dry erase boards. We then made our own volcanoes with playdough, baking soda, and vinegar. It was a fun lesson and I think the kids learned more than they thought they would (ha).

You all have a great day!

Good evening, everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I have just been accepted to a very special NASA Social! Only 20 people were chosen and yours truly is one of them! I will be traveling to Sandusky, Ohio to see the actual Orion capsule that will take the first woman to the moon and the next man!!! This all takes place as soon as next Friday! I will, of course, be covering it all right here. I’ve never been to this particular facility, so I’m especially excited.

If you will recall, I got to see the testing of the Orion abort system this past July. What a trip that was! It’s like I’m getting to see it all come full circle and I’m beyond excited that NASA is letting me see all of this firsthand!

In the email from NASA, they tell me that during the event, I will have the opportunity to tour the Space Environments Complex at Plum Brook, where the Orion spacecraft has completed testing for the Artemis I mission. I will meet and interact with engineers, technicians and other research team members and view and take photographs of Orion. Finally, I will get to meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media.

Remember, the mission to the Moon this time is called Artemis. The first time we went it was called the Apollo program.

Again, I’ll be covering it all on my personal Facebook page and right here in the blog!!!

For a cool video, check this out!

An Active Weather Week

Weather Headlines

A rainy Monday for us

A break on Tuesday

Morning rain, evening light snow possible Wednesday

Flurries Friday night

A dry weekend?

Main threats

Rainfall amounts today should stay at or under one inch areawide. Therefore, major flooding problems are not expected. Never the less, be careful if you’re out driving during heavier downpours.

Light snow is possible Wednesday afternoon and into the night. Light accumulations could lead to some slick spots on area roads. Right now, this looks like a “one inch or less” event, but that could change. Stay tuned.

Summary

We’ll see cloudy skies and rain showers throughout the day. Don’t be surprised if you hear a rumble of thunder. Rainfall amount should stay around one inch across the plateau.

We get a break tomorrow and I wouldn’t be surprised if the temp hits 60 degrees in the afternoon. We will surely get that warm if the sun comes out any. It will be a nice break before the bottom drops out.

Wednesday looks wet, with temperatures falling and winds increasing. Rain will turn to snow at some point but the timing of that is a bit uncertain. Right now, it looks like that change will come in the afternoon hours. If we get any accumulation, that would likely come after dark, though I’m seeing some new data that suggests accumulation could start around 3:00 pm. I’ll keep a close eye on this.

The rest of the week and into the weekend is looking mostly dry but cold. Another disturbance will swing through Friday night and that could kick off some more snow flurries. Right now, that doesn’t look to be a big deal but that could change between now and Friday. Stay tuned.

Almanac

Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast

Wx Hazards Across the Nation

Winter storm watches stretch across Illinois for heavy snowfall expected on Tuesday. Winter weather advisories cover the northern plains. A new storm system threatens to bring heavy snowfall for the mountains of Washington state. Farther south, flash flood watches and warnings cover parts of southern Kansas and Missouri. Wind advisories are in effect for northern Louisiana. Flood warnings for area streams remain in effect across the Southeast.

Records

On this day in 1967 the temperature in Crossville dropped to two degrees, establishing a new record low for this date.

It’s not unusual for Vermont and New Hampshire to get snow this time of year. What was unusual about the snow on this day in 1936 was that is was brown. Dust from dust storms across the Great Plains turned snow brown in New England. New York state had muddy rain to fall. That just all sounds terrible to me!

Monday Sun Day

The sun is the closest thing to a perfect sphere ever observed in nature. That’s pretty wild, right?

Speaking of wild sun facts….

The sun’s harmful UV radiation is largely deterred by the Earth’s ozone layer. That ozone layer is about the width of a piece of paper. Without that layer, life could not exist on Earth. So many delicate things had to come together just right for us to be here.

NASA Knowledge

On February 18, a waning crescent Moon, the planet Mars (near upper right corner), and the International Space Station (series of dots) found themselves in a well-planned field of view over the skies of New Mexico. Not bad photography, if I do say so myself. (ha)

News

The next MASTER science class for kids is this evening at 4:30 at Roane State! I’ve had some cancellations, since this is a rescheduling after last week’s snow on Thursday. So, if you have a kid who could make it out this evening just get them signed up! The link to that form can be found below. The topic this month is volcano weather and this should be a pretty darn cool class. Check it out if you can!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPgeoh5RqrXUpy4_8Yt9e-6E7WvUKUdtMD__TAq-MVtYHlKA/viewform

You all have a great day!