Friday, March 29, 2013

National Temperature and Rainfall Extremes for March 29,2013

ExtremeLocation
High94°Death Valley, CA
Low0°Rolla, ND
Precip0.97"Paducah, KY
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World Weather Hot Spot for March 29-30,2013

Nabire,Indonesia: Received 3 inches of rain Thursday (March 28,2013)
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Today's Worst Weather for March 29,2013

Only,Tennessee: Rain and Thunder
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WeatherWhys for March 29,2013

The Easter Weekend is fraught with peril as far as the weather goes. Storms and great fluctuations in temperature are simply the norm this time of year. Consider yourself lucky if your Easter Sunday weather is picture perfect with sunshine, light winds and comfortable temperatures. This Sunday, a swath of the country from Washington southeastward into Arizona and New Mexico is most likely to enjoy this kind of weather.
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Coldest April Fool's Day in 20 Years: Chicago, Duluth

By , Senior Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 10:07PM,EDT


The arctic invasion headed to the Midwest early next week will lead to the coldest April Fool's Day in years, even decades for some.
This Easter weekend will start with high temperatures near or above normal across the Midwest, but will end with arctic air plunging into the Upper Midwest on Sunday.
A noticeably colder Monday then awaits the rest of the Midwest as the cold blast continues its journey to the south and east, eventually reaching the East and Gulf coasts by Wednesday (but not including the Florida Peninsula).
Highs on Monday throughout the Midwest will be held to the 30s north of the Ohio River with temperatures failing to crack the 30-degree mark from northern and eastern North Dakota to northern parts of Michigan.
Brisk winds will create even colder AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures.
For a region where highs typically warm into the lower 40s near the Canadian border to the lower 60s along the Ohio River on April 1, Monday's forecast highs will translate to the Midwest's coldest April Fool's Day in years.
The coldest April Fool's Day since 1993 is shaping up for Chicago, Duluth, Green Bay and Des Moines. For Detroit, Monday will be the coldest April 1 since 2001.
Temperatures in Indianapolis, Ind., should only top out at 38 degrees on Monday, making this April Fool's Day the city's coldest since record-keeping began at the Indianapolis International Airport in 1948. April 1, 1962, and its high of 39 degrees currently holds the distinction for Indianapolis' coldest April Fool's Day.
April 1, 1996, was the last time temperatures were held to the 20s on April Fool's Day in International Falls, Minn., a feat that is expected to be repeated on Monday.
Monday's unusual cold comes one year after the Midwest experienced a mild to unusually warm April Fool's Day in 2012.
Temperatures soared into the 80s last April Fool's Day in Des Moines, St. Louis and Kansas City, where highs in the 30s are expected this Monday.
Slightly more than 30 degrees will separate high temperatures from April 1, 2012 (67 degrees) and Monday's forecast high (35 degrees) in Minneapolis, Minn. For Chicago and Detroit, the difference in April 1 high temperatures from last year to this year ranges from 15 to 20 degrees.
Another difference between the April Fool's Days of this year and 2012 is the fact that snow should once again make an appearance downwind of the Great Lakes and from Denver to St. Louis to Pittsburgh on Monday.
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Boston, NYC, DC: April Fool's Day Warmth Only a Tease

By , Senior Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 9:55PM,EDT




The mild temperatures awaiting the I-95 corridor this April Fool's Day will only be a tease due to a significant cold shot on the horizon.
Spring is making a comeback across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic this Easter weekend.
Temperatures will warm into the lower 50s as far north as Albany, N.Y., and Boston, Mass., on Saturday, then Bangor, Maine, and Burlington, Vt., on Sunday.
Dry weather will complement this weekend's temperatures across New England. The same can be said for the mid-Atlantic on Saturday, but rain threatens to put a damper on Easter egg hunts and other outdoor events on Sunday.
Temperatures will continue to rise along the I-95 corridor for April Fool's Day. Monday will actually turn out to be the warmest day since the unusual taste of spring in January for many communities.
However, some residents may view Monday's warmth as a cruel April Fool's Day joke from Mother Nature with winter set to get the upper hand on its fight against spring for control of the weather by Tuesday.
Winter's fierce blow to spring will come in the form of a cold front, opening the door for a noticeable drop in temperatures from Monday to Tuesday along the I-95 corridor (southward to South Carolina).
The cold blast will first reach the Upper Midwest on Easter Sunday, then more of the Midwest, Northeast's interior and southward to Oklahoma on Monday.
Monday's warmth along the I-95 corridor will be replaced by highs in the 40s on Tuesday southward to Washington, D.C., while temperatures Tuesday struggle to reach the 50-degree mark in Richmond, Va., and Rocky Mount, N.C., and snow showers fly downwind of the Great Lakes.
"While the air [headed to the Northeast for Tuesday] will certainly not be as cold as most days experienced during March in the region, it will be accompanied by gusty winds," stated AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
"So a person standing outside for more than a few minutes waiting for the bus or train may mind it, especially in the shade, before sunrise or after sunset," Sosnowski continued.
AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures along the Northeast's I-95 corridor can average 10 to 15 degrees lower than Tuesday's actual forecast temperature.

Forecast High Temperatures





























































City
Avg. High
Sat. High
Sun. High
Mon. High
Tues. High
Portland
46
48
49
53
43
Boston
49
50
53
56
42
New York City
54
56
54
59
44
Philadelphia
57
58
59
59
45
Trenton
55
56
57
58
45
Washington, D.C.
62
56
57
58
45

Sosnowski does have good news for those cheering on spring during its ongoing battle with winter.
"Temperatures will moderate from west to east during the middle of [next] week, so it appears the worst of the chill will only last a couple of days."
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Anniversary of Niagara Falls Running Dry

By , Senior Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 9:35PM,EDT



March 29 marks the anniversary of when a massive ice jam reduced the mighty Niagara Falls to a trickle in 1848, a rare phenomena that lasted for nearly 40 hours.
The ice jam developed as strong winds blew chunks of ice from Lake Erie into the Niagara River's entrance near Buffalo, blocking the flow of water to Niagara Falls.
Residents first noticed the eerie silence of barely any water rushing over Niagara Falls during the evening of March 29th.
In the hours that followed, a report from the New York State Assembly states that people were able to retrieve guns, bayonets and tomahawks (all artifacts from the War of 1812) from the exposed river bed.
Some crew members of the famous "Maid of the Mist" used this time to blast away rocks that had created navigation hazards.
Nearby mills and factory machines, which used power generated from the Falls, had to be shut down.
Normalcy around Niagara Falls finally resumed during the night of March 31st, when the ice jam broke free and water once again started roaring over the Falls.
A view of the American Side of the Niagara Falls (Photo by Photos.com)
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MAP: Diverse Weather Across Nation Easter Sunday

By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
March 29,2013; 9:21PM,EDT




Easter Sunday will deliver a diverse mix of weather across the nation, including rain, thunderstorms, snow and sunshine.
Rain will extend from the Northeast down through the South and will push eastward throughout the day. Thunderstorms will span parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama.
The north-central U.S. will feel cold air moving in from Canada with the potential for snow in Montana, North and South Dakota and Nebraska. Brisk winds will add a chill to the day.
Neighboring states to the west will remain relatively mild.
Rain for much of the day in California, Nevada, Utah and part of Colorado may hamper outdoor Easter festivities but will supply beneficial moisture.
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2014 Winter Olympics Host City Fears Snow Shortage

By Vickie Frantz, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
March 29,2013; 9:04PM,EDT



Organizers of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, are storing snow to assure there will be enough for the winter games that will take place in February.
Seven storage areas in the Caucasus Mountains have been prepared to store 450,000 cubic meters of snow. That is enough snow to encompass the entire cruise ship Voyager of the Seas, according to voyager-class.com.
Warmer than expected weather, and the inability to complete some Olympic tests this winter, have the organizers fearful the amount of snow next winter will not be enough, according to the AP.
"Sochi, Russia, is located on the sea and is one of the warmest areas in Russia," said AccuWeather Senior Expert Meteorologist Jim Andrews. The temperature in Sochi averages in the mid 30s during the months of December through February.
Once the snow is in the storage area, it will be covered with a special thermo seal to help prevent melting over the summer. Still, the organizers expect about 140,000 cubic meters to melt. The snow that remains should be plenty for the freestyle skiing, Alpine skiing and snowboarding events.
The town of Sochi averaged 7.9 inches of precipitation in January with an average monthly temperature of 33 degrees F. "Sochi has a very wet climate. They get a lot of precipitation during the winter and much of that is snow," said Andrews.
The Winter Olympics held in Vancouver in 2010 experienced a lack of snow. Organizers of that event used helicoptered in snow, trucked in snow and even snow produced by a snow machine to build up their snow totals.
To keep the transported snow from melting, tubes of packed dry ice were placed on the slopes of the mountain and replaced every 12 hours, according to guardian.co.uk.
According to Sergei Blachin, general director of the Roza Khutor ski resort in Krasnaya Polyana (host resort of the ski and snowboarding events), there is no doubt that enough snow will be there for the Alpine skiing, snowboarding and freestyle skiing events of 2014.
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Locally Damaging Storms Aim at Oklahoma, Texas

By , Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 8:55PM,EDT



Severe storms may erupt across western portions of Oklahoma and northwestern Texas late Friday before spreading eastward on Saturday.
Large hail and damaging wind gusts are the main threats of the strongest thunderstorms that erupt Friday afternoon and evening. Cities and towns that lie the zone of storm risk include Abilene, Snyder and Wichita Falls, Texas, and Altus and Weatherford, Okla.
A weak storm pushing across the region will act to ignite the storms, while moist air coming in from the Gulf of Mexico provides the fuel.
Motorists who travel along the I-20 and I-40 corridors should be prepared for locally torrential downpours and stay alert of the potential for severe storms.
As the storm system shifts eastward, thunderstorms will spread across northern Texas and central and eastern portions of Oklahoma on Saturday.
Oklahoma City, Norman and Tulsa, Okla., may lie in the path of potentially damaging storms on Saturday.
By Saturday evening, thunderstorms will reach the lower Mississippi Valley, putting portions of Arkansas and Louisiana at risk.
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Sandy-Ravaged Businesses Prepare for Tourism; Residents Fear Public Confusion

By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
March 29,2013; 8:31PM,EDT




As Memorial Day and the start of the summer season nears, almost an entire rebuild is underway at the Jersey Shore, after Superstorm Sandy devastated homes and businesses last fall.
When Sandy made landfall in New Jersey on Oct. 29, 2012, locals evacuated with prized possessions and a few days worth of spare clothing. Few anticipated the severity of the storm and how long displacement might last.
Nearly five months later, hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions are preparing to re-open and are in need of a heavy tourism season. Homeowners, however, have their reservations about what conflicting messages the public may be receiving.
Lou Cirigliano is the Director of Operations at Casino Pier and Breakwater Beach, an iconic part of the coastline for many who have spent their childhood summers at the Jersey Shore.
Casino Pier's signature attraction, the Jet Star roller coaster, was framed as the backdrop for Sandy's devastation, as it washed into the ocean and remained dismally amid the water for months after the storm.
Despite severe damage to the pier and its attractions, Cirigliano is set on re-opening.
"We are still hopeful of being able to bring the entire property east of Ocean Terrace back by Memorial Day weekend," Cirigliano said.
The iconic Jet Star rollercoaster seen in the background was washed into the ocean during the wrath of Superstorm Sandy. Photo courtesy of AccuWeather.com's Senior Videographer David Defilippis.
"It is still a very long process yet. We have no electrical services or utilities there. We are working hard and things will begin in ernest this week, but in only two months there is still a lot to be accomplished."
The pier is being disassembled in areas deemed structurally unsound and new pilings are being placed where fresh boardwalk will lie in the future.
Like many, Cirigliano has struggled with the frustration of new building requirements and the bureaucracy of insurance companies and governmental agencies.
"We can't wait to do the required work, but with all our damage we sustained, we also need to do certain things based on the procedures the insurance representatives dictate," Cirigliano said.
"The rebuilding process has been quite complicated -- more so than I ever imagined."
Cirigliano is just one of many facing the same plight.
Ohana Grill in Lavallete has been closed since Sandy ransacked the town in October.
"Between the winds that knocked the power lines down and the surge of water that overtook the barrier island, our restaurant was in bad shape," restaurant owner and Head Chef James Costello said.
Winds gusted to near 90 mph in the hardest-hit areas of New Jersey, knocking out power to more than 2.4 million customers. Sandy's destructive winds were responsible for more than double the number of power outages caused by Irene in 2011.
Ohana Grill, which opened two years ago, received one and a half feet of water damage and required Costello to replace the floor and 4 feet of the bottom sheetrock. What was salvaged sits in storage, awaiting the restaurant's official reopen.
"Every time we meet with the landlord we feel his frustration that to date none of his insurance claims have even come close to settling. Basically, right now we are building in the 'hopes' that everything being spent will be covered," Costello said.
Costello says it has been a "leap of faith" for him and his wife.
"I had a discussion with my wife prior to beginning the rebuilding process that there was a possibility that we would take on substantial debt to reopen. We decided, together, to go forward. This had always been our dream together and we couldn't let this storm take it away," he said.
Despite a hopeful attitude, the coast is draped with concern, from both business and homeowners alike.
Sandy damage is still rampant along the coast five months post-storm. Entire streets are vacant in some towns. Photo courtesy of AccuWeather.com's Senior Videographer David Defilippis.
"I think we will see people returning to Seaside to support the businesses that are back opened, but I fear that the rentals and hotels they used to stay in may not be reopened in time...," Cirigliano said.
Businesses to the north of Casino Pier were severely impacted, and Cirigliano questions whether they will ever return.
"I know the phones have been ringing about the summer, and that is keeping us optimistic. If the amount of people in town on the weekends so far is any indication, things will be good."
But for homeowners, there is a dangerous mixed message of preparedness for the summer season and disrepair in the community.
Faith Ligouri, a resident of Seaside Park, has returned to her home but has not yet been able to restore the first floor, which sustained severe water damage and has since been gutted.
"I'm excited today because B&B is open, a local store down the street," Faith told AccuWeather on March 16. "I'm happy to see them back."
"I don't want to discourage people from coming and visiting, it's important to our businesses and our economy but I would beg the world, honestly, to understand that we are not whole. And we will not be whole for years to come because we all have to face, how are we going to rebuild our homes," she said. "And no one can give us a clear and financially do-able answer to that."
The elusiveness of federal mitigation grants and insurance payouts is breeding frustration in the community.
"I feel like there is a perception that the Jersey Shore is wealthy or these are people's second homes and that's really not true. These are our primary homes. And we need support, financially, emotionally and physically," Ligouri said.
"And that's what I'd like people to know. While our streets may be clean, our houses are empty."
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Wet Easter Weekend: San Francisco, Sacramento

By Anthony Sagliani, Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 8:00PM,EDT




A slow-moving storm system parked off the coast of California will make a move for the coastline later Saturday into Easter Sunday.
Deep blue skies and dry weather across the interior central and northern parts of the state will come to an end starting Saturday morning. Rain will follow shortly after, lasting throughout the day Sunday.
Some of the first places to receive the rain will be found from San Francisco northward along the coast to Eureka Saturday morning. The rain will reach more inland places, such as Sacramento, Redding and Chico, toward the evening hours.
Flooding rain and widespread travel problems are not expected from this storm, but the wet weather will still be enough to dampen any outdoor Easter plans you might have.
In addition to the rain, there will also be the risk for some isolated thunderstorms across northern California, especially on Sunday. While the thunderstorms will not be widespread, those that do develop could produce briefly blinding downpours and pea-sized hail.
There will also be some accumulating snow in the highest elevations of Klamath Mountains and across the Sierra Nevada, but most of it will remain above pass level.
Most of the rain will miss areas farther south in places such as Los Angeles, Bakersfield and San Diego.
Temperatures across Southern California will remain in the 70s and 80s across inland areas, but a gusty onshore wind will keep temperatures only in the 50s and 60s along the coast.
The rain will begin to clear out of the state for the start of the workweek, with only some clouds and the threat for a shower remaining for Monday across the northern part of the state.
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Easter Weekend Conducive to Late-Season Skiing, Boarding

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 4:29PM,EDT




It is way too cold to swim, bike trails may be too muddy or bike lanes may still have a lot of winter debris. So what are you to do if you are bored?
Lingering cold weather and snow for many areas could mean one of the best Easter weekends for skiing and boarding ever, especially over the Upper Midwest and the Appalachians.
Even though temperatures are turning around to seasonable levels and some rain is in the offing, many resorts are boasting a bumper base of snow (several feet in some cases) with most trails still open.
Before you hang it up for the season, this is a perfect opportunity to utilize those season passes or take advantage of late-season skiing deals before the snow disappears.
If you don't know how to ski or snowboard and don't mind cracking a sweat and getting a little wet, spring skiing conditions offer a golden opportunity to learn or get better.
Conditions this weekend will offer a firm base with a soft, granular surface in most cases, which is more forgiving. And you won't have to be weighed down with winter weight outerwear.
Most resorts stopped making snow a while back, but Mother Nature made up for it during the second half of the winter. Some locations in the central and southern Appalachians have picked up over a foot of snow from the most recent storm near the Palm Sunday weekend. (Images and thumbnails by Photos.com)
While the weather has been much warmer in the West, the much higher elevations compensates for the warmth with plenty of snow to ski on at most resorts.
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Wet and Mild End to March in Midwest, East

By Dan Depodwin, Meteorologist
March 29,2013; 12:10PM,EST




After a slew of winter storms this month, March will end on a wetter and milder note in many places. The next storm system that will move eastward this weekend is poised to bring rain and some thunderstorms from the Plains to the East Coast.
A combination of Pacific moisture and a Canadian disturbance will promote a wet start to the Easter weekend across the Midwest and Plains. The area with the steadiest rain is expected to be from Kansas to Wisconsin. A flow of mild air ahead of the system will allow precipitation to fall as rain, not snow.
Farther south, a stickier air mass, aided by Gulf moisture, will promote some thunderstorms around the Arklatex Saturday. While many locales are not expected to see an all-day washout, dodging showers will be commonplace in the middle of the nation Saturday.
Unfortunately for the parched areas of the western Plains, the best rainfall is forecast to be to the east, causing more drought stress on agriculture.
Ahead of this storm system, a brief break from the chilly, wintry weather is expected in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic Saturday. Sunshine is expected to prevail with milder temperatures.
Saturday certainly looks like the better weekend day to be outside in the East. By Easter Sunday, clouds will stream into the region and afternoon Easter egg hunts may turn wet.
Once again, thunderstorms will rumble on the southern side of this system Sunday from Dallas, Texas, to Atlanta, Ga. As always, keep an eye to the sky for threatening weather and move inside if a thunderstorm approaches.
No organized severe thunderstorm outbreaks are expected. A lack of a strong atmospheric disturbance and deep moisture will put a lid on nasty thunderstorms.
The only area of wintry weather should be across the northern Great Lakes where there can be snow showers, although accumulations will remain light. New England will stay cool and dry.
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