November 28, 2012

Lows yesterday were 25-50 degrees colder than lows on Thanksgiving less than a week ago.

Some even saw some light snow Monday from Omaha to St. Joseph to Kansas City. This wintry weather was partially due to a blocking pattern that developed in the high latitudes. Previously it looked like the cold may stick around for a while. Now it’s becoming clear, winter is back on hold. Take a look at the upper-level pattern below.

Rather than two distinct areas of blocking, the blocking has elongated west to east across the northern hemisphere, forcing the coldest air into the Pacific and the northeastern U.S.. As the area of cold air and low pressure in the Pacific moves toward the West Coast this week, it will actually cause our temperatures to climb well above normal again.

If the current model trends are realized, we could be looking at record warm temperatures late this weekend into early next week! 

A weak weather system should bring temperatures back closer to normal by the middle of next week, however right now it looks like winter enthusiasts may be waiting until around the 8^th -12^th  of December for the next potential for wintry weather.

November 19, 2012

Break out the shorts for Thanksgiving, winter coats are just around the corner. High temperatures this time of year normally range from the mid-40s in eastern Nebraska to the low 50s from central Kansas to eastern Missouri. Temperatures this week are nowhere near normal with highs soaring into the upper 60s and even 70s in some locations.

If you’ve lived in the Midwest during the winter (last winter doesn’t count), you know the weather scales can tip quickly. Indeed they have already done so this fall (as you can see here).  It does look like temperatures will briefly dip after Thanksgiving. However, a much more impressive swing could be in store for the end of the month.

There are many factors meteorologists can look at in determining when the next cold air outbreak may occur in our region.  One of these factors is high latitude blocking. When high pressure forms over the high latitudes, cold polar air can be blocked southward into our area.  Mid-range forecast models are coming into agreement that a strong blocking pattern will set up over the north Atlantic and north Pacific by the 27^th or 28^th of November, sending our temperatures plunging by the end of the month.

There are also signs that a storm may try to develop over the western U.S. around that same time.  Depending on the track and timing of that potential system, wintry weather could be in store somewhere in our region for the end of the month into early December. No matter when changes come to the Midwest, W.O.N’s meteorologists will be notifying clients well ahead of time.

Here’s your chance to win a tablet computer and accessories!!!

Enter Weather or Not’s 2012-13 Winter Snow Contest by submitting your guess for the date and amount of the largest snowfall in any of Weather or Not’s regional cities!

Submit your entry by emailing info@weatherornot.com with the subject:  2012-13 Winter Snow Contest

Your entry must include your name, snowiest date and snowfall amount for any of the regional cities within Weather or Not’s region (see map below for details).

EXAMPLE:  Name:  Jane Doe – Date:  November 3rd – Snowfall Amount: – 16″

Entries must be received by November 1, 2012.  Limit of one (1) entry per person.  Employees and immediate family members of employees of Weather or Not, Inc. are not eligible to enter.  Winner is decided by the entry closest to the date (Midnight-Midnight) when the most snow falls as determined by the climatological station at any of the following cities: in Nebraska, Omaha; in Kansas: Salina, Manhattan, Topeka or Lawrence; in Missouri: St. Joseph, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia or St. Louis.  Period of the contest is November 1, 2012 to April 15, 2013.  Winner will be announced here, as well as on our Facebook and Twitter by April 30, 2013.  In the event of a tie for the closest day, the entry closest to the actual measured amount of snow will determine the winner.  Employees of the Company and members of their immediate families  are not eligible to participate and win.

What will be the snowiest day in a Weather or Not Regional City?

Winner will receive a tablet computer and accessories.

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October 12, 2012

Severe weather threats including tornadoes are the big topic this weekend in the Midwest.  Many businesses are readying their operations for snow and winter these days.  However, this weekend, heavy rain, damaging winds and tornadoes could challenge many jurisdictions throughout the Heartland.

Why now?

Mistakenly, many people think there is a designated “severe weather season,” primarily because many of the most devastating tornadoes occur from March-June.  Tornado watches and warnings, and tornadoes for that matter, have happened in every month of the year.  Most recently, the St. Louis Metro had multiple tornadoes on December 31, 2010 including an EF-3 during a New Year’s Eve outbreak that included 24 tornadoes in Missouri.

Weather 101 tells us that weather is created by the atmosphere trying to balance itself. If the earth had its way, there would be consistent temperature, pressure, etc. The wind is the atmosphere’s fight to bring the earth to an equilibrium and that is why the bigger the differences, the bigger the storm.  When the warm Fall temperatures are mixed with moisture and colder, drier air pushing down from the north a fight ensues in the form of wind.  Add the right combination of instability and wind shear and you could be spotting tornadoes.

For Saturday, all of those ingredients should be in play for the Heartland.  Please stay alert to emergency messages, or sign up for a free trial of A⁺ Weather Alerts.  Weather or Not’s staff of meteorologists will be keeping our clients ahead of the storm  24/7.

October 10, 2012

This week’s seasonal temperatures are courtesy of a transitional ridging pattern out West. The good news is that the southern jet stream could actually bring in moisture during this transitional period, October 13^th-17^th, offering us the best rain potential we’ve seen in awhile. Even severe weather could return this weekend.

Chilly weather returns for the latter half of the month, including Halloween, so enjoy the mild temperatures for the next week. As we head toward the end of the month, a deep trough will set up and looks to dominate the weather pattern across the eastern two-thirds of the country. This northwesterly flow leads to cooler conditions across the Midwest and Southeast. The much talked about El Niño remains weak with little effect on the overall pattern.

For the Heartland expect below normal temperatures from the 17th through the end of the month, as we will continue to have numerous cold fronts diving through the area. This will also lead to quick hitting rain chances, if we can squeeze out any moisture.