Tornado Threat Continues as Severe Storms Rip Through Southern States Into Friday (FORECAST)

Quincy Vagell
Published: March 31,2016
Damaging severe thunderstorms will continue to flare through Thursday night from parts of the Deep South and Tennessee Valley into the Ohio Valley. Tornadoes, very large hail, damaging wind gusts, and flash flooding all remain possible threats from the storms.
Multiple tornadoes have already been reported since Thursday morning across at least three states in the South.
(MORE: Severe Weather Hammers the South)
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued the following watch areas:

• A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 10 p.m. CDT for northeast Lousiana.
• A tornado watch is in effect until 1 a.m. CDT Friday for west-central, central and north Alabama, and a small portion of south-central Tennessee. This watch includes Birmingham and Huntsville.
• A tornado watch is in effect until 5 a.m. EDT Friday for west-central and much of north Georgia, east-central Alabama, as well as small portions of adjacent southeast Tennessee and far southwest North Carolina. This watch includes Chattanooga, Atlanta and Macon.

(NEW: Tornado Central Tracker)
Early Thursday evening, a tornado ripped through New Hope, Mississippi, displaying a "debris ball" on radar, indicative of lofted debris. Another storm in southwest Alabama, near Gilbertown, may have also produced a tornado based on radar signatures. Earlier Thursday morning, two relatively weak tornadoes were reported in Louisiana.
Thunderstorm winds caused damage to buildings near Hardinsburg, Kentucky Thursday afternoon. A roof was blown off of the gym at Breckinridge County Middle School according to a National Weather Service report. Damage to trailer homes in Utica, Kentucky may have been caused by a tornado.
Trailers were also flipped by storms in Harned, Kentucky at Nancy Butler Trailer Park. In Louisiana, 2-inch diameter hail was reported from the town hall in Pollock late Thursday afternoon.
In Indiana, wind gusts reached 61 mph at South Bend Thursday afternoon. After additional rainfall on Thursday, Memphis, Tennessee was reporting March 2016 as their fourth wettest month on record.

Current Radar with Watches and Warnings

(MORE: View National Interactive Radar Map | Difference Between a Watch and a Warning)
Below is a look at the current expectation for the severe weather threat into Friday.

Severe Weather and Flash Flooding Forecast

Through Early Friday

Thursday's Thunderstorm Forecast

• States Impacted: Thunderstorms will move across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee overnight. The strongest storms will impact parts of Alabama into north Georgia. By the early morning hours, isolated severe storms will move toward the Appalachians before gradually weakening.
• Potential Impacts: Damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes are also possible.
• The greatest tornado threat and risk for damaging hail is in northern/central Alabama.
• TOR:CON values are as high as 5 out of 10 in northern/central Alabama. This means there is a 50 percent chance of a tornado within 50 miles of any location in the areas indicated. 
• Cities: Birmingham | Atlanta
• Flash flooding will continue to be a threat overnight, particularly across parts of Alabama and Georgia.

Friday:

• States Impacted: Some severe weather slides east to close out the week from Virginia to the Carolinas, south/central Georgia, northern Florida, southern Alabama, southern Mississippi, and southeast Louisiana.
• Potential Impacts: Damaging wind gusts and large hail, though a few tornadoes are also possible.
• Cities: Columbia, South Carolina | Mobile | New Orleans | Raleigh
• Flash flooding will remain a threat from the Carolinas into the southern half of Georgia, southern Alabama, the Florida panhandle, coastal Mississippi and southeast Louisiana.

Friday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Flood Alerts

Wednesday's Severe Weather

Wednesday afternoon, tennis ball size hail has been reported near Breckenridge, Texas. Golf ball size hail also covered the ground near El Dorado, Kansas. Multiple storm spotters reported a brief tornado near Dexter, Kansas late Wednesday afternoon.
Wind gusts reached as high as 70 mph at Burleson, Texas early Wednesday evening and 67 mph near Waurika, Oklahoma Wednesday afternoon.
Major flooding in Jonesboro, Arkansas prompted a flash flood emergency for the area, which has since been canceled. Some minor to moderate flash flooding was also reported in the greater Little Rock, Arkansas area.
On Wednesday evening, a tornado spun through the north side of the Tulsa, Oklahoma. Damage to buildings and power lines was reported in the Tulsa, Catoosa and Claremore vicinities. Heavy damage was also reported in the city of Dermott, Arkansas, due to a possible tornado late Wednesday night.

Tuesday's Storm Reports

A cluster of thunderstorms rolled across central to south Florida on Tuesday afternoon. The storms were accompanied by some hail, gusty winds, dangerous lightning and locally heavy rainfall.
Three firefighters were injured while responding to a fire when lightning struck an overhang near Boca West. A large tree was knocked down by thunderstorm winds, just to the northwest of Boca West. A wind gust to 56 mph was reported near Boca Grande.
(MORE: Impacts From Florida Storms)
In Nebraska, two rounds of thunderstorms caused marginally large hail across the state. In the morning, hail covered the ground in Albion, requiring a snow plow to clear the highway. Early in the evening, hail also covered the ground to the east of Arthur.

Sunday's Severe Weather Reports

A possible tornado was reported in western Kentucky on Sunday evening with reports of houses and barns damaged near Crofton and Hopkinsville, as well as power outages. Wind damage was also reported near Camden, Tennessee with numerous trees down, along with sheds blown away and a roof came off a barn.
Hail was also reported on Sunday with hail up to the size of golf balls in French Lick, Indiana, near Bluffton, Indiana and near Greenfield, Tennessee.
Heavy rain and flooding was also observed in portions of the Southeast. The Savannah International Airport recorded their wettest March day on record with 3.81 inches of rain on Sunday.

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PHOTOS: Late March 2016 Severe Weather

Rain, gusty storms to close out week from DC to NYC, Boston

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:46PM,EDT

 

 

Periods of rain and locally gusty thunderstorms will mark the end of a brief surge of warm air in the mid-Atlantic and New England to close out the week.
In addition to adversely affecting outdoor activities, enough rain can fall to slow travel on the major highways. A low cloud ceiling associated with the rain could lead to airline delays.
Not enough rain is likely to fall to cause significant flooding. There can be some water collecting in poor-drainage areas of city streets. The water can conceal large springtime potholes.
In addition to the rainfall, a small number of thunderstorms that develop in the coastal mid-Atlantic have the potential to become heavy and gusty from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to northern Virginia on Friday.

"A severe weather outbreak is unlikely," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Maggie Samuhel. "However, a few communities could be hit with a storm that brings gusts topping 50 mph and brief, blinding downpours."
Storms that erupt farther south, from southern Virginia to Florida, have the potential to be severe on a more regional basis on Friday.
A lull in the rain is likely late Friday into Friday night from Washington, D.C., to Boston and could assist with the evening commute.
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While cooler and drier air will make progress into portions of the interior Northeast, a storm moving northeastward along the front could bring another dose of rain on Saturday.
The steady rain is most likely to affect areas from eastern Virginia to southeastern New England, and includes the Interstate-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.
Spotty rain showers will change to snow showers over the central Appalachians and lower Great Lakes on Saturday, ahead of a blast of arctic air taking aim on the Great Lakes and Northeast later in the weekend.
Some snow could find its way to part of the coast by Sunday.

Why is cold air returning to the East after an unusually warm start to spring?

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:44PM,EDT

 

 

Following a very warm start to spring over the eastern United States, why is cold air returning in April, when temperatures typically trend upward?
During much of March and long stretches of the winter for that matter, arctic air had been locked up across central and northern Canada.

"Persistent high pressure aloft near the Atlantic coast prevented cold air from moving southward out of Canada and into the eastern United States," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
The pattern allowed a west to east flow of air to dominate across the nation much of the time.
The vast majority of the nation had temperatures averaging 2-6 degrees Fahrenheit above normal during March.
In parts of the Plains, Midwest and South, temperatures were 6-8 degrees above average.
"Starting this weekend and into part of next week, high pressure aloft will shift to the western United States," Anderson said.
The polar vortex will also shift its position a bit farther south and will open the doorway for cold air to be scooped southward and into the Upper Midwest and Northeast.

"April sunshine, a lack of snowcover and many ice-free areas on water bodies along the way will modify that air as it move southward," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
"However, the cold, dry nature of the air, combined with gusty winds will pack a sting at times."
Some lake-effect snow and snow showers will occur.
"There will also be a couple of clipper storms that move through with areas of general, steady snow," Anderson said.
Since the anchor for the cold air will hover near Hudson Bay and pivot, the cold blasts will be limited mostly to the northern tier and will be brief.
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Two to three shots of arctic air will rotate through the northern tier states into next week with exponentially less extreme cold farther south, where progressively more mild air from the Pacific Ocean will be mixed in, AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
The first push of arctic air will be the most robust due to gusty winds and will slash temperatures by 10-30 degrees from one day to the next, from Friday to Saturday around the Great Lakes and from Saturday to Sunday in the Northeast.

As the arctic air approaches and sweeps in, winds could be strong enough to cause sporadic power outages.
The waves of arctic air will bring one or more days with highs in the 20s from the upper Great Lakes to northern New York state and northern New England. Nighttime lows in this swath will range from the single digits and lower teens.
Farther south, highs on multiple days will be lower to middle 40s from Chicago to Detroit, Pittsburgh and New York City.
AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be 10-20 degrees lower than the actual temperature at times.
During the pattern, temperatures can dip to below freezing on one or more nights as far south as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
The pattern with the waves of arctic air will break down during the middle of April and will allow more seasonable Pacific air to take over and break the stagnation.
However, typical of April, there may be a back-and-forth fight going on in the atmosphere for a time.
While days with strong April sunshine will bring warmth on occasion, episodes of clouds, rain and flow of air off chilly waters will contribute to below-average temperatures at times.

 

 

Gregory S Malone ·

Dean College

Don I agree with you more then 100%

Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs

Donnie Boston ·

East Boston High School

Time to move out of this friggin area, period!

Like · Reply · 3 · 4 hrs

John C. Hitchner Jr. ·

Bridgeton, New Jersey

The long range forecast calls for below average temperatures for the next six to ten weeks,enjoy today and tomorrow while it lasts because this is probablty the last we'll see of it until June,this always seems to happen whenever we have an early easter in March

Like · Reply · 4 hrs · Edited

Claude Ouellette

everyday the weather trends for 2 weeks, always changes for the worst, & it pisses me off, going into April 14th and only low single digit for this 2 week period.

Like · Reply · 1 · 5 hrs

Cory Morrison ·

Works at Fortinos

The first half of April 2016 is looking more like 2007 and 2003.

Like · Reply · 1 · 2 hrs

Grant McGuire ·

Western Connecticut State University

My worry is that if the cool & rainy pattern keeps up, it will put a hinder on our warming. If the sun has to dry out a saturated ground, it can't warm the air as quickly. Look back at 2015: The warmest periods (i.e. late spring, late summer), were fueled by a lack of precip.

Like · Reply · 1 · 6 hrs · Edited

Cory Morrison ·

Works at Fortinos

Also most of last fall.

Like · Reply · 1 · 6 hrs

Grant McGuire ·

Western Connecticut State University

And most importantly, it really helped to wipe away the Jan-Mar 2015 temp defecit

Like · Reply · 6 hrs

Cory Morrison ·

Works at Fortinos

Grant McGuire I hope the Jan-Mar 2016 positive departure is not wiped away.

Like · Reply · 1 · 6 hrs

Eric Bailey ·

Westchester, New York

I'm not looking forward to a freezing april. I am waiting for a heat wave this summer.

Like · Reply · 3 · 8 hrs

Dani G. Al-Halabi ·

Al Manar Modern School

The best thing is getting a low pressure riding the coast in time for cold air. If it would hold precipitation such as BLIZZARD '16 that would be a record crusher .

Like · Reply · 8 hrs

Cory Morrison ·

Works at Fortinos

Hoping that the pattern eases after April 10th-ish.

Like · Reply · 2 · 8 hrs

Rocco Salvemini ·

Maintenance at Multi-space meter cleaner

They said mid-April is when the pattern changes. There are 30 days in April. Tax time is the halfway point

Like · Reply · 1 hr

Aaron Ginther ·

Central Virginia Community College

I'm hoping this year will continue to go in line with 2010, even though early April is going to be chilly. A cold first half of April doesn't really mean we have to abandon 2010 as an analog. Just as long as the overall pattern is similar with that year going forward. No two years are going to be carbon copies of each other.

And 1983 never failed us as an analog this year. In fact, the winter was very similar to 1982-83. I don't think spring will be as cold as 1983, but we still may see the 1983 resemblance in our spring pattern. Or we could have shades of both 1983 and 2010. It's still early but this is my GUESS based on the current overall pattern, historic trends and analogs: (I really don't have much confidence for May-June)

- cold first half of April, near to milder than average second half
- cooler early May, warm mid-late month.
- slightly warm June.
- hot July-September.
- mild October.
- chilly November.

who knows about December anymore.

Like · Reply · 1 · 58 mins

 

Soaking rain to spoil weekend for Florida

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:42PM,EDT

 

 

Rain and thunderstorms will slowly track across Florida this weekend, soaking the Sunshine State.
"A front progressing very slowly to the southeast will cause trouble for outdoor activities and could lead to travel delays from Florida to parts of Georgia and the Carolinas into Saturday," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.

Enough rain can fall to cause excess water on portions of roadways that drain poorly. Downpours can also be heavy enough to reduce the visibility for motorists.
Low cloud ceilings can lead to airline delays as well.
Thunderstorms that develop along the leading edge of the steady rain can be locally heavy and gusty. Be prepared to move indoors as storms approach. If you can hear thunder, you are at risk for being struck by lightning.
The rain will end from northwest to southeast as the weekend progresses. In the wake of the front, humidity levels will drop significantly.
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Saturday is likely to start wet in Pensacola, Panama City Beach and Tallahassee Florida with rain advancing into Jacksonville and Orlando by the end of the day.
"Sunday will turn out to be the better of the two weekend days for outdoor activities in central Florida from Tampa to Orlando and Daytona Beach," Anderson said. "The sun may even emerge by the afternoon in some areas."
However, it may take until Sunday evening before showers and thunderstorms clear South Florida and the Keys.
For areas from Key West to Naples, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, both days of the weekend will feature untimely showers and thunderstorms for beach, boating, fishing and golfing activities.
This rain headed to Florida could exacerbate issues around the sinkhole that opened up on Wednesday in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
This 60-foot-wide, 35-foot-deep sinkhole forced some residents that live near the hole to evacuate. If the rain causes the hole to grow, it may force more evacuations.

MLB opening day forecast: Fans to shiver in Midwest, Northeast as polar vortex moves south

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:27PM,EDT

 

Chilly air and the chance of rain will threaten several baseball games during MLB's opening day of the 2016 season, but many fans will see their teams play ball in dry conditions.
The first three games of the season are set for Sunday, but the traditional opening day is slated for Monday as 24 teams take to the field.
For most fans headed to the ballpark, the weather will be a second thought with calm, dry weather on tap for the season openers in New York, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Arlington, Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Diego, Tampa Bay, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
However, fans elsewhere may want to plan accordingly to cope with the unsettled weather during the game.

Sunday: Cardinals vs. Pirates
The first pitch of the 2016 MLB season will take place on a chilly and breezy afternoon in Pittsburgh as the Cardinals head to Pennsylvania to take on the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. EDT.
People in the grandstands will want to bundle up as it may be one of the coldest home openers of any team this season due to the shifting polar vortex unleashing cold in the Great Lakes region.
"High temperatures Sunday afternoon will reach the lower 40s F, which is about 15 degrees below average," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Edwards said.
Gusty winds will put an extra chill in the air, making it feel more like winter rather than spring.
"RealFeel® Temperatures will be in the 20s during pre-game tailgates and in the 30s during the game," Edwards added.
Weather conditions may impact play during the game. Gusty winds can alter the path of fly balls while the cold air impacts the way that pitchers grip baseballs.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Jordy Mercer gets set to bat against Milwaukee Brewers' Zach Davies in a rain storm in the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
Not only will fans have to cope with the blustery weather, but also the possibility for some precipitation.
"There can be a passing rain or snow shower early in the day as fans are tailgating, but dry weather should prevail during the game itself," Edwards said.
Even if a rain or snow shower does manage to move over PNC Park during the game, it shouldn't be enough to cause play to be delayed, Edwards added.
Sunday: Mets vs. Royals
Possibly the most anticipated game during the first day of the season is Sunday's square-off between the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals.
This World Series rematch will take place in Kansas City on Sunday evening with the first pitch scheduled for 8:37 p.m. EDT.
Fans attending this game shouldn't have to worry about bringing a light coat with them as temperatures hold in the 60s throughout the game under a clear, rain-free sky.
This is nearly perfect baseball weather for opening day in Kansas City, according to Edwards.
New York Mets' Lucas Duda is out as Kansas City Royals' Ben Zobrist throws to first base to turn a double play on a ball hit by Travis d'Arnaud during the second inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Monday: Red Sox vs. Indians
Those attending Monday's game between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox may be in for one of the most unsettled season openers around the league.
The weather in Cleveland will be far from a home run on for Monday's home opener as an Alberta Clipper system moves through the region during the game.

While the system will bring predominantly rain showers, a few wet snowflakes may mix in, especially later in the game. However, any snow is not likely to accumulate.
It is possible that there may be a rain delay if the rain comes down hard enough. Currently, the first pitch is scheduled to be thrown for 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor, bottom, stops an infield single by Boston Red Sox's Rusney Castillo as Jose Ramirez, behind, backs up the play during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Boston, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
"Fans planning on tailgating before the game or attending the game will want to bring along the rain gear along with warm clothes," Edwards said.
According to Edwards, it will be cloudy all day and temperatures will rise into only the lower 40s. This is about 10 degrees lower than it typically is during early April.
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Monday: White Sox vs. Athletics
One of the last games on opening day will take place along the West Coast when the Chicago White Sox visit the Oakland Athletics.
"A cool evening in store for the Athletic's home opener Monday evening with temperatures falling from the lower 60s into the middle 50s by the end of the game," Edwards said.
While baseball fans in Oakland typically can expect dry weather for baseball, this year's home opener may throw fans a curveball.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (26) delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, April 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
"A storm system will be just off the coast of California, which will help to send clouds into the Bay area," Edwards said.
"Any widespread shower activity should remain off the coast, but we can't rule out a spotty sprinkle or light shower during the game," he added.
Even if it does rain during the game, it is not likely that the rain will be heavy enough to cause any sort of rain delay.

---

Questions or comments? Email Brian Lada at Brian.Lada@accuweather.com and be sure to follow him on Twitter! Follow us @breakingweather or on Facebook.

 

Severe thunderstorms to erupt from Chicago to Nashville, New Orleans into Thursday night

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:19PM,EDT

 

 

The same system that triggered severe thunderstorms on Wednesday will shift eastward and ignite storms across part of the central United States into Thursday night.
"Another round of severe weather will target parts of the Midwest and Southeast as a potent cold front blasts across the region," AccuWeather Meteorologist Chyna Glenn stated.
The threat zone will move farther eastward and span a 1,000-mile stretch from the lower Great Lakes to Gulf of Mexico coastal waters.
Cities at risk for violent storms include Detroit; Chicago; Indianapolis; Cincinnati; Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Tupelo, Mississippi; Huntsville, Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama; and Pensacola, Florida.
"Drenching downpours, very gusty winds and even a couple of tornadoes are possible," Glenn said.
She added that the greatest risk for tornadoes would focus on parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama.

Motorists traveling on parts of interstates 10, 20, 40, 55, 65, 69 and 70 should remain alert for rapidly changing weather conditions. Encountering a thunderstorm on the roadway can drastically reduce visibility and force slower highway speeds.
Flight delays are possible at local airports until storms have safely passed.
While the storms will tend to weaken later Thursday night, a few storms with strong wind gusts can survive in a swath from central Ohio to western Georgia and the central part of the Florida Panhandle.
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These storms are expected to gradually weaken as they move eastward, posing mainly a heavy rain threat along the Atlantic Seaboard.
In the wake of the storms, heavy rain will linger across the Gulf Coast states into Friday, increasing the flash flooding threat.
Calmer weather is expected to move into the region for the first weekend of April.

Share your storm photos and videos at burst.com/accuweather.

Amazon's legendary boiling river remains mysterious after first scientific study

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

March 31,2016; 9:12PM,EDT

 

View larger image below.

The awe-inspiring, dangerous and often times mysterious Amazonian rainforest has long captivated scientists and explorers with the possibility for new discoveries, while stirring up myths and legends about the plants, creatures and unique topography found within.
As a child growing up in Peru, Geoscientist and National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo would listen to his grandfather's stories regarding the Spanish conquest of Peru, and how the Inca leaders told the Spaniards that the golden city of El Dorado awaited them inside the lush jungles of the Amazon.
"The Spanish set off into the jungle, but the few that returned came back with stories, stories of powerful shamans, of warriors with poisoned arrows, of trees so tall they blotted out the sun, spiders that ate birds, snakes that swallowed men whole and a river that boiled," he said during a TED Talks speech, regarding his study of a geologic anomaly, the same legendary boiling river that had once been nothing more than a childhood memory.
(Photo/Sofía Ruzo)
In 2011, while working toward his PhD in geophysics at Southern Methodist University and attempting to understand Peru's geothermal energy potential, the memory of the legendary boiling river sparked Ruzo's latest adventure, which followed a dinner conversation with his aunt who had been to the site before.
While the river was new to Ruzo and had never been studied scientifically, the naturally hot water, which boasts average temperatures along a 4-mile stretch of more than 186 F, was a part of everyday life to the local people living near its banks.
To the locals, the river is named Shanay-timpishka, which means "boiled with the heat of the sun," according to National Geographic's Adventure Blog.
The boiling waters are also a bit of a geologic anomaly, located more than 400 miles away from a volcanic center, which at first made Ruzo skeptical of its existence as he followed his aunt's guidance to its location, he recalled during his Ted Talk.
"Much of the Andes of Peru have no volcanoes," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jim Andrews said, adding that the site lies east of the "volcanic gap."
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"The Boiling River is an anomalously large thermal river. It flows hot for almost 4 miles, is generally about as wide as a two-lane road, but can get up to 80 feet wide at its widest point, and can get to 16 feet deep at its deepest point," according to boilingriver.org, a website hosting Ruzo's "The Boiling River Project," which was created to protect it against developments that would threaten nearby communities, the fragile ecosystem, and the geologic study of the sacred river site.
"Even more impressive, despite the tremendous amount of hot water, it is non-volcanic," Ruzo said. "In fact, the nearest active volcanic center is over 430 miles (over 700 kilometers) away."
(Photo/Devlin Gandy)
"The data is showing that the boiling river exists independent of volcanism. It's neither magmatic or volcanic in origin," Ruzo said, describing the fault-fed hydrothermal system that has created perhaps the largest one of its kind in the world.
"I've asked geothermal experts and volcanologists for years, and I'm still unable to find another non-volcanic geothermal system of this magnitude. It's unique. It's special on a global scale," Ruzo said.
After years of work studying the river, Ruzo made the decision to delay his PhD defense in order to protect the site from exploitation, according to boilingriver.org.
"His decision was directly influenced by what is best for the river's conservation, especially in light of multiple solicitations from energy development companies seeking geologic and geothermal data on the Boiling River," the website reports, adding that the site is not only important from a scientific perspective, but is a sacred site of the local people living nearby.
The river may be a result of a large hydrothermal system where waters, possibly coming as far away as glaciers in the Andes, are seeping deep down into the earth, are being heated up from the geothermal gradient and are then released at the site, Ruzo said.
"The non-volcanic 'geothermal gradient' is about 25 degrees C/1,000 meters, or 1 degree F/70 feet. If the site of the river has a normal background gradient, this suggests that the water feeding the hot springs must flow from at least 3,000 meters depth, or even lower, allowing for loss of heat to the surroundings on the way up," Andrews said, adding that this is based on the mean yearly temperature, 80 F, of the region.
According to Ruzo, continued research still needs to be conducted to better understand this unique phenomenon.

 

Storms may hinder rescue efforts after deadly Kolkata, India, flyover collapse

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:11PM,EDT

 

 

Thunderstorms threaten to hinder efforts to free those feared trapped after a flyover, or overpass, collapsed in Kolkata, India, on Thursday.
More than 20 people were killed when the flyover under construction collapsed onto a street with moving traffic near Kolkata's Girish Park, CNN reported.
As many as 100 people were unaccounted for immediately following the incident, they said.

Locals and rescue workers clear the rubble of a partially collapsed overpass in Kolkata, India, on Thursday, March 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
No rain or strong winds were reported at Kolkata's international airport Thursday morning and early afternoon. Dry weather, instead, prevailed as temperatures climbed to 36.1 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit).
"There was some heavy rain in the area on Wednesday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said.
"There will be showers and thunderstorms around into Thursday evening and again Friday afternoon."
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Such unsettled weather threatens to hinder or suspend rescue efforts, especially with the prospect of lightning.
Reuters reports that "access for heavy lifting equipment [is] restricted by the proximity of buildings on either side of the flyover and heavy traffic."
Construction on the flyover has been ongoing since 2009 with several deadlines for completion missed.

Arctic winds to blast Great Lakes, northeastern US this weekend

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

March 31,2016; 9:07PM,EDT

 

 

A blast of arctic air, combined with gusty winds, will take aim on the Upper Midwest and Northeast this weekend.
The polar vortex will briefly drop over the Hudson Bay in Canada. From this position, arctic air will have a direct route into the northern tier of the eastern United States.
The main thrust of the cold air will arrive across the upper Great Lakes on Saturday and will settle into New England, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey on Sunday.
This graphic shows the track of an Alberta Clipper storm and the timing of the leading edge of the arctic air. Temperatures will climb ahead of the arctic push.
"Temperatures in the swath of the arctic air will be 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, which will be the largest negative anomalies since Valentine's Day," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. "When the wind is factored in, it will feel a whopping 40-60 degrees colder than it will late this week."
This weekend, normal highs are in the lower to middle 50s in Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Boston, the upper 50s in Pittsburgh and New York City and the 60s in Philadelphia.
During the peak of the cold air, daytime temperatures will be no higher than the 20s from northern Minnesota to northern Michigan, northern upstate New York and northern New England. Temperatures at night will dip into the lower teens and single digits over much of this swath.
Winds will gust between 40 and 50 mph over much of the swath as the arctic air approaches and settles in. Gusts topping 50 mph are possible from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to New England.

Airline delays and difficulties for high-profile vehicles are likely. The gusts could be strong enough to cause sporadic power outages.
The combination of wind, cold, dry air and other factors will result in AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures 10-20 degrees lower than the actual temperature.
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Buds and blossoms that have pushed out on some fruit trees, bushes and vines could be damaged.
The air will become plenty cold enough to trigger bands of lake-effect snow and snow showers. Some of the snow showers can extend all the way to the coastal areas of the Northeast.
In addition, an Alberta Clipper storm will produce a swath of steady snow from parts of northern Minnesota to portions of northern and western Pennsylvania, upstate New York and New England this weekend.

Enough snow could fall to cover the ground and make for slippery spots on area roads.
It is behind this clipper that gates of the arctic will be opened, and it may take until Monday until the lowest temperatures of the outbreak are realized.
"The worst blast of cold air will be the first episode this weekend into Monday," according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
One and possibly two additional thrusts of arctic air will follow next week.
A second clipper storm could spread steady snow a bit farther to the south from Monday into Tuesday. Correspondingly, some chilly air could push farther south than from the first blast in the wake of the second clipper.
"The second and third pushes of cold air will pale in comparison to the weekend arctic outbreak," Pastelok said. "The two additional cold waves will not have nearly as much wind with them and the source region of the cold air will trend less extreme as the polar vortex begins to retreat northward."
While temperatures could approach the level of cold experienced with the blast this weekend, RealFeel Temperatures may be significantly higher with the additional cold waves next week.
Beyond next week, the arctic air will be turned off. However, episodes of clouds, rain from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, and easterly winds from the Atlantic will play roles in holding back temperatures.

 

 Francis T. Manns ·

University of Toronto

https://www.dropbox.com/.../Atmospheric%20Rossby%20Waves...

Actually this is probably not global warming.

Like · Reply · 41 mins

Randy L. Dixon Rivera ·

American University of Puerto Rico

CRAP!! It's screwing up my fishing! lol

Like · Reply · 8 hrs

Debbie Brunell

winter cold is great but artic air in april just has a special ring to it!

Like · Reply · 10 hrs

Kevin Stojda ·

Enfield, Connecticut

A low of 17F here in N Connecticut on monday morning sounds great, nice flash frozen spring flowers/blossoms. Hopefully we get a few inches of snow next week.

Like · Reply · 11 hrs

Debbie Brunell

hope you get some

Like · Reply · 9 hrs

David Colantuono ·

Works at Unemployed

The thing that worries me is the strong wind gusts. We get wind gusts topping 50 mph and it's a fair bet the power will be knocked out. Even 40 to 50 mph gusts may result in power outages. I hate power outages.

Like · Reply · 12 hrs

Joseph Graziose

And they are more painful in the cold of winter..

Like · Reply · 11 hrs

Curtis Grant ·

Eldridge, Iowa

you just keep that global warming to the east of iowa. And i will be very happy here.

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Roger Stamper ·

Wva school deaf

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Roger Stamper ·

Wva school deaf

thats good no polar votex for wva

Like · Reply · 14 hrs

Ed Roberts ·

Clarksville High School

I for one like ACCU weather info with what they put out our local TV forecasters should look at this

Like · Reply · Mar 30, 2016 4:01pm

James Anthony Hines ·

Centre of Geographic Sciences

Typical of an ice age pattern that is unfolding here as the magnetic pole shift occurs and the primer fields weaken across North America. So it seems to be that catalysmic natural disasters are afoot in North Amerixa which none will be reported eh until it happens of course.

Like · Reply · 3 · Mar 30, 2016 2:05pm

Rocco Salvemini ·

Maintenance at Multi-space meter cleaner

When will NYC have above normal temps again?? Usually in April is when we get a mini summer preview with 80 degree tmrps

Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 30, 2016 1:09pm

Cory Morrison ·

Works at Fortinos

Looking more like April 2007 and 2003 in Southern Ontario.

Like · Reply · Mar 30, 2016 11:24am

Tom O'Bedlam

Hmmmm. Wait, slightly amended version of last week's gloom and doom article about a polar vortex plunging the Midwest/Northeast into Jan-Feb temps? Yet people's local forecasts show slilghtly cooler-than-average nights and seasonable or above days. Naw, nothing sensational here.

Like · Reply · Mar 30, 2016 8:13am · Edited

Randy J. Anderson

Real below average! Like 2007! Easily 20-to-30 below average!

Like · Reply · Mar 30, 2016 8:49am

COLD Weather SUCKS

I find it highly irnoinc that many on here have posted insults directed toward accuweather, and remain for all to see, but when I make a comment it gets deleted....I would like to know why, when I have not insulted anyone on here.....and for the record...COLD WEATHER SUCKS!!!!!.....

Like · Reply · 5 · Mar 30, 2016 8:01am

Rick Savard ·

Various

Nobody likes you, that's why?

Like · Reply · 13 hrs

Cory Morrison ·

Works at Fortinos

Rick Savard no offense but that is uncalled for.

Like · Reply · 1 · 12 hrs

Michael Carenza Jr. ·

New Britain, Connecticut

I hope CWS does not go back to his old ways. Because then Rick would be right. He use to insult everyone.

Like · Reply · 5 hrs

Randy J. Anderson

I don't like this, I see February-like temps coming my way!

Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 30, 2016 4:35am

James Anthony Hines ·

Centre of Geographic Sciences

Huh with the approcah of the vortex just how would it effect the climate in a La Nina pattern?

Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 2:34pm

John Baker ·

Yale School of Management

im looking at local forecast for pgh pa on sunday - in the height of the "polar vortex" - high of 44 degrees and im confused ... today tues at 1230pm its 5 degrees colder than that --- am i currently in a vortex and dont know it ????

Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 29, 2016 12:14pm

Alex Sosnowski ·

Senior Meteorologist / Writer at AccuWeather

The story never said "the vortex" was crossing into the U.S., only that it would direct arctic air southward. Maybe we're wrong, but when the wind and low-dewpoint air get factored in on Sunday, I don't think people are going to be comfortable sitting at the game in shorts and t-shirts. My guess is progs are not catching the intensity of the arctic air in the lowest levels of the atmosphere. They never do.

Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 29, 2016 12:39pm · Edited

John Kedderis ·

P.A. Announcer/ Official Scorekeeper (Volunteer) at Millinocket Little League

Alex Sosnowski you people at Accuweather are never right!

Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 29, 2016 5:06pm

Joey Durso ·

Winning at Self Employed Professional Poker Player

John Kedderis if they never right why you on this webpage?

Like · Reply · 3 · Mar 29, 2016 7:37pm

Alex Sosnowski ·

Senior Meteorologist / Writer at AccuWeather

Says the 2nd clipper (Sunday-Tuesday) could go farther south.

Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 8:33pm

Howard Sprengeler ·

Iowa State University

Wasn't this the same cold air that was supposed to hit Iowa down to the southeast states, predicted just a couple of days ago? Now it's so much further north so by the time it gets here, it may not even happen. The sky isn't falling like they want you to believe.

Like · Reply · 3 · Mar 28, 2016 8:12pm

Jeffrey Banks ·

Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School

The models definitely intensify the cold which doesn't seem logical at this time of year the cold air just isn't there.
http://weather.unisys.com/gfs/9panel/gfs_500p_9panel.gif

Just look at the initial.
http://weather.unisys.com/gfs/init/gfs_500p_init.gif

So I know you can't fully believe the models but they give a pretty good picture that there will be cold air but it will be moderated in terms of how cold that air is.

Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 10:04pm

Debbie Brunell

if you are a fan of cool and cold weather ( i am ) this is great news! while winter weather this year was just ok at least better the 80's , 90's and humid just not as cold as i like, so i say better late then never!

Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 7:06pm

David Colantuono ·

Works at Unemployed

You know I'm a cold weather fan, Debbie. wink emoticon

Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 29, 2016 1:38am

COLD Weather SUCKS

You make it sound like it's going to last all month long, when really, it's going to be a 3 day blip at best..(bad timing with the opening of baseball season).....got news for ya....IT'S NOT GOING TO LAST ALL MONTH LONG!!!!.....LOL......Counting the days down to SUMMER BABY....nice HOT SUNNY DAYS.....hanging on the patio with a cool drink soaking up the rays....getting out and walking the track...and especially going to the BEACH!!!!.....can't wait!......have a nice day......

Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 6:37am

Kevin Stojda ·

Enfield, Connecticut

COLD Weather SUCKS

Warm weather sucks even more.

Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 30, 2016 9:24am

COLD Weather SUCKS

Kevin Stojda ....don't think so, paly....

Like · Reply · Mar 30, 2016 12:34pm

Joseph Graziose

COLD Weather SUCKS I am currently taking 10,000 IU's of vitamin D a day and my levels still "suck"....not only am I uncomfortable in the cold I really need to get off this computer arguing with people who have baseboard heating about the benefits of cold weather, and get out into that sun ASAP. when it returns......wish I lived in San Diego instead of Long Island but would miss my kind of people, and cultural orientations, still if I won the lottery.......maybe people who have good Vit D accept the cold, but i can't believe it's universal....

Like · Reply · 22 hrs

COLD Weather SUCKS

Joseph Graziose Same problem here, man.....not enough sun, & I am popping Vitamin D like it's candy...but our cold weather lovers will fire back with "don't like it?..MOVE!!!"...yet when the shoe is on the other foot, and a massive heatwave goes as far north as Maine, they get all bent when being told the same thing.....Oh the hypocrisy!....

Like · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Joseph Graziose

COLD Weather SUCKS I hear you man, thanks gasp emoticon

Like · Reply · 11 hrs

Kevin Stojda ·

Enfield, Connecticut

Joseph Graziose It's called Florida, move there if you need sun. This was a year without winter, so I'll take all I can get.

Like · Reply · 1 · 11 hrs

Debbie Brunell

COLD Weather SUCKS i know it wll not last but that is ok, it has been SPRING for almost 2 weeks and every day that is cool or cold is a bonus! looking ahead APRIL also looks to be cool temps, so that just makes it another MONTH closer to FALL...you also have a nice day...

Like · Reply · 10 hrs

Debbie Brunell

Kevin Stojda i am with you, we deserve winter payback!

Like · Reply · 10 hrs

Kevin Stojda ·

Enfield, Connecticut

Debbie Brunell The fall season of winter continued into January. Only late month and February had any kind of snow or cold weather this year. The local ski areas really suffered with lots of early layoff's.

Like · Reply · 9 hrs