Thursday, January 31, 2013

National Temperature and Rainfall Extremes for January 31,2013

As of 9:30PM,EST,January 31,2013,from accuweather.com:




-Highest Temperature:   80 degrees at Marathon,Florida
-Lowest Temperature: -26 degrees at Plentywood,Montana
-Most Rainfall: 2.72 inches at Goldsboro,North Carolina

World Weather Hot Spot for January 31-February 1,2013

Madagascar: High Winds and Heavy Rain from Tropical Cyclone Felleng Thursday (January 31,2013)

Today's Worst Weather for January 31,2013

Mosquito Mountain,Maine: Heavy Rain

WeatherWhys for January 31,2013

This very large winter storm created a vast sweep of disruptive and destructive weather from the central United States into Canada just in time for Groundhog Day in 2011. The storm produced blizzard conditions to the north and severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to the south. In between, there was a large swath of damaging ice.

40-Car Pileups Shut Down Interstates in Michigan, Indiana

By , Meteorologist
January 31,2013; 8:06PM,EST



UPDATE:
A 40- to 50-car pileup was reported in Hendricks County, Ind. on Thursday afternoon on westbound Interstate 70, Indiana State Police confirmed.
The crash occurred around 2 p.m. CT, shutting down both directions of the highway near State Road 267.
State police could not confirm any fatalities as of 3 p.m. CT.
"At the time of the pileup, a snow squall was hitting Hendricks County, Ind. There was also freezing fog in the area, which was adding to poor visibility," AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans said.
"At the Eagle Creek weather observation site in Indianapolis, the visibility was being reduced to a quarter of a mile. It may have been near-zero at the site of the accident."
Additionally, the air temperature was 25 degrees, likely rendering any salt on the roads ineffective.


Around 40 vehicles were involved in a major pileup crash in Detroit, Mich., Thursday morning, in a sudden snow squall.
The pileup occurred along a one quarter- to half-of-a-mile stretch of the Rouge River Bridge along I-75, around 9:00 a.m. EST, according to Robert Morosi, communications representative of the Michigan Department of Transportation.




"This morning was a typical Michigan winter morning where you're driving and it's dry and then a snow squall hits with poor visibility." Morosi said. "We've also been having northwest winds and low temperatures that limit the effectiveness of salt."
The visibility was reportedly reduced to near zero as the snow squall hit the area. Snow squalls are developing downwind of the Great Lakes as arctic cold pours across the unfrozen Great Lakes.
"In addition to the cold flow of air over the open Great Lakes, there are a couple of disturbance moving through," AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "Those disturbances are making the atmosphere even more unstable."
The temperature at the time of the accident was in the lower 20s.



At least a dozen commercial vehicles were involved in the pileup, with many jack-knifed across I-75.
Some vehicles were totaled, some were just side-swiped and others endured some rear or front-end damage, Morosi said.
Michigan State Police have confirmed at least three fatalities and multiple injuries.

Sneaky Snow Midwest to DC and Delmarva

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
January 31,2013; 7:50PM,EST


As a weak storm from Canada scoots eastward, a swath of light snow and flurries will reach from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic coast into Friday morning.
The weak storm riding a wave of arctic air is the first in a series of systems rolling in from western Canada, known as Alberta Clippers.
The combination of flurries, heavier snow squalls and plunging temperatures can lead to a coating to an inch of snow and slippery roads in some locations of the Midwest.
Highways of concern across the north include I-70, I-80, I-90 and I-94. Across the south include I-64, I-75, I-79 and I-81.
Roads could continue to suddenly turn icy throughout Thursday night from Detroit to Indianapolis, St. Louis, Louisville, Ky. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Charleston, W.Va.
A multiple vehicle crash caused fatalities in the Detroit area Thursday morning. Snow showers and a freeze-up likely contributed to the crash. Another wreck has occurred on I-70 near Indianapolis Thursday afternoon.
The same system will ride the push of cold air to the East Coast Thursday night into Friday morning.
A bit of snow will race across Tennessee Thursday night and could coat the ground in Nashville and Knoxville.
A couple of inches of snow can fall in parts of the Appalachians from near the Tennessee/North Carolina boarder to western Pennsylvania.
While the Appalachian mountains will screen out much of the snow from the Midwest, it can still bring enough for icy spots and areas of slippery travel for the morning drive Friday east of the mountains.
Metro areas that could experience wintry problems include Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Md., Dover, Del., Philadelphia and perhaps as far south as Richmond, Va.
The recent drenching rain has washed away any treatment on the roads from earlier in the month.
Even in areas where there is no appreciable snowfall, runoff across some secondary roads can freeze.
Through the end of the week, bands of heavy snow will continue to fall downwind of the Great Lakes. Some of the snow belts to east and southeast of the water bodies can pick up a couple of feet of snow.
A somewhat larger and stronger Alberta Clipper is forecast to roll across the Midwest and Appalachians this weekend.
The storm has the potential to turn the corner upon nearing the Atlantic Coast and grabbing moisture at the last minute. Due to the larger size and potential to gain more strength and moisture, the system could bring a larger swath of snow and more substantial snow amounts.

Recap of the Dramatic Jan. 27-31, 2013 Storm

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
January 31,2013; 7:31PM,EST




From snow to flooding, temperatures extremes, damaging winds and deadly tornadoes, this storm system had it all. This story recaps the dramatic events of the storm this week.
Areas of heavy snow developed over the interior West during the past weekend. One of the components of the storm produced close to 10 inches of snow in Salt Lake City and a few inches of snow around Denver on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013.
As the storm and its snow emerged over the Plains, surging warmth combined with increasing winds aloft began to produce a few thunderstorms with hail from portions of Oklahoma to near Lake Michigan. A handful of damaging wind incidents were also reported in portions of Oklahoma.
However, the storm was not going to stop with snow over the West and a few minor severe weather incidents. Violent weather associated with the storm would go on to reach nearly 2,000 miles from Oklahoma to New Brunswick in the days ahead.
Steering winds high in the atmosphere, known as the jet stream, were developing a huge buckle, not only the middle of the United States, but much of North America.
This is an example of a large buckle in the jet stream setting up a large southward dip, known as a trough and a large northward bulge, known as a ridge.
According to Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams, "At peak in this particular situation, the hairpin curve to the jet would be able to send a particle from the Arctic Circle, southward to Mexico over the Plains, then northeastward to nearly Greenland."
This huge buckle was driving below-zero air southward over the Canada Prairies and into the northern Plains by Tuesday, Jan. 29 and 60 and 70 degree air into the Ohio Valley and parts of the mid-Atlantic.
The temperature contrast, combined with the tremendous jet stream energy would begin to set off a much more substantial severe weather outbreak Tuesday from Oklahoma and Texas to the Tennessee and Ohio valleys. On this day, over 420 reports of severe weather occurred including nearly 400 incidents of damaging wind gusts and nearly two dozen reports of tornadoes.
Fortunately, the tornadoes were on the low-end of the Fujita Scale, and were short-lived. There were no reports of fatalities or serious injuries from the storms this day. And, there was beneficial rainfall over part of the Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio and upper Mississippi basins. Enough rain fell to bring Mississippi River levels up at St. Louis.
During Tuesday night, the charging cold air was producing a swath of snow over lower elevations on the Central Plains and the snow was spreading northeastward into the Upper Midwest. The snowfall will translate to more future moisture for agriculture in part of the region and runoff into part of the Mississippi waterway.
By Wednesday, snow was piling up to a half of a foot or more in portions of Iowa and Wisconsin and snow was covering the ground around Kansas City.
At the same time Wednesday morning, temperatures were below zero over much of North Dakota, but were surging to record highs (66 degrees in Buffalo, N.Y., and 74 degrees in Morgantown, W.Va.) over parts of the eastern Ohio Valley and eastern Great Lakes ahead of zone of heavy rain and gusty winds, known as a squall line.
The squall line, over 1,000 miles long, stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the eastern Great Lakes Wednesday morning and continued to produce incidents of flash flooding and damaging wind gusts.
Unfortunately, the severe weather was just getting warmed up along with the temperature.
Rain was falling on much less needy areas from the eastern Ohio Valley to the central and southern Appalachians. There were multiple incidents of flash and urban flooding, including in Chattanooga, Tenn. Roads were flooded or washed out as far north as Muskegon and Ottawa counties in Michigan.
The severe weather would take on more damaging and deadly consequences in northwestern Georgia during the midday hours Wednesday. A large and strong tornado touched down in Adairsville, claiming the life on one person and injuring 14 others. The storm overturned 100 vehicles on nearby I-75.
Will Carter, 15, surveys the damage to his house upon arriving home from school following a tornado, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in Adairsville, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Additional violent storms would cause multiple injuries during the midday Wednesday in northwestern Georgia.
An additional 300 incidents of severe weather would occur on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. reaching from northern Florida to Pennsylvania resulting in extensive property damage and downed scores of trees, which took power lines with them in some cases.
Gusts between 50 and 70 mph occurred as far north as southwestern Pennsylvania during the midday hours Wednesday. The carnage continued during the afternoon and evening east of the Appalachians in the South, where temperatures in some locations surged past 80 degrees.
The violent weather was not done yet.
During the morning and midday hours of Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, intense rainfall and high winds swung through the coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic, New England and into portions of New Brunswick.
Powerful gusts knocked out power to tens of thousands in Connecticut alone early Thursday. Gusts reached hurricane force at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and at Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts.
Rainfall ranging from 1 to 4 inches over a several-hour period continued from the Mississippi basin Tuesday and the Appalachians and South Wednesday to the Northeast early Thursday as well. The wall of rain and flash flooding that quickly followed caught motorists by surprise in northern Virginia and in the Washington, D.C., area.
The huge buckle in the jet stream was shifting eastward. The charge of cold air that began over the northern Plains days earlier was sweeping across the Midwest, setting off bands of flurries, snow squalls and heavy lake-effect snow. The squalls were bringing local whiteouts and were combining with the plunging temperatures to bring a rapid freeze-up as far east as the central Appalachians. Powerful gusts of cold wind were bringing down trees and power lines in upstate New York.
Temperatures in Chicago were nearly 50 degrees lower Thursday morning, when compared to 48 hours earlier. In Pittsburgh, the temperature at 10:00 a.m. Thursday was 25 degrees or 43 degrees lower than at the same time the day before, when a record high of 68 degrees was achieved. AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures were 4 below zero and 8 above zero degrees at Chicago and Pittsburgh, respectively, at 10 a.m. Thursday. RealFeel temperatures were 60 degrees below zero in parts of North Dakota at the same time Thursday.
While actual numbers on the cold on the East Coast were not expected to be as extreme as the arctic outbreak a week earlier, the sudden rush of cold air will be a shock to some people and will cause areas of runoff to freeze in some cases for a couple of days.

Whatever Phil Says: Six More Weeks of Winter for Northeast

By , Meteorologist
January 31,2013; 7:10PM,EST






AccuWeather issues a spring outlook for the U.S. every year, focusing on the major highlights of the season. AccuWeather's Long-Range Forecasting Team is predicting that winter will hold on the longest, into March, across the Northeast and Northwest.

A near-normal tornado threat may be in store this spring, especially across the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys.
Another warm spring is expected across the Plains and Rockies, with worsening drought conditions across the hardest-hit areas. Extreme and exceptional drought conditions are gripping Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and portions of Texas.

137

More Winter, Late-Season Snowstorms
Winter may stick around for six more weeks across the Northeast and Northwest, no matter what prognostication Punxsutawney Phil makes on Groundhog Day.
"I think we could still see some late-season winter storms [in the Northeast]," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
A couple of winter storms may impact the Northeast during February and March. The potential exists for snow along the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City and Boston. This is not unusual for the region, as Pastelok noted, "Typically, February to March is the season on the East Coast." Historically, some large winter storms such as the Blizzard of '93 have struck the East Coast during March.
Ethan Watt, 7, wears a groundhog hat as he sleds at the park in Punxsutawney, Pa. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Snowfall will not be accompanied by the arctic cold that has been gripping the region this January, but more seasonable cold is predicted. Temperatures may be near to slightly below normal in the Northeast during February and March. While the spring will start out cooler and unsettled in the Northeast, milder weather may arrive by April and May.
Meanwhile, AccuWeather long-range meteorologists predict a return to a stormier pattern in the Northwest similar to early in December. Snowfall could impact travel through the heavily traveled mountain passes of the Northwest such as Snoqualmie Pass along I-90 in Washington, while rain dampens the I-5 corridor from Seattle to Portland.
Tornado Threat Returns
The number of tornadoes is predicted to be near-normal this spring. The average number of tornadoes per year in the U.S. is around 1,300, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Typically, April and May have the highest occurrence of tornadoes.
"Severe weather season this year will be different from last year," Pastelok said. "I think it is going to be a more typical start. Late March into April we'll get going, especially over the lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys. But not like last year where we started very early in the season." Last year, unusual warmth during the winter allowed a quick start to the severe weather season during January and February.
Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi are among the states that will be in the battlegrounds for severe storms this spring. Later in the season, severe storms may reach the Ohio Valley at times, including Kentucky and southern portions of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Cincinnati and Evansville, Ind., will be among the cities at risk later in the season.
Spring Warmth Still Strong, Not as Widespread as Last Year
The AccuWeather Long-Range Forecasting Team believes this spring could rank in the top-ten warmest for the U.S. again; however, the warmth will not be as widespread or as extreme as last year.
"The core of warmth for the spring is going to center itself in the dry areas, the western Plains, east-central Rockies, maybe extending down into the Southwest mid- to late-season," Pastelok said.
Drought to Worsen for Hardest-Hit Areas
Drought conditions may worsen across portions of the Plains and Rockies this spring.
"Unfortunately for the western Plains and eastern Rockies, I think the drought is going to persist, and it is going to be strong going into the springtime," Pastelok said. "In the heart of the drought, it doesn't look good right now."
The U.S. Drought Monitor from Jan. 22, 2012 shows extreme and exceptional drought conditions across parts of Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
With dry and warm weather persisting, the stage will be set for dangerous fire conditions by the summer.
"This could be devastating, especially for people in the agriculture industry," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Mark Paquette said.
Farther north, beneficial rain may fall during April across portions of the Upper Midwest, including Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota. Some improvement with the Mississippi River flow is possible, but a full turn-around of the situation is not anticipated, according to Pastelok.

Chinese Weather Enterprise and AccuWeather Create Relationship

January 31,2013; 7:04PM,EST





Huafeng Innovative Network Company and AccuWeather Join to Provide Authorized Weather Information for Digital Media
STATE COLLEGE, PA - January 30, 2013 - Weather service products from Beijing Huafeng Innovative Network Technology Co., Ltd, a Chinese weather company, are now available to AccuWeather's many original device manufacturer partners who distribute devices in the People's Republic of China. This officially sanctioned relationship in China results from a global cross-licensing of weather forecasts and information announced today by Beijing Huafeng Innovative Network Technology Co., Ltd. and AccuWeather International, Inc.
Huafeng Innovative Network will supply weather service products from China to AccuWeather in an exclusive arrangement across all digital media.
AccuWeather will provide Huafeng Innovative Network with its information for use by Huafeng Innovative Network within the People's Republic of China (PRC). The agreement applies to distribution on web, mobile, and digital media - any device with an IP address.
"Although weather forecasts cannot be one hundred percent accurate, we will make a one hundred percent effort to provide the best weather services to the public," said Liu Lin, General Manager of Huafeng Innovative Network.
"This is a groundbreaking arrangement that places AccuWeather and Huafeng Innovative Network in the forefront of global weather distribution. It removes uncertainty for digital device manufacturers and distributors as to who to deal with when weather information from or to the PRC is concerned. We are pleased to conclude this arrangement, many years in the making," said Barry Lee Myers, CEO of AccuWeather International, Inc. "This will offer a reliable, convenient, single source for device manufacturers who wish to distribute their digital products in the People's Republic of China."
AccuWeather manages a comprehensive portfolio of patents for non-weather and weather location-based and location-aware services, many of which are granted or pending in the PRC. The agreement addresses the honoring of those patents as well.
The agreement became effective on January 14, 2013.
About Beijing Huafeng Innovative Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Beijing Huafeng Innovative Network Technology Co., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of China Meteorological Administration Huafeng Meteorological Media Group. Relying on the public weather services provided by Huafeng Group, Huafeng Innovative Network Company makes efforts to expand weather services on new media, including services on new media like mobile, IPTV, Internet TV, etc. and interactive TV business markets. It is dedicated to provide clients with professional weather services with rich content, audio and video information and strong visuality and in close touch with life and needs of various industries.
Huafeng Innovative Network Company's services have a full range of coverage, including weather services to China Mobile, China Unicom and China TeleCom, and domestic internet companies like Baidu, Tencent and UC.
Huafeng Innovative Network Company's service products take diversified forms. Depending on the different target groups of various terminals and different characteristics of various terminal technologies, it provides weather warning and forecast services in various forms like text, images, animations, video programs, etc. The contents include forecasts, live coverage, professional services, popular science, life services and a variety of information for all cities in China and major cities worldwide.

Huafeng Innovative Network Company provides linked services through multi-media. By making full use of Huafeng Group's contents from the programs of China Weather Channel and the special programs for science popularization, the various new media platforms benefit customers as they can easily access to the audio and video weather information services provided by Huafeng Innovative Network Company, regardless of whether they are watching TV at home, staying outdoors or visiting Internet.
-Huafeng Innovative Network Company was awarded a "Golden Bridge Prize" by China Technology --Market Association for its "China Weather Channel IPTV software"
-Huafeng Innovative Network Company was awarded a "2010 Best Information Application Software Prize" for its "Weather Channel" client software
-Ms. Liu Lin, General Manager of Huafeng Innovative Network Company, was awarded "Venture Star of Zhongguancun" in 2012
-Huafeng Innovative Network Company was awarded "High Growth Enterprise in China Information Industry in 2012"
-Ms. Liu Lin, Legal Representative of Huafeng Innovative Network Company, was awarded "New Talent of China Information Industry in 2012"
-Huafeng Innovative Network Company was awarded a "China Mobile Application Innovative Prize" in the China Mobile Contest for its "China Weather Channel" client software
-Huafeng Innovative Network Company was granted a silver award in the "1st Baidu Cloud Application Development Contest" for its "China Weather Channel Client Software"
About AccuWeather and AccuWeather.com
Every day 750 million people worldwide rely on AccuWeather to help them plan their lives, protect their businesses, and get more from their day. AccuWeather provides hourly forecasts for more than 2.7 million locations worldwide, with customized content and engaging video presentations available on smart phones, tablets, free wired and mobile internet sites, connected TVs and Internet appliances, as well as via radio, television, and newspapers. Founded in 1962 by Dr. Joel N. Myers - a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society who was recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur Magazine's Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs - AccuWeather also delivers a wide range of highly-customized enterprise solutions to media, business, government, and institutions, as well as news and weather content and video for more than 72,000 third-party websites.

Deadly Adairsville, Ga., Tornado Rated an EF-3

By Grace Muller, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 31,2013; 6:32PM,EST




Update at 5:45 p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013:
A National Weather Service survey team, a group of meteorologists from the Peachtree City NWS office, continue to survey damage caused by a supercell thunderstorm that tracked across Bartow and Gordon counties from 11:15 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.
Preliminary storm survey information has been released. The Adairsville tornado has been rated an EF-3 with maximum winds of 160 mph. The twister was long-lived with a path length of 24.5 miles and a maximum path width of 400 yards.
In Gordon County alone, 202 homes were damaged, with 110 of them sustaining major damage. Thirty homes were completely demolished.
The assessment in Bartow County is still ongoing.



Wednesday's severe weather turned deadly when a possible tornado touched down in northwestern Georgia. The storm killed a man mobile home near Adairsville, Bartow County, Ga. An emergency manager confirmed that the wind overturned approximately 100 cars near exit 306 on I-75. The winds also overturned several cars at a McDonald's restaurant in Adairsville.
In nearby Gordon County, Ga., the same tornado torne down numerous trees and powerlines. Eight injuries were reported, several homes were damaged and seven poultry homes were destroyed.
"The setup for Wednesday's tornado, it was almost the same setup that you'd see in the Plains in the spring," AccuWeather Meteorologist Henry Margusity said. "It was the cooler, dryer air coming in from West meeting up with the warm and humid airmass coming up from the South. There was also a lot of energy in the jet stream that was coming through at the time. All the ingredients came together across northern Georgia for that tornado to develop."







Magnitude 6.7 Quake Rattles Chile


By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 31, 2013; 6:27AM,EST


A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 rocked the coast of Chile Wednesday around 3:15 p.m. EST.
The quake occurred 27 miles from the city of Vallenar, and about 365 miles from Santiago.
Light to moderate shaking has been reported in Copiapo, Coquimbo and La Rioja. There has not yet been reports of damage or injuries.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no threat to Hawaii.

Storm Reports: Strong Storms, Winds and Rain

By Grace Muller, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 31,2013; 4:35AM,EST





UPDATE: This story was last updated on January 31 at 6:45 a.m. EST. A link to the wrap-up of the storm will be added to the story when it is posted.


The severe weather setup this week looks like an early-spring storm that is pulling warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico. The warmth continued to fuel thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon to early Thursday morning, as they push across the Southeast, mid-Atlantic and New England.
Impacts from the storms include damaging winds, quarter- to half dollar-size hail and, possibly, large, long-lived tornadoes.
Read More Severe Storms: Alabama to Pennsylvania for more details about the setup for the severe weather.
Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with no warning. Get to a storm shelter or sturdy building if a tornado approaches, staying away from doors and windows.

Updates:




5:05 a.m. EST Thursday: Winds were gusting behind the cold front in the northeast Thursday morning too! 52 mph gust reported in Binghamton, NY.
5:00 a.m. EST Thursday: Lancaster, Pennsylvania were having flooding problems, including water rescues and road closures.
4:53 a.m. EST Thursday:The remaining tornado watches in North Carolina expire, ending the severe weather threat in the Southeast.
4:00 a.m. EST Thursday: Flooding is reported in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Water was flowing over a road in Ulster Township.
3:35 a.m. EST Thursday: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for north-central New Jersey, including the cities of Trenton and Somerville.
3:15 a.m. EST Thursday: Cape May, NJ has was reporting high winds ahead of the cold front. Gusts brought down trees and wires in Eldora
2:48 a.m. EST Thursday: Ahead of the front in eastern Massachusetts, the city of Windemere had wind gusts of 58 mph.
2:45 a.m. EST Thursday: Milton, Massachusetts reported having a 71 mph wind gust ahead of the cold front currently moving through New England.
2:31 a.m. EST Thursday: Thunderstorms that moved through Craven County in North Carolina created 54 mph wind gusts, landing trees on two homes.
1:43 a.m. EST Thursday: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for multiple counties in eastern North Carolina, including the city of Greenville and east Pender county.
1:32 a.m. EST Thursday: The system completely moved through Snowshoe, West Virginia. With heavy rain on and off Wednesday evening, a total of 2.13 inches of rain fell.
1:10 a.m. EST Thursday: Strong winds moved through with a thunderstorm Wayne County, North Carolina. Gusts were measured at 56 mph, causing trees to blow over near Walnut Creek.
12:58 a.m. EST Thursday: 3.52 inches of rain was recorded through the downpours of Wednesday storms in Glasgow, Virginia.
12:05 a.m. EST Thursday: A tornado watch was extended through North Carolina until 5:00 a.m. EST.
11:40 p.m. EST Wednesday: Flash flood warnings continue across the East Coast tonight. Warnings currently span from Bel Air, Maryland to Boone, North Carolina
11:10 p.m. EST Wednesday: Winds in thunderstorms going through Bingham, South Carolina has caused damage, bringing down some trees.
11:01 p.m. EST Wednesday: Wind gusts at Virginia Beach, Virginia are at 47 mph,coming from the south ahead of the cold front.
10:52 p.m. EST Wednesday: On Crooked Bridge Road in Gleedsville, Virginia, water in the creek has flooded, causing nearly a foot of water to flow over the bridge.
10:40 p.m. EST Wednesda: Tornado watch in the Mid-Atlantic, including the Washington D.C. metro area, was partially cancelled. Maryland counties of St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles, along with Stafford County in Virginia are still within the watch.
9:56 p.m. EST Wednesday: With the front approaching central North Carolina, winds in Kinston, N.C. reached 46 mph.
9:36 p.m. EST Wednesday: Since early Wednesday morning, 2.05 inches of rain has fallen in the Marlinton, West Virginia area.
9:12 p.m. EST Wednesday: "The worst weather is contained in a line of dangerous thunderstorms stretched from central Virginia to just west of Raleigh and just west of Jacksonville, Fla.," AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Andrew Mussoline said. "Raleigh, N.C. to Charleston, S.C. to Jacksonville, Fla. will be at risk over the next couple of hours. Storms will push off of the coast later tonight."
8:10 p.m. EST Wednesday: A culvert collapsed in Cruso, N.C. causing Chenquipen Road to flood and a building to collapse.
7:52 p.m. EST Wednesday: Flash flooding reported in Boone, N.C. The fire department reports that at least four water rescues were occurring as of 6:35 p.m. Numerous roads are closed in the area.
6:45 p.m. EST Wednesday: A line of thunderstorms has developed across Virginia. Washington, D.C., is among areas at risk for severe weather, including damaging wind gusts, large hail and even isolated tornadoes. Local Radar
5:43 p.m. EST Wednesday: A few trees and power lines were downed by severe thunderstorm winds around Calhoun County, Ga.
5:23 p.m. EST Wednesday: A severe storm knocked a large tree down across a road just north of Greenwood, Fla.
5:12 p.m. EST Wednesday: Multiple trees and power lines were downed in Americus, Ga.
4:30 p.m. EST Wednesday: The severe storm threat will continue for the Carolinas through the evening hours, including in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C. "It's going to be nasty through the evening hours," AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.
3:15 p.m. EST Wednesday: Flooding across Towns County, Ga., has closed seven roads. Emergency Management reports that one family was displaced by the flooding.
3:05 p.m. EST Wednesday: A delayed report has been released from the NWS. Eight people were injured in one home by a possible tornado that touched down 4 miles southeast of Calhoun, Ga., at 11:30 a.m. EST Wednesday. Several of the injuries are critical. The twister damaged numerous homes.
3:00 pm. EST Wednesday: We have compiled photos and videos of the damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes that have been striking the Southeast today.
2:45 p.m. EST Wednesday: AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity (@Accu_Henry) tweeted that winds may gust over 50 mph as squall line pushes through Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.
2:30 p.m. EST Wednesday: Numerous trees and power lines have been downed by severe storms across Haywood County, N.C., during the past hour.
2:25 p.m. EST Wednesday: There will be two opportunities for downpours in the major I-95 cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. One round will occur this evening before a second shot arrives overnight. Flash and urban flooding as well as locally damaging winds are possible. More Details
1:50 p.m. EST Wednesday: More details have been released by the NWS about the Adairsville, Ga., tornado. A man was killed in a mobile home near Adairsville. An emergency manager confirms that approximately 100 cars were overturned by the twister near exit 306 on Interstate 75.
1:30 p.m. EST Wednesday: Trees and power lines were downed by strong thunderstorm winds near Alarka, N.C.
1:10 p.m. EST Wednesday: Bartow County Emergency Management confirmed one fatality with the Adairsville, Ga., tornado.
12:50 p.m. EST Wednesday:




12:30 p.m. EST Wednesday: The squall line extends from central Pennsylvania to Mobile, Ala. The tornado threat remains across the Southeast.
12:00 p.m. EST Wednesday: A wind gust to 69-mph was reported in Nanty Glo, Pa.
11:40 a.m. EST Wednesday: There is major tornado damage reported in downtown Adairsville, Ga. There are reports of cars overturned and major structural damage.








11:30 a.m. EST Wednesday: These two types of flooding may be confusing, so we thought we would take a minute to try and clarify the difference between them.
A Flash Flood Warning is issued for flooding that normally occurs within six hours of heavy or intense rainfall. This results in small creeks and streams quickly rising out of their banks. Dangerous flooding in areas near these creeks and streams, as well as low-lying flood prone areas, develops very quickly and is a significant threat to life and/or property.
An Areal Flood Warning is normally issued for flooding that develops more gradually, usually from prolonged and persistent moderate to heavy rainfall. This results in a gradual ponding or buildup of water in low-lying, flood prone areas, as well as small creeks and streams. The flooding normally occurs more than six hours after the rainfall begins, and may cover a large area. However, even though this type of flooding develops more slowly than flash flooding, it can still be a threat to life and property.

Monday, January 28, 2013

US National Weather Summary for January 28,2013

As of 9:30PM,EST,January 28,2013,from weatherunderground.com:





The strong winter storm that brought a wintry unsettled weather to the Midwest ushered the a wintry mix of precipitation into New England and the Upper Mid-Atlantic on Monday as the low lifted across the Great Lakes and the associated warm front reached eastward. A mix of light freezing rain, sleet, and snow developed in parts of southern and western New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania through the morning and began to change into rain through the afternoon as temperatures rose above the freezing mark. The rest of the region continued to see freezing rain and sleet through the day with ice accumulations expected to reach up to a quarter of an inch. These conditions led to ice covered roads and sidewalks, as well as possible issues with power outages and downed tree limbs in areas that experience the greatest ice accumulations. In addition to ice, snow showers continued across the Northeast, south of Maine, with snow accumulations expected to range from 2 to 5 inches by Tuesday morning. Outside of this area of precipitation, rain and snow in the Upper Great Lakes moved into southeastern Canada, while light to moderate rain showers developed from portions of the Southern Plains into the Midwest.

Out West, a wave of low pressure over the Rockies spread snow showers from the Northern Rockies across the Northern Plains and into the Upper Mississippi Valley during the afternoon. The southern portion of this disturbance remained stretched across the Intermountain West and maintained a mix of rain and high elevation snow in the Four Corners and Wyoming. Snowfall accumulations were expected to reach up to a foot in the mountains. Further West, a moist storm system brought another round of rain and snow to the Pacific Northwest with up to a foot of snow expected across the Cascades.

Queensland Flooding Forces 20 Swift Water Rescues, Evacuations Underway

By Vickie Frantz, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 28,2013; 7:50PM,EST




Two days of heavy rain due to the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Oswald impacting Australia have left many rivers in Queensland flooded.



Thousands of people have been evacuated due to the flood risk in the towns of Gladstone and Bundaberg, according to the BBC.
At least four people have died and three people have been reported missing. Tornadoes have damaged homes and injured at least 17 people in the Bundaberg region. Meteorologists in Australia have reported that there is a potential of flooding in Bundaberg that could cause rivers to rise to levels not reached in the last 70 years.
A 14-year-old boy had to be rescued as he clung to a tree in the swift-moving waters in Rockhampton.
Rescue teams were able to guide the boy safely to the bank; however, one rescuer was swept away. He was able to swim to the shore farther downstream, according to the AP.
During the past five days, at least 20 swift water rescues were needed due to flooded rivers.
A three-year-old boy was killed in Brisbane on Saturday when winds toppled a tree under which he and his pregnant mother had taken shelter. The woman is reported to have head injuries and broken bones.
People are being airlifted out of the flooded areas in Bundaberg by Australian Defence Force helicopters. All roads leading into the city have been flooded and offer no access.
"More than 9 inches (22 cm) of rain fell at the Rockhampton Airport over an 18-hour period ending on Jan. 23," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Michael Pigott.
The Fitzroy River, which runs through Rockhampton, is reported to be rising and is expected to reach about 7.5 meters (31 feet) during the weekend, according to reports from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The water levels of the Fitzroy are expected to rise sharply into next week as water arrives from upstream sources.
People are urged to use extreme caution and to avoid approaching swift-flowing rivers.

Second Arctic Outbreak on the Way

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
January 28,2013; 7:50PM,EST




Another blast of arctic air will sweep from the northern Plains to the mid-Atlantic and New England as the week progresses.
The cold wave will follow a brief warmup that will lead to severe weather in some locations.
According to Meteorologist Mark Paquette, "A second pulse of stratospheric warming occurred during the middle of January is now sending another blast of arctic air southward."
For information on how stratospheric warming yielded the nasty cold wave from last week, consult "Evolution of the Arctic Outbreak." In short, sudden warming in the stratosphere is often a sign that arctic air will build and drive southward into the mid-latitudes two to three weeks later.
The new wave of arctic air will be almost as cold as the first blast that hit during the latter part of week three and the first part of week four of January.
"The latest indications are this frigid blast will not be quite as long-lasting as the first, probably lasting three to five days instead of the week-long barrage just experienced," Paquette said.
However, this time the arctic blast will be following very closely behind a couple of days of warm weather shifting from west to east over the Plains, Midwest and the East. As a result, it will pack just as much, if not more, shock than the first.
Minneapolis may have another day where temperatures fail to get above zero.
In Chicago, two to perhaps three days of temperatures no higher than the teens are likely.
Around New York City and the I-95 mid-Atlantic, it is possible there are a few days where temperatures do not get above the freezing mark.
How cold it gets at night from region to region will depend on where the core of the arctic air settles, as well as sky and wind conditions. Clear and calm conditions with fresh snow cover are ideal for allowing temperatures to plummet to bitterly cold levels at night.
Beyond the several-day stretch of dead-of-winter cold from the northern Plains to the mid-Atlantic and New England, the pattern will turn a bit more progressive. This means that shifting bouts of cold air and mild conditions will occur through much of the rest of the month over the same areas.
According to Long Range Weather Expert Joe Lundberg, "It appears the stratosphere is now entering a cooling phase, so we should not see prolonged cold lasting into March.
"The only thing that would derail the progressive pattern beyond early February would be if there was another stratospheric warming event and there is no way to reliably forecast that," Lundberg added.
While some chilly air and snow has settled into parts of the West, it will not pack the cold punch of earlier in the month, where a frost reached the coast of Southern California and freezing air dipped into southern Arizona. The second arctic outbreak is not aiming for the Deep South.
In terms of snow, February is typically a stormy and unsettled month.
While face-value looks of the pattern and a lack of blocking high pressure over Greenland may not yield blockbuster blizzards, there is still the potential for rounds of moderate snowstorms during the changing of the guard.
While the period from the second half of February into March is not likely to bring steady arctic cold in the Northeast, temperatures will end up averaging near to slightly below normal for the period, which would be a switch from much of the winter thus far.
AccuWeather.com plans to release its spring 2013 forecast on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013.

National Temperature and Rainfall Extremes for January 28,2013

As of 9:30PM,EST,January 28,2013,from accuweather.com:



-Highest Temperature:   86 degrees at Edinburg,Texas
-Lowest Temperature: -14 degrees at Ely,Nevada
-Most Rainfall: 0.75 inches at Meadville,Pennsylvania

More Snow, Ice Aim for Northern Plains

By , Expert Senior Meteorologist
January 28,2013; 7:46PM,EST




The storm that brought heavy snow to part of the Great Basin and the Rockies over the weekend will slice across part of the Plains and the Upper Midwest into Tuesday.
The storm will not pack the heavy load of snow it did over the West, where between 1 and 2 feet of snow fell on some locations. However, it will bring a swath of up to a few inches of snow from near Denver to northeastern South Dakota Monday night.
During the Day Tuesday, a zone of moderate snow will develop over northern Minnesota to part of northwestern Ontario.
A wintry mix of snow and ice is forecast for portions of north-central Nebraska to central Minnesota, northern Wisconsin to Upper Michigan.
A mix of sleet and freezing rain is forecast to change to snow Tuesday in Minneapolis.
In the wake of the main storm, pockets of heavy snow will continue over portions of the Great Basin and the central and northern Rockies. The Wasatch, Colorado Rockies, Blue Mountains and Bitterroots will receive the heaviest amount of snow reaching a foot or more in some locations Monday night through Tuesday.
The snow marks the early stages of a push of colder air. Arctic air will join in over the northern Plains later Tuesday and Wednesday. The frigid air will erase the building warmth from the Midwest to the Northeast later in the week.
Thumbnail images by Photos.com

Challenger Disaster Marks 27th Anniversary

January 28,2013; 7:33PM,EST





Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, in which the mission's seven crew members were killed after the shuttle broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean 73 seconds into the flight.
According to the Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, weather conditions were likely one of the factors that contributed to the incident.
STS-51-L was the 25th American Space Shuttle Program flight. It was also the first mission to have a civilian on board, American teacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe.
The Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident said the cause of the loss was a failure of the right Solid Rocket Booster, or SRB. SRBs are positioned to the right and left of the shuttle to help thrust the orbiter into space.
More specifically, a seal designed to prevent gasses from leaking during liftoff failed. This seal is an O-ring made of a type of rubber that is designed to keep a joint in the booster sealed.
Once the seal failed, hot gas began to leak from it, which can be seen in video footage of the launch.
As the shuttle ascended in the atmosphere, it encountered expected high-altitude wind shear conditions that lasted for about 30 seconds of the flight. These wind shear conditions were sensed and countered by the navigation, control and guidance systems.
However, the leak led to an eventual structural failure of the external tank. When the tank failed, the orbiter broke up. Contrary to popular belief, the shuttle did not explode, but rather disintegrated due to aerodynamics.
The commission determined in its findings that a faulty design "unacceptably sensitive to a number of factors" was to blame. These factors included the materials used, physical dimensions, and the temperature conditions.
According to the report, "The weather was forecast to be clear and cold, with temperatures dropping into the low 20s overnight."
Melbourne, Fla., located about 35 miles from Cape Canaveral, recorded a record low temperature of 26 degrees; the normal low on Jan. 28 is 50 degrees.
Likewise, Orlando also had a record low of 26 degrees that morning. Both records still stand, and both locations broke their record lows the following morning as well.
As a result of the cold, gusty winds, ice accumulated on the launch pad area overnight. The ice was removed by crews, and multiple ice checks took place prior to launch.
According to the report, the air temperature at the time of launch, 11:38 a.m. EST, was 36 degrees. This temperature was 15 degrees colder than any previous launch.
A written recommendation existed advising against a launch at temperatures below 53 degrees for fear of O-ring and joint failure, according to the report, but those in charge of making the decision to launch were not aware of it.
The report continues, "If the decision-makers had known all of the facts, it is highly unlikely that they would have decided to launch 51-L on Jan. 28, 1986."
A home video recording of the incident from a backyard in central Florida shows covered bushes, likely done to prevent frost damage.
"That's a historical moment we got on tape, I guess," Jack Moss, who was filming, said just before he turned the camera off.

Giant Snowball Injures Teenage Girl in the UK

By Vickie Frantz, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 28,2013; 7:25PM,EST




Nicole Wignall, 16, was injured when a giant snowball rolled down a hill and pinned her against a wall.
The snowball, measuring 4 foot by 4 foot and weighing several hundred pounds, was made by Wignall and a group of friends, according to reports from thesun.co.uk.
Snow has been impacting much of the UK over the past week. "Snow depths close to the Blackburn area have reached more than a foot as recently as Friday," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews.
Wignall's pelvis was broken in four places. She and seven friends made the snowball after classes were canceled. The group then rolled the snowball up a steep hill.
As Wignall and a friend were chatting a few minutes later, the ball began to roll down the hill and struck her. She was pinned against the wall and no one could move the snowball. She was pulled out by a friend.
She was transported to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and is being treated for her injuries. She will be in a wheelchair during her recovery.

World Weather Hot Spot for January 28-29,2013

Diamantina,Brazil: Heavy rain;received over 5 inches of rain Sunday (January 27,2013)

Today's Worst Weather for January 28,2013

Otter Lake,New York: Snow

WeatherWhys for January 28,2013

The Knickerbocker storm during late January of 1922 is named after the deadly roof collapse of the Knickerbocker theater in Washington D.C. that took the lives of 98 people. The storm itself brought widespread, record snowfall to the Middle Atlantic States

Arizona Flooding Strands Hikers

By Molly Cochran, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 28,2013; 7:17PM,EST



Heavy rainfall and resultant flooding on Saturday left 40 to 50 hikers stranded in Bear Canyon near the Catalina Mountains.
The hikers that were rescued said the river swelled within minutes, according to Associated Press.
The stranded hikers were rescued by helicopter and a technique of roping that bound them together with flotation devices to cross the raging water.
On Saturday, the rainfall for the Bear Canyon region was believed by AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist Jim Andrews to be around an inch with temperatures in the middle to upper 50s.
Phoenix broke their 24-hour record rainfall amount with 1.18 inches. Some local rainfall amounts in southern Arizona broke 2 inches. Tucson International Airport observed 0.46 of an inch within a one-hour period on Saturday.
Andrews said that the rainfall came down relatively fast.
"Within an hour, it went from raining not very hard to very hard," he said.
Runoff from the mountain could have caused the local creek to swell very quickly and without warning, according to Andrews. This could have taken the hikers by surprise.
Andrews also said, the Catalina Mountains are capable of making their own weather, because of "upslope," which is when winds blow up the mountain.
"The added lift wrings out more water than normal," he said.
Andrews also offered some "words of desert wisdom."
"Bodies of water should be off limits. A desert wall of water can come downstream with no warning because of heavy amounts of rainfall in a short period of time," Andrews said.

Midweek Severe Weather For Dallas, Memphis, Atlanta


By Brian Edwards, Meteorologist
January 28,2013; 7:09PM,EST



A potent cold front will spark a round of severe weather during the middle of the week from the lower Mississippi Valley through the southern mid-Atlantic.

This is the same frontal boundary which is currently producing snow across the Great Basin.
Strong southerly winds out ahead of this system will also be responsible for a significant warm up across the East early this week.
The storm will eject from the Southwest into the Plains on Tuesday, setting the stage for a multi-day severe weather outbreak across the South.
This system will interact with warm, moist air to spark a round of severe thunderstorms beginning late Tuesday across a zone from St. Louis through Little Rock and even close to Dallas, Texas.
Severe weather will then track from west to east Tuesday night across the Tennessee Valley and central Gulf Coast region, bringing a threat to Louisville, Nashville, Jackson and New Orleans.
The main threats associated with these thunderstorms will be strong, damaging winds. In this case strong winds from aloft (70-80 mph several thousand feet up) will reach their way down to the ground in the form of powerful gusts.
This winds can be transferred to the ground within individual thunderstorms, causing widespread tree damage and power outages.
These thunderstorms will also be occurring during the nighttime hours, which is not good news for residents of the South. Nocturnal thunderstorms are even worse as most people are sleeping and are not aware that severe weather warnings have been issued.
Along with the wind damage, flooding downpours are likely with all the moisture in place. A couple of tornadoes are also possible.
The severe weather threat will extend farther east on Wednesday, moving into Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh. There could even be a couple of gusty storms into Washington D.C., and Dover, Del.
Stay tuned to AccuWeather.com over the next few days as we continue to monitor the potential severe weather outbreak.
Click on our AccuWeather.com Severe Weather Center for the latest watches and warnings and risk maps.
In the wake of the thunderstorms, another blast of arctic air will drive from the northern Plains to the Northeast as the week progresses.

Live: Snow, Ice Makes Roads Slippery in New York, New England

By Brian Edwards, Meteorologist
January 28,2013; 6:41PM,EST



Snow and ice continues to push northward, impacting travel in the Northeast.

Snow is falling across northern New York and New England with a zone of freezing rain to the south.
The storm will wind down for southeastern New England after the evening hours, while central and northern New England continue to get snow through the night.



UPDATES:
6:15 p.m. EST Monday: Detroit Metropolitan, La Guardia, Newark International and Philadelphia International airports are all reporting flight delays for inbound flights.
5:30 p.m. EST Monday: Roads are slick and dangerous across much of New York state, while commuters head home from work. A 511 New York road conditions map from the New York Department of Transportation below shows snow or ice-covered roads in pink:
3:45 p.m. EST Monday Latest snow totals include: 2.0 inches in West Hartford, Conn.; 1.5 inches in Windsor Lock, Conn.; 1.2 inches in Manchester, Conn.; 1.5 inches in Westfield, Mass.; 1.3 inches in Ludlow, Mass.; 0.5 of an inch in West Springfield, Mass.
2:30 p.m. EST Monday: Heavy snow is reducing the visibility to 1/4 of a mile in Burlington, Vt. Local Radar
1:25 p.m. EST Monday: Freezing rain and sleet is changing over to rain in the New York City area. Meanwhile, snow has spread into Worcester, Mass. Boston is up next. With very cold roadway temperatures, there will be rapidly deteriorating roadway conditions.
12:20 p.m. EST Monday: Flights are being delayed at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Newark International, John F Kennedy International and Philadelphia International airports due to the storm.
11:00 a.m. EST Monday: Snow was spreading eastward across Connecticut and Long Island.
10:30 a.m. EST Monday: Areas of rain, freezing rain and sleet were occurring along I-83.
10:15 a.m. EST Monday: Snow was beginning to fall in parts of central and western Massachusetts as well as southern Vermont.
10:00 a.m. EST Monday: Snow was falling at a moderate pace in Manhattan.
9:50 a.m. EST Monday: Snow and ice had changed to rain in South Philly. Plain rain was falling in Baltimore
9:10 a.m. EST Monday: Snow was about to begin to fall in parts of western Connecticut.
9:05 a.m. EST Monday: A glaze of ice about one-third of an inch thick was covering exposed surfaces in Grantsville, Md., which is in the western end of the Panhandle.
9:00 a.m. EST Monday: Freezing rain was changing to plain rain in Richmond, Va.
9:00 a.m. EST Monday: Rain was falling in metro Washington, D.C. with a temperature of 34 degrees.
8:50 a.m. EST Monday: Snow was beginning to fall along portions of the N.Y. Thruway (I-87) from New York City to Albany.
For older storm reports, click here.
Ice storm thumbnail photo taken in northeastern Missouri on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2013, by AccuWeather Facebook fan Eric C.

How to Accurately Measure Snowfall

By Molly Cochran, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
January 28,2013; 3:08PM,EST




In order to get an accurate snow measurement, measure the depth of the snow. Taking a measurement of snow from the first snowflake or since your last measurement, is the "new snowfall measurement."

Snow depth is known as the measurement of snow that has fallen during previous weather events. Consistency is the main goal of getting an accurate "snow measurement."
Take measurements away from decks, porches or fences and you should not measure snowfall more than four times in 24 hours. You should measure snow to the nearest tenth of an inch and use a snow board. A snow board is just a two foot by two foot piece of plywood. The snow board should be painted white in order to minimize the heat from the sun that could melt the snow. The board should be placed on the ground, then staked so that you can find it easily after snowfall, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. You can also use a yard stick or rain gauge to get snowfall measurements. After you record the data for that specific weather event, wipe the snow from your board so you will be ready for the next snow event.
Photo: NOAA
Your snowfall measurements can also be used by NOAA. If you are a storm spotter, you can call 1-800-856-0758 and provide your training or spend the report e-Spotter. Other weather observers can submit their reports on Twitter and Facebook.

Ice Storm Slams Chicago, Cancels Hundreds of Flights

By , Meteorologist
January 28,2013; 12:25PM,EST




A storm set its icy grips on Chicago, Detroit and other major cities of the Midwest on Sunday, causing major travel problems.

According to Flightstats.com, 700 flights were delayed and more than 430 flights were canceled at Chicago O'Hare on Sunday.
Other airports that had major disruptions include Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
Ice storm photo from Photos.com.
The snow and ice from the storm are now spreading across the Northeast. For the latest storm reports, click here.


Snow, Ice Reports Sunday into Early Monday:
8:30 a.m. EST Monday: Snow was pushing across the New York City area.
8:30 a.m. EST Monday: Snow began to fall in Syracuse, N.Y.
8:11 a.m. EST Monday: Snow has changed to freezing rain in Williamsport, Pa.
8:08 a.m. EST Monday: Snow has changed to freezing rain and sleet in Rochester, N.Y.
8:00 a.m. EST Monday: Freezing rain has changed to plain rain in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Buffalo, N.Y.
7:30 a.m. EST Monday: Freezing rain continued to occur in the Baltimore area.
7:00 a.m. EST Monday: Snow began to fall in Philadelphia.
4:42 a.m. EST Monday: Oakland, in western Maryland reported at least 0.10 of an inch of accumulated ice.
4:35 a.m. EST Monday: In the northern and western suburbs of Philadelphia see the far extents of the storm, with precipitation starting as snow in Chester County in Pennsylvania.
4:16 a.m. EST Monday: In Rainelle, W. Va. freezing rain has accrued to a thickness 0.25 of an inch.
4:00 a.m. EST Monday: Freezing rain was occurring as far south as Lynchburg, Va., leaving a thin coating of ice.
3:48 a.m. EST Monday: Sleet started to fall in the Washington D.C.
2:56 a.m. EST Monday: Precipitation in central Pennsylvania starts off as snow as the storm crosses the mountains and into Harrisburg and York.
2:37 a.m. EST Monday: Morgantown, West Virginia gets it's first taste of the storm, as a very thing glaze of ice covers untreated roads and sidewalks.
2:00 a.m. EST Monday: Just a bit of freezing rain in Newland, North Carolina has created slipper spots on the roadways.
1:52 a.m. EST Monday: Freezing rain in Moon Township, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has left a thin glaze of ice on untreated surfaces.
1:15 a.m. EST Monday: Snow starts accumulating in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
12:45 a.m. EST Monday: Up to two inches of snow fell to the ground in Jackson, Wisconsin. Additionally, trees and surfaces were covered with 0.10-0.20 of an inch of ice.
12:20 a.m. EST Monday: The band of precipitation moves into southern Pennsylvania west of the Appalachians. Johnstown, PA changed over from light snow to a wintery mix.
11:40 p.m. EST Sunday: Cadillac, Mich. received 5 inches of snow in less than 8 hours. This brought the snow depth to 10 inches.
11:30 p.m. EST Sunday: Ice reports started to come from Ohio, with 0.10 inches in Antwerp, Ohio.
11:02 p.m. EST Sunday: Reports from Pearson, Wisconsin have 3.5 inches of new snow on the ground.
9:54 p.m. EST Sunday: A band of rain is moving towards western Pennsylvania. Temperatures are in the upper 20s and low 30s.
9:07 p.m. EST Sunday: Lots of reports of freezing rain coming out of the Chicago area now.
8:43 p.m. EST Sunday: Some light snow now falling in northern Ohio.
7:16 p.m. EST Sunday: Chicago, Ill. is reporting thunder and lightning and the temperature is right around 32 F.
6:56 p.m. EST Sunday: Freezing rain is falling in northern Indiana and snow is falling over most of Michigan.
4:14 p.m. EST Sunday: Thunderstorm with lightning and sleet reported near Brodhead, Wisc.
4:07 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.30 of an inch of ice accumulation reported near Plainfield, Ill.
3:50 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.10 of an inch of sleet has accumulated near Batavia, Ill. in the Chicago suburbs before precipitation changed over to freezing rain.
3:43 p.m. EST Sunday: Nearly an inch of snow has accumulated in Racine, Wisc. There has also been some thunder and lightning reported!
3:37 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.10 of an inch of ice has accumulated in Henry, Ill. Driveways, sidewalks, and decks are reportedly very icy.
3:21 p.m. EST Sunday: Almost a third of an inch of ice accumulation near Edgewood, Iowa with freezing drizzle still falling.
3:06 p.m. EST Sunday: Heavy sleet is falling on Interstate 94 near Albertville, Minn. with road conditions becoming ice covered.
2:55 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.10 of an inch of ice accumulation near Dubuque, Iowa. Sidestreets are very slick.
2:55 p.m. EST Sunday: Interstate 94 around Black River Falls, Wisc. is ice covered with numerous accidents reported. The ice has changed to snow creating even more problems.
2:40 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.10 of an inch of ice accumulation near Cordova, Ill. with moderate freezing rain continuing to fall.
2:35 p.m. EST Sunday: More sleet than freezing rain is falling across the Chicago suburbs, but the precipitation is expected to transition over the next few hours.
2:33 p.m. EST Sunday: Minor ice glaze is being reported around Rockford, Ill. with sleet mixed in.
2:15 p.m. EST Sunday: Ice covering all surfaces in Spillville, Iowa. Highway 53 is covered and very slick. Back roads are nearly impassable due to the glaze.
2:11 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.2 inches of ice accumulation near De Soto, Wisc. with freezing rain still falling.
2:00 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.1 inches of ice has led to extremely slippery travel on Interstate 90 near Caledonia, Minn.
1:53 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.2 inches of ice accumulation reported in New Windsor, Ill.
1:43 p.m. EST Sunday: 1/4 inch of ice accumulation reported in Austin, Minn. with freezing rain still falling.
1:30 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.2 inches of ice accumulation reported in Clive, Iowa. Untreated roads are completely glazed over with icing on trees and power lines.
1:04 p.m. EST Sunday: 0.1 inches of ice accumulated in just three hours near Center Junction, Iowa. Rural roads are reported to be extremely slick.
12:40 p.m. EST Sunday: The city streets are completely ice covered in Mason City, Iowa after a quarter-inch of accumulation. Multiple accidents reported with sanders and plows having trouble maintaining traction.
12:38 p.m. EST Sunday: Hazardous roadways being reported around Rochester, Minn. with significant travel delays. Trees and other surfaces have a glaze of ice.
12:17 p.m. EST Sunday: Freezing rain and sleet has begun to fall in Madison, Wisc.
12:11 p.m. EST Sunday: 2/10 inch of ice reported near Garrison, Iowa with a buildup of ice on trees and power lines.
11:36 a.m. EST Sunday: Light glaze reported on sidewalks and elevated surfaces near Beverly, Ill.
11:16 a.m. EST Sunday: Roads are slick and most surfaces are ice covered near Washington, Iowa.
11:05 a.m. EST Sunday: Ice is covering trees and untreated surfaces in West Concord, Minn.
11:00 a.m. EST Sunday: Freezing rain just began falling in Peoria, Ill. Glazing should commence shortly on sidewalks, elevated surfaces, and untreated roadways.
11:00 a.m. EST Sunday: Freezing rain falling near MaComb, Ill. with a glaze covering untreated surfaces.
10:45 a.m. EST Sunday: A spotter in Erie, Ill. just over the IA border is reporting snowflakes the size of cotton balls mixed with sleet!
10:40 a.m. EST Sunday: 1/20 inch of ice reported near Cedar Rapids, Iowa with freezing rain continuing to fall.
10:24 a.m. EST Sunday: 1/10 inch of ice reported near North Liberty, Iowa with glazing on power lines, trees and other surfaces.
10:14 a.m. EST Sunday: 1/8 inch of ice reported near What Cheer, Iowa with most area roads ice covered and slick.
10:10 a.m. EST Sunday: AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Wimer reports the leading edge of the freezing rain lies from Quad Cities, Iowa through Springfield, Ill.
10:05 a.m. EST Sunday: Des Moines Int'l Airport reporting 0.11 inches of ice accumulation thus far.
9:49 a.m. EST Sunday: 0.1 inch thick ice covering sidewalks and untreated roads in Vinton, Iowa.
9:47 a.m. EST Sunday: 1/16 inch of ice has glazed cars near Iowa City, Iowa.
9:35 a.m. EST Sunday: Freezing rain reported in Oelwein, Iowa. Roads already becoming icy.
9:18 a.m. EST Sunday: Temperature has risen to 34 degrees in St. Louis, Mo. but roads will remain slippery for another couple of hours as freezing rain transitions to plain rain.
9:18 a.m. EST Sunday: Light glazing of ice on surfaces in Dittmer, Mo.
9:14 a.m. EST Sunday: Light glazing on sidewalks and elevated surfaces in Brighton, Ill.
9:12 a.m. EST Sunday: Roads becoming slick in Nashua, Iowa with freezing rain falling.
9:10 a.m. EST Sunday: Sleet/freezing rain mix falling in Osage, Iowa with roads glazing over.
8:46 a.m. EST Sunday: Freezing rain began 45 minutes ago in Garrison, Iowa with roads rapidly becoming slick.
8:39 a.m. EST Sunday: Light sleet and freezing rain falling in Iowa City, Iowa with the ground covered in a glaze.
8:21 a.m. EST Sunday: Parking lots glazed over in Ames, Iowa. Roads very slippery. Ice not yet accumulated on powerlines or trees.
7:10 a.m. EST Sunday: I-80 through Jasper County, Iowa completely ice covered and several cars are spinning out.

New York City metro-area forecast for January 28-February 21,2013

Here's the 25-day weather forecast for the New York City metro-area for the period of the last 4 days of January,and the first 3 weeks of February (January 28-February 21),2013,from accuweather.com,enjoy:





Tonight,January 28-29: Remaining cloudy and rainy,but turning markedly warmer than recent nights,with occasional rain and drizzle possible,and a low temperature holding in the middle 30's,overnight.As of 8PM,EST,it's foggy and in the middle 30's,with 84% humidity,in White Plains,NY,and it's cloudy and in the middle 30's,with 92% humidty,in New York City

Tomorrow,January 29: Turning markedly warmer than recent days,as it turns unseasonably mild,once again,with areas of morning fog followed by mostly cloudy skies,and a high temperature of around 50 degrees.

Tomorrow night,January 29-30: Remaining cloudy,rainy,and murky,but turning unseasonably mild for early-to-mid winter,and the end of January,with plenty of clouds and areas of fog and a chance for a brief rain shower,and a low temperature dropping to the upper 30's to lower 40's,overnight.

Wednesday,January 30: Turning even warmer,as it turns unseasonably mild to downright warm and spring-like,for mid-winter,and the end of January,with areas of morning fog and periods of afternoon rain,and a record,or near record high temperature of around 60 degrees.Remaining cloudy,but turning rainy,and unseasonably stormy,and balmy,with periods of rain,heavy at times,and even a rare,mid-winter thunderstorm is possible,and a low temperature dropping to 40-45 degrees,overnight.

Thursday,January 31: January of 2013,one of the warmest (despite the recent arctic cold snap),and certainly least snowiest Januarys on record,ends remaining unseasonably mild,but not as warm,with partial sunshine,and a high temperature of 45-50 degrees.Becoming markedly colder than recent nights,with partly cloudy skies,and a low temperature plunging to the middle and upper 20's,the blustery,biting, southwesterly winds making it feel even colder,like it's only in the lower and middle teens above zero,at times,overnight.

Friday,February 1: February of 2013 begins turning markedly colder than recent days,with partly sunny skies,and a high temperature only in the lower and middle 30's,the blustery,biting,westerly winds making it feel like it's only 20-25 degrees,at times.Becoming clear to partly cloudy and quite cold,once again,with a low temperature dropping to 20-25 degrees,the blustery,biting,westerly winds making it feel even colder, like it's only in the UPPER SINGLE DIGITS TO LOWER TEENS ABOVE ZERO,at times,overnight.

Saturday,February 2: Ground Hog's Day 2013 will be remaining very cold,with intervals of clouds and sunshine,and a high temperature of just 30-35 degrees.Remaining seasonably very cold for mid-winter,and the beginning of February,with considerable cloudiness,and a low temperature dropping to the middle 20's,overnight.

Sunday,February 3: Super Bowl Sunday 2013 will be turning cloudy,but remaining very cold,with a chance for snow,and a high temperature in the middle 30's,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds making it feel even colder,like it's only in the lower and middle 20's,at times.Becoming mainly clear,but remaining seasonably quite cold for mid-winter,with a low temperature dropping to 20-25 degrees,overnight.

Monday,February 4: Turning partly sunny and seasonably cold for mid-winter,with a high temperature of 35-40 degrees.Becoming cloudy,but remaining seasonably cold and dry,with a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 20's,overnight.

Tuesday,February 5: Remaining partly sunny and cold,with a high temperature in the lower and middle 30's,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust up to 28-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only in the middle 20's,at times.Becoming cloudy and much colder,as it turns quite cold,even for mid-winter,and early February,with a low temperature plunging to the middle and upper teens above zero,at times,overnight.

Wednesday,February 6: Remaining very cold for mid-winter,and early February,with clouds to start,then sunshine returns,and a high temperature of just 30-35 degrees.Becoming mainly clear and not as bitter,with a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 20's,overnight.

Thursday,February 7: Remaining mostly cloudy and cold,with a high temperature in the middle 30's.Remaining cloudy,raw,and seasonably very cold for early February,with a chance for a few late-night snow flurries,and a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 20's,overnight.

Friday,February 8: Turning cloudy,rainy,and milder/warmer than recent days,with a chance for some morning freezing rain/ice,followed by a bit of rain,and a high temperature in the lower and middle 40's.Remaining cloudy,but not as cold as recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to the upper 20's to lower 30's,overnight.

Saturday,February 9: Remaining cloudy and a bit mild for mid-winter,and early February,with plenty of clouds and a chance for an afternoon rain shower,and a high temperature of 40-45 degrees.Turning much warmer than recent nights,with plenty of clouds and a chance for a stray evening rain shower,and a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 30's,the blustery,biting,southwesterly winds,which could gust past 20-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only 20-25 degrees,at times,overnight.

Sunday,February 10: Remaining rather mild for early-to-mid February,with considerable cloudiness and a chance for a couple of morning rain shower,and a high temperature in the middle 40's.Becoming clear and much colder than recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 20-25 degrees,overnight.

Monday,February 11: Turning colder than recent days,as it turns very cold for mid-to-late winter,with abundant sunshine,and a high temperature of just 35-40 degrees.Remaining quite cold,even for early-to-mid February,with considerable cloudiness,and a low temperature dropping to around 20 degrees,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds making it feel even colder,like it's only in the UPPER SINGLE DIGITS TO LOWER TEENS ABOVE ZERO,at times,overnight.

Tuesday,February 12: Remaining very cold for early-to-mid February,and mid-to-late winter,with considerable cloudiness and a high temperature of just 35-40 degrees,once again.Remaining quite cold for late winter,with considerable cloudiness,and a low temperature dropping to the upper teens to lower 20's, overnight.

Wednesday,February 13: Ash Wednesday 2013 will be remaining cloudy and a bit cold for mid-February and late winter,with a high temperature of around 40 degrees.Remaining cloudy,and quite cold,but turning wintry,with periods of a late-night wintry mix of freezing rain/ice and sleet,and a low temperature plunging to the upper teens to lower 20's,once again,overnight.

Thursday,February 14: Valentine's Day 2013 will be remaining cloudy,rainy,and wintry early,but turning milder/warmer than recent days,with a chance for some morning freezing rain/ice followed by occasional rain and a high temperature in the middle 40's.Not as cold as recent nights,with cloudy skies,and a chance for a bit of rain and freezing rain/ice,and a low temperature dropping to around 30 degrees,overnight.

Friday,February 15: Remaining cloudy and a bit mild for mid-February,and late winter,with a high temperature in the middle 40's,once again.Remaining seasonably cold,with clearing,and a low temperature dropping to the middle and upper 20's,overnight.

Saturday,February 16: Becoming mostly sunny and not as mild,with a high temperature in the upper 30's to lower 40's.Remaining clear and cold,with a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 20's, overnight.

Sunday,February 17: Remaining mostly sunny and cold,but turning colder than recent days,with a high temperature of 35-40 degrees,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust past 20-mph,at times,making it feel even colder,like it's only in the upper 20's to lower 30's,at times.Remaining clear and cold,but not as cold as recent nights,with a low temperature dropping to 25-30 degrees,overnight.

Monday,February 18: President's Day 2013 will be turning milder than recent days,with ample sunshine,and a high temperature in the middle and upper 40's.Remaining mainly clear and very cold for late winter,and mid-to-late February,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 20's,overnight.

Tuesday,February 19: Not as mild,but remaining mostly sunny with a high temperature of around 40 degrees.Becoming partly cloudy,but remaining seasonably cold for late February,with a low temperature dropping to 20-25 degrees,overnight.

Wednesday,February 20: Remaining very cold for late February,and late winter,with intervals of clouds and sunshine,and a high temperature only in the middle and upper 30's,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust past 20-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only in the middle 20's,at times.Becoming clear and seasonably cold for late winter,with a low temperature dropping to the lower and middle 20's,overnight.

Thursday,February 21: Remaining rather cold for late February,and late winter,with intervals of clouds and sunshine,and a high temperature of 35-40 degrees,the blustery,biting,northwesterly winds,which could gust up to 24-mph,at times,making it feel much colder,like it's only 25-30 degrees,at times.Remaining very cold for very late winter,and very late February,with a low temperature dropping to the middle 20's,overnight.