Sunday, April 7, 2013

Today's Worst Weather for April 7,2013

Silver Star Mountain,Washington: Soaking Rain

Denver, Rapid City: Blizzard Follows Weekend Warmth

By , Senior Meteorologist
April 7,2013; 5:20PM,EDT



While enjoying this weekend's warmth, residents from Denver to Cheyenne to Rapid City may find it hard to believe that a blizzard is on the way.
The blizzard threatens to bring northeastern Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, western South Dakota and western Nebraska to a standstill Monday night through Tuesday.
Strong winds severely blowing around heavy snow will dramatically reduce visibility and make driving extremely difficult, if not impossible. Officials may be forced to close stretches of interstates 25, 70, 80, 76 and 90.
That is true even though the Front Range is in the midst of a mild stretch of weather, which has helped warm road surfaces, and the strength of the April sun. The snow will come down hard enough to overcome both obstacles.
Parents should prepare for school closures, while airline passengers will likely face cancellations and/or lengthy delays.
Cities in the path of the blizzard include Denver, Fort Collins and Sterling, Colo., Casper, Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyo., Scottsbluff and Chadron, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D.
Snowfall totals in and around these cities will approach or top a foot.
The blizzard is in the works despite the warm weekend that has unfolded across the Front Range. For many, the warmth will persist through Monday with temperatures set to soar back into the 60s across most of northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska.
This warmth will also help set the stage for another round of severe weather across the central and southern Plains later Monday.
Cold air plunging southward and interacting with the storm moving through the West is all that is needed for the blizzard to take shape.
The cold shot headed to Denver will be so intense that temperatures will plunge from the 60s at sunset Monday to the teens by daybreak Tuesday.
The difference in high temperatures from Monday to Tuesday will range from 20 to 40 degrees in Denver and elsewhere where the blizzard will howl.
A similar drop in temperatures will occur in Pueblo and Trinidad, Colo., despite these cities escaping the burying snow.
Before the blizzard unfolds in Denver, Cheyenne and Rapid City Monday night, accumulating snow will first push through Montana and North Dakota on Monday.
Then after the blizzard winds down Tuesday night, AccuWeather.com meteorologists will be monitoring the potential for the snow to shift eastward across the Upper Midwest.
The impending blizzard is not entirely bad news for the Front Range. Runoff from the snow, which will quickly melt once milder air arrives later in the week, will bring needed moisture to the region's parched soil.
Much of the Front Range is currently suffering from an extreme to exceptional drought, according to the latest report from the United States Drought Monitor.

2013's First 80-Degree Day for Atlanta, Raleigh, DC

By , Senior Meteorologist
April 7,2013; 5:11PM,EDT




The year's first 80-degree day is coming to many communities across the South and northward to the Mason-Dixon line by Wednesday.
High pressure anchored across the western Atlantic Ocean will spend the first part of this week pumping warm air from the southern Plains to the East Coast.
Residents will likely soon forget the chilly start to the month with widespread highs in the 70s expected throughout the South, Ohio Valley and much of the mid-Atlantic on Monday.
Temperatures will climb into the lower 80s northward to Montgomery, Ala., and Augusta, Ga.
The 80-degree warmth will then expand to nearly every community across the South and the southern mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, with the beaches and mountains being the exceptions.
That will bring the year's first 80-degree day to Tupelo, Miss., Atlanta, Ga., Nashville, Tenn., Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., Norfolk, Va., and Washington, D.C.--to name a few--since temperatures have yet to achieve that weather feat this year in many places located north of I-20.
Cincinnati, Ohio, and Baltimore, Md., will join the list on Wednesday as the warmth expands slightly to the north.
Whether or not that warmth can hold in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and spread to Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa., on Thursday will depend on how far south a cold front pushes through the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
No question that spring is in full swing across the South and southern mid-Atlantic this week. Photo by Photos.com.
There is no temperature dilemma on Thursday for places south of Washington, D.C. All signs are pointing toward Thursday being another warm day with widespread highs in the 80s from Florida to central Virginia.
The South will cool down by the weekend following the passage of the storm that will first ignite a blizzard in Denver and severe weather across the Plains.
AccuWeather.com meteorologists are also monitoring the possibility of the storm sparking severe weather across the South later this week as it ushers out the 80-degree warmth.

Winds to Whip Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist
April 7,2013; 4:20PM,EDT




Winds strong enough to down power lines and trees, and bring the potential for property damage and hazards to motorists will soon threaten the Southwest.
Many areas from Southern California and Nevada to Arizona and New Mexico are going to be affected with the strongest winds set to howl on Monday.
The highest wind gusts on Monday, between 50 and 70 mph, will whip southern Nevada, the deserts of Southern California, eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.
Las Vegas and Tucson, Ariz., are among the communities in this zone.
Downtown Los Angeles remains under a wind advisory where gusts up to 35 mph are expected.
North of Los Angeles, including the cities of Santa Barbara and Montecito, are under a high wind warning through early on Tuesday morning. Here, winds will frequently gust to 65 mph with isolated gusts up to 80 mph possible in the Montecito Hills.
Farther east, winds could gust to 50 mph in Phoenix Monday afternoon.
The strongest winds on Monday can bring down power lines and trees, and bring the potential for property damage.
For most of the effected area, the high winds will have the potential to make driving conditions difficult at times, especially with high-profile vehicles.
Blowing dust could restrict visibilities, also making for difficult driving conditions.
Winds are expected to increase on Sunday night and continue through the evening on Monday.
The strongest winds are expected during the day on Monday.
Winds will start off coming out of the west and then will shift to a northwesterly direction during the day on Monday.
Other precautionary measures that can be taken include securing trash cans and other loose and lightweight outdoor objects that could be blown around by this wind.
The high winds coming to the area will be created by a low pressure over the Northwest on Sunday. This storm will be dipping into the Southwest on Sunday night, before moving into the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
The storm will then trigger a blizzard in Denver and Cheyenne.

New York City metro-area forecast for April 7-May 1,2013

Tonight,April 7-8: Turning much milder/warmer than recent nights,with clouds breaking and a low temperature dropping to the middle 40's,overnight.As of 7PM,EDT,it's 54 degrees and cloudy,with 68% humidity,and a south wind at 12-mph,making it feel like it's 42 degrees,in White Plains,NY,and it's 52 degrees and cloudy,with 68% humidity,in New York City.

Tomorrow,April 8: Turning much warmer than recent days,as it turns unseasonably warm for early April and early spring,with periods of clouds and warm sunshine,and a high temperature in the upper 60's to lower 70's.

Tomorrow night,April 8-9: Becoming mostly cloudy,rainy,and mild,with a chance for a rain shower,and a low temperature dropping to the upper 40's to lower 50's,overnight.

Tuesday,April 9: Turning even warmer,as it turns very warm for early April,and early spring,with a chance for a passing morning rain shower,followed by clouds yielding to some sun,and a near record high temperature of 75-80 degrees.Remaining mostly cloudy and unseasonably warm,with a touch of late-night rain possible,and a low temperature of 55-60 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,April 10: Not as warm,with variable cloudiness,and a high temperature of around 70 degrees.Remaining unseasonably mild,with considerable cloudiness,and a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 50's,overnight.

Thursday,April 11: Turning mainly cloudy,rainy,breezy,and much colder than recent days,as it turns seasonably cool for early spring,with a chance for a couple of late afternoon rain showers,and a high temperature in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Remaining cloudy,rainy,and mild,but turning stormy,with rain, heavy at times,and a chance for an evening thunderstorm,and a low temperature dropping to 50-55 degrees,overnight.

Friday,April 12: Remaining cloudy,rainy,and seasonably mild for early-to-mid April,with a chance for rain,and a high temperature of 60-65 degrees.Becoming clear to partly cloudy and much colder than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Saturday,April 13: Becoming sunny to partly cloudy,but remaining seasonably mild for early spring,with a high temperature of around 60 degrees.Remaining clear and seasonably chilly to cold for early-to-mid April,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,once again,overnight.

Sunday,April 14: Remaining seasonably mild for mid-April,with plenty of gorgeous sunshine,and a high temperature in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Remaining clear and seasonably chilly for early spring,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower and middle 40's,overnight.

Monday,April 15: Turning much colder than recent days,as it turns unseasonably chilly for mid-April,with a mix of sun and a mix of sun and areas of high morning cloudiness,then turning cloudy,with a high temperature only around 50 degrees.Turning cloudy,rainy,raw,dank,and dreary,with periods of late-night rain possible,and a low temperature dropping to 40-45 degrees,the blustery,biting,southwesterly winds, which could gust up to 25-mph,at times,making it feel even colder,like it's only 30-35 degrees,at times, overnight.

Tuesday,April 16: Remaining cloudy,but turning dry and much warmer,with a high temperature of 60-65 degrees.Becoming clear,but remaining seasonably chilly for mid-April,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower 40's,overnight.

Wednesday,April 17: Becoming partly sunny,but remaining seasonably mild for mid-April,with a high temperature of 60-65 degrees,once again.Becoming clear,but remaining chilly,with a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,April 18: Not as mild,with partial sunshine,and a high temperature of around 60 degrees.Remaining partly cloudy and chilly,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees, overnight.

Friday,April 19: Remaining seasonably mild for early-to-mid spring,and mid-to-late April,with ample sunshine,and a high temperature of 60-65 degrees.Remaining clear and chilly,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower 40's,overnight.

Saturday,April 20: Not as mild,with ample sunshine,and a high temperature of 55-60 degrees.Remaining clear and seasonably chilly,with a low temperature dropping to 40-45 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,April 21: Turning unseasonably chilly for late April,and early-to-mid spring,with a high temperature only in the upper 40's to lower 50's.Turning unseasonably cold for late April,with considerable cloudiness,and a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,overnight.

Monday,April 22: Remaining rather cool for late April,with considerable cloudiness,and a high temperature of around 60 degrees.Remaining rather cold for very late April,with considerable cloudiness, and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Tuesday,April 23: Remaining cloudy and cool for very late April,with a high temperature only in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Remaining cloudy and rather cold for early-to-mid spring,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,April 24: Becoming mostly sunny and warmer than recent days,with a high temperature of 65-70 degrees.Becoming partly cloudy and milder than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 45-50 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,April 25: Turning cloudy,rainy,and stormy,but remaining rather warm for very late April,with a chance for a couple of morning rain showers,followed by some afternoon showers and thunderstorms possible,and a high temperature of 65-70 degrees,once again.Remaining cloudy,rainy,and mild,with a chance for a bit of rain,and a low temperature dropping to 45-50 degrees,once again,overnight.

Friday,April 26: Remaining cloudy and seasonably mild to warm for mid-spring,and the end of April,with a bit of morning rain possible,and a high temperature in the middle 60's.Remaining mostly cloudy and mild, with a low temperature dropping to around 50 degrees,overnight.

Saturday,April 27: Becoming sunny and warmer,with a high temperature in the upper 60's to lower 70's.Turning partly cloudy and much colder than recent nights,as it turns unseasonably cold for the end of April,with partly cloudy skies,and a near record low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,April 28: Turning cloudy and rainy,but remaining rather warm for mid-spring,with considerable cloudiness,and a chance for some occasional rain,and a high temperature of around 70 degrees.Remaining cloudy and rainy,at first,with a bit of evening rain possible,followed by clearing,and remaining unseasonably cold for the end of April,with a near record low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees, once again,overnight.

Monday,April 29: Turning much cooler/colder than recent days,as it turns unseasonably cool for mid-spring,and the end of April,with partial sunshine and a chance for an afternoon rain shower,and a high temperature of just 55-60 degrees.Remaining unseasonably cold for the end of April,with increasing cloudiness,and a near record low temperature dropping,for the third straight night,down to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Tuesday,April 30: April of 2013 ends turning cloudy,rainy,and stormy,but remaining unseasonably cool for mid-spring,with considerable cloudiness and a chance for a scattered afternoon shower or thunderstorm possible,and a high temperature of just 55-60 degrees,once again.Remaining unseasonably raw and cold for mid-spring,with a chance for a bit of evening rain possible,and a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,May 1: May of 2013 begins where April 2013 left off,as it remains cloudy,rainy,raw,dank, dreary,and unseasonably cool for mid-spring,with a chance for a couple of showers and thunderstorms,and a high temperature,for the third straight day,of just 55-60 degrees.Remaining cloudy, rainy,raw,dank,dreary,and miserable,with a chance for a couple of evening showers and thunderstorms followed by a little late-night rain,and a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

NWS Broadens Hurricane Warning Definition

April 7,2013; 4:10PM,EDT




The National Weather Service announced April 4 that, starting June 1, the definitions of hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings will be broadened.
The new changes will allow watches and warnings to be issued or remain in effect after a tropical cyclone becomes post-tropical, when such a storm poses a significant threat to life and property.
In addition, the National Hurricane Center will be permitted to issue advisories during the post-tropical stage.
The policy changes were motivated by the special challenges posed by Hurricane Sandy, which was forecast to evolve from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone prior to reaching the New Jersey coast.
The NHC did not issue hurricane advisories north of North Carolina due to the nature of the changing storm.
Fearing a public misunderstanding of the severity of Sandy's impacts, AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers urged the NHC to reverse the decision before Sandy made landfall.
The NHC believes that the policy changes will prevent a similar situation in the future.
"Our forecasters now have more flexibility to effectively communicate the threat posed by transitioning tropical systems," Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Weather Service said.
"Sandy's forecast was remarkably accurate and under a similar situation in the future, forecasters will be able to choose the best option to underscore the urgency involved."
This policy change was first proposed during the NOAA Hurricane Meeting in November and has since been the focus of much discussion in the meteorological and emergency management communities, in forums such as the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting in January and the National Hurricane Conference in March.
This change is also supported by preliminary findings from NOAA's service assessment on Sandy, which will be released in May.
"I would like to thank everyone for their open and candid feedback on this proposal," Rick Knabb, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center said.
"Keeping communities safe when a storm threatens is truly a team effort and this change reflects that collaboration."

Multi-Day Severe Weather on Plains Commences

By , Senior Meteorologist
April 7,2013; 4:07PM,EDT




The severe weather closing out this weekend is just the first of three rounds of violent thunderstorms that will threaten lives and property across the central and southern Plains through Tuesday.
The strongest thunderstorms each day will be capable of unleashing damaging winds, large hail, frequent lightning, downpours and some tornadoes.
The round of severe weather in store for Tuesday will likely be the worst and most far-reaching of the three, but residents should still not take the rounds for this afternoon/evening and later Monday lightly.
The first episode of severe weather has already commenced with golf ball-sized hail slamming southeastern Kansas earlier this afternoon.
Additional powerful thunderstorms will fire through this evening from the far eastern Texas Panhandle to northeastern Kansas and central Missouri.
Cities in this zone include Gage, Hobart and Oklahoma City, Okla., Wichita, Chanute and Topeka, Kan., and Springfield, Mo. Not all of these cities will be impacted as this round of severe weather will not be widespread.
The severe weather danger will wane later tonight as the violent thunderstorms weaken, organize into a cluster and head northeastward toward Chicago.
Instead of cooler and drier air replacing the severe weather, the stage will then be set for a more widespread round of potentially damaging thunderstorms to erupt Monday afternoon.
AccuWeather.com meteorologists are especially concerned for numerous severe thunderstorms, including a few tornadoes, to target places in and around northwestern Kansas -- home to the communities of Goodland and Colby.
A few violent thunderstorms are also expected to erupt eastward to Omaha, Neb., and just north of Kansas City, Mo., and southward across Altus, Okla., and Junction, Texas.
The severe thunderstorms that erupt Monday afternoon should shift to northern Missouri, southern Iowa and central Kansas at night, but will diminish after Monday evening across western Oklahoma and north-central Texas.
The caboose of this multi-day severe weather danger for the central and southern Plains will come on Tuesday, and could lead to one of the worst severe weather outbreaks so far this season.
Tuesday's outbreak will commence from far southeastern Nebraska and central Kansas to north-central Texas in the afternoon.
Severe thunderstorms will then increase in coverage through Tuesday night as the danger zone expands across more of central Texas, eastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, western Arkansas and western Missouri.
"Cities that could be hit by dangerous and damaging weather conditions during Tuesday [also spanning the overnight hours] include Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan.," stated AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski when he warned of the danger last week.
Springfield and Joplin, Mo., and Tulsa, Okla., are among the other cities in harm's way.
On Wednesday, the severe weather danger will focus on places from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Tyler and Houston, Texas.
Residents throughout the central and southern Plains should continue to check back with AccuWeather.com for the latest updates on the impending violent and dangerous weather.
Those living in places where the severe weather, including the danger of tornadoes, will occur at night should figure out a plan of how to avoid sleeping through potentially life-saving warnings.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Denver, Cheyenne: Blizzard Follows Weekend Warmth

By , Senior Meteorologist
April 6,2013; 5:20PM,EDT



While enjoying this weekend's warmth, residents from Denver to Cheyenne to near Rapid City may find it hard to believe that a blizzard is on the way.
The blizzard threatens to bring northeastern Colorado, southeastern Wyoming, southwestern South Dakota and western Nebraska to a standstill Monday night through Tuesday.
Strong winds severely blowing around heavy snow will dramatically reduce visibility and make driving extremely difficult, if not impossible. Officials may be forced to close stretches of interstates 25, 70, 80, 76 and 90.
That is true even though the Front Range is in the midst of a mild stretch of weather, which has helped warm road surfaces, and the strength of the April sun. The snow will come down hard enough to overcome both obstacles.
The blizzard is sure to cause nightmares for travelers, both on the ground and in the air, Monday night through Tuesday. Photo by Photos.com.
Parents should prepare for school closures, while airline passengers will likely face cancellations and/or lengthy delays.
Cities in the path of the blizzard include Denver, Fort Collins and Sterling, Colo., Casper, Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyo., and Scottsbluff and Chadron, Neb.
Snowfall totals in and around these cities will approach or top a foot.
While the true blizzard conditions should narrowly miss Rapid City, S.D., to the south, residents can still expect 6 to 12 inches of disruptive snow.
The blizzard is in the works despite the warm weekend that has unfolded across the Front Range. Temperatures in most of the cities bracing for the blizzard are set to soar into the 60s on Sunday.
However, cold air plunging southward and interacting with the storm set to move through the West Sunday through Monday is all that is needed for the blizzard to take shape.
The same storm threatens to ignite an outbreak of severe weather Monday through Tuesday from Texas to Kansas.
As the severe weather takes aim at the Mississippi Valley and Arklatex on Wednesday, AccuWeather.com meteorologists will be monitoring the potential for the snow to shift eastward across Nebraska and South Dakota and into the Upper Midwest.
The impending blizzard is not entirely bad news for the Front Range. Runoff from the snow, which will quickly melt once milder air arrives later in the week, will bring needed moisture to the region's parched soil.
Much of the Front Range is currently suffering from an extreme to exceptional drought, according to the latest report from the United States Drought Monitor.

Boston, NYC, DC, Pittsburgh Temperature Dilemma

By , Senior Meteorologist
April 6,2013; 5:09PM,EDT




While temperatures will be on the rise across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic through Monday, how long the warmth lasts after that will depend whether cold or warm air wins an upcoming battle.
The warmth could last through most of the upcoming workweek ahead of the storm set to bring a snowstorm to Denver and an outbreak of severe weather across the southern Plains and Deep South.
Temperatures could soar into the 70s northward to central New York and central New England when the warmth peaks on Thursday.
However, there is also a chance that colder air regains control later next week and the forecast for Thursday will be 20 to 30 degrees colder, even down to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
How far south a cold front, set to arrive on Tuesday, can press through the Northeast and mid-Atlantic will determine whether the second half of the workweek feels more like the beginning or end of spring.
The cold blast should at least press into northern New England, halting the opportunity for further warming during the remainder of the week.
In this scenario, the warmth would hang on farther to the south across southern New England and the mid-Atlantic until the storm from the Plains ushers in cooler air Friday and Saturday.
AccuWeather.com meteorologists are concerned that a stronger blast of cold air will follow Tuesday's front, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures as far south as Washington, D.C., by Thursday.
Highs in the 40s and 50s would be common from Portland, Maine, to Washington, D.C., Thursday and Friday, while the 70-degree warmth is suppressed to southern Virginia.
It is possible that temperatures fail to climb out of the 30s one or both of these days across far northern New England.
Along the final resting spot of the cold front, AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski stated, "It is possible that a 20- to 40-degree temperature contrast sets up over the same number of miles at the local level."
With that statement, it is easy to see why the Northeast and mid-Atlantic are facing such a temperature dilemma--one that AccuWeather.com meteorologists will be solving in the upcoming days.
A wide-range of temperatures are possible across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic later next week. Photo by Photos.

Month's Worth of Rain for Tokyo Already This April

By Evan Duffey, Meteorologist
April 6,2013; 5:02PM,EDT




April has started on an extremely wet note across Japan, with Tokyo already recording more than a month's worth of rain.
A storm on the 2nd and 3rd brought torrential rains to major cities in Japan. In the Kanto Plain, cities were inundated with rain.
The hardest hit location was the Japanese Capital in Tokyo, which received over 4.48 inches (11.4 cm) of rain on both of those days with an additional 1.26 inches (3.2 cm) of rain on Saturday, as of 9 p.m. local time.
That pushes the rain total for those three days to 5.74 inches (14.6 cm), over the 5.30 inches (13.5 cm) Tokyo typically receives during the entire month of April.
Another city further north on the Kanto Plain that was hard hit was Sendai, which received 1.65 inches (4.2 cm) of rain during the event, almost half the normal amount they see during the month of April on average.
The result of such heavy rains has been flooding for many locations in the Kanto Plain. Flood warnings are in effect as many of the region rivers have reached flood stage.
During the rain event itself, low lying areas and those places with poor drainage saw groundwater pile up. A subway system in Tokyo was flooded.
A Tokyo subway system, flooded by heavy rains. (Photo Courtesy Twitter user @ubergenki)
While Tokyo does have a system of tunnels designed to assist in flood prevention, the system was not enough to prevent flooding from occurring.
More rain is expected on Saturday night and Sunday as well. Many of the computer models are currently predicting a storm system that should lift over central Honshu during that time period to bring anywhere between 0.75 and 1.50 inches (2-4 cm) of rain to most locations, with locally higher amounts.
Looking forward, the combination of additional rainfall and an already saturated ground could lead to more than just localized flooding. Rivers already in flood stage may see conditions worsen.
Another threat will be from landslides, as the ground continues to saturate and eventually give way, especially in hillier locations. Landslides always carry the potential to bring significant damage as they sweep large chunks of land downhill, destroying entire homes in their path.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Photos.com/Yury Zap

Warm Temperatures Wrap-Up Ski Season in Northeast

By Molly Cochran, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
April 6,2013; 4:56PM,EDT




Ski season comes to an end from West Virginia to some parts of the Northeast on Sunday.
Ragged Mountain, N.H., had a great ski season. Stacy Lopes, the marketing manager of Ragged Mountain said March was the snowiest month of winter for the mountain.
"Unlike the past two seasons, where the visits pretty much tapered off mid-March, we've held our momentum straight through until the end," she said.
Concord, N.H., has received 173 percent more snow this season compared to last. With 48.0 inches of snow recorded last winter compared to 83.1 inches recorded this winter, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist, Dave Samuhel said. The normal amount of snowfall for Concord is 58.7 inches.
"Due to all of the natural snow, glade trails, that require natural snow, have been open this season," Loper said.
Ragged Mountain is expected to close April 7 this year, compared to the March 18 close date they had last year.
"For us, we are ending on a high-note," Lopes said.
SugarLoaf Mountain, a ski resort in Maine has also, witnessed a much better ski season this year compared to last. SugarLoaf Mountain hopes to ski through mid-May. Skiing into May has been relatively normal for the resort for the past 10 years.
"We have a ton of snow," Ethan Austin, communications manager for SugarLoaf said.
As of April 6, SugarLoaf had 1,074 skiable acres with 145 trails open, according to the ski resort's website.
With mid-March snow storms contributing to the stockpile of snow from the entire season, the snow SugarLoaf has received all season is sticking around. As of April 5, Augusta, Maine had 78.4 inches of snow. This is above Augusta's normal snow total of 67.9 inches.
"The big thing is that we [SugarLoaf] have never had a big thawing event or heavy rain and the temperatures haven't warmed up yet," Austin said.
AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist, Samuhel said that Augusta, Maine received 163 percent more snow this season compared to last. Last winter a total of 48.2 inches was recorded compared to this seasons 78.4 inches, as of April 5.
Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort in West Virginia matched their earliest opening date in 10 years, due to the snow they received from Hurricane Sandy, according to David Dekema, the director of marketing for Snowshoe.
Snow is in abundance at Snowshoe this season compared to last, with 98 percent of their terrain open.
Snowshoe intended to end their ski season on March 31, but due to an additional 5 feet of snow in the month of March alone, Snowshoe will close for the season on April 7, according to Dekema.
Tussey Mountain All Seasons in Pennsylvania has appreciated a much snowier season as well. Last year, Tussey was forced to close February 29 due to a lack of snow. They were predicting to stay open until March 17 this year. With added snowfall throughout March, Tussey Mountain All Seasons skied until March 31, according to Sue Matalavage, the office manager for Tussey Mountain.
"I've been here for 26 seasons, skiing until the end of March might have happened twice," Matalavage said.

This year the complete mountain was open, compared to last year when only half of the mountain was open. The Shamokin Trail, which can only be opened when there is enough natural snow, made a debut this season after it was closed all of last winter.
State College, Pa., has seen a 229 percent increase in snow this winter compared to last winter, with 19.0 inches of snow reported compared to this winter with 43.6 inches of snow, Samuhel said. The normal snowfall for State College is about 45 inches.
Although Tussey Mountain All Seasons has seen a significantly snowier winter, Hoffman said the winters still are not the same as in the past. Hoffman said it seems like there is a much milder winter pattern. He said he can remember a time when Tussey used to open before the holiday season, and now they are lucky if that happens.
Despite the increase in snow totals from this season compared to last, warmer temperatures will start to win out as the month progresses. Below are average high temperatures for the month of April and the forecasted average high temperatures for Sunday, April 7.




















City Average Temp. Forecasted Temp.
Concord 52 59
Augusta 48 50
Elkins 53 66
State College 55 60
AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Jack Boston says this could be due to an 11-year solar cycle that just came to an end.
The winter of 2012 was one of the warmest winters on record for many parts of the country. Every 11 years the Earth goes through a cycle of warmer winters, because of sun spot activity. This is because the sun gives off more energy, Boston said.
"Last winter was extraordinary because of abovenormal temperatures by 5-12 degrees from the Rockies to the East Coast," he said.
A less active pattern of storms was seen throughout last winter. This is because of a zonal pattern of the jet stream. A zonal pattern means that the jet stream ran straight east to west, instead of dipping down from the arctic, bringing cold air throughout the United States, according to Boston.
"This season we have seen a much colder and stormier track, favorable for the Northeast," Boston said.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Ragged Mountain Resort.

Severe Weather Outbreak: Texas to Kansas, Missouri

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
April 6,2013; 4:43PM,EDT




After locally violent thunderstorms erupt on Sunday, an outbreak of severe weather will threaten lives and property from Texas to Kansas and Missouri Monday through Wednesday.
Interests from the central Plains to Texas will want to monitor weather conditions closely during the first part of next week.
The weather setup through at least the first half of next week will put lives and property at risk. The severe weather outbreak expected is likely to be the worst of the season so far.
The nature of the storm in local areas has yet to be determined, but some locations have the potential to be hit with violent thunderstorms that bring large hail, damaging wind gusts, frequent lightning strikes and flash flooding.
There is also the potential for a few tornadoes to be produced.
The main severe weather event will be preceded by locally violent thunderstorms from the Texas Panhandle to Missouri Sunday afternoon.
This includes Childress, Texas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., Wichita, Kan., and Springfield, Mo.
On Monday, the first storms during the outbreak are likely to fire late in the day or early at night along a push of dry air from the deserts coming in contact with humid air from the Gulf of Mexico. This zone would stretch from the western portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
The danger also extends across far southeastern Nebraska and neighboring southwestern Iowa due to the storm's warm front.
The dry line, as it is called by meteorologists, would then advance slowly to the east across the same states--with Nebraska and Iowa being the exceptions--on Tuesday. The strongest thunderstorms on Tuesday will ignite in the afternoon.
According to Severe Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski, "Initially, the storms will be slow to move eastward over the Plains, but an increase in forward speed is likely toward the middle of the week."
Cities that could be hit by dangerous and damaging weather conditions during Tuesday include Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan.
By Wednesday, the severe weather is forecast to reach some of the Mississippi Valley states and may organize into a solid line of thunderstorms, known as a squall line.
This image of a rotating, severe thunderstorm near Phoenix, Ariz., that was producing large hail was taken on Oct. 6, 2010, by Flickr user wxcasterphx.
Cities that could face a wall of rain and gusty winds at some point Wednesday could include Houston; Shreveport, La.; Little Rock, Ark.; St. Louis and Springfield, Mo.
North of the severe thunderstorm area, a swath of rain will soak some Midwest and central and northern Plains communities. Snow will also fall over parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.
AccuWeather.com recommends taking time this weekend to rehearse with family members what to do if severe weather or tornadoes are sighted in your area.

Cool, Soggy Weekend for Seattle, Portland

April 6,2013; 4:42PM,EDT



After temperatures surged into the 70s last weekend in much of the Pacific Northwest, a period of cool, wet weather is in store for the next several days.
Rain will continue through the weekend in Seattle and Spokane, Wash., as well as Portland, Salem and Eugene, Ore.
A series of storm systems will trigger the rain through early Monday. Following the passage of a cold front on Saturday, another system right on its heels will move in on Saturday night and last through Sunday, bringing another round of locally heavy rain.
Including the rain that fell on Friday, 1 to 2 inches of rain is expected from Seattle to Portland, with heavier amounts along the coast and in the mountains. The heavy rain amounts may led to minor flooding in some areas.
Snow will mix with the rain down to pass level in the Cascades of Washington and Oregon. That being said, the best chance for accumulating snow through Sunday appears to be above pass level, where several inches of snow will accumulate.
Wind will be another factor with the system Saturday night and Sunday, with wind gusts over 50 mph across the higher elevations of Oregon.
A ridge in the jet stream will build in after the weekend, putting an end to the steadier rain and only leaving a few showers.
Even with a return to sunshine on Tuesday, temperatures will still be near or slightly below average, which is a far cry from the temperatures near 70 last weekend.
By AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Thompson

World Weather Hot Spot for April 5-6,2013

Samos,Greece: Heavy rainfall;received 1.55 inches of rain on Wednesday (April 3,2013)

Today's Worst Weather for April 6,2013

Dice,Michigan: Snowy

WeatherWhys for April 5,2013

Spring is characterized by building warmth in the Southeast and cold arctic air trying to not to release its icy grip. When these air clash they produce powerful storms that are commonly seen during the spring.

National Temperature and Rainfall Extremes for April 6,2013

ExtremeLocation
High93°Ocotillo Wells, CA
Low15°Frenchville, ME
Precip0.86"Seaside, OR

Social Media: Key Tool in Relaying Severe Weather Information

By , Meteorologist
April 6,2013; 4:31PM,EDT





While Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc along the East Coast late in October 2012, the power of sending real-time weather information and photos on social media was apparent.
Sending out real-time weather information and pictures on breaking weather events helps to inform the public faster than ever before that there may be a weather danger. However, the quickness of information sharing can also lead to the spread of false information and fake photos.
"Social media offers unbeatable immediacy," AccuWeather Social Media Coordinator and Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said. "Citizens worldwide can obtain critical, breaking weather information through mobile devices and transmit photos or videos of severe weather events on the Internet in real-time to platforms like Facebook."
On Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, AccuWeather's Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity and Ferrell held a Google Hangout along with New York's WABC Meteorologist Amy Freeze to explain the severity of Sandy. The storm surge was only beginning in New Jersey and New York at the time of the Hangout, but the devastation of the storm was imminent.
Crucial warnings were sent out utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, while the East Coast was inundated at the height of Sandy on Monday, Oct. 29, 2013. Even as Sandy's powerful winds knocked out power to more than 2.4 million customers in New Jersey, Sandy victims were able to view important information on mobile devices and tablets.
According to Hootsuite, #Sandy trended on Twitter while millions of people were without power. Hootsuite said: "Social media tools are, in some cases, the only assist in connecting people and supplying information."
Government officials were among the millions on social media to warn citizens of the dangers that Superstorm Sandy posed.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie tweeted strongly worded warnings to people, cautioning them to stay away from beaches and to evacuate in mandatory areas.




New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was also sending updates about power outages and impacts of Sandy.
Due to the massive volume of information sent out over social media during Superstorm Sandy, it was a hot topic at Social Media Week 2013 in New York City during February.
"Companies are learning that Social Media can be used for crisis management and communication with their customers during weather disasters," Ferrell said.
During Social Media Week 2013, power companies such as Con Edison talked about how useful social media was in updating customers without power during Sandy. Con Edison is one of the largest power companies in the world, and it supplies more than three million customers with power in New York.




Power companies tweeted pictures of damage to show customers why there were so many outages. They also tweeted photos and videos of crews out in the field to assure customers that there was progress in restoring power.
Besides sending out pivotal weather information from AccuWeather social media accounts during Sandy, information was gathered to help the storm coverage on AccuWeather.com. The long lines at gas stations and the means of people coping without power for days after Sandy were found through social media.
However, there are downsides to the fast flow of breaking weather information and photos on social media. False information can be sent out and spread quickly if steps are not taken to verify.
Hoax photos, either photoshopped or photos from the past, are often sent out during major storm situations. For instance, fake photos of sharks swimming in the streets next to cabs in New York City were one of the hoaxes during Sandy.
As social media continues to evolve and change, so to does the sharing of weather information. AccuWeather continues to grow its presence in different social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest. The visual outlets lend themselves well to sharing weather information, since the weather is so visual

NWS Broadens Hurricane Warning Definition

April 6,2013; 4:20PM,EDT





The National Weather Service announced April 4 that, starting June 1, the definitions of hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings will be broadened.
The new changes will allow watches and warnings to be issued or remain in effect after a tropical cyclone becomes post-tropical, when such a storm poses a significant threat to life and property.
In addition, the National Hurricane Center will be permitted to issue advisories during the post-tropical stage.
The policy changes were motivated by the special challenges posed by Hurricane Sandy, which was forecast to evolve from a hurricane to a post-tropical cyclone prior to reaching the New Jersey coast.
The NHC did not issue hurricane advisories north of North Carolina due to the nature of the changing storm.
Fearing a public misunderstanding of the severity of Sandy's impacts, AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers urged the NHC to reverse the decision before Sandy made landfall.
The NHC believes that the policy changes will prevent a similar situation in the future.
"Our forecasters now have more flexibility to effectively communicate the threat posed by transitioning tropical systems," Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Weather Service said.
"Sandy's forecast was remarkably accurate and under a similar situation in the future, forecasters will be able to choose the best option to underscore the urgency involved."
This policy change was first proposed during the NOAA Hurricane Meeting in November and has since been the focus of much discussion in the meteorological and emergency management communities, in forums such as the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting in January and the National Hurricane Conference in March.
This change is also supported by preliminary findings from NOAA's service assessment on Sandy, which will be released in May.
"I would like to thank everyone for their open and candid feedback on this proposal," Rick Knabb, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center said.
"Keeping communities safe when a storm threatens is truly a team effort and this change reflects that collaboration."

I-80 Storm Next Week: Denver Snow, Omaha Rain

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
April 6,2013; 2:13PM,EDT





The caboose in a train of storms from the Pacific will spread a swath of heavy snow and drenching rain from the central Rockies to the central Plains next week.
The latest indications are that an area of heavy precipitation will set up near I-70 in Colorado and I-80 in Wyoming then drive eastward along the I-80 corridor over the Plains.
Denver, Colo., Casper, Wyo., Scottsbluff, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D., are among the cities that could pick up heavy snow from the storm centered on Tuesday.
Part of this area has the potential to pick up a foot of snow or more.
Farther east, over lower elevations on the Plains and into part of the Midwest, drenching rain will fall from Grand Island, Neb., eastward to Omaha, Sioux Falls, S.D., Des Moines, Iowa, and perhaps Chicago progressing to the middle of next week.
Within this swath of snow (melted) and rain, a general 1 to 2 inches of water can fall.
Farther south, there is the likelihood of a severe weather outbreak, perhaps reaching as far north as northern Kansas and northern Missouri.
Meanwhile, ahead of the big storm next week, a swath of snow will roll across part of North Dakota and the Upper Midwest into Saturday.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

World Weather Hot Spot for April 3-4,2013

La Plata,Argentina: Heavy rain;received 7.19 inches of rain Tuesday (April 2,2013)

Today's Worst Weather for April 3,2013

Orange Beach,Mississippi: Rain and Thunder

WeatherWhys for April 3,2013

The largest tornado outbreak in the United States, known as the Super Outbreak of 1974 was April 3-4. A total of 148 tornadoes, six of those rated EF5, touched down from the Deep South to the Great Lakes over the span of 18 hours, killing 330 people and injuring 5,484.

Triumph Cruise Ship Breaks Free in Gusty Winds


By Vickie Frantz, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
April 3,2013; 7:29PM,EDT



The Carnival Triumph cruise ship that suffered an engine fire and power outage in February broke free of its moorings in Mobile, Ala.
Update:
5:52 p.m. EDT Wednesday: Reports from CNN of at least one person missing after winds dislodged a guard shack and sent it into the water. One person was pulled from the water, transported to the hospital and is being treated for mild hypothermia. The dislodging of the guard shack is unrelated to the loose cruise ship.
"It was raining and winds were gusting to 50 mph between 1-2 p.m. CDT ," said AccuWeather Senior Expert Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
The ship struck a dock and an Army Corp boat before coming to rest against a cargo vessel. Local news reported damage to the right side of the stern and the bow may also be damaged. There are no reports of injuries.
The U.S. Coast Guard is on the scene to assist with the recovery of the vessel.

Brush Fire Season Begins in the East

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
April 3,2013; 7:02PM,EDT




Most people don't think of spring as being a high-risk time of the year for brush fires, but April and May sometimes bring the perfect conditions.
The early spring offers plenty of fuel for brush fires: dormant grass, fallen leaves and dry brush.
The weather during the middle of the week may have been chilly, but very low humidity and strong sunshine warms and dries out the fuel.
Locally gusty winds, even those caused by passing vehicles at highway speed can quickly turn a smoldering area into a major brush fire and cause that fire to spread rapidly. (Photos.com image and thumbnail)
There is an elevated risk of brush fires from Virginia to southern New England as most of this area is free of snow cover, green-up is slow in some areas and the brush has become dry.
Be very careful using outdoor power equipment in these conditions.
Do not toss burning cigarettes out of your car.
Avoid parking vehicles on dry, grassy areas as the hot exhaust can ignite the brush underneath.
A storm system will bring higher humidity and even some rain to part of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern New England Thursday night into Friday, which will lower the risk.
However, over the weekend, rising temperatures and some sunshine will raise the risk especially in areas, where there is no snow on the ground and the rainfall managed to stay away recently.

Heating Bills Climb as Cold Air Thrives

By Molly Cochran, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
April 3,2013; 6:55PM,EDT





Below-normal temperatures could be the culprit for an increase in heating bills across parts of the Northeast and Midwest.
"The cold isn't over yet," AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said.
Residential customers that heat their homes with natural gas, oil or electric are experiencing a longer heating season this year compared to last. Unfortunately, the cold could potentially last for a few more weeks, according to AccuWeather.com meteorologists.
The cold air masses could last into the first week of April and potentially into mid-April, Lundberg said.
These temperatures are below normal for this time of year. Some cities with below-normal temperatures are St. Louis at 6 degrees below normal, New York City at 3 degrees below normal, Chicago at 6 degrees below normal, Fargo at 11 degrees below normal and Denver at 4 degrees below normal.
"From the East to the Rockies, temperatures have been below normal and will end the season that way," Lundberg said.
The cold air masses keep creeping into the United States due to a blocking area of high pressure sitting over Greenland. The high restricts the jet stream and pushes cold air into the Southern states. Air masses following along the jet stream are forced to go around the block instead of moving west to east.
As far as substantial snowfall for major cities, Lundberg said significant snow is about over.
"By the end of March and April, the atmosphere is really fighting climatology," he said.
Compared to last year at this time, much of the country had minimal to no snow and temperatures were in the 70s and 80s in most places. For example last March, Chicago experienced an average temperature of 53.5 degrees which was 15.6 degrees above normal. This March, the Windy City's average temperature was 32.6, which was 5.3 degrees below normal. For more on March 2013 record temperatures, read "March 2013 Falls Well Short of Last Year's Records."
West Penn Power, an electric company by FirstEnergy, provides services to six million customers across six states throughout the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions, according to firstenergycorp.com. A West Penn Power Spokesperson Todd Meyers said that a customer who uses 1,000 kilowatts of power for the month of March will roughly pay $81.97, compared to last March's total of $96.87.
Meyers said that the price of electric might have been more expensive last year due to supply and demand being lower for the seasons of fall and spring.
The cost of natural gas and fuel is relatively low, according to Meyers, which might be a reason why electric is relatively low this season.
"Natural gas is a big component not only for driving down costs, but also generation costs dropping," Meyers said.
Scott Waitleverpch, an Equitable Gas Company spokesperson said that starting April 1 through the end of June, also known as the "Second Quarterly," new prices will be in effect for Equitable gas customers. The Equitable Gas Company serves roughly 275,000 customers and maintains 3,300 miles of natural gas pipeline across southwestern Pennsylvania, north-central West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, according to equitablegas.com.
A rough estimate of natural gas is $4 Mcf, 1,000 cubic feet, according to Waitleverpch. It is estimated that the natural gas prices will increase by 58 cents on April 1.
Waitleverpch said this could be due to a longer heating season this year.
As April progresses and temperatures rise, Waitleverpch doesn't know how much of an impact the higher prices will affect paying customers.
"From a customer standpoint, I don't know that it means much because as it gets warmer, customers will stop using the product," he said.
Fred Martin, who works at Satterlee Oil Company, a central Pennsylvania oil company, said that a gallon of heating oil in March is $3.55, compared to last year's $3.61 a gallon.
Martin said that prices should start to decline by the end of April.
This winter has been the complete opposite of last year. The weather went from one extreme to another. According to NOAA, last year was the warmest year ever for the U.S. This winter, like Lundberg said, parts of the Northeast and Midwest are experiencing below-normal temperatures for this time of year.
AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said that the fluctuation of temperatures between last year and this year is not unusual. Spring is a transitional season that consists of a battle between winter and summer. Cold air lingers across the northern tier, while warmer air returns to the South.

Post Sandy: The Jersey Shore's Susceptibility to Major Storms

By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
April 3,2013; 6:32PM,EDT


Before Superstorm Sandy made landfall on the Jersey coast on Oct. 29, 2012, few realized the intensity of the storm that headed in their direction.
The National Hurricane Center opted not to issue hurricane warnings north of North Carolina, and instead handed the reins to regional National Weather Service offices.
Local governments warned the public of the approaching threat, and issued evacuation orders to many towns. While some residents agreed to leave, others resisted, believing that people were 'crying wolf' about the storm.
Sandy, later dubbed a superstorm, brought wind gusts as high as 78 miles per hour to parts of New Jersey. The total inundation* along the New Jersey coast ranged from 9 to 13 feet, causing breaching and erosion to sand dunes and resulting in severe flooding to homes and businesses.
Could the inflicted damage to the coastline have been avoided with advance preparation?
Daniel Barone of the Coastal Research Center (CRC) at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey has spent years studying the dunes of the Jersey coast. The CRC has completed full assessments of the dunes in Ocean and Atlantic counties.
"There were plenty of areas that were a cause for concern before Sandy, and still are," Barone said. "Even before the storm, we knew of several places in northern Ocean County and Long Beach Island that would not withstand even a 20-year storm, based on our results."
Though Barone could not compare New Jersey's level of preparedness to another coastal state, he would say that New Jersey is "one of the most proactive states in the nation in doing beach replenishment projects."
Many businesses constructed on or along the beach suffered irreparable damage. Demolition was required for those that were no longer structurally sound. Photo/David Defilippis
Beach replenishment projects were implemented in some areas of concern before Sandy, and it prevented a significant amount of damage, Barone said, noting Harvey Cedars, N.J.
Prior to Harvey Cedars' beach replenishment initiative, the CRC's analysis indicated that there were areas with high potential for breach and overwash in a 50-year storm scenario.
The initiative sought to restore areas which were considered to be at risk.
"While some areas did breach and overwash in the southern side of the town, even with the replenishment, the majority of the town was spared the full brunt of Sandy's power from ocean waves," Barone said.
Harvey Cedars suffered catastrophic damage after the March storm of 1962 due to breaching and overwash. The CRC's assessment data shows that the town was one of the most vulnerable locations on Long Beach Island.
"Had they not had that project, it is very likely that the town would have sustained far more damages to homes and infrastructure due to ocean waves crossing over land," Barone said.
Harvey Cedars was only one of many areas along the coast which have worked to decrease its susceptibility. Midway Beach in northern Ocean County and Ship Bottom, N.J., have spent decades trying to naturally increase the size of their dunes, he said.
"If you look at the before and after aerial images from Sandy, you can see that their efforts paid off," Barone said.
While dunes do not eradicate all risk, they have proven effective in many areas. Despite this, some towns have opted not to install the barriers in areas that would see benefit from them.
"Places like Point Pleasant Beach, in front of their boardwalk, or even in Seaside, they did not have a dune," Barone said. "They had a very wide beach but a wide beach isn't enough in some cases, especially when you have the surge and wave energy that Sandy had."
The absence of dunes, however, is not due to a lack of awareness from government officials. In some cases, objection has come from oceanfront property owners who cite that the dunes are an eye sore and decrease the value of their homes.
In mid-January Gov. Chris Christie spoke out against these objections calling them "selfish" and "short-sighted."
But, even if dunes were to be installed through the length of Jersey's coast, they will not eradicate the flood risk completely, nor will they be a solution for barrier islands.
Homes built along the bay are vulnerable from both sides.
"Back bay flooding from storm surge and astronomically high tides is something that can occur regardless of having a significant beach-dune system to stop ocean waters from crossing an island," Barone explained.
Now, months since Sandy wreaked havoc on the coastline, the focus has shifted to the process of rebuilding. Devastation along the coast remains widespread, as business owners and homeowners struggle to make reparations in accordance with new FEMA, insurance and flood zone regulations.
The intensity of the flooding from Sandy knocked many homes off of their foundations. New flood zone regulations aim to prevent this in the future by recommending homes be lifted as high as 10 feet. Photo/David Defilippis
For some flood zones, in accordance with recent changes, FEMA has proposed raising homes as high as 10 feet.
Many buildings on the coast have sustained severe flood damage to the first level of their homes. This regulation would eliminate the need to gut and rebuild an entire first floor should another major flooding event occur.
New regulations are designed to decrease the town's susceptibility to future natural disasters, but will result in significantly higher costs to rebuild for business and homeowners.
"Residents should mimic the storm surge from Sandy, and they should build as if that storm surge could happen again tomorrow," AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said.
"That would be the smart thing to do, and actually that would be the most economical thing to do. Even if something doesn't happen in the next five to 10 years, 15 years from now it could still happen."
However, the argument exists that a storm of this intensity will not occur again for many years, if ever. Some have begun to refer to it as the "perfect storm."
In some ways, it was, according to James Franklin, Branch Chief for the National Hurricane Center's Hurricane Specialist Unit.
"It was a perfect storm in the sense that you had just the wrong steering flow coupled with very strong extratropical forcing that led to a large cyclone of hurricane strength plowing directly onshore into an area that normally gets glancing blows," Franklin said. "But if it happened once it clearly can happen again, even if it's very unlikely."
The likelihood of a recurrence of this magnitude remains debatable in the scientific community. Some uphold that this scenario does, in fact, hold a 1 percent chance of recurrence, but others insist that changing environmental factors could increase the coast's susceptibility.
"With global sea level rise predictions estimating 2 to 4 feet over the next century, we need to start being proactive as opposed to reactive," Barone said.
"They need to plan for the future. You can't just kick the can down the road."
A recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States is a "hot spot" for sea level rise, and that water levels in this area could be three to four times higher than the global average.
This rise in sea level could "increase the vulnerability of coastal cities to flooding, and beaches and wetlands to deterioration," according to the report.
Experts agree that regardless of the likelihood of another superstorm, advance preparation will pay off in the long run.
"Raising properties above flood elevations and improving infrastructure as well as ways to manage storm waters is going to be essential for sustainability of these communities in the future, in addition to maintaining beaches," Barone said.
"If these places are not maintained, there is potential for them to become inundated in the future and drown in place."
*Total inundation refers to the total height of the water during a storm. This would include storm surge, tides and any other factors that would cause water levels to rise.

Spring Warmth Finally Coming to Western Europe

By Mark Paquette
April 3,2013; 6:15PM,EDT




Europe, much like the eastern United States, has experienced a very chilly March. Actually, some cities in the Southeast United States had a cooler March than January. April, besides a brief warmup in the Northeast, has started chilly as well.
According to AccuWeather.com Social Media Coordinator Jesse Ferrell, March 2013 ranks as the second coldest March in the United Kingdom ever. Incredibly, March 2013 was colder than December, January or February of this past winter.
There is light at the end of the tunnel for fans of spring weather for both the United States and western Europe.
Interestingly enough, the reason that the warmth will invade the regions is one and the same.
There has been a persistent and strong area of high pressure located near Greenland for the past two months or so. This is indicative of a North Atlantic blocking pattern where this area of high pressure forces cold air from arctic regions to invade the eastern U.S. and also western Europe.
Basically, this cold air has nowhere to go but these areas due to this block. This can be compared to water running down a hill; there is only one way to go.
Springlike warmth will finally come to western and central Europe next week. Some moderation is expected this weekend with temperatures likely to average a few degrees above normal across the UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy next week. Highs will approach 70 in Paris late next week or next weekend. This would be the warmest reading so far this year. In fact, Paris has not reached 60 since Oct. 25, 2012.

Severe Weather Risk for Tallahassee, Orlando and Miami

By Anthony Sagliani, Meteorologist
April 3,2013; 5:36PM,EDT




A potent storm system developing in the Gulf of Mexico will spread heavy rain, thunderstorms and the risk of flooding and severe weather to much of the Southeast Thursday into Friday.
Some locations with the greatest potential for dangerous severe thunderstorms include Tallahassee, Panama City, Lake City, Gainesville, The Villages, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa, to name a few.
Severe storms could even make it as far north as Savannah, Ga.
The thunderstorms on Thursday will be part of the same storm system that spawned severe weather across Texas on Tuesday and Tuesday night.
In Houston, the thunderstorms produced a 63-mph wind gust downtown near the Texas Medical Center. As the storms plowed eastward, they produced hail the size of hen's eggs and nearly 3.00 inches of rain in Galveston.
The biggest impact from the thunderstorms on Thursday will come in the form of hail as large as golf balls. Hail of this size can damage vegetation and crack windshields.
Damaging winds will also be a major concern with these storms as they blast through the region. In a few isolated locations, winds could gust as high as 60 mph, which could down trees and power poles.
The risk of strong to locally severe thunderstorms will reach South Florida, including Naples, Miami and Marathon, and the Keys Thursday night into Friday.
On a positive note, much of Florida needs rain, and the storm system will provide just that in most areas.
While there is a risk of urban flooding and blinding downpours with the thunderstorms, many locations as far south as the central counties of the peninsula should pick up an inch or so of rain.
Farther north, a soaking rain will also drench areas from eastern Alabama across Georgia into much of the Carolinas.
If you will be out and about in Florida, keep a close eye on the sky. Thunderstorms will move quickly, and you should take shelter at the first hint of threatening weather.
Remember, lightning is one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths due to weather in Florida, and if you can hear thunder, you are at risk for being struck by lightning if outdoors. (Golf carts and gazebos do not offer adequate protection from lightning).
The storms will swing clear of the region by Friday night. Sunny weather is forecast in most areas for both days of the weekend.
Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski contributed to the content of this story

Warmer Weekend on the Way for the Northeast

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
April 3,2013; 9:17AM,EDT




In the wake of a coastal storm with rain on Friday, sunshine will give temperatures a boost for at least part of the weekend in the Northeast.
Garden centers and weekend warriors will be busy Saturday and Sunday across much of the region as temperatures rebound to near or above seasonable levels.
Indications are that rain will stay away from the I-95 zone from Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C., to New York City and Boston both days of the weekend.
Sunday will be the warmer of the two days in most locations thanks to a south to southwesterly breeze. However, a few spots along the water could actually be cooler Sunday in the mid-Atlantic. A breeze from the northwest will keep much of New England chilly on Saturday.
Saturday will be dry along and west of the Appalachians, but clouds and spotty showers are possible on Sunday.
Beyond the weekend, a front may sag southward splitting the region into two parts: warm versus chilly. South of the front, temperatures will peak in the 70s. North of the front, temperatures may be no higher than the 40s. The front is likely to wobble north and south across the region much of next week.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

New York City metro-area forecast for April 2-26,2013

Tonight,April 2-3: Becoming clear,but remaining unseasonably very cold for the beginning of April,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 20's to lower 30's,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust past 20-mph,at times,making it feel like it's only around 20 degrees,at times,overnight.As of 9PM,EDT,it's 37 degrees and clear,with 32% humidity,and a northwest wind at 15-mph,at times,making it feel like it's only in the middle 20's,in White Plains,NY,and it's 40 degrees and clear,with 27% humidity,in New York City.

Tomorrow,April 3: Remaining mostly sunny,breezy,and unseasonably chilly to cold,with a high temperature only in the middle 40's.

Tomorrow night,April 3-4: Remaining clear and unseasonably cold for the beginning of April,with a low temperature dropping to around 30 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,April 4: Turning much warmer than recent days,with plenty of gorgeous sunshine,and a high temperature in the middle 50's.Turning much warmer than recent nights,with increasing cloudiness and a chance for some late-night rain possible,and a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Friday,April 5: Turning mostly cloudy and not as mild,with a high temperature in the upper 40's to lower 50's.Becoming partly cloudy and a bit colder,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 30's,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust up to 20-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only in the UPPER TEENS TO LOWER 20's,at times,overnight.

Saturday,April 6: Becoming mostly sunny and seasonably mild for early April,and early spring,with a high temperature in the middle 50's.Becoming mostly cloudy,but remaining seasonably chilly,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower 40's,overnight.

Sunday,April 7: Turning even warmer,with times of sun and clouds,and a high temperature in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Remaining mostly cloudy and mild,with a low temperature dropping to 40-45 degrees, overnight.

Monday,April 8: Remaining partly sunny and comfortably mild for early April,and early spring,with a high temperature of 60-65 degrees.Remaining partly cloudy and seasonably chilly,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower and middle 40's,overnight.

Tuesday,April 9: Remaining pleasantly mild for early April,with intervals of clouds and sunshine,and a high temperature in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Becoming partly cloudy and mild,with a low temperature dropping to 45-50 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,April 10: Turning unseasonably warm for early April,and early spring,with mostly sunny skies,and a high temperature in the upper 60's to lower 70's.Becoming mostly cloudy and rainy,with a chance for some late-night rain possible,and a low temperature dropping to the middle 40's,overnight.

Thursday,April 11: Turning markedly colder than recent days,as it turns rainy,raw,and unseasonably chilly for early spring,and early-to-mid April,with a touch of rain,and a high temperature holding in the middle and upper 40's.Remaining cloudy,rainy,and dreary,with considerable cloudiness and a chance for a couple of late-night rain showers,and a low temperature holding in the lower and middle 40's,overnight.

Friday,April 12: Not as chilly,as it turns much warmer,once again,with a chance for more rain showers,and a high temperature in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Turning a bit colder than recent nights,with considerable cloudiness and a chance for some rain,heavy at times,during the evening,and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust past 30-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only in the middle 20's,at times,overnight.

Saturday,April 13: Becoming mostly sunny and mild to warm for early-to-mid April,with a high temperature in the middle 60's.Becoming mostly cloudy,rainy,raw,dank,and dreary,with a chance for a passing late-night rain shower,and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,once again,overnight.

Sunday,April 14: Remaining mostly cloudy and mild during the day,with a touch of rain possible,and a high temperature of 60-65 degrees.Becoming clear,but remaining rather cold for mid-April,with a low temperature dropping,for the third straight night,down to 35-40 degrees,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust up to 25-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only 25-30 degrees,at times,overnight.

Monday,April 15: Turning much cooler/colder than recent days,with increasing cloudiness and a high temperature of 50-55 degrees.Remaining rather cold for mid-April,with clearing,and a low temperature dropping to the middle 30's,overnight.

Tuesday,April 16: Becoming partly sunny,but remaining a bit cool for mid-April,with a chance for a rain shower,and a high temperature in the lower and middle 50's.Becoming cloudy and rainy,but remaining rather cold for early-to-mid spring,and mid-April,with a chance for a couple of rain showers,mainly late,and a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,once again,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust up to 25-mph,at times,making it feel even colder,like it's only in the middle and upper 20's,at times,overnight.

Wednesday,April 17: Remaining cloudy,but dry,and cool for mid-to-late April,with a high temperature of just 50-55 degrees.Remaining cloudy and cold for early-to-mid spring,with a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,April 18: Remaining cloudy,raw,and cool,with a high temperature in the middle and upper 50's.Remaining cloudy,raw,and cool,with a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Friday,April 19: Not as cool as recent days,with plenty of clouds and a chance for a little morning rain followed by spotty afternoon rain showers,and a high temperature of around 60 degrees.Turning milder than recent nights,with plenty of clouds and a chance for a spotty evening rain shower,followed by a little late-night rain possible,and a low temperature dropping to the middle 40's,overnight.

Saturday,April 20: Turning much warmer than recent days,with considerable cloudiness a chance for a little morning rain followed by spotty afternoon rain showers,and a high temperature of 65-70 degrees.Remaining mild,with considerable cloudiness and a low temperature dropping to 40-45 degrees,overnight.

Sunday,April 21: Not as mild,as it turns much cooler/colder than recent days,with a mix of sun and some clouds,and a high temperature of 55-60 degrees.Turning colder than recent nights,with patchy clouds,and a low temperature dropping to 35-40 degrees,overnight.

Monday,April 22: Remaining rather cool with brilliant sunshine,and a high temperature of just 55-60 degrees,once again.Remaining clear to partly cloudy and unseasonably cold for late April,and early-to-mid spring,with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,overnight.

Tuesday,April 23: Remaining mostly cloudy and cool,with a high temperature only in the middle and upper 50's.Becoming cloudy,rainy,raw,dank,and dreary,with periods of rain,and a low temperature dropping to around 40 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,April 24: Remaining cloudy,rainy,raw,dank,dreary,and unseasonably cool for very late April, with a chance for more rain showers,and a high temperature only in the middle 50's,once again.Remaining cloudy,but not as cold as recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 40-45 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,April 25: Remaining cloudy,rainy,raw,dank,dreary,and cool for early-to-mid spring,with a chance for a stray rain shower,and a high temperature of 55-60 degrees.Remaining cloudy,rainy,raw,and seasonably cool for very late April,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 40's,overnight.

Friday,April 26: Remaining cloudy,rainy,raw,and cool,with periods of rain,and a high temperature in the upper 50's to lower 60's.Remaining cloudy,rainy,and mild,with periods of rain ending,and a leftover shower possible,and a low temperature dropping to 45-50 degrees,overnight.