Messages

601

Winter Weather / Re: Worst Arctic Outbreak in 20 Years Coming 1/5-8/2014

« on: January 04, 2014, 10:50:17 AM »

Tavores, your topic is good to put into this relatively unused Winter Weather subforum, so I moved it here.  The low on Monday night for my location is threatening to go below 0°F, which has not been seen since January 17, 2009 when it was -4°F.  Some of the higher elevations in the WV mountains will drop below -10°F.  I would hate to be in North Dakota and Minnesota right now as their highs on Sunday are in the -20°F to -30°F range!  Wind chills will be dangerously low as they approach -60°F during Saturday and Sunday nights, which is cold enough to have exposed skin begin to freeze in 30 seconds.

Our low is forecast to be in the mid to upper single digits (5-7 degrees) which will destroy the record low of 10 set back in 1970. I saw yesterday on other forums where wind chill values would be around -18°F from the GFS. This is gonna be a wild weekend/next week coming up I can't wait to see how it all unfolds!

602

Winter Weather / Worst Arctic Outbreak in 20 Years Coming 1/5-8/2014

« on: January 04, 2014, 09:56:50 AM »

I hope it's ok to start a separate thread for this. I felt it should have a separate thread given the magnitude and extremity of this cold weather.

As this event unfolds, you can post info here on what's happening where you are. For my area, tomorrow into Monday morning looks to be messy as the Arctic front pulls in, there will be developing precip in front, along, and behind the front which will mean a rain changing to snow or a rain changing to mix to snow scenario. The biggest concern where I am is over a FLASH FREEZE. Sunday afternoon will reach a high around 50, but as the front passes, temps are expected to drop 30 or more degrees within a 2-3 hour time period which means whatever precip is still sitting on roads and bridges will freeze immediately and just in time for Monday's morning rush hour.

Here's a snippet of the morning disco from my NWS office for tomorrow and Monday.

MODELS IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO TIMING OF THE NEXT
SYSTEM WITH CATEGORICAL RAIN CHANCES PUSHING INTO NORTHWEST ZONES
BY 18Z SUNDAY. THIS WILL BE A VERY QUICK MOVING SYSTEM WITH MOST
OF THE IMPACT BEING DONE WITH FOR THE ENTIRE CWA WITHIN A 12 HOUR
PERIOD. WILL BE A VERY INTERESTING 12 HOUR PERIOD THOUGH AS COLD
AIR RUSHES IN ON THE BACK SIDE...CHANGING PRECIP TO A MIXTURE
INITIALLY BUT VERY QUICKLY TO ALL SNOW FOR AREAS NORTH OF A ROME
TO CLEVELAND LINE. STILL A BRIEF MIX POSSIBLE SOUTH OF THIS
LOCATION WITH TOP DOWN METHOD EVEN INDICATING A PERIOD OF FREEZING
RAIN POSSIBLE AS PRECIP ENDS FROM LAGRANGE THROUGH ATLANTA.
AMOUNTS WILL BE TOUGH AS I AM WORRIED HOW RAPIDLY PRECIP PULLS
OUT. GENERALLY 1 TO 2 INCHES SUPPORTED BY THE MODELS AND WPC
GUIDANCE BUT AM LEANING ON THE LOW END AT THIS POINT GIVEN LIMITED
WRAP AROUND INITIALLY. BIGGER ISSUE FOR THESE AREAS WILL BE HOW
QUICKLY TEMPERATURES DROP RELATIVE TO PRECIP ENDING WHICH COULD
CREATE A BLACK ICE SITUATION AT THE WORST TIME...NAMELY MORNING
RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. WILL HOLD OFF ON WINTER STORM WATCH AT THIS
POINT BUT WILL LIKELY ISSUE EVEN BEFORE AFTERNOON PACKAGE...MAYBE
WITH THE MORNING UPDATE.

603

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: January 04, 2014, 09:19:29 AM »

It's done that before during a past winter storm this season. Don't remember which one though.

604

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: January 03, 2014, 07:07:50 PM »

31.9°F Clear

High was 35 today.

605

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: January 03, 2014, 05:27:43 PM »

When the IS made it's debut, technically it matched the "Live by It" on air graphics also. The only time it honestly never had any correlation to the on air graphics was definitely the previous graphical look outside the LDL, but after 2010 that was no longer the case.

606

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: January 03, 2014, 07:40:43 AM »

21°F Clear

Wind Chill: 9°F

607

General Weather Chat / Re: What's the weather in your area?

« on: January 02, 2014, 11:33:48 PM »

26.8°F Flurries

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7AM

608

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: January 02, 2014, 07:14:57 PM »

I do like the red and gray color theme branding for storm coverage.

I don't remember the music used during Katrina. Was the music as intense as the storm coverage song they are using since the graphics change?

Just like Patrick said (and the video clip he posted), it was definitely way more intense than what's being used now. What's being used now is weaksauce in comparison. The 2005 version was the true definition of STORM ALERT and what an appropriate, yet unfortunate coincidence it was first introduced and used for such a monstrous storm.

609

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: January 02, 2014, 07:07:43 PM »

This is kinda a rant, but only because I just don't get the logic of weather media in general sometimes.

I'm hoping I didn't hear this right, but maybe if someone else happened to be watching at the time can confirm. I could have sworn I just heard Dr. Postel saying that during the arctic blast, Atlanta would struggle to reach 40. Is he serious? He honestly thinks it's not gonna be colder than that?

It's really no wonder we, as Southerners are so ill-prepared for snow, ice, and cold snaps on the occasion when they happen. The forecasts are always either contradicting or extremely conservative, sometimes even 24 hrs before the main event occurs! I can understand being skeptical about the arctic blast earlier in the week when it was just mainly the EURO honking the horn on it, but now that we have solid model agreement this arctic outbreak is gonna happen, I mean the GFS/ECMWF has been showing 20s for highs and single digits for lows most of the week now for where I live. It's really time to stop sugar coding and actually hype this already.

Now I know I could just ignore TWC and just listen to what the local mets say and to be fair, they were playing coy about this too up until today. You can tell there's more of an urgency to inform the public about not just the possibly record low temps, but the possibly dangerous wind chills which is going to be the main show anyway. In response to that, the public is actually preparing by insulating exposed pipes, plants, bringing pets inside, and even having their homes re-insulated and buying generators/heaters. I guess my point is I don't get why TWC is hyping the cold on the LF, but on air they're doing a complete 180 by backpedaling on just how severe the cold will be in the South. It's only causing confusion when they choose to have it both ways imo.

610

Programming and Graphics / Re: New Graphics coming to TWC

« on: January 02, 2014, 03:42:01 PM »

TWC has gone red and gray for storm coverage.
That storm mode local forecast music track is back.
I really don't like that same song being used for every LOT8s.

It must of sucked for you to watch TWC during Hurricane Katrina then. 

611

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: January 01, 2014, 11:50:41 PM »

0z GFS tonight: "Yea, um remember how my buddy the ECMWF kept saying extreme cold was coming? Turns out he was totally right and I 1000% agree with him."

I'm pretty sure this is the coldest GFS run so far this week, parts of Florida will likely see a freeze, possibly a hard freeze. (Tallahassee, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Tampa, Sarasota, etc.)

I wonder how many NWS offices across the ECONUS will issue Wind Chill Advisories? I haven't seen one here in 11 years.

The ICEBOX is near, ice cubes and all! 

612

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: January 01, 2014, 11:05:42 PM »

Is everyone ready for the hammer to drop on our heads come next week?

Ugh - no!  I thought Dallas was going to be missing out on the colder weather, but it looks like that's a no.  It's a whapping 68 degrees here right now but will be some 30-degrees colder on Monday, according to current NWS forecasts.

Whapping I like that, you just gave me a new favorite word.

I'm ready for the cold, I got my beanie hat, leather jacket, long johns, scarf, gloves, gloves, and my new boots I got for Christmas all prepped for this. It's been years since it's been as cold as it looks like it will be next week.

This looks to rival the January 2003 Arctic Outbreak as it stands now, I'm not sure if it will rival the February 1996 or January 1994 Arctic Outbreaks yet...

613

General Discussion / Re: WeatherNation

« on: January 01, 2014, 03:56:36 PM »

This is how the LF is set up here

WeatherNation - Local on the 5s

614

Forecasting / Re: Fall/Winter Weather Discussion Thread

« on: January 01, 2014, 03:20:59 PM »

I might be lucky enough to see some wraparound snow from this storm late tomorrow afternoon/evening. It seems like it will be similar to the Thanksgiving Eve snow I saw a couple of months ago last year.

Is everyone ready for the hammer to drop on our heads come next week?

615

General Discussion / Re: The Pot Belly Stove

« on: January 01, 2014, 12:00:04 AM »

Now is officially the time to wipe the slate clean and begin our outlooks on life over on a fresh start! If 2013 wasn't as kind to you as you would have liked, here's to hoping 2014 will be an awesome year for all of you! Cheers!