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Friday, January 31, 2014

Flooding Threat Argentina and Uruguay Into Next Week

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

January 31,2014; 8:05PM,EST

A stalled frontal boundary with several areas of low pressure tracking along it will bring the threat for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to areas from northeast Argentina through Uruguay.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will impact areas from Santa Fe and Rosario to Buenos Aires and Montevideo through Saturday as the front settles over the region.
By Sunday, another front will approach from the south, enhancing rainfall across the entire region. Locally heavy rainfall is expected Sunday through Monday in Rosario, Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Rainfall amounts of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) are expected, along with gusty thunderstorms.

Photo of a car driving through flood waters, courtesy of Photos.com.
On Tuesday, the front will stall across central Uruguay, lifting the heaviest rainfall north of Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
By Wednesday, yet another yet another wave of low pressure and frontal boundary will a threat for rainfall to the entire region.
Rainfall will average 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) from near and north of Santa Fe, Argentina, eastward through into central and northern Uruguay. Local rainfall amounts of 300 mm (12 inches) or greater are possible.
RELATED:
Detailed Buenos Aires Forecast
Argentina Weather Center
Detailed Montevideo Forecast
Other cities in the path of the heaviest rainfall include Gualeguaychu and Salta in Argentina and Durazno in Uruguay.

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Dangerous flooding threat across Argentina & Uruguay over the next week. 6"+ amounts likely. accuweather.com/en/weather-new… pic.twitter.com/Tuxa4isBCy

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Breaking: Overnight Snow Targets Chicago

Cold temperatures and snow will make for a slick commute in Chicago Saturday morning.

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This wk was 2-year anniv. of deadly Alabama tornado outbreak (EF-3, EF-2s) of Jan. 2012 ow.ly/t7SGu

Damp Weekend in Store for Atlanta

By Kristen Rodman, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

January 31,2014; 8:02PM,EST

After the snow and ice melted around the city Friday, a storm will dampen the city with rain this weekend.
Beginning Saturday morning a rainy mist will be accompanied by fog. Although the fog will lift by the afternoon hours, it will reduce visibility and could create travel delays for anyone traveling Saturday morning.

A spotty drizzle will be present through the day Saturday, as temperatures hover around 50 F.
For Super Bowl Sunday, temperatures will jump approximately 15 degrees, nearing 65 F. Sunday will be the warmest day of the weekend.
RELATED:
Detailed Atlanta Weather
AccuWeather Winter Weather Center
Southeast Regional Weather Radar
Despite the warmth, showers will be possible during the day and periods of rain will settle into the region Sunday night.

The rain will continue into Monday, as temperatures drop back down into the mid-50s.
Looking ahead, the first full week of February will be cooler and cloudy with a couple of showers, before skies clear for weekend.

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Freezing drizzle near the border of MO & IL in Maryville, IL, reports NWS spotter. Radar: ow.ly/tayjM

Erik Pindrock

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Dangerous flooding threat across Argentina & Uruguay over the next week. 6"+ amounts likely. accuweather.com/en/weather-new… pic.twitter.com/Tuxa4isBCy

Thursday, January 30, 2014

They Never Thought It Would Come, But an Answer to California's Prayers Is Finally Here

By: By Sean Breslin

Published: January 30,2014

For the first time since 2000 -- when the U.S. Drought Montior began keeping track -- a portion of California is in exceptional drought, the worst designation listed. There's no doubt the residents have done a few rain dances recently, and there's finally some good news on the horizon.
Rain and snow will be falling on California soon, if not already. It's coming from Winter Storm Maximus, a Latin term for "largest" or "greatest." For Californians, there's no doubt this storm is appropriately named.
(MORE: Winter Storm Maximus Forecast | State-by-State Impacts)
San Francisco International Airport normally has 11.35 inches by this point in the season, according to an Associated Press report, but it has had only 1.5 inches. Santa Rosa Airport normally gets 20.71, but has had only 2.10 this season.
For more than a month, not a single drop of rain was observed in most towns throughout California. Water rationing and crop damage are real fears as the Sierra Nevada mountains continue to contain a shockingly low snowpack.
(MORE: 17 Communities in California That May Run Out of Water)
It's understandable if the residents of a state that boasts good weather shed a few tears of happiness when the conditions finally turn a little inclement.
Bad weather can be good sometimes, as the folks below will tell you.

Monique Millan @MystikMami Follow

It finally rained here after a 10 month drought!! #bblive

11:26 AM - 30 Jan 2014

After nearly a 2 1/2 month drought, it finally rains today. Thanks you Lord! @gstobbe @thefeather

11:02 AM - 30 Jan 2014

Mallory Mobley:) @thatonegirl16 Follow

finally!!!! RAIN!!!! Our drought is over!!! #rain #thankyougod #finally #california

11:10 AM - 30 Jan 2014

PremierRenewablesLLC @Premier_Solar Follow

yay! It finally rained, we're hoping there's more to come! #rain #drought #ag

11:07 AM - 30 Jan 2014

Jamie Leonard @JLeonard1622 Follow

Well finally we got rain in the Valley snow in the mountains.drought is not over but at least it's something

11:03 AM - 30 Jan 2014

Yay California has potential rain in it's future! #Finally #Drought

3:52 PM - 24 Jan 2014

California Drought: Water Shortage Puts Communities on the Brink of Running Dry

By: By Eric Zerkel

Published: January 30,2014

Even though Winter Storm Maximus may bring up to a foot of snow to drought depleted California, it likely won't be enough to help 17 rural communities California state officials say are just 60 to 100 days away from running completely dry.
A task force at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) compiled the list of 17 communities in response to California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s declaration of drought emergency just two weeks ago, which mobilized state resources to help drought stricken communities obtain and conserve water.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, 2013 was California's driest year on record, and so far, the new year hasn't provided much relief: A newly released U.S. Drought Monitor showed that exceptional drought — the most dire measurement of drought — now stretched across nine percent of the state.
(MORE: California's Drought Reaches Unheard of Levels)
The 17 communities that comprise the list range in size from 39 to 11,000 Californians, but all share a common denominator: They're decidedly rural. The San Jose Mercury News reports that water discrepancies between rural and urban Californian communities exist because urban areas like San Francisco spent millions of dollars after California's last major drought to implement water conservation infrastructure.
But in extreme rural areas like Lompico, Calif., which has less than a thousand water users, generating enough funds to renovate and improve water collection proved to be an insurmountable task, especially when the main source of the area's water comes from a creek that has long since run dry, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"We have been unable to take water out of the creek since August and well production is down, and we didn't have that much water to begin with," Lois Henry, a Lompico water board member, told the San Jose Mercury News.
(MORE: How Much Drought Relief From Winter Storm Maximus?)
Relief may come by way of inclusion on the CDPH's list. According to the CDPH, the state agency will "work with the impacted systems to ensure that they have implemented required conservation measures (this could include no outside watering or rationing in addition to proper noticing of system customers of the required conservation measures); identify any possible additional sources (nearby water systems or hauled water); and provide guidance on the possible construction of additional wells to meet the system’s needs."
But some of those proposed solutions remain controversial, particularly hauling in water from other locales in a state with widespread drought. When asked where water will come from to help the rural communities, Bill Croyle, director of the California Drought Task Force told the Mercury News, "You are going to get it wherever you can get it."
And conflicts over water allocation may worsen in the future, too. The list, compiled from a survey of 3,000 California water agencies, stands at 17 now, but is expected to grow as California's precious water sources dry out.
"As the drought goes on, there will be more that probably show up on the list," Dave Mazzera, acting drinking-water division chief for the state Department of Public Health, told the Associated Press.
Scroll below for the full list of communities identified by the CDPH:

Shaver Lake Heights Mutual Water Company (Fresno County)
Sierra Cedars Community Services District (Fresno County)
Bass Lake Water Company (Madera County)
Whispering Pines Apts (Mariposa County)
Boulder Canyon Water Association (Kern County)
Cypress Canyon Water System (Kern County)
Lake Of The Woods Mutual Water Company (Kern County)
Camp Condor (Kern County)
Jackson Valley Irrigation District (Amador County)
City of Willits (Mendocino County)
Redwood Valley Community Water District (Mendocino County)
Brooktrail Township Community Services District (Mendocino County)
Washington Ridge Conservation Camp (Nevada County)
Ophir Gardens (Placer County)
Lompico County Water District (Santa Cruz County)
City of Cloverdale (Sonoma County)
Healdsburg (Sonoma County)

MORE: Drought Landscapes

33 / 51

Dry cracked earth is seen on July 25, 2007 near the Lake Mead Marina in an area that was once filled with water from Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nev. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Winter Storm Leon: When Will Roads Thaw Out?

By: By Jon Erdman

Published: January 30,2014

Winter Storm Leon delivered a long swath of snow and ice from parts of Texas to the coastal Southeast, coastal Mid-Atlantic and Northeast early Tuesday morning into Wednesday.

Current Temperatures

INTERACTIVE TEMPERATURE MAP

Thursday Highs

Friday Highs

Friday's Lows

If you're stuck at home, or away from home, due to ice-packed, untreated roads, there's one question you'd like to know above all others: When will temperatures rise above freezing to begin melting the accumulated mess?
While some melting and drying did occur on roads Wednesday, it appears that the melting will accelerate as we close out the week.
After waking up to temperatures well below freezing Thursday, highs should rise into the 40s over much of Alabama, north Georgia, and South Carolina including Atlanta and Charleston, S.C., allowing some significant melting to begin by late morning or early afternoon in these areas.
Highs Thursday along the Gulf Coast should make it into at least the low 50s, helping to put an end to the icy misery there.
Once again, however, low temperatures early Friday morning will bottom out in the 20s from the Carolinas to the Deep South, meaning there may be some refreezing of untreated roads and bridges where lingering meltwater was left standing by Thursday's warmth.
Friday, however, should bring widespread highs in the 50s in the Carolinas, north Georgia and Alabama, with 60s along the northern Gulf Coast. With lows Saturday morning forecast to remain primarily above freezing, Friday should spell the end of this long, aggravating snow and ice jam for parts of the Southeast.

MORE: Winter Storm Leon Photos

46 / 242

In this aerial view looking at I-75 north at Moors Mill Rd., motorists get out of their vehicles to chat near abandoned cars along the ice-covered interstate after a winter snow storm , Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Tulis)

Winter Storm Leon Causes Major Traffic Jam

By: By Nicole Bonaccorso and Edecio Martinez

Published: January 30,2014

Winter Storm Leon turned Atlanta on its head on Tuesday. The 2.3 inches of snow caused hours of traffic, forcing many commuters to abandon their cars on highways for shelter.

Given that average lows in Atlanta in January hover in the 30s, it’s safe to say the city is not used to snow storms. Inexperience with driving in snowy conditions, as well as a lack of necessary equipment such as snow plows and salt trucks and a shortage of crews to drive them all added to the chaos. According to CNN, Atlanta only has about 30 salt trucks and 40 plows.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed blamed local businesses for contributing in part to the problem by letting workers leave at the same time rather than staggering departures. Schools and businesses released people simultaneously when the snow started, causing a traffic jam of more than a million cars as the roads became increasingly icy, CNN reported.

The gridlock made it impossible for salt trucks to pass through, and when they ran out of salt, they were unable to navigate back to the storage areas.

Many stranded drivers left their cars and made their way to local Home Depots, supermarkets and drug stores that opened their doors to allow the commuters a floor to sleep on. More than 50 shelters opened across Georgia. Mayor Reed said that more than 3,000 schoolchildren were stranded at area schools overnight.

(MORE: Heartwarming Photos That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity)

Matthew Holcomb, a vice president of engineering at CNN, was stuck in traffic for more 16 hours. “I have seen literally hundreds of cars parked on the side of the road,” he told CNN. “I saw a lady carrying her kid in a blanket down the side of the road. I mean, people going the wrong way on major, major interstates. It’s scary stuff.”

There have been more than 1,400 accidents, 175 injuries and at least one related fatality on the roads, the Georgia State Patrol said during a press release yesterday. One baby was born in a car during the traffic jam, delivered by the baby’s father and a police officer.

A civil emergency message still advised drivers to stay off the roads this morning due to abandoned vehicles and slippery conditions. Later today, officials said they hope to begin to allow drivers to move their abandoned vehicles. The Georgia Department of Transportation says that Highway Emergency Response Operators units will be provided to transport people to their cars, jump dead batteries and provide gas to anyone who ran out of fuel during the delays.

Husband and Wife's Joyful Reunion on an Ice-Covered Atlanta Highway (VIDEO)

By: By Annie Hauser

Published: January 30,2014

During Tuesday’s Winter Storm Leon, a 30-minute commute for husband and wife Charlie and Sally Ann Adair turned into a 7.5-hour “angst filled” ordeal.
Sally Ann left her office in Midtown Atlanta at 2 p.m. Charlie left his, in Buckhead, at 1:30 p.m.
He made it home 6.5 hours later — and immediately set out to find his wife.
(MORE: Atlanta's Massive Gridlock)
He walked two miles toward where she was stuck in her car, and came upon her, just as she managed to drive her car up an ice-covered exit ramp.
“That was really scary — my heart is beating so fast,” she said in a video Charlie posted to YouTube.
The next day, she explained to weather.com a reason for the traffic snarl in her area. “The problem was the hill at the exit ramp was covered in ice, so no one could leave [route] 400 from the exit that I needed to take to get home.” She had to drive with one tire off the road in the snow just to get her car up the icy incline.
After the couple reunited, they pulled off, parked Sally Ann's car at a nearby gym and began the two-mile walk home — a journey that took almost an hour.
“Walking home was really kind of sad because you saw just hundreds of cars, all just packed in there, trying to go up hills or down hills,” she told weather.com. “Look[ed] like a zombie movie without the zombies."
She added that it wasn’t all bad — stranded motorists were getting out of their cars to help one another.
Although Sally Ann and Charlie made it home at nearly 11 p.m., their family members weren’t all as lucky. Charlie’s mother is a teacher, and Sally Ann said Wednesday that she thought she’d have to spend Tuesday night at her school — only to be rescued “really, really late at night.” Sally said she has friends whose children spent the night at their schools.
“It was crazy, it was absolutely crazy,” she said.
MORE: Winter Storm Leon Covers the Southeast

11 / 242

Traffic is at a standstill on Interstate 65 northbound as officials work to clear abandoned vehicles Wednesday Jan. 29, 2014 in Hoover, Ala. (AP Photo/Hal Yeager)

National Weather Summary for January 30,2014 from weatherunderground.com

Weather Underground midday recap for Thursday,January 30,2014

A cold frontal boundary extended from the upper Intermountain West, across the central Plains and over the upper Midwest on Thursday, while a separate cold front moved across central and southern California.

An area of low pressure accompanied a cold front over the central U.S. on Thursday which drove snow showers across the parts of the upper Mississippi Valley, the upper Midwest and the Great Lakes. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories were issued in Minnesota, southern Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan, as Waupaca, Wis., reported a midday total of 3.8 inches of snow, while Dickinson, Mich., reported a midday total of 2.2 inches of snow. Very cold, blustery conditions began to move through the northern Plains and upper Midwest as wind chill advisories were issued in northeastern Montana, North Dakota and northern Minnesota. Flag Island, Minn., recorded a morning low of -13 degrees with a wind chill factor of -35 degrees. The southern Plains avoided precipitation on Thursday, as warm, sunny conditions dominated the region. Fort Stockton, Texas, recorded a midday high of 79 degrees, while Pecos, Texas, recorded a midday high of 76 degrees. The Southeast stayed mostly clear, although a frontal boundary ushered showers and thunderstorms across Florida.

The central Rockies experienced snow showers as a low pressure system moved over eastern Colorado. The Sierra Nevadas also experienced much needed snow showers due to a cold frontal boundary over California. Mammoth Lakes, Calif., reported a midday total of 12.0 inches of snow, while Lake Tahoe, Calif., reported a midday total of 17.0 inches of snow. Light rain also accompanied this cold front and moved across central California. To the north, an onshore flow moved precipitation rain across parts of Washington and light snow over the Cascades.

This Date in Weather History for January 30,2014 from weatherforyou.com

Weather History
For Thursday,January 30,2014

1936 - Birmingham, AL, established a single storm record and 24 hour record with 11 inches of snow. (29th-30th) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1977 - The great "Buffalo Blizzard" finally abated after three days. The storm added a foot of new snow to 33 inches already on the ground. Winds gusting to 75 mph reduced visibilities to near zero, produced snow drifts twenty-five feet high, and kept wind chill readings 50 degrees below zero. The blizzard paralyzed the city, and caused 250 million dollars damage. (David Ludlum)

1987 - A winter storm brought more heavy snow to the North Atlantic Coast Region, with 13.6 inches reported at Hiram ME. January proved to be the snowiest of record for much of Massachusetts. Worcester MA reported an all-time monthly record of 46.8 inches of snow. (National Weather Summary)

1988 - Strong southerly winds, gusting to 53 mph at Kansas City MO, spread warm air into the central U.S. Nineteen cities reported record high temperatures for the date. Snow and strong northwest winds ushered cold arctic air into the north central states. The temperature at Cutbank plunged from 54 degrees to a morning low of 7 degrees below zero. (National Weather Summary)

1989 - The temperature at McGrath, AK, dipped to 62 degrees below zero, and Fairbanks reported a reading of 51 degrees below zero, with unofficial readings in the area as cold as 75 degrees below zero. The massive dome of bitterly cold air began to slide down western Canada toward the north central U.S. Strong southwest winds ahead of the arctic front pushed the temperature at Great Falls MT to 62 degrees, and gusted to 124 mph at Choteau MT, overturning trucks and mobile homes, and a dozen empty railroad cars. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990 - A major winter storm produced heavy snow from Indiana to New England. It was the biggest storm in two and a half years for eastern New York State. Snowfall totals in the mountains of Maine ranged up to 20 inches at Guilford and Lovell. Other heavy snowfall totals included 17 inches at Utica NY, and 19 inches at Bethel VT, Ludlow VT, and New London NH. The storm claimed three lives in eastern New York State, and four lives in Vermont. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2005 - A significant ice storm struck parts of northern Georgia on the 30th-31st. Ice accretion was as great as 2 inches in Monroe county, located southeast of Atlanta. Power outages in the area at the height of the storm affected nearly 320,000 homes and businesses.

World Weather Hot Spot for January 30-31,2014 from accuweather.com

Puncak,Indonesia: Heavy rain;received a whopping 7.6 inches of rain Wednesday (January 29,2014)

Snowstorm to Hit Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

January 30,2014; 9:30PM,EST

The first in a series of winter storms will reach from Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma to major hubs in the the Midwest and southeastern Canada spanning Friday into Saturday.
A push of cold air coinciding with a storm moving up from the Southwest will trigger a zone of moderate to heavy snow on its northern and western fringe with a zone of ice hugging the southeastern fringe of the snow area.

The snow and ice will hinder travel on the highways from the central Plains to the Midwest and can lead to flight delays and cancellations, not only in the same area, but also reaching out to other parts of the nation.
While winds will be light with the storm and ground blizzards are not expected, enough snow to plow will fall along much of I-70 over the Rockies and Plains and along I-80 in the Midwest.

According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Mark Mancuso, "Snow will fall on major metropolitan areas from Denver to Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City."
A shallow push of cold air southeast of the snow area will lead to a zone of sleet and its more dangerous and disruptive cousin, freezing rain.

"Ice and/or a wintry mix will glaze surfaces from near Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kan., to St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Cleveland," Mancuso said.
Farther south and east, warmer air will win the battle with only a brief and spotty, light wintry mix forecast in parts of northern Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia and much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England. In these areas, most of the precipitation produced by the storm will be light rain or drizzle and includes the metro areas of Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta.
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Severe Weather Center
AccuWeather Spring Outlook
Current AccuWeather Snow Map
A train of storms will follow from the South and Southwest well into February. The track of each storm will vary with some reaching toward the Great Lakes, some aiming for the mid-Atlantic and perhaps one or two causing wintry trouble in the South.
In the wake of each storm, colder air will sag southward, but not to the extreme experienced during the middle and latter part of January.
Earlier in the month, temperatures plunged below zero with high winds. At least with the cold settling in Sunday into Monday, winds will be much lighter in comparison then the coldest air is around. For example around Chicago, high temperatures will be within a few degrees of 10 F as opposed to highs near to slightly below zero during several episodes earlier during January. RealFeel® temperatures at the time had plunged to between minus 40 to minus 20 F.
However, just enough cold air will be laid down by each storm to cause a variety of freezing and frozen precipitation that could yield sizable snow and ice accumulation.

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Chicago has snow/ice storms constantly, they get those salt trucks & plows out well before it ever hits to keep traffic flowing ATLANTA!

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Bring Jody Breeze to your City #Milwaukee #Chicago #midwest hit me up for booking get his new single… instagram.com/p/j0SMiWKpRf/

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Snowstorm to Hit #KansasCity, #Chicago and #Detroit accuweather.com/en/weather-new… via @accuweather

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Won't reach 70º until end of May! Summer's high is 85º only in late August. @SteveGrzanich Snowstorm to Hit #Chicago accuweather.com/en/weather-new…

14m

Flooding Threat Argentina and Uruguay Into Next Week

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

January 30,2014; 9:22PM,EST

A stalled frontal boundary with several areas of low pressure tracking along it will bring the threat for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to areas from northeast Argentina through Uruguay.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will impact areas from Santa Fe and Rosario to Buenos Aires and Montevideo through Saturday as the front settles over the region.
By Sunday, another front will approach from the south, enhancing rainfall across the entire region. Locally heavy rainfall is expected Sunday through Monday in Rosario, Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Rainfall amounts of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) are expected, along with gusty thunderstorms.

Photo of a car driving through flood waters, courtesy of Photos.com.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the front will stall across central Uruguay to bring extremely heavy rainfall to the northern two-thirds of Uruguay and extreme northeast Argentina.
Rainfall will average 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) from near and north of Santa Fe, Argentina eastward through into central and northern Uruguay. Local rainfall amounts of 300 mm (12 inches) or greater are possible.
RELATED:
Detailed Buenos Aires Forecast
Argentina Weather Center
Detailed Montevideo Forecast
Other cities in the path of the heaviest rainfall include Gualeguaychu and Salta in Argentina and Durazno in Uruguay.
A stretch of more tranquil weather is expected for the second half of next week as the frontal boundary presses northward into southeast Brazil.

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Packed and ready for trip to Atlanta tomorrow for #AMS2014. If you're there and I don't see you, stop by the AccuWeather booth and say hi!

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More high-res pictures from the southern winter storm: ow.ly/t7H1B

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Atlantic City, NJ, shatters Jan. 30 low temp record with -3 F. Old record: 5 F, set in 2000. ow.ly/t7ZsK

San Francisco: Drizzle Possible Late Weekend

By Kristen Rodman, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

January 30,2014; 9:19PM,EST

After receiving the city's first rainfall since Jan. 8, on Thursday, San Francisco has another chance for some rain over the weekend.
On Thursday, the city received about 0.11 of an inch of rain, providing a tiny bit of relief to the drought-stricken area.
Prior to Thursday, only 0.01 of an inch of precipitation had fallen in the area as of Jan. 1., putting the city on pace for its driest January on record.
Despite cloudy skies at late week, Friday and Saturday will features times of sunshine during the daytime hours.

Temperatures over the weekend will be around average for this time of year, with highs in the mid-50s.
The city's next chance for some rain and drizzle will come on Super Bowl Sunday. However, the rain will be light and not significant enough to drastically aid the drought.
RELATED:
Detailed San Francisco Weather
AccuWeather Winter Weather Center
Southwest Regional Weather Radar
Looking towards the first full week of February, temperatures will remain mild and skies will be sunny through midweek.
The next chance for significant rainfall in San Francisco will be next weekend.

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Dan DePodwin

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Not an exact match (there never are in wx) but SE ridge E of FL, trof thru TX and 1044mb high centered over QB/Ont border.

Today's Worst Weather for January 30,2014 from accuweather.com

Eagle Lake,Iowa: Snow

Super Bowl Chill to Challenge Performing Musicians

By Kristen Rodman, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

January 30,2014; 9:14PM,EST

The Empire State Building, top, backdrops Roman numerals for the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game standing during sunrise at Pier A Park in Hoboken, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos are scheduled to play on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Straying away from the slew of pop star singers in recent years, the outdoor Super Bowl will feature famous opera singer, Renée Fleming, singing the nation's National Anthem. While snow during the game is not likely, it will be cold and that will bring challenges to the game's performers.
"A singer is similar to an athlete," Professional Opera Singer and Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania State University Edward Christopher said. "So, as impactive as cold weather is going to be to an athlete, it can have similar ramifications on any performing artist."
As temperatures are expected to be in the mid-30s by kickoff on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the cold may generate issues for all the game's performers.
The extreme differences between the dry heat indoors and the cold air outdoors will pose the biggest threat to performers, as changes in humidity and barometric pressure can impact a singer's ability to perform, as well as alter a musical instrument's tune.
"To go from a particularly frigid, cold environment into a very hot, dry heat especially, is tricky and dangerous," Christopher said. "Cold weather can be very harsh, not just on a voice but on other instrumentalists."

Opera singer Renee Fleming performs on stage during the opening ceremony of the International Olympic Committee session in central London's Royal Opera House, Monday, July 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The cold air forecast for the big game could also induce larynx, or voice box, problems due to the muscularity of the organ. However, wearing a scarf can help performers protect the throat, according to Christopher.
"That helps it work (the larynx) the way you want it to work and need it to work for your performance," Christopher said.
Similar to how colder weather can influence the ability of the voice box, lower temperatures can inhibit a performer's ability to take a deep breath, a necessity for singers and especially opera singers.
However, the proper layers of clothing and adequate hydration can help a performer avoid these potential complications.
RELATED:
Will It Snow at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 2?
AccuWeather Winter Weather Center
Will It Be Cold Enough for Beer to Freeze at the Super Bowl?
While overcoming challenges could prove difficult for an amateur performer, four-time Grammy winner and recipient of the National Medal of Arts Renée Fleming should have no problems, according to Christopher.
"There will be so much adrenaline, good energy and endorphins for her physically that the cold won't really impact what she's going to do," Christopher said.
Although it is dubious that the renown opera singer will be on the field much before her performance, it is likely that her debut at the Super Bowl will be one to remember.
"I'm sure the cold weather will in no way impact her ability to sing probably the finest National Anthem ever sung at a Super Bowl," Christopher said.
For the latest weather forecasts for the big game, visit Willitsnow.com.

Have questions, comments, or a story to share? Email Kristen Rodman at Kristen.Rodman@accuweather.com, follow her on Twitter @Accu_Kristen or Google+. Follow us @breakingweather, or on Facebook and Google+.

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