Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Europe braces for destructive weekend winter storm

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 3:05 PM GMT on February 24, 2010

A large but disorganized extratropical storm located over the middle-Atlantic Ocean is expected to move rapidly eastwards towards Spain over the next two days. As the storm approaches Spain on Friday, it is expected to tap into a cold polar airmass to its north and rapidly intensify into a meteorological "bomb"--a mighty winter cyclone with hurricane force winds. Though sea surface temperatures off the coast of Spain are about 1°C below average, the waters of 12 - 16°C will provide plenty of moisture and energy to the powerful storm, which may end up rivaling last year's Winter Storm Klaus in intensity. Klaus, which hit northern Spain and southwest France January 23 - 25, was Earth's most costly natural disaster of 2009, causing $5.1 billion in damage and killing 26. Klaus peaked in intensity at 967 mb, and brought wind gusts of 120 mph (193 km/hr) to Formiguères, France, 125 mph (200 km/hr) to Portbou, Spain, and 134 mph (216 km/hr) to Port d'Envalira, Andorra.

Figure 1. Visible satellite image of the Atlantic at 8am EST Wednesday, February 24, 2010. A developing extratropical cyclone over the middle Atlantic threatens to bring hurricane-force wind gusts to Spain and Portugal on Saturday. Meanwhile, a snowstorm over the New England is dumping heavy snows there. Image credit: NASA GSFC GOES project.

This Saturday's storm is expected to follow a track very similar to Klaus, reaching maximum intensity at 18 GMT Saturday as it passes just north of Spain and Portugal (Figure 2). If the storm tracks near or over the northwest corner of Spain as most of the models are predicting, the cyclone's powerful cold front will likely bring sustained winds of 50 - 60 mph with damaging hurricane-force wind gusts and flooding rains to northern Spain and Portugal. The latest 06Z (1am EST) run of the GFS model predicts that this weekend's storm will bottom out at a pressure of 968 mb, about the same minimum pressure achieved by last year's destructive Winter Storm Klaus (967 mb). The latest 06Z run of the Navy NOGAPS model is more aggressive, deepening the storm into a 948 mb monster that misses Spain by several hundred miles, but comes ashore over Ireland Sunday morning with a pressure of 956 mb. This is a central pressure typically found in Category 2 hurricanes! (Note, though, that extratropical systems generally do not generate winds as strong as a hurricane with a similar central pressure, since extratropical storms do not form an eyewall with extreme winds like a hurricane does). The NOGAPS is currently an outlier, though, and the other models such as the ECMWF, Canadian, and UKMET do not foresee the storm getting that intense. Even so, this weekend's storm has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar weather disaster for Europe.

Figure 2. Forecast from the 1am EST 2/24/10 run of the GFS model for 18 GMT Saturday for mean sea level pressure and 6-hour precipitation (top) and surface winds (bottom). The GFS is predicting that Saturday's storm will peak in intensity at this time with a pressure below 968 mb. Sustained winds of 70 - 75 mph (yellow green colors in bottom plot) are expected just offshore of Portugal. Images generated using our wundermap for Spain with the "model" layer turned on.

The winter storm-fest continues for the U.S.
This winter's relentless winter storm-fest over the U.S. continues this week, with a powerful cyclone over the Northeast U.S. expected to bring 2 - 3 feet of snow to the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont. The storm is wrapping in too much warm air to bring heavy snow to the major cities along the coast, where most of the precipitation will fall as rain. Next Tuesday, a powerful low pressure system is expected to bring heavy rains to Florida, with the possibility of snow falling in northern Georgia and surrounding regions.

Next post
My next post will be Thursday or Friday.

Jeff Masters

Tons (jgo)

Stormy weather in Porto, Portugal. Actually all north coast of Portugal is on the alert. Tons of water in this wave.

Categories: Winter Weather

Permalink | A A A

Top of Page

Reader Comments

Display: 0, 50, 100, 200

Sort: Newest First - Order Posted

Viewing: 451 - 499

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 — Blog Index

451. IKE 11:26 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting aquak9: First north Florida, now the Florida straits. GFS got local mets confused, too, per NWS JAX and NWS Melbourne. True...this from this mornings Melbourne discussion.... "A MORE SIGNIFICANT STORM SYSTEM IS PROGGED BY ECMWF TO AFFECT THE AREA AROUND TUESDAY. THIS SYSTEM LOOKS TO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF UPPER SUPPORT AND STRONG WIND FIELDS. HAVE MAINTAINED 40% POPS TUE AND ADDED THUNDER TO ALL AREAS. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL FL IF SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY CAN RETURN. AFTER BEING IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE ECMWF LAST NIGHT...THE 00Z GFS IS NOW DEPICTING A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO WITH LOW PRESSURE TRACKING WELL TO THE SOUTH ACROSS CUBA. WE`LL SEE IF THE GFS HAS LATCHED ONTO SOMETHING BUT THIS LACK OF CONSISTENCY REDUCES CONFIDENCE IN THE MODEL SO LEANED HEAVILY ON THE MORE CONSISTENT ECMWF IN THE EXTENDED RANGE. EXPECT BOTH MODELS TO COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT EVENTUALLY...HOPEFULLY SOONER THAN LATER." Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

453. IKE 11:30 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
I'm at 30.9...my morning low. Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

454. HurricaneSwirl 11:33 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
We reached 26.9.. Brrrr. The inconsistency of the GFS is puzzling me. Does the ECMWF solution support the same cold temps the GFS supported? Member Since: July 7, 2008 Posts: 2 Comments: 3237

455. IKE 11:37 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting HurricaneSwirl: We reached 26.9.. Brrrr. The inconsistency of the GFS is puzzling me. Does the ECMWF solution support the same cold temps the GFS supported? GFS was having problems like this a couple of weeks ago....was discounted and finally came around to the other models. From the Tallahassee morning discussion.... "THE 00Z GFS AND EURO BOTH KEEP US ON THE COLD SIDE OF THIS STORM. NOW...THE LATEST GFS RUN IS EVEN FURTHER SOUTH THAN PRE RUN AND WELL SOUTH OF ECMWF..SO IT BACKS OFF FURTHER ON LOCAL IMPACTS. CONVERSELY...THE EURO WHICH BRINGS THE LOW FURTHER TO THE NORTH WITH THE NRN FRINGES APPROACHING OUR COASTAL WATERS ALSO HAS A MUCH LARGER MOISTURE FIELD WRAPPING AROUND THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM INTO WED MORNING. PARTIAL THICKNESS AND 850MB TEMP ANALYSIS SUGGEST A BRIEF WINTRY MIX POSSIBLE BUT BOUNDARY LAYER STILL A TAD TOO WARM TO SUPPORT SNOW ALTHO THIS NEEDS TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY AS WE APPROACH EVENT. IF THE EURO VERIFIES...THIS IS A MORE POTENT STORM SYSTEM THAN THE GULF LOW THAT CROSSED ON SAT WITH A MID LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST AND A RATHER IMPRESSIVE UPPER LEVEL JET MOVING THROUGH THE PENINSULA. IT ALSO WOULD LEAD TO LOCALLY HEAVIER PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS (RIVER RISES) AND VERY TIGHT GRADIENTS BETWEEN GULF LOW TO OUR SOUTH...AND HIGH TO OUR NORTH. IF CONDS BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR WINTRY PRECIP...THIS COULD YIELD SHARP CHANGE IN PRECIP TYPE OVER SHORT DISTANCES AS WELL AS BRISK AND GUSTY WINDS WITH POSSIBLY GALE FORCE WINDS OVER THE WATER. AGAIN INCONSISTENCY WITH MODELS LEADS ME TO SHY AWAY FROM SOLID PRECIP AT THIS TIME. AFTER THE LOW LIFTS NEWD BY BY TUES AFTN...STRONG HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN WITH A DRY AND COOL AIRMASS DOMINATED THE NE GULF TUES EVE THRU THURS. WILL SHOW SCT POPS WITH SW-NE GRADIENT MON NIGHT THRU TUES AFTN OTHERWISE NIL POPS. THIS IS CLOSER TO ECMWF POPS AS OPPOSED TO GFS WHICH SHOWS WDLY SCT-LO SCT POPS. LOCAL AREA WILL REMAIN NORTH OF BOTH GULF LOWS (ENTRENCHED IN COOL SECTOR) MON INTO TUES... OTHERWISE DOMINATED BY STRONG HIGHS BUILDING IN...COLD AIR ADVECTION AND CP AIRMASS OUTBREAKS. THUS...TEMPS WILL REMAIN BELOW CLIMO THRU PERIOD. INLAND CLIMO IS MIN TEMPS IN LOW-MID 40S AND MAX TEMPS AROUND 70. SAT NIGHT WILL BE THE COLDEST WITH MINS AROUND 30 DEGREES YIELDING A LIGHT FREEZE WITH COLDEST MINS REMAINING IN THE MID 30S THRU THE PERIOD. INLAND MAX TEMPS IN THE LOW-MID 60S...EXCEPT AROUND 60 NRN TIER OF SE ALA/SW GA." Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

456. aquak9 11:43 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
a'ways back, maybe sometime yesterday afternoon, early evening- there were some questions about the GFS. Think someone said it had a SEG error? Something to do with the sequential...or exponental.. ahh but yeah, me thinks GFS has got a screw loose. Member Since: August 13, 2005 Posts: 163 Comments: 25007

457. aquak9 11:45 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
I'm sure someone else already grabbed this, but this is from NWS JAX- my locals- ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW TRACKS ACRS THE GULF OF MEX AT SAME TIME. GFS HAS BEEN TRENDING FARTHER SOUTH WITH THE SFC LOW NOW CROSSING THE FL STRAITS. THE ECMWF TRACKS THE LOW ACRS N FL ON TUESDAY WHILE THE CANADIAN AND GFS ENSEMBLE TREND SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. Member Since: August 13, 2005 Posts: 163 Comments: 25007

458. Congost 11:47 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
Hi, here in Catalonia we had a terrible winterstorm in January 2009 (winter storm Klaus), now that you say that this weekend there could be a repeat of last year's disastrous storm, I wonder why local TV and media in general here in Barcelona do not mention this threat at all??

459. IKE 11:49 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting aquak9: a'ways back, maybe sometime yesterday afternoon, early evening- there were some questions about the GFS. Think someone said it had a SEG error? Something to do with the sequential...or exponental.. ahh but yeah, me thinks GFS has got a screw loose. It's global warmings fault. Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

460. aquak9 11:54 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
bingo ike! you got the first smile of the day award! We used to laugh at the CMC...now it's the GFS that looks like it might need a week in rehab. Ya'll have a blessed day- peace! Member Since: August 13, 2005 Posts: 163 Comments: 25007

461. IKE 11:59 AM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting aquak9: bingo ike! you got the first smile of the day award! We used to laugh at the CMC...now it's the GFS that looks like it might need a week in rehab. Ya'll have a blessed day- peace! L8R. Down to 30.4. Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

462. severstorm 12:02 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
morning all, and Ike that is excatly what i thought you would say. LOL 37.8 at the house this morning. Member Since: November 25, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 916

463. rainmound 12:17 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Enjoying snow in nyc! Member Since: April 18, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 42

465. AstroHurricane001 12:36 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Meanwhile, global SSTs: The Gulf Stream continues to be diverted west-southwestwards due to the cold water intrusion to its north. The <20C zone of the Humboldt is now pointed north-northeastward, hugging the coast and meeting head-on with an area above 26C in northern Chile. Member Since: August 30, 2008 Posts: 8 Comments: 2811

466. weathermanwannabe 12:43 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Good Morning... 33 in Tallahassee this morning and no short-term releif in sight right now for the chilly mornings. At least the Azalias will not bloom early this year & be around when Springtime Tallahassee rolls around in April...Also, all of the rain has kept pollen at bay so far......The Wife is not sneezing as much unlike dryer/warmer Februarys the past few years when the cars were covered with the green "slime".... Member Since: August 8, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 6691

468. AstroHurricane001 12:43 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Re 2012: Link Member Since: August 30, 2008 Posts: 8 Comments: 2811

469. doabarrelroll 12:48 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting aquak9: I'm sure someone else already grabbed this, but this is from NWS JAX- my locals- ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW TRACKS ACRS THE GULF OF MEX AT SAME TIME. GFS HAS BEEN TRENDING FARTHER SOUTH WITH THE SFC LOW NOW CROSSING THE FL STRAITS. THE ECMWF TRACKS THE LOW ACRS N FL ON TUESDAY WHILE THE CANADIAN AND GFS ENSEMBLE TREND SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN. I live in your area too aquak what does this mean? Member Since: November 8, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 478

473. doabarrelroll 1:11 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting Jeff9641: Anybody that is looking at the GFS and saying where is this big storm on Tuesday then don't worry because the GFS is WRONG. Every single one of the other models show this low going over C or N FL Tuesday as a powerhouse storm. Storm will rapidly intensify by late Monday, come across FL and then target the Carolina coast as a 980 milibar low. Get ready because a SOUTHEASTCANE maybe on the way after the snowicane leaves. but no snow in north central florida right? or is it just rain and wind. Member Since: November 8, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 478

475. IKE 1:34 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
From the Jackson,MS. morning discussion.... "A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR INFLUENCING THE TRACK OF THE APPROACHING MID/UPPER WAVE WILL BE A BROAD AND DEEP CUT-OFF CYCLONIC CIRCULATION CENTERED OVER THE NORTHEAST CONUS. THROUGH SUNDAY...THIS FEATURE IS FORECAST TO REMAIN VERTICALLY-STACKED AND ASSOCIATED WITH AN INTENSE SURFACE LOW HAVING A MEAN CENTER OVER SOUTHEAST NEW YORK. GOING INTO LATE SUNDAY AND MONDAY...THE ECMWF...NOGAPS...CMC...NEARLY EVERY MEMBER OF THE CMC ENSEMBLES...AND A HANDFUL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GEFS ALL KICK THE DEEP-LAYER CYCLONE OFF THE EAST COAST...MAKING WAY FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL CONUS DISTURBANCE TO TAKE AN EASTWARD TRAJECTORY WITH THE STRONGEST ASCENT PASSING ACROSS THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY AND NORTHERN GULF FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY. WHAT THE GFS AND SOME OF THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEMBERS DO WITH THESE FEATURES IS RATHER QUESTIONABLE. THESE MODELS ENTIRELY DECOUPLE THE NORTHEAST CONUS CYCLONE...WITH THE INTENSE SURFACE LOW MERGING WITH A NORTHEASTWARD-RACING CYCLONE OVER THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC THUS ALLOWING THE MID/UPPER LEVEL CIRCULATION TO LAG BEHIND OVER INLAND AREAS. GIVEN THE WESTWARD DISPLACEMENT OF THE MID/UPPER CYCLONE IN THE GFS/GEFS...THE SOUTH CENTRAL CONUS DISTURBANCE WOULD BE SUPPRESSED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE SOUTH...WITH THE OPERATIONAL GFS INDICATING THE GREATEST SUPPRESSION. THIS SUPPRESSION WOULD BE FURTHER ENHANCED BY SHORTWAVE ENERGY FORECAST TO DIVE SOUTHWARD AT THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE NORTHEAST CONUS CIRCULATION. THE AFOREMENTIONED DECOUPLING AND WESTWARD LAG EVIDENT IN THE GFS/GEFS HAS LITTLE BACKING FROM ANY OTHER GUIDANCE...AND THE PHYSICAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS DECOUPLING IS QUESTIONABLE GIVEN LACK OF STRONG DEEP-LAYER SHEAR ACTING ON THE LARGE-SCALE CIRCULATION AND ITS ANTECEDENT WELL-DEVELOPED VERTICAL STRUCTURE. THUS...THIS FORECAST PACKAGE WILL DISCOUNT THE GUIDANCE WHICH SUPPRESSES THE SOUTH CENTRAL CONUS DISTURBANCE TO THE SOUTH BY A LAGGING MID/UPPER CYCLONE OVER THE NORTHEAST CONUS...AND WILL FOLLOW A BLEND OF THE ECMWF/CMC/CMC ENSEMBLES. AS THE SHORTWAVE APPROACHES THE SOUTHEAST CONUS LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...A SURFACE LOW IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER SOUTH TEXAS AND THEN TRACK EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF ALONG 27N/28N. THE ECMWF SHOWS A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE FALL OF 5 MB IN 6 HOURS BETWEEN 00Z AND 06Z ON TUESDAY...AND THIS SEEMS ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF Q-VECTOR CONVERGENCE DOWNSTREAM OF THE MID/UPPER TROUGH AXIS. INTERESTINGLY...BECAUSE THE GFS SUPPRESSES THE UPPER WAVE SO FAR SOUTH...ITS ATTENDANT SURFACE LOW FOLLOWS A TRACK FROM THE YUCATAN PENINSULA ACROSS THE YUCATAN CHANNEL TO WESTERN CUBA. THIS SOLUTION IS CERTAINLY AN OUTLIER...AND MOST OF THE GEFS MEMBERS SHOW A TRACK MUCH FURTHER TO THE NORTH WITH A CLUSTER ALONG 26N. SINCE THE PRECIP FORECAST WILL BE TIED TO THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW...THE GFS IS INDICATING NO PRECIP ACROSS THE ARKLAMISS REGION WITH VERY LOW POPS FROM MEX GUIDANCE...AND THESE SOLUTIONS ARE BEING DISCOUNTED WITH FORECAST POPS RAISED WELL ABOVE MEX GUIDANCE. FOLLOWING A BLEND OF THE ECMWF/CMC/CMC ENSEMBLES...PRECIP WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION MONDAY AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY NIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. THERMAL PROFILES WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR SNOW TO MIX IN ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE CWA FOR MONDAY NIGHT...WHEN THE ECMWF IS INDICATING WET-BULB ZERO (WBZ) HEIGHTS BELOW 1500 FT. HOWEVER...STRONG ADIABATIC COOLING DUE TO FORCED ASCENT AND MELTING PROCESSES ALOFT COULD COOL THE LOWER/MID TROPOSPHERE EVEN MORE. OR...THE LOW COULD TRACK A LITTLE FURTHER TO THE SOUTH GIVING A LARGER PART OF THE AREA LOWER WBZ HEIGHTS. IN THESE CASES...SNOW WOULD BECOME A MORE PREDOMINANT PRECIP TYPE. AND IF THIS OCCURS...STRONG ASCENT THROUGHOUT SATURATED AND DEEP DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONES APPROACHING 100 MB THICK WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HEAVY SNOW. THERE WILL ALSO BE CONCERN FOR STRONG GRADIENT WINDS IN THE NORTHERN SEMICIRCLE OF THE LOW. HOWEVER...A LOW TRACK TO THE NORTH WOULD RESULT IN WARMER THERMAL PROFILES AND MOSTLY RAIN. ULTIMATELY...A LOT CAN CHANGE WITH REGARD TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED SYNOPTIC FEATURES IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR A SIGNIFICANT STORM SYSTEM TO AFFECT THE AREA EARLY NEXT WEEK. GIVEN HIGH UNCERTAINTY IN THE NATURE OF THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS...MENTION IS BEING WITHHELD FROM THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NOW." Member Since: June 9, 2005 Posts: 23 Comments: 37044

476. doabarrelroll 1:39 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting Jeff9641: Just heavy rain and wind with some possiblity of severe wx but I think the biggest issue for C FL will be heavy rain and strong winds. thanks! Member Since: November 8, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 478

477. weathermanwannabe 1:45 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
The ongoing pattern of these Gulf Lows reminds me of "no name" storm in March of 1993 which hammered Florida with hurricane force winds and moved up the Eastern Seabord as a wicked Noreaster........We might have something like that in the coming months blowing through. I was in Orlando visitng a friend when the 93 one blew through. Lot's of tornadoes and wind damage in Central Florida on that one. Member Since: August 8, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 6691

478. GrtLksQuest 1:46 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting AussieStorm: I thought it was a love-hate relationship. Like the one we have with England. Hi Aussie, Got in on this a little late. I think your interpretation is the right one. Many Canadians bear significant animosity toward Americans. To many Canadians, America is the proverbial 800 pound gorilla. From the Canadian perspective, America is large, noisy, and overbearing. Worse than that, it generally ignores Canada and is ignorant of Canadian history, culture, politics, etc. (Just think about recent health reform arguments in US, with people being terrified about the possibility of adopting a 'socialist' Canadian system.) The combination of perceived boorishness and ignorance on the part of their American neighbors makes it less likely that the Canadians will cheer for the US against a supposedly more 'civilized' rival. Member Since: November 28, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 219

479. Orcasystems 2:00 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
AOI AOI AOI AOI Humor in Comments Member Since: October 1, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077

481. Chucktown 2:01 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
While I agree that it will be a significant snowstorm for the Northeast, even close to a blizzard, good old Bastardi hypin' it up again. This from the AP The National Weather Service criticized State College, Pa.-based Accuweather Inc. for referring to the storm that way and for saying it would be "hurricane-like" and a "monster." NWS meteorologist Craig Evanego said the terminology was "almost inciting the public, inciting panic." Member Since: August 27, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 1383

482. Orcasystems 2:03 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting GrtLksQuest: Hi Aussie, Got in on this a little late. I think your interpretation is the right one. Many Canadians bear significant animosity toward Americans. To many Canadians, America is the proverbial 800 pound gorilla. From the Canadian perspective, America is large, noisy, and overbearing. Worse than that, it generally ignores Canada and is ignorant of Canadian history, culture, politics, etc. (Just think about recent health reform arguments in US, with people being terrified about the possibility of adopting a 'socialist' Canadian system.) The combination of perceived boorishness and ignorance on the part of their American neighbors makes it less likely that the Canadians will cheer for the US against a supposedly more 'civilized' rival. I hate to admit it... but you nailed it perfectly. Member Since: October 1, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077

484. GrtLksQuest 2:27 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting Orcasystems: I hate to admit it... but you nailed it perfectly. Thanks. But as long as we would rather be proud of being a 'stupid American' than be diligent about being responsibly informed, I see little likelihood of change - in either direction. Member Since: November 28, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 219

485. Orcasystems 2:37 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting GrtLksQuest: Thanks. But as long as we would rather be proud of being a 'stupid American' than be diligent about being responsibly informed, I see little likelihood of change - in either direction. Here is a link you might enjoy... this is from the news coverage at the start of the Olympics. Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans Member Since: October 1, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077

486. Orcasystems 2:38 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting StormW: Good morning! Should begin to see a change in the pattern after mid March. Morning Storm... tell me this year is going to be a bit more active.. this blog will not survive another slow year like the last one... it will self implode. Member Since: October 1, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077

487. Chicklit 2:42 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
It's in the 40s this a.m. in ECF. Daytona Beach (Ponce Inlet), FL, Daytona Beach, Florida (PWS) Updated: 1 sec ago 44.6 °F Clear Windchill: 41 °F Humidity: 65% Dew Point: 34 °F Wind: 7.0 mphfrom the WNW Wind Gust: 7.0 mph Pressure: 30.04 in (Rising) All clear on the western front for now. Member Since: July 11, 2006 Posts: 14 Comments: 10254

488. reedzone 2:43 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Hey everyone, been a while. I've been extremely busy with stuff.. The Superstorm is starting for people up north, power outages, road closers, and many more as a possible 975 mlb. low (possibly lower) busts into Long Island, which will calm down winds for them since they will be under the center for most of the time. The 1993 Superstorm was down to 960 mlb. This is a life-threatening storm. My prayers go out to everybody in this historic storm. Would not surprise me that the low bombs down to 970 or below. INteresting storm for weather people like me. Member Since: July 1, 2008 Posts: 13 Comments: 7247

490. Orcasystems 2:48 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting StormW: I have no doubts, this hurricane season will keep us busy. In a morbid way, thank god I guess.. hopefully lots of open ocean storms to watch and chat about... not some of the other choice subjects like last year. Member Since: October 1, 2007 Posts: 77 Comments: 26077

491. wanabwetherman 3:03 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting weathermanwannabe: The ongoing pattern of these Gulf Lows reminds me of "no name" storm in March of 1993 which hammered Florida with hurricane force winds and moved up the Eastern Seabord as a wicked Noreaster........We might have something like that in the coming months blowing through. I was in Orlando visitng a friend when the 93 one blew through. Lot's of tornadoes and wind damage in Central Florida on that one. Member Since: July 15, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 69

492. GrtLksQuest 3:03 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting Orcasystems: Here is a link you might enjoy... this is from the news coverage at the start of the Olympics. Tom Brokaw Explains Canada To Americans I loved that! See my comments on your blog. Member Since: November 28, 2009 Posts: 0 Comments: 219

493. Congost 3:10 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting leftovers: over here in the us we are getting images of theterrible floods near portugal is it the northern or more populated lisbon area? the waters around latin america seem warmer than normal might have a early start to the rainy season. I think it's in the southern bit, as I seem to remember that Andalusia (on the Spanish side) has had so far a very wet winter with significant flooding and local services disruption. However, here in Catalonia (around Barcelona and the Pyrenees)we are now having a great taste of Spring weather after the wintry weather we have had recently...STILL, no news of big winter storm hitting Europe over here!!

494. Congost 3:10 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting leftovers: over here in the us we are getting images of theterrible floods near portugal is it the northern or more populated lisbon area? the waters around latin america seem warmer than normal might have a early start to the rainy season. I think it's in the southern bit, as I seem to remember that Andalusia (on the Spanish side) has had so far a very wet winter with significant flooding and local services disruption. However, here in Catalonia (around Barcelona and the Pyrenees)we are now having a great taste of Spring weather after the wintry weather we have had recently...STILL, no news of big winter storm hitting Europe over here!!

495. TampaTom 5:12 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Man, the blog must be broken... Someone shake this thing... Member Since: June 20, 2005 Posts: 22 Comments: 1049

496. postitcast 5:18 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
I agree Jeff. Much too much warm air coming into this system for places like NYC and Boston to get much snow from this. But the winds though, that's a different story.

497. rainmound 10:49 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting Seastep: Absolutely correct, Patrap. An accurate data set doesn't lie. Something changed in 1998. Pretty flat before and pretty flat after. All years are at or below 1997 before and all are at or above after. A new "normal" happened in a single year. Based on 1979-1997 sat temps, and I also took a peek at some of the GISS temp data for kicks and will be doing a full blog on that, I predict this new normal should be around until 2019, based on initial analysis back to 1957, and then a new "normal" materializes. Up or down. More detailed blog entry to follow. Didn't they already identify this change? Check out this link. "The effects of aerosols in brown clouds are particularly insidious because they seem to have the opposite effect of greenhouse gases. “By sheer, dumb luck, we are adding particles that are trapping sunlight and cooling the planet,” Ramanathan says, but these particles only mask global warming without eliminating it. A sudden drop in global air pollution would be like removing the mask, he explains, and the climate may play catch-up to compensate. “Many of us, including myself, are concerned we could see a huge acceleration of global warming if we unmask the beast.” Yet ignoring air pollution is not the solution either, as studies clearly show its serious health effects, he says. “Air pollution has to be reduced, if not eliminated. It's just a Faustian bargain we have made without realizing it.” I believe the use and elimination of aerosols resulted in the unmasking which the writer mentions. Member Since: April 18, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 42

498. rainmound 10:50 PM GMT on February 25, 2010
Quoting postitcast: I agree Jeff. Much too much warm air coming into this system for places like NYC and Boston to get much snow from this. But the winds though, that's a different story. I'm in NYC. Four inches already. The snow is heavy enough to make it extremely difficult to get around. Worse, ice is now packed under it, as the temperature gets cold enough to freeze the first few coats of rain and snow. Member Since: April 18, 2006 Posts: 0 Comments: 42

499. Bordonaro 4:18 PM GMT on February 26, 2010
NEW BLOG EVERYBODY!! NEW BLOG ENTRY!!! Member Since: August 25, 2009 Posts: 20 Comments: 6785

Viewing: 451 - 499

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 — Blog Index

Top of Page

New Comment

Community Standards Policy Comments will take a few seconds to appear.

Post Your Comments

Please sign in to post comments.

or Join

Not only will you be able to leave comments on this blog, but you'll also have the ability to upload and share your photos in our Wunder Photos section.

About JeffMasters