Snow and Tornadoes
February 8th, 2012 at 2:38 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
Picture of doe in the snow in Tallmadge Twp. from Jodi on Reportit. Click here for full screen. Bill Marino of the GRR NWS passes along these statistics: The longest period of time with 1″ or more of snow on the ground this year has been 11 days, from Jan 13th to the 23rd. The second longest stretch has been only four days (Jan 2-5 and 28-31). The longest stretch of time ever with 1″ or more of snow on the ground was 117 days in 1904 from Nov. 28 to Mar. 23. The second longest was 107 days from Nov. 27-Mar. 13, 1979. Last year we had 45 days in a row from Jan. 4 thru Feb. 17. The average length (1981-2012) is 34 days. We had only 9 days in a row with a snow cover in 2006, 1992, and 1983. In 1983, those 9 days were in spring from Mar. 20-29! The latest overnight model data shows the models are consistent, with the European giving G.R. 0.15″ precipitation, a solid 2″ of snow on Friday. The GFS has 0.05″ – maybe 3/4″. The NAM is on the shy side for any snow on Friday. In any case, we should see some snow on Friday and if you have any errands to run, pick today or tomorrow. Roads could get slick on Friday midday-afternoon. We’re also going to get light precipitation (snow or mix) Tuesday to Thursday of next week.
One final note. Joe D’Aleo at Weatherbell speculated yesterday on the severe weather season this year and mentioned (as I have mentioned on the blog before) that La Nina years tend to have an above normal number of tornadoes – note last year. He said that the lack of snow cover could move the active severe weather area farther north and mentioned both 1965 (however, we had a significant snow cover in West Michigan through March of ’65…it was a cold month here before the Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak on 4/11) and also 1951 (when there was an F5 tornado in Wisconsin – but that was in the fall on Sept. 26 at Waupaca). The La Nina would suggest the best chance of tornadoes would be closer to the Ohio Valley.
What about project Harrp ? Heard that this project deals with weather modification … that several governments have this now and is messing up our weather. It seems to me other than LaNina or Nino there are more things going on under the surface than those I just mentioned.
Harrp? HAHAHAHAHA your nuts!
Believe it or not it exists
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Frequency_Active_Auroral_Research_Program
SlimJim
Because wiki says so…
Sorry slim
http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/ It exists.
I know HAARP exists. I don’t think it’s controlling global weather as some emails to me have suggested.
Beleiving HAARP can modify weather is a bit like trying to warm up your swimming pool by having your neighbor install a satellite dish. The two are just about as closely interrelated. Bouncing radio waves off the Ionosphere during solar events is something you, like 10′s of 1000′s of people are doing right now, can do with a ham or shortwave radio. Testing this with a much bigger antenna and actually measuring it is in now way remotely tied to climate.
really? anyone can post anything on Wiki… you guys need to get out of your house every once in a while. and stop watching X-files.
I’m typically both ways on it. Still learning about it. It’s definitely a scientific research tool though.
there is a CREATOR “Who sits above the circle of the earth…Laughs at the nations as they plot a vain thing and rage against HIS Holy One…Be still and know that I am YHWH. I will be exalted in heaven! I will be exalted on the earth!”
HE sits us down in the dark, tears off the roof, peaks in and if HE doesn’t like what HE sees, HE drops a little hail on our heads. If you live through these “Acts of YHWH,” thank HIM for only doing damage to what we were commanded not to love in the first place! By the way, “THE KING OF THE JEWS,” Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, left the earth “in the clouds and will return in the same way as HE left…HE is the same yesterday, and today, and forever…does bot change,” so when, please, did HE “convert” to christianity, become something HE never was? Ask your pastor, LOL, the tornadoes are for “the shepherds”. Jeremiah 23
Keith, you really shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet.
I want the storms, but keep the tornados somewhere else!
While we will cut it down with the cold that is coming. But thru the first week of February GR is running +10.8° above average and so far no rain or snow for the month. Right now GR’s mean temp for the month is 35.6° and we are in 2nd place for the warmest winter on record here. In 1932 (the warmest on record) the February mean was 31.8 (but January of 1932 was warmer then the past one) we still have a shot of having the warmest on record but we stand a better chance of ending in the top 5 warmest winters.
As for snow cover I remember 2006 and 1983 real well but I cant place 1992 so much and boy I do not believe that over in Bay City we had snow on the ground from November to March in 1979 (of course no lake effect there) but I know we did have the snow on the ground into March of that year just not sure when it started.
SlimJim
Locations in ND only saw<.1"total precip. for Jan w/ temps nearly +11!Now they arealmost +15 (temps) to date for FEB
I think we were close to those numbers here too as that was the year we got 3 or 4 storms over 6 inches and lots of clipper systems with 1-3 and 2-4 amounts, lots of wind and the big key was were rarely above freezing for such a prolonged perdiod that we just didn’t get any snow melt that year, it was my Jr year in high school and 3 only have school like 6 days in January and maybe 10 days in February with lots of Wednesday games and Saturday games “basketball”.
Why did I see a snowplow go down my rural Courtland Township street yesterday? The truck was not throwing sand or salt and the roads were dry. On a similar note… If budgets are so tight, why (when there is snow) are plows out throwing sparks while plowing a few inches of snow on the edges of the highway? My guess is that they need to use up their budgets so that they can claim they need more tax money. Who is responsible for this? If a snowplow is driving around for no reason, it is using fuel and resources it should be conserving for a later date. Pure corruption, if not extortion.
Based on everything I’m seeing, enjoy this weekend if you like the cold. It might be the last time we don’t make it out of the 20′s for highs.
After that, it looks like the march to spring is back on.
And check out the mild temps in Alaska! Noatak, AK is forecasted to hit a balmy 26 today (average high is only 5 degrees). Coldfoot, AK is going to hit 20 on Friday (average high is only 3 degrees). Talk about a HEAT WAVE up there!
I’d take that bet. Name the stakes.
As Bill pointed out earlier, warm December and warm January usually equals warm February and COLD March.
Well, in 2011, March 3rd was the last day in the 20′s (only about 3 weeks away).
After this weekend, I’m not seeing any for at least the next two weeks. And after that, it tends to get quite difficult with the angle of the sun. But we will see!
I know better to guarantee anything with mother nature, but it sure looks pretty good right now.
While it may be that it warms up in March that is not a sure thing as we had a mean temp this past January of 29.7 and we had 27″ of snow (at GRR) and there have been may March’s with a mean temp in the upper 20′s not to mention times when GRR had between 15 and 20″ of snow. Will that happen this year? time will tell
SlimJim
Thanks for the info as always, Slim. But mean temps are not the same as talking about high temps in the 20′s. We’ll see!
Is that snow forecasted for Valentines Day? WOW! I’m still thinking we will have a white Easter this year!
Yes we may.
SlimJim
I don’t care about the white Easter, I will be in Vegas
I can not understand for the life of me why people love hot weather. They must have A/C in their homes….All I ever want to do on hot summer days is lay down on the floor and pray for some cooler air. Hot weather just makes me feel lethargic. I would much rather have a cold, crisp day with nice FRESH air that makes me feel alive!
Yes I do have air and I also have heat so what is your point??? I would say that where you live you can count the 90° you will get in any one year on the fingers of one hand. But that can be said also of the below zero days you may see in a year.
SlimJim
You need AC… I didn’t know there were still people living without it actually! That’s miserable… Your house must get so musty in the summer… not good! That’s how mold starts.
Bill, what happened to that prediction of total snow fall for the season u gave in fall?
Hey Matt, I’m surprised with you living as close to the lake as you do that you don’t love warm weather more. For me, I prefer the heat, as it gives me the chance to go out and enjoy the weekends out on Spring Lake. A day at the beach or on the lake for me will always beat freezing my tail off. But we all have different things in life that appeal to us.
Thanks for the respectful post, Tim. You’re right that summer around here is MUCH more tolerable and I spend a lot of great time on the beach…unfortunately, the time of the warmest days/water coincides with the same time that the black flies and mosquitoes eat you alive. I LOVE all the seasons on the beach (spring is my least favorite). I sure do love the cooler breezes off the lake during the summer, BUT I LOVE the lake effect snow more!!! (Something we haven’t got much of lately)
This winter has been great. Although a couple of snowstorms would have been great time is running low, but not impossible. I have seen it snow in April. Will be hitting the pawn shops soon for an AC. I forgot to mention my son picked a dandelion last month. Wonder what thats about??
This weather is boring!
BRING ON F5 TORNADO’S INDYY!!
as long as no one is in its path
Ohio Valley = Mostly bad chase territory. Too many trees and hills. If we can get some good stuff along and east of 131 this year I’ll be happy.
YEAA Charles get the truck ready going to be a great chase or 2 this spring!! INDYY
Yes indeed! I need an oil change, and my ball joints replaced, then I should be good to go!
Bring on the heat & severe storms!
Fixxer u ready to track severe storms also??? INDYYY
You guys cant be tired of winter yet? I has”nt started. Seriously though…Watching a storm roll in from a clear sky while listening to RIP…Erine Harwell while throwing out a Jitter bug would be The Cats A$$ right about now. OH YEAH… and a cold SPRITE.
cant wait to watch/ track the storms this year! I hope they come early this year with the overall mild weather we have been having…..