The National Weather Service has issued “lake effect” snow warnings and advisories for areas to the east of Lakes Erie and Ontario through Sunday evening (Fig. 1). These forecasts call for locally heavy snow and wind-blown snow with associated hazardous driving conditions. Forecasts for areas in New York State downwind
Read DetailsMarch has been a mostly mild month across much of the U.S. That’s because upper-level and lower-level winds have been blowing primarily from the west, southwest or south across the Nation. Yes, there have been occasional bursts of chillier air, and these come on the heels of winds from northwest,
Read DetailsIt’s only a couple of days into spring and the big weather news involves SNOW. In fact, we are talking about a lot of snow. Wisconsin is bracing for a foot of snow or more across central and eastern sections between now and Thursday. The northeast corner of Colorado (including
Read DetailsLately, there have been lots of posts at NEWxForum about “lake effect” snow. Such snows are typically found downwind from large, relatively warm lakes during periods when cold air moves across the lakes. The longer the overwater trajectory, the more linear the developing snow band, and the more persistent the
Read DetailsUnseasonably warm and mostly ice-free Great Lake waters, a persistent, strong and cold westerly wind flow, and the usual water-land interactions are all conspiring to create a prolonged “lake effect” snow event across the eastern Great Lakes. The area near Watertown, NY (at the eastern end of Lake Ontario), including
Read DetailsFollowing a rather stormy and deadly Christmas week, and a protracted period of warmth across the eastern U.S., the weather pattern is shifting into a more tranquil mode. In fact, the 7-day quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF), issued by NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center, is calling for mostly dry conditions nationwide for
Read DetailsThe active weather pattern advertised in recent days is becoming fact. Significant snow has fallen across parts of the intermountain west, including up to a foot in parts of Utah. These are some of the recent reports through early Thursday along the northern Wasatch Front (near Salt Lake City)…To read
Read DetailsTomorrow marks the end of “meteorological winter.” Meteorologists use the months of December through February to track “winter.” Astronomically, one has to wait another 3 weeks for the Earth’s axis to align properly to officially end winter. Everyone knows about the groundhog’s winter!…To read the entire feature, click here. Originally
Read DetailsJust when you thought it safe, the “polar vortex,” has returned for a summery rendition. Not quite as chilly and intense as its wintery cousin, this polar vortex has primarily targeted the northern tier from the Dakotas eastward…To read the entire feature, click here. Originally published 07/16/14
Read DetailsFor the past few days, Hurricane (now extra-tropical storm) Arthur brought concerns to East Coast residents about storm surge and rip currents. Today, Jul. 6, 2014, the focus shifts to the eastern and western shores of Lake Michigan where an array of wind-driven currents could create problems for boaters, swimmers
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