As of 10PM,EST,February 7,2013,from accuweather.com:
-Highest Temperature: 85 degrees at Brownsville,Texas
-Lowest Temperature: -17 degrees at Frenchville,Maine
-Most Rainfall: 3.22 inches at Pensacola,Florida
Thursday, February 7, 2013
US Temperature and Rainfall Extremes for February 7,2013
-Highest Temperature: 85 degrees at Brownsville,Texas
-Lowest Temperature: -17 degrees at Frenchville,Maine
-Most Rainfall: 3.22 inches at Pensacola,Florida
World Weather Hot Spot for February 7-8,2013
Santa Cruz Islands: Stricken by deadly tsunami on Wednesday (February 6,2013)
WeatherWhys for February 7,2013
Alberta Clipper is the name given to a storm that races out of western Canada down across the Midwest and then across the Northeast. Storms of this nature pull mild air northward on their eastern flank. After the storm passes, its circulation drags much colder air down from the north. Alberta Clippers typically do not have much moisture to work with, so precipitation amounts are generally light to moderate. Most rain and/or snow falls to the north of the storm track.
New York City metro-area forecast for February 7-16,2013
Here's the 10-day weather forecast for the New York City metro-area for the period of February 7-16,2013,from The Weather Channel's web-site, weather.com, enjoy:
A Winter Storm Warning and a Blizzard Warning are in effect from 7AM,EST,tomorrow morning and 1PM,EST,Saturday (February 9,2013),afternoon.
Tonight,February 7-8: Remaing cloudy and seasonably cold,with a low temperature holding at 25-30 degrees,overnight.As of 9:30PM,EST,it's 27 degrees and partly cloudy,with 54% humidity,in White Plainsm,NY,and it's 33 degrees and cloudy,with 56% humidity,in New York City.
Tomorrow,February 8: Remaining cloudy with morning snow followed by an afternoon wintry mix of snow and rain,and a high temperature in the middle 30's.
Tomorrow night,February 8-9: Remaining cloudy and wintry,with snow,heavy at times,the strong,gusty, northerly winds,which could gust up to 30-mph,at times,causing whiteout,blizzard conditions,and a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 20's,overnight.Snow accumulations of 6-12 inches are possible by Saturday morning.
Saturday,February 9: Remaining cloudy,and wintry into the afternoon,with morning snow,heavy at times, strong gusty winds causing blizzard conditions,particularly early in the morning,and a high temperature of around 30 degrees,then turning mostly cloudy and bitterly cold to frigid,with a low temperature dropping to 10-15 degrees above zero,overnight.Total snow accumulations of 12-18 inches are possible by Saturday afternoon.
Sunday,February 10: Turning sunny and not as cold,with a high temperature in the middle and upper 30's,
and a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 20's,overnight.
Monday,February 11: Turning cloudy,and rainy,this time,as it also turns much warmer than recent days, with a chance for some rain showers,and a high temperature of 40-45 degrees,and a markedly warmer than recent nights low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 30's,overnight.
Tuesday,February 12: Becoming partly cloudy,but remaining seasonably chilly for mid-to-late winter and early-to-mid February,with a high temperature of 40-45 degrees,once again,and a low temperature dropping to 30-35 degrees,overnight.
Wednesday,February 13: Ash Wednesday 2013 will be remaining partly cloudy and seasonably chilly for mid-February,with a high temperature in the upper 30's to lower 40's,and a low temperature dropping to the upper 20's to lower 30's,overnight.
Thursday,February 14: Valentine's Day 2013 will be turning partly cloudy and not as mild as recent days, with a high temperature of 35-40 degrees,and a low temperature dropping to 25-30 degrees,overnight.
Friday,February 15: Becoming mostly sunny,but remaining cold,with a high temperature of 35-40 degrees,once again,and a low temperature dropping to around 30 degrees,overnight.
Saturday,February 16: Becoming mostly cloudy,but remaining seasonably chilly to cold for mid-February, with a high temperature of around 40 degrees,and a low temperature dropping to the upper 20's to lower 30's,overnight.
Blizzard to Nail Long Island; Heavy Snow for NYC
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
February 7,2013; 7:26PM,EST
New York City and the northern mid-Atlantic are on the edge of a major storm that will hit New England as a blizzard Friday and Friday night.
The storm will bring at least several inches of snow and a period of high winds from central New Jersey to the lower Hudson Valley.Even though the area from central New Jersey to southeastern New York state may not be in the epicenter of this storm, enough snow will fall to cause major travel problems and winds can be strong enough for a time to cause downed tree limbs and sporadic power outages.
Only if two storms, an Alberta Clipper from the west and a storm from the South, merge very quickly will there be more than a manageable amount of snow in New York City, northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, Long Island, northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
That faster merge of the two storms would translate to a foot or more of heavy, wet snow around New York City, western Long Island, the lower Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey. Essentially in this case, much heavier snow could fall west of I-91 in Connecticut to just east of I-81 in northeastern Pennsylvania with I-87 in the middle. Much of central and southern New England would still be clobbered by one to two feet of snow, but rain would be even more of a player than now portrayed in southeastern New England and Cape Cod.
RELATED:
Blizzard to Bury New England at the End of the Week
Snow for Detroit, Buffalo, Wintry Mix for Chicago
Safe Snow Driving
According to Winter Weather Expert Rob Miller, "While this is a possibility, it would be difficult for a storm to do this without a blocking area of high pressure to the northeast."Blizzard to Bury New England at the End of the Week
Snow for Detroit, Buffalo, Wintry Mix for Chicago
Safe Snow Driving
Such an area of high pressure would slow the forward speed of the storm down long enough to cause it to strengthen into an intense area of low pressure.
Warm air will be the issue in the New York City metropolitan area and Long Island causing part of the storm to be rain, a wintry mix and some of the snow to melt as it falls on roads during the first part of the storm.
Low cloud ceilings and increasing winds during Friday may lead to building flight delays and cancellations even if snow were to stay away from the several major airports in the New York City area.
Just as there is the possibility of the storm strengthening rapidly to bring heavy snow to New York City, there is also the chance the storms stay separate long enough so that little precipitation falls. AccuWeather.com meteorologists are meeting the odds in the middle, projecting 6 to 12 inches of snow in New York City, preceded by rain or a wintry mix during much of the day Friday.Depending on the speed of the merger of the two storms, a few inches of snow could fall on parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Regardless of how quickly the two storms come together, at least several inches of snow will fall over northeastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and southeastern New York state.
The southern part of the storm will drench the south with beneficial rain, but also urban flooding problems and locally strong thunderstorms Wednesday night into Friday.
The strongest winds will be blowing offshore as the storm strengthens. However, there may be some minor flooding problems along the north shore of Long Island with tides running up to a couple of feet of published values.
The greatest risk of coastal flooding from the storm is along the east coast of New England (from Cape Cod to Boston). The high tide cycle Friday evening is likely to be the most troublesome for northern Long Island. That high tide is within a couple of days of the new moon, which is early Sunday morning.Across upstate New York and part of southern Ontario, moderate snow will fall from a substantial Alberta Clipper cruising in from the Midwest Friday into Friday night.
For more information on the Alberta Clipper snow affecting the Midwest Thursday night and Friday, a new story has been published on AccuWeather.com.
Enough snow to shovel and plow is likely over much of this area which can reach as far south as parts of western and northern Pennsylvania into the higher elevations of West Virginia and western Maryland.A brief shot of blustery, seasonably cold conditions are in store for Saturday in the wake of the storm. Temperatures will moderate Sunday, setting the stage for the next storm system Monday to bring mostly rain to the region with a wintry mix over northern upstate New York and northern New England.
The atmosphere is in the process of building a pipeline of storms for the eastern part of the nation during the balance of February. Most will bring rain to the mid-Atlantic coast, but some could bring snow. Details will follow as the time draws nearer.
This story was originally published at 11:00 a.m. EST, on Wed., Feb. 6, 2013 and has been updated.
Snow to Disrupt Travel From Detroit to Buffalo
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
February 7,2013; 7:15PM,EST
The storm produced light to moderate snow over part of North Dakota, much of Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin during the day Wednesday. For this area, the storm was similar to other Alberta Clippers that affected the area over the past couple of weeks.
The forward speed of the clipper has slowed down on Thursday, which will allow for more substantial snow amounts across central Michigan Thursday into Friday. A thin swath of 6-12 inches of snow is in store for central Michigan, while more widespread amounts of 3-6 inches will fall from Wisconsin to Michigan.Detroit, Mich., will get 2-4 inches of snow through Friday morning.
A wintry mix will arrive in Toledo Thursday evening and Cleveland Thursday night. Accumulating snow will fall on top of an icy mix in these areas, threatening treacherous road conditions Friday morning and afternoon.
The storm will then cross southern Ontario and into western and central New York into Friday.
Cities in the path of significant and potentially heavy snow for a time include London and Toronto, Ontario, and Buffalo and Syracuse, N.Y.
Little or no snow is forecast farther south over much of the Ohio Valley. Temperatures there will be too warm or dry air will sweep in, cutting off the precipitation. However, a few slippery spots could develop Thursday night into Friday morning where any existing wet areas freeze up.
Significant snow is heading for Detroit and other major metropolitan areas around the Great Lakes region. (Photos.com image and thumbnail of the Belle Isle Bridge in Detroit, Mich.)
Just a reminder, while the storm will be rather minor in the Chicago area on south in terms of travel impacts, much more substantial travel disruptions are likely farther north and east. An all-out blizzard will impact New England Friday into early Saturday with ripple-effect airline impacts likely across much of the nation. Significant storm travel impact is also possible in New York City.
Content contributed by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.Blizzard to Threaten Roof Collapse, Power Outages
By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
February 7,2013; 7:04PM,EST
With a potentially-historic blizzard aiming for New England, it is important to be aware of the threats of the storm and to prepare in advance.
With snowstorms this powerful, it's not uncommon for power outages and structural damage to occur throughout the hardest-hit areas.Areas like Boston and Providence are forecast receive 12 to 24 inches of snow Friday through Saturday.
Areas West of Boston and across southern New Hampshire could receive 24 or more inches.
A loss of power means a loss of heat for many people, which could quickly become a life-threatening situation for those that are not prepared.
"As far as preparation goes, charge your cell phone ahead of the storm. Have batteries on hand, blankets, etc.," Sosnowski said.
"Do not use portable generators indoors or in an attached garage to your home. Keep kerosine heaters away from items that can easily combust such as clothing, papers, etc."
The heavy snow being forecast could also cause structural damage to homes and roof collapse.
Often during blizzards, there is blowing and drifting snow, which is often the culprit for uneven distribution.
Strong winds could create a dangerous set up for this situation.
But most healthy roofs, even flat ones, can handle a couple feet of snow , he added.
Should the white stuff begin to pile up, it's best to wait out the storm before removing it.
"People should not venture on their roofs during the storm and should only do so if physically able and safety measures have been taken," Sosnowski said.
New Director of NOAA's National Weather Service Announced
February 7,2013; 6:53PM,EST
NOAA Press Release:
Louis W. Uccellini, Ph.D., will become the next assistant NOAA administrator for weather services beginning February 10 and the 16th director of NOAA's National Weather Service, which marks its 143rd anniversary this Saturday.
"Louis' leadership within the National Weather Service and his relationship with the U.S. and international weather enterprise allow him to effectively steer the agency forward," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA Administrator.
"It's an honor to lead such a prestigious agency with the unbeatable mission of protecting lives and livelihoods," said Uccellini. "The past year had its success stories with superior outlooks, forecasts and warnings, including those for Sandy, but difficulties remain. Our eyes remain locked on the future to ensure a National Weather Service that is second to none and supports a weather-ready nation.
What makes the National Weather Service a prestigious agency with a bold future are the dedicated men and woman who work day in and day out to keep us all informed and safe. They do so in ways that are more public, such as issuing life-saving watches and warnings, and in ways that are less apparent but are vital to our society, such as supporting airline safety and marine transportation to protecting electrical infrastructure from solar storms."
"I congratulate Dr. Uccellini and look forward to continuing to collaborate with him and the National Weather Service," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "FEMA and the NWS in partnership together prepare communities and local officials for the impacts of weather hazards to save lives and protect property."
"Working with a spectrum of partners, including emergency management, the commercial sector, broadcasters, academia and social scientists, we can and will meet the nation's needs to overcome the very real threats from the increasing severity and frequency of weather and climate extremes," added Uccellini.
Laura K. Furgione, who served as acting director of the National Weather Service since May 2012, will return as the agency's deputy director. "Louis has always placed a priority on providing forecast tools to help field offices and national centers be successful. I'm proud to work by his side as we continue supporting our nation-wide team," said Furgione.
Since 1999, Uccellini has led the NWS' National Centers for Environmental Prediction, which in 2012 moved to a new state-of-the-art facility in College Park, Md. At NCEP, he was responsible for directing the planning, science and technology, and operational responsibilities related to NCEP's Central Operations and Environmental Modeling, as well as seven national centers, including the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., and Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo. Uccellini is also a fellow of the American Meteorological Society and just completed his term as the society's president.
Uccellini, 63, began his weather career at the Goddard Space Flight Center's Laboratory for Atmospheres as the section head for the Mesoscale Analysis and Modeling Section in 1978. In 1989, he joined the NWS as chief of the Meteorological Operations Division and then became director of the Office of Meteorology in 1994.
Uccellini received his Bachelor of Science (1971), Master (1972), and Ph.D. (1977) degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has published more than 60 journal articles and chapters in books, and is known for coauthoring the widely acclaimed two-volume book, Northeast Snowstorms.
A native of Bethpage, N.Y. on Long Island, Dr. Uccellini is a resident of Columbia, Md. He and his wife, Susan, have three children.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.
Travel Nightmare in Store for New England
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
February 7,2013; 6:40PM,EST
Two storms will merge quickly enough to bring colder air, tremendous snow and damaging wind to New England, causing airline and rail delays and creating a nightmare for travelers.
The storm will do more than end a recent snow drought in part of the New England. The list is long on storm characteristics and impacts. Some areas will be hit with an all-out blizzard and buried under a couple of feet of snow and massive drifts.
The worst of the storm will hit the Boston area late Friday and Friday night and will wind down Saturday morning. However, lingering effects from blowing and drifting snow, blocked roads and other travel problems are likely to linger into much of the weekend.
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Numerous flight delays and cancellations are occurring throughout New England and elsewhere across the nation.Storm to Bring NYC, Mid-Atlantic Rain, Snow, Wintry Mix
Blizzard: One of the Most Commonly Confused Weather Terms
Snow for Detroit, Buffalo, Wintry Mix for Chicago
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The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has already announced that service will be suspended on all modes effective 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 8.
Boston Logan Airport will remain open through the snow storm, but all flights will be cancelled starting Friday.
Amtrak has already adjusted its Friday travel schedule, reducing its service on Northeast Regional routes. Southbound service out of Boston South Station will be suspended following 1:40 p.m. Northbound service out of New York Penn Station will cease at 1:03 p.m.
Strong winds will not only cause white-out conditions and massive drifts, but also coastal flooding and power outages. Gusts can approach hurricane force in coastal areas. If the power goes out, it could take a while for crews to repair the lines.
The intense snowfall rate anticipated is making the forecast especially challenging. A matter of a couple of hours versus 12 hours of intense snow will make the difference between a manageable few inches and a debilitating few feet of snowfall. Nearby to the south (and east) of this intense snow, a rain/snow mix or plain rain will fall for a time.
Many people could be caught offguard Friday evening. While the drive to work or school may be manageable but slippery Friday morning, weather conditions for the drive home in the evening are likely to grow worse by the minute in southern and central New England. A person traveling northeastward from New York City to Boston Friday evening along I-95 would encounter increasingly challenging and potentially dangerous weather conditions.
With such intense snowfall, vehicles can become stuck and people can become stranded. Weak and/or flat roofs could collapse under the weight of the snow, which could be greatly uneven due to drifting.
Daniel Marquand, of Boston, shovels snow in front of the North Bennet Street School in Boston, Monday, Dec. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)Coastal flooding is forecast with this storm in eastern Massachusetts and to some extent along the northern shore of Long Island.
Warm air will play a major role in the storm from New York City, Long Island and central New Jersey on south and west in the mid-Atlantic, resulting in rain during part or all of the storm, depending on location.
Only if the two storms sync completely early on would heavy wet snow wrap around into New York City for an extended period, bringing a foot of the white stuff. Even so, without complete phasing of the storms until Friday night, New York City and Long Island will get significant snow. Portions of eastern Long Island could experience blizzard conditions for a time Friday night.
A separate story on the storm's role in New York City and the mid-Atlantic is now available on AccuWeather.com.
A fresh injection of arctic air will fuel the blizzard over New England. The colder air will cause rain to change to snow on Cape Cod and along the South Coast, as well as cause wet snow to become more dry and powdery with time, making it subject to blowing and drifting in central and southern areas.In northernmost New England from northern Maine to along the Canada border of New Hampshire, Vermont and northern upstate New York, too much dry air feeding in from the north may limit snowfall or cut off the storm completely.
Snow from the Alberta Clipper part of the storm will still deliver enough snow to shovel and plow over much of upstate New York.
A separate story on the impact of the Alberta Clipper around the Great Lakes is now available on AccuWeather.com.
On a brighter note, for those who are able to "get out of Dodge" early on Friday ahead of the worst of the storm, it will be a great weekend for skiing. Hopefully, the roads will be cleared by the time they get back next week.
Severe Storms Bear Down on Florida, Georgia
By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist
February 7,2013; 6:22PM,EST
Update at 12:00 p.m. EST Thursday
The sheriff's office reported that a waterspout moved onshore as a tornado at 11:52 a.m. EST Thursday, causing damage 3 miles west of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. The damage was inflicted near the intersection of Highways 30A and 98.
Georgia and Florida may be hammered by severe storms before a blizzard comes together across New England.
A storm unleashing downpours across the Gulf Coast will move across southern Georgia on Thursday afternoon and evening.
"Things will come together very quickly late Thursday afternoon," AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said of the severe weather potential.
Tallahassee, Apalachicola and Cross City, Fla., as well as Valdosta, Ga., are among the cities and towns that will be in the path of potentially damaging storms Thursday afternoon.
The biggest concern with the storms is flash and urban flooding, even in areas that need the rain. The strongest storms can also stir locally damaging wind gusts.
Localized flooding with downpours farther north across Georgia, including Atlanta, is possible.
The storm igniting the severe weather will move up the Southeast coast Thursday night, spreading a soaking rain across the eastern Carolinas and southeastern Virginia. Very high winds to the north of the storm may cause damage along the Atlantic Seaboard, from Long Island to Maine.
As this storm joins forces with another storm moving east from the Midwest, a blizzard will form across New England on Friday.
Anniversary: Two Major Snowstorms Rocked DC
By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 10:30PM,EST
The two massive snowstorms that struck the Northeast in one week of February 2010 seem like a distant memory.
The first of the two storms hit the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic from Feb. 4-6, 2010. A couple of feet of snow and more fell across southern Pennsylvania, Maryland and northern Virginia.
Philadelphia was clobbered by 28.5 inches of snow. Washington, D.C., received 17.8 inches of snow, making travel a nightmare and stranding many motorists along the beltway.
Thousands of airline travelers were also stranded in airports along the storm's path.
The severity of the February snowstorm was expressed by President Obama when he referred to it as "Snowmaggedon." AccuWeather.com dubbed the storm "Snowpocalypse."
RELATED:
Pictures From 'Snowmaggedon' in February 2010
The "Snowmageddon" Winter Wasn't As Cold as You Remember
Only two days passed with dry weather and highs at or just above freezing before yet another snowstorm arrived Feb. 9-10.Pictures From 'Snowmaggedon' in February 2010
The "Snowmageddon" Winter Wasn't As Cold as You Remember
Photo from Bromall, Pa., submitted by user vbabyvetter on the AccuWeather.com Photo Gallery on Feb. 6, 2010.Washington, D.C., received 10.8 inches of snow from the second storm. The total snowfall for February 2010 added up to 32.1 inches, nearly seven times the normal monthly snowfall.
Some AccuWeather.com Facebook fans reminisced about how much snow fell in February of 2010, wishing that there was more snow this winter.
"Yeah, here in Pickens, WV we had 4' or more of snow in Feb. 2010. We haven't had much snow this winter. The most we have had is 18" at one time. I like the bigger snows. That is the way winter is supposed to be," said AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Velda B."*sigh* The good old days," said AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Ramona X when remembering the snow of February 2010.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
US Temperature and Rainfall Extremes for February 6,2013
As of 9PM,EST,February 6,2013,from accuweather.com:
-Highest Temperature: 88 degrees at Edinburg,Texas
-Lowest Temperature: -20 degrees at Babbitt,Minnesota
-Most Rainfall: 2.73 inches at Rockport,Texas
World Weather Hot Spot for February 6-7,2013
Scottish Highlands: Paralyzing blizzard Monday night into Tuesday (February 4-5,2013)
WeatherWhys for February 6,2013
From Feb. 5th and 7th, 1978 a powerful storm formed off the Eastern Seaboard. The storm created severe blizzard conditions from eastern Pennsylvania to New England with snow accumulations in excess of 20 inches across a large area. New England was hit the hardest with as much as 4 feet of snow falling in northwestern Rhode Island.
NYC, Mid-Atlantic on Edge of Major Snowstorm
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 7:35PM,EST
New York City and the northern mid-Atlantic are on the edge of a major storm that will hit New England as a blizzard Friday and Friday night.
Only if two storms, an Alberta Clipper from the west and a storm from the South, merge very quickly will there be more than a manageable amount of snow (a foot) in New York City, northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, Long Island, northeastern Pennsylvania and upstate New York.
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Blizzard to Bury New England at the End of the Week
Snow for Detroit, Buffalo, Wintry Mix for Chicago
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According to Winter Weather Expert Rob Miller, "While this is a possibility, it would be difficult for a storm to do this without a blocking area of high pressure to the northeast."Blizzard to Bury New England at the End of the Week
Snow for Detroit, Buffalo, Wintry Mix for Chicago
Safe Snow Driving
Such an area of high pressure would slow the forward speed of the storm down long enough to cause it to strengthen into an intense area of low pressure.
Low cloud ceilings and increasing winds during Friday may lead to building flight delays and cancellations even if snow were to stay away from the several major airports in the New York City area.
Just as there is the possibility of the storm strengthening rapidly to bring heavy snow to New York City, there is also the chance the storms stay separate long enough so that little precipitation falls. AccuWeather.com meteorologists are meeting the odds in the middle, projecting from 3 to 6 inches of snow in New York City, preceded by rain or a wintry mix during much of the day Friday.
The southern part of the storm will drench the south with beneficial rain, but also urban flooding problems and locally strong thunderstorms Wednesday night into Friday.
Long Island is a unique spot as the area could be far enough to the east Friday night as to enter into the 2- to 4- inch per hour snow as the storm intensifies before pulling away. If the storm manages this for a few hours, there would be a foot of snow.
For a closer view of AccuWeather.com's snow map, consult the Winter Weather Center.In the central Appalachians, most areas will be south (and north) of the heavy precipitation, with a punch of dry air from the southwest being a factor, and warm enough for rain or a wintry mix for at least part of the event.
Across upstate New York and part of southern Ontario, moderate snow will fall from a substantial Alberta Clipper cruising in from the Midwest Friday into Friday night.
For more information on the Alberta Clipper snow affecting the Midwest Thursday night and Friday, a new story has been published on AccuWeather.com.
Enough snow to shovel and plow is likely over much of this area which can reach as far south as parts of western and northern Pennsylvania into the higher elevations of West Virginia and western Maryland.A brief shot of blustery, seasonably cold conditions are in store for Saturday in the wake of the storm. Temperatures will moderate Sunday, setting the stage for the next storm system Monday to bring mostly rain to the region with a wintry mix over northern upstate New York and northern New England.
Another winter weather event may follow later next week around Valentine's Day, but the exact nature of the storm and precipitation is complex. Details will follow as the time draws nearer.
Storm to Pummel Detroit, Buffalo With Snow
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 7:11PM,EST
A somewhat stronger storm from western Canada will bring an swath of moderate to heavy snow to part of the Great Lakes region Wednesday night into the end of the week.
The storm was producing light to moderate snow over part of North Dakota, much of Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin during the day Wednesday. For this area, the storm will be rather abbreviated and will be have similar to other Alberta Clippers that have affected the area over the past couple of weeks.
The forward speed of the clipper is forecast to slow down with time.A wintry mix is projected to occur around Chicago to Fort Wayne, Ind., late Wednesday night and Thursday and in Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday into Friday.
Farther north, extra energy in the upper atmosphere and colder air at the surface will translate into a swath of enough snow to shovel and plow from portions of Wisconsin Wednesday night into Thursday to much of Michigan, across southern Ontario and into western and central New York Thursday into Friday.
A few locations from the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan to western New York could pick up a half a foot to a foot of snow, where lake effect provides some extra moisture.
The AccuWeather.com Winter Weather Center has a lager version of this map.Significant snow is heading for Detroit and other major metropolitan areas around the Great Lakes region. (Photos.com image and thumbnail of the Belle Isle Bridge in Detroit, Mich.)
Just a reminder, while the storm will be rather minor in the Chicago area on south in terms of travel impacts, much more substantial travel disruptions are likely farther north and east. An all-out blizzard will impact New England Friday into early Saturday with ripple-effect airline impacts likely across much of the nation. Significant storm travel impact is also possible in New York City.
Severe Storms to Hit Georgia, Florida
By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 6:54PM,EST
Georgia and Florida may be hammered by severe storms before a blizzard comes together across New England.
A storm unleashing downpours across the Gulf Coast will move across southern Georgia on Thursday afternoon and evening.
"Things will come together very quickly late Thursday afternoon," AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said of the severe weather potential.
Tallahassee, Apalachicola and Cross City, Fla., as well as Valdosta, Ga., are among the cities and towns that will be in the path of potentially damaging storms Thursday afternoon.
The biggest concern with the storms is flash and urban flooding, even in areas that need the rain. The strongest storms can also stir locally damaging wind gusts.
Localized flooding with downpours farther north across Georgia, including Atlanta, is possible.
From Photos.com.
As this storm joins forces with another storm moving east from the Midwest, a blizzard will form across New England on Friday.
Two Monstrous February 2010 Snowstorms
By Meghan Evans, Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 6:40PM,EST
The two massive snowstorms that struck the Northeast in one week of February 2010 seem like a distant memory.
The first of the two storms hit the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic from Feb. 4-6, 2010. A couple of feet of snow and more fell across southern Pennsylvania, Maryland and northern Virginia.
Philadelphia was clobbered by 28.5 inches of snow. Washington, D.C., received 17.8 inches of snow, making travel a nightmare and stranding many motorists along the beltway.
Thousands of airline travelers were also stranded in airports along the storm's path.
The severity of the February snowstorm was expressed by President Obama when he referred to it as "Snowmaggedon." AccuWeather.com dubbed the storm "Snowpocalypse."
RELATED:
Pictures From 'Snowmaggedon' in February 2010
The "Snowmageddon" Winter Wasn't As Cold as You Remember
Only two days passed with dry weather and highs at or just above freezing before yet another snowstorm arrived Feb. 9-10.Pictures From 'Snowmaggedon' in February 2010
The "Snowmageddon" Winter Wasn't As Cold as You Remember
Photo from Bromall, Pa., submitted by user vbabyvetter on the AccuWeather.com Photo Gallery on Feb. 6, 2010.Washington, D.C., received 10.8 inches of snow from the second storm. The total snowfall for February 2010 added up to 32.1 inches, nearly seven times the normal monthly snowfall.
Some AccuWeather.com Facebook fans reminisced about how much snow fell in February of 2010, wishing that there was more snow this winter.
"Yeah, here in Pickens, WV we had 4' or more of snow in Feb. 2010. We haven't had much snow this winter. The most we have had is 18" at one time. I like the bigger snows. That is the way winter is supposed to be," said AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Velda B."*sigh* The good old days," said AccuWeather.com Facebook fan Ramona X when remembering the snow of February 2010.
Blizzard to Bury New England at the End of the Week
By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 6:20PM,EST
Two storms will merge quickly enough to bring colder air, heavy snow and increasing wind to New England. Some areas will be hit with an all-out blizzard and a couple of feet of snow.
The worst of the storm will hit late Friday and Friday night and will wind down Saturday morning. However, lingering effects from blowing and drifting snow, blocked roads and other travel delays are likely to linger into much of the weekend.
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Strong winds will not only cause white-out conditions but can result in massive drifts.
The intense snowfall rate anticipated will is making the forecast especially challenging. A matter of an hour of intense snow versus 8 hours of intense snow will make the difference between a manageable few inches and a debilitating few feet of of snow. Nearby to the southeast of this intense snow, rain will be falling for a time.
A person traveling northeastward from New York City Friday evening along I-95 would encounter progressively worse and potentially dangerous weather conditions.
With such snowfall intensity, vehicles can become stuck and people can become stranded.
The storm has the potential to bury some areas of New England under a couple of feet of snow. This image was taken in Queens, N.Y., following the Jan. 23, 2005, blizzard. (Photos.com image and thumbnail.)For a larger version of this map consult the AccuWeather.com Winter Weather Center.Warm air will play a major role in the storm from New York City, Long Island and central New Jersey on south and west in the mid-Atlantic, resulting in rain during part or all of the storm, depending on location.
Only if the two storms sync up completely would heavy snow wrap around into New York City for an extended period, bringing a foot of the white stuff. Even so, without complete phasing of the storms, New York City and Long Island will get significant snow.
A separate story on the storm's role in New York City and the mid-Atlantic is now available on AccuWeather.com.
Meanwhile, a fresh injection of arctic air will fuel the blizzard over New England. The colder air will cause rain to change to snow on Cape Cod and along the South Coast, as well as cause wet snow to become more dry and powdery with time, making it subject to blowing and drifting in central and southern areas.In northernmost New England from northern Maine to along the Canada border of New Hampshire, Vermont and northern upstate New New York, too much dry air feeding in from the north may limit snowfall or cut off the storm completely.
Snow from the Alberta Clipper part of the storm will still deliver enough snow to shovel and plow over much of upstate New York.
A separate story on the impact of the Alberta Clipper around the Great Lakes is now available on AccuWeather.com.
Ground Blizzards Remain a Threat After a Storm Ends
By Molly Cochran, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
February 6,2013; 6:01PM,EST
In order for the National Weather Service to issue a blizzard warning, the winter storm must meet three major requirements:
- Sustained winds at 35 mph or higher
- Blowing snow that reduces visibility to less than 1/4 mile
- Conditions that last at least three hours
A ground blizzard is defined as loose snow or ice that is blown by the strong winds behind the storm, according to NOAA. Ground blizzards do not accumulate new precipitation, instead the snow or ice that is leftover from the blizzard is blown through the air.
A 1977 blizzard in Buffalo, N.Y., lasted for 25 hours. Most of the snow blown into the city came from the frozen surface of Lake Erie. At least nine people died while they were trapped in their cars.
In case of a snow emergency, keep a fully charged flashlight, first-aid kit, blankets and extra food on hand. If you are traveling, make sure you let someone know where and when you will be arriving. Try not to travel alone. Keep a tool kit, windshield scrapper, shovel, jumper cables, flares, knife, matches and first-aid kit in your car if possible. Also, keep your gas tank nearly full.
In order to be prepared for a winter storm or blizzard, make sure you are up to date with your local weather forecast. For more information on the New England blizzard, read "Blizzard to Bury New England at the End of the Week."
Wet Weather Moves into West
By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist
February 6,2013; 5:49PM,EST
Much of the West has seen quiet weather for the start of February. As of late, a storm has pushed rain and snow showers into the Northwest.
This storm will continue to develop this week, bringing the wet weather farther south and west.
Rain and snow will move through the Northwest on Wednesday and Thursday in waves of heavier precipitation.
Many cities in these areas haven't seen rain or snow yet in February, including Reno, Nev., Fresno, Calif., and Denver, Colo.
San Francisco could have their most significant rain since December.
While it's still early in the month of February, Fresno normally receives over 2 inches of rain during the shortest month of the year.This storm system will also bring cooler temperatures along with the showers and cloud cover.
For the latter part of the weekend, the storm system will move eastward into the Plains. The cloudy weather will go with the rain, but chilly temperatures are expected to remain in the area into the early workweek.
What Defines a Blizzard?
February 6,2013; 5:30PM,EST
What is a blizzard?
Blizzards are dangerous winter storms that are a combination of blowing snow and wind resulting in very low visibilities. While heavy snowfalls and severe cold often accompany blizzards, they are not required. Sometimes strong winds pick up snow that has already fallen, creating a ground blizzard.Officially, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm which contains large amounts of snow OR blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours). When these conditions are expected, the National Weather Service will issue a "Blizzard Warning". When these conditions are not expected to occur simultaneously, but one or two of these conditions are expected, a "Winter Storm Warning" or "Heavy Snow Warning" may be issued.
Blizzard conditions often develop on the northwest side of an intense storm system. The difference between the lower pressure in the storm and the higher pressure to the west creates a tight pressure gradient, or difference in pressure between two locations, which in turn results in very strong winds. These strong winds pick up available snow from the ground, or blow any snow which is falling, creating very low visibilities and the potential for significant drifting of snow.
Where did the term blizzard come from?
In the 1870's, an Iowa newspaper used the word "blizzard" to describe a snowstorm. Previously, the term blizzard referred to a cannon shot or a volley of musket fire. By the 1880's, the use of the word blizzard was used by many across the United States and in England.The Upper Midwest and Great Plains of the United States tends to be the region that experiences blizzards most often. With few trees or other obstructions to reduce wind and blowing snow, this part of the country is particularly vulnerable to blizzards. However, blizzards can occur in any location that has a climate that experiences snowfall. Northern Arizona can experience blizzard conditions when a strong low pressure system moves across southern Arizona and high pressure builds strongly into the Great Basin. However, these conditions are rarely met due to the infrequency of strong low pressure systems moving through the state.
What makes a blizzard dangerous?
Blizzards can create life-threatening conditions. Traveling by automobile can become difficult or even impossible due to "whiteout" conditions and drifting snow. Whiteout conditions occur most often with major storms that produce a drier, more powdery snow. In this situation, it doesn't even need to be snowing to produce whiteout conditions, as the snow which is already on the ground is blown around, reducing the visibility to near zero at times.The strong winds and cold temperatures accompanying blizzards can combine to create another danger. The wind chill factor is the amount of cooling one "feels" due to the combination of wind and temperature. During blizzards, with the combination of cold temperatures and strong winds, very low wind chill values can occur. It is not uncommon in the Midwest to have wind chills below -60F during blizzard conditions. Exposure to such low wind chill values can result in frostbite or hypothermia. For more information, go to the NWS wind chill web page.
Blizzards also can cause a variety of other problems. Power outages can occur due to strong winds and heavy snow. Pipes can freeze and regular fuel sources may be cut off.
Why Are My Current Conditions Wrong?
By Grace Muller, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
February 6,2013; 8:49AM,EST
People ask AccuWeather why the current conditions on their app sometimes don't match the weather that they are seeing out their window. There are three main reasons for this.
The current conditions aren't "wrong" exactly. Your cell phone isn't a weather station so it has to pull data from an observation site. The first reason your current weather may not match your app is that you might be very far from the closest observed weather station.
Most of the observations that weather apps use come from airports across the U.S. If you're 10 miles from the closest airport, there may be a shower at the airport but it could be dry in your location.
The second reason why observations may not be correct is because the data is old. Weather observations are usually taken once an hour. If it's raining at 8 a.m. but not at 8:30 a.m., your current observation will be incorrect. AccuWeather tries to correct for that by using formulas that take the data and adjust it to the weather outside of your window.
A third reason for incorrect current conditions is more rare. Sometimes there is a problem with the data from the National Weather Service's weather stations. A data error might be the case if you see far-out temperatures like -200ยบ on a sunny, October afternoon.
If you want more detailed information about the weather that is happening, pull up the radar on your app so that you can know exactly where the rain or snow is in your area.
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