'Snowquester/Saturn' Is On The Way

The Weather Channel has the storm named 'Saturn' and the rest of the DC metro is naming it 'Snowquester,' regardless, this winter storm is currently moving towards the region. The storm will be impacting the area Tuesday night into Wednesday night. I saw some television stations stating the DC metro area could be receiving anywhere from 2 to 10 inches from this system. I'm thinking that the overall total will be around 5 inches. So far the region has received 4.8 inches which is 13.9 inches below normal.  The record snowfall was on March 6, 1962 in which 10 inches fell.
 
Accuweather is predicting 3 to 6 inches for the metro area:

The total snowfall will vary due to the track of the storm. The NAM model shows a direct hit on the DC metro region, while the GFS has the system more on a southerly track.

 

 NAM

GFS

Currently much of the area is under a winter storm watch, while more towards the Northwest is under a winter storm warning.

Wind will also accompany this system.  Tuesday night the region can expect winds from the east at 7 to 17 mph. The winds will be from the north Wednesday and Wednesday night at 18 to 23 mph. Stay safe and warm, DMV!

DC Snow Event January 9th

Yesterday a low pressure system brought an overachieved snowfall event here in the DC metro region.

Here are the totals from the National Weather Service of the storm and here is a link to the snowfall totals in the exact locations.

 

The storm brought over 1" in some areas. In Adelphi, MD the snow was about 0.5". This was nothing compared to the over 10' of snow that parts of Alaska received recently. I took this screen shot of the radar of the storm yesterday, as well as the weather map:

You can see the low pressure system and the stationary front associated with the storm. High pressure was to the North. The article by the Capital Weather Gang, gives a great explanation of why the forecast was not up to par. Many of the computer models did not agree and some where showing that there was not enough cold air or moisture to produce such an event. When the snow did start falling, the end result was more than an inch in some areas. You can also see the area around Texas which brought flash flooding to Houston.

I found the snow event a delightful treat, it was my birthday yesterday.  The event is also the first snowfall of the 2012 season for DC. It was just enough for a coating and looked really nice coming down and covering the grass. There were a few slick spots on the roads however. Hopefully this won't be the last snowfall event for the season or anything like Snowmageddon, back in February last year. Oh yeah or like that DC snow hole which is clearly shown after a snowfall event back on December 26, 2010:

 Yeah that's real. 

Me enjoying the bit of snow :-)

I also recorded a video posted on TwitVid. Search @weathersavvy1.

October Wonderland

Parts of the Northeast are waking up to a winter wonderland more than a brisk, fall day. Yesterday a rare October Nor'easter struck, causing power outages to over 2 million people. Much snow fell in the Northern states, breaking records in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and others.  Many Mid-Atlantic states don't see their first snowfall until about next month or so! A state of emergency has been called in New Jersey and New York. The event has been rendered historic and by Twitter #snoctober and #snowtober.

Here is a map from NOAA, showing the total snowfall amounts:

Here is a statement summarizing the snowfall totals and the event.

The event was caused by an offshore low pressure system and cold air. The low pumped moisture from the ocean, in which the ocean temperature is considerably warmer than air temperature over land.  There were periods of rain, sleet and snow with this storm. Moisture was also pumped from a low pressure to the South.

Here in Adelphi, MD the start of the day was mostly rain.  I saw on a few social network sites my friends in Northern New Jersey and New York were posting pictures of the snow that had already fallen in their area. It changed over to sleet around 1:30 PM. I took this video of the sleet with my cell phone (you might have to rotate the video).



I thought I saw a few snow flurries after the sleet. Then there was nothing but wind. The sun started to break through a bit. Then around 2:20 PM, it really started to snow, and it snowed hard. Here is a video I took of the snow. That car to the right is my car by the way :-)



In total, by me the snow accumulation was nonexistent. The snow looked pretty coming down though.

Here is a picture of the snow from my friend and former classmate Darren Milliron. He lives in Netcong, NJ. Check out his blog here.

Happy Halloween?

El Nino 2009-2010/ Snow Cover

It has definitely been a very snowy winter this season, and the Nor'Easter today has broken some records in some parts of the Northern Atlantic States (i.e. 114-Year Old Snowfall Record Broken For NYC Central Park.) Why so much snow? The El Nino pattern that we've been in since December 2009 has much to do with the recent occurrences of the white stuff. Typically in an El Nino pattern, more warm areas are found in Southern Canada as cold snowy weather can be found in the east and south east. Forecasters predicted that the El Nino would strengthen as the winter progressed and an indicator of this has been the colder temperatures found in parts of Florida and the south east. El Ninos usually occur every four to five years, in fact the last occurring from December 2006 to February 2007. Below is a visual representation of the El Nino weather phenomenon as well as the La Nina weather phenomenon:


All this snow has covered much of the Northern Hemisphere and according the the NOAA's National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHSRC), 52.4% of North America is covered by snow or ice. It's not nearly as close as the analysis a month ago, in which 69.7% of North America was covered. This analysis shows that there has been much snow melt, but with much of the snow melting there has been flooding in some areas. Is it just me or does the map from a month ago look very reminiscent to the map at the end of the Day After Tomorrow? Hmmm....

February 26, 2010

January 31, 2010

Snow Snow Go Away

Hi everyone!

I am still here, I have taken a LONG hiatus, by not updating this site since Dec 19th of last year. The wait is over, I am back and ready to update you with more information about weather phenomena and other Earth Science related topics. Weather is my passion and I'm sorry I have not been on here to update this site. I've been working hard towards graduating, it's coming this Summer!

So what about all this snow? Well with yesterday's clipper system and the perfect set up for a major snow storm the previous two weeks, I know many people along the Northeast are wishing they lived some place warmer. I myself and growing tired of the snow. It seems like it's been a while since parts of South Jersey received significant amounts of snow and in the DC area and some parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania, received record amounts of snow. This winter has definitely been a snowy one and it's not over yet. No I'm not going by the groundhog's prediction, (doesn't he always see his shadow), I'm going by the official start of Spring and that isn't until March 20th. Even then there is still, though unlikely chance of snow. Snow snow go away and bring some warmer temperatures. Though in many areas around the region, melting of the snow brought on by the increasing daytime temperatures, may result in flooding for the area, which in some cases creates more of a problem than the snow itself. Stay tuned for a later update on the weather for this week. It feels great to be back!

Winter Wonderland!!!!

Here are some pictures from today's snow storm around 3:15 in the afternoon. Enjoy!

My House

The Front Steps


My car


Can you find it?

The backyard

It's beautiful!

Winter Wonderland!

Blizzard of 2009

I'm home (Moorestown, NJ) for the winter break from my school and with 2 more days until the official start of winter, the snow and the wind from storm that we have gotten today, really is a blast of winter. As of 11:45 am the total amount for Moorestown was 4.5 inches, but this storm is not over yet. The Weather Channel is calling this storm the Blizzard of 2009 and I can see that because of the snow and the high winds at 17 to 25 mph. The cams from the different areas that they are showing like the White Housed in Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA, are also unrecognizable because of the whiteout conditions from the blowing snow. Around the area the totals from the storm vary in Mount Holly, NJ the total at 9:45 am was 2.3 inches and in Burlington,NJ the total was 1 inch at 7:46 am. Atlantic City,NJ at 7:00 am had 2.6 inches and Philadelphia, PA had 2.0 inches at 7:00 am. These are just the totals from earlier today and more is expected from the storm. The forecasters are saying that the rate at which the snow is falling is 1 to 2 inches an hour and are predicting the storm to be over by 6:00 am tomorrow.

Travel has been halted by the storm and I saw the Philadelphia International Airport is reporting 6 hours delays today and many cancellations. If you do not have to be on the road, do not go on the road. Stay indoors if you can, with the high snow totals the car may get stuck. This storm is historic in some areas. In Baltimore, MD they are reporting up to 15 inches of snow and in Washington, DC the totals are near 20 inches of snow. It may be more once the storm is officially over. For my area we've probably received much more accumulation since 11:45 this morning and 8 to 10 more inches is predicted to accumulate by the end of the day. Below is a map from the Weather Channel, showing predicted precipitation accumulations.


This is a surface map valid 12:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, from the Weather Channel. See how the low pressure is off to the coast. Further North of this map is a high pressure system which is blocking this low pressure system and the cold air from the high pressure system is feeding in with the moisture of the low pressure system and the result is the snow! The winds are strong because the isobars between the high pressure system and the low pressure system is tightly packed and the tighter the isobars are between the gradient of high pressure to low pressure, the stronger the winds are.


Stay tuned to your local weather channel or news report for more updates on the storm. I'll post some pictures from around my area of later tonight. Be safe!

Snowfall Totals and Rain Ahead

What a storm it was last week and tonight we'll be getting precipitation too, just not in the form of snow. Atlantic City did receive some snow on Saturday, NOAA measured 0.3 inches at the Atlantic City airport. Moving further northward from Atlantic City, Mount Holly National Weather Sation measured near 0.8 inches while Delran, NJ recieved 0.7 inches. I live in Moorestown, NJ for the time when I am not in school in Union, NJ and when I got back to Moorestown Sunday night, most of the 0.7 inches of snow had already melted, due to the partly sunny skies and the slightly warmer temperature near 43. There was some snow accumulation on my car. The total for Philadelphia Airport was a trace while the total for National Park in Gloucester County was a trace as well. Further North in Morris County, Marcella recieved 6.1 inches while Raldolph recieved 4.5 inches. Parts of Delware, New York and Pennsylvania recieved snow as well. If you wish to view more snowfall totals of last weeks storm, visit: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/phi/ and then click the icon at the top entitled "Public Info."

(Area Forecast, Union NJ- December 8 to December 13)

Tonight we'll be seeing much precipitation in the form of rain, so don't forget your unbrellas as a strengthening low pressure system from our west moves into the region. Except a low around 35 for tonight. That low pressure system will remain in our area for Wednesday as we can expect showers throughout the day and a high near 44. A warm front will be passing through the region Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night as we can expect lows for Wednesday around 37. Thursday looks to be breezy with winds out of the west at 15 to 25 mps. Gust may reach up to 37 mph. Expect mostly cloudy sky conditions and a high near 40 for Thursday as well. High pressure will move into the area for Friday into Saturday as we can expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 37. Sunday looks to be another chance for some rain as a coastal low will move into the region. Expect a slight chance of showers and a high near 38.

It's coming!

I'm in Southern New Jersey in Moorestown, for today. In a few hours I will be going to Atlantic City for the weekend. Just wanted to post an update on the current conditions of this wintry mix that's bring some joy to many people along the East Coast and which has also brought Houston, TX it's earlier snowfall in history. Currently in Moorestown it is 38 degrees, with light rain. The system is moving up the coast and by tonight we should be seeing some snow! NOAA is stating that the chance for snow tonight is 100% and the area could be receiving up to 3 inches. For Northern New Jersey, around the Union area, the possibly for snow is high as well and the region could be receiving close to 1 inch of snow. Below is the current radar from Accuweather of the system:

We can see that to the north and north west, the snow is currently falling and for our region the temperatures are continuing to fall and the rain will be changing over to snow tonight. Stay safe!

The Beauty of a Snow Storm

The beauty of a snowstorm

Can never fully be described,

As the flakes dance and shimmy to the ground

Leaving a winter wonderland behind,

Born from the clouds

These white specks of dust,

Twinkling so peacefully

So swift, yet so steady

Careful as to not make a sound;

Rest where my grandmother lay

So quiet is this day,

Whose scenery takes my breath away.

A video of the Nor'easter, taken from my dorm room at Kean University on March 2, 2009, 11:06 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYNsCAM3px8

Snowfall Totals!

What a snow storm it was today as March rolled in like a lion!

According to the National Weather Service snowfall totals for the surrounding area are listed below:

North Jersey

Newark 6.8 inches

Hoboken 7.1 inches

West Milford 11.1 inches

Ridgewood 4.2 inches

South Jersey

Atlantic City 6.8 inches

Mount Holly 9.0 inches

Lindenwold 5.0 inches

Cape May 7.7 inches

New York

Brooklyn 9.0 inches

Plainview 12.1 inches

Westtown 3.0 inches

Extended Forecast For Union, NJ

Currently the temperature is 20 degrees, as we can expect breezy conditions and snow drifts for tonight. New snow accumulation is predicted to be less than an inch. We received 5.30 inches of snow which broke the record of 4.30 inches back in 1996!

The associated low pressure system which brought the precipation to the area will be moving towards Maine into the night as a high pressure system from Canada settles in our region bringing sunny skies and colder temperatures for Tuesday. Expect a high of 27 with slightly breezy conditions tomorrow and for tomorrow night, clear skies and a chilly low of 17 are predicted. The high remains in the region for Wednesday as we can expect afternoon temperatures slightly warmer in the mid-thirties, and sunny conditions. For the night we can expect mostly cloudy skies with temps in the lower twenties as the high moves south of the region by Thursday allowing a frontal system to approach from the west, bringing temperatures near normal by Thursday. Expect highs near 46 degrees and partly sunny conditions and for Thursday night expect partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the lower thirties. By Friday another low moves into the region, possibly bringing rain or snow showers. Expect a high of 45 degrees and mostly cloudy skies with a low around 31 for Friday night.

Storm Watch

Winter is still raging as a storm watch is in effect for the area until Monday according to NOAA. The coastal low which is centered near North Carolina is predicted to move Northeast bringing rain/sleet/snow to the region, with the potential for 8 inches of snow accumulation for some parts of the tri-state area. The storm could possibly bring major snowfall amounts from Virgina to New England. In viewing the GFS, the model looks ideal for wintry atmospheric conditions. The low is along to coast gaining the moisture from the ocean, as warm air blows in from the south and a high of cold air remains to the north. Looks like we’ll be getting most of it Sunday night into Monday.

GFS Model

Current Conditions (Saturday 4:53PM EST)

Feb out like a lamb?

With only 2 days left in February, one could say that the past month for Union, NJ and the surrounding area, has experienced weather of note. We’ve had below normal temperatures for most of the month with, some areas reaching record lows. The occasional snow showers, have definitely been sparse for this region among many others and significant snow fall events like the Blizzard of 1996, seem a thing of the past. Weather is always changing and some might argue so is the climate. Just yesterday the high was 41 degrees and windy with max wind gusts reaching 14 miles per hour. Currently the conditions for Union, NJ is 65 degrees with overcast. 65 degrees in February! Yeah we may be reaching Spring, but it is still winter and it hasn’t been this warm for this day since 1997, when the record was 74 degrees. 65 is pretty darn close to that record and it’s also pretty nice outside. For now, later tonight we can expect rain for the region with new precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Which brings me to my thought…Is February going out like a lamb? Well if the last day of February was today then I’d say yes due to the warm temperature but with the rain and sudden drop in temperature into the weekend, I’d stay it’s going out like a lion and it looks like March will be coming in like one too. The low for tonight is expected to reach into the lower 30s, and for tomorrow the forecast looks to be rainy with a high near 44. For Saturday night into Sunday morning, we can expect a chance of snow/sleet mix so be careful on those roads.

I have much more to write about weather and atmospheric phenomenon, as this is my passion to write about current events, happenings and facts. I will offer trivia and tips in this blog as well as fun stuff like polls and trivia. Enjoy and check back often for more updates. Suggestions and comments are welcome.