2012- 2013 Winter

The Midwest was previously predicted to have below-normal snowfall, but according to AccuWeather, we should see an average accumulation.

Previously, El Nino was expected to be in effect, but instead it is in a neutral stage which could cause a few things to happen. Either the northern or southern jet streams could be dominant, or they could merge together. Northern jet stream would allow for cooler air accross the US, while the southern stream would be warmer.

On the East coast, above normal snowfall is predicted because of the expectancy of the two jet streams meeting and creating large storms in the area.

As for the Midwest, the air will be cold and there will be 'clipper' snow storms, which are fast moving weak snow storms. A high frequency of these storms will allow for an average accumulation of snow.




source:
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/sandy-winter-2012-2013-forecast/1741302

"global warming isn't happening"

To those who have ever uttered those words..

seriously.

Are you aware of anything that is going on in the world? Do you watch the news? Do you hear anything that anyone says about anything ever?

Didn't think so.



Fact of the matter is: it's happening. Change is happening. And it is too late to do anything to stop it.

Arctic ice concentration, Sept 16, 2012, in comparison to previous
record low (yellow line) and historic median extent (black line). 

This year marked yet another record: summer ice loss in the Arctic. Greenland's ice sheet has melted more than it has before, without temperatures even being unusually high when considering the past ten years.

In related studies, the earth's permafrost is beginning to thaw.
Permafrost is ground that stays frozen for two or more years.

The thawing of permafrost is exposing a forest  and other organic matter that has been frozen for hundreds of years. The thawing of this matter allowing the forest to come back to life, but along with it, it's releasing carbon dioxide and methane gas.

"Research shows that the Earth's permafrost contains 1,700 gigatons of carbon 

as frozen organic matter. That's twice the carbon currently in the atmosphere."

from TWC

The release of these gases will be a huge game changer in the realm of global warming. It's another things we need to keep and eye on to ensure change doesn't happen quicker than we, or our infrastructure, can handle...







sources:
http://www.weather.com/news/arctic-breaks-records-report-card-20121206
http://www.weather.com/news/climate-change-melting-permafrost-20121128

Midwest, lets let the white stuff stay awhile!

An arctic cold front is sweeping down from Canada through the jet stream over the weekend, bringing plenty of chilly winter air. Highs for the Midwest and Plains states probably won't be getting much higher than 20 degrees. This seems cold, but usually around this time, we're having temperatures in the negatives!

As for snow, we should be getting our first inch or so to stick after Sunday, potentially up to four inches, though! Weather.com says that we have our first snow sticking around November 18th.. only about a month late.

A low pressure cell will be moving along with the snow storm, and will cause it to move north on Sunday evening.

Colorado will also be seeing from snow thanks to the jet stream dip, up to 6 inches








A video explaining the weather can be found here:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/cold-snow-return-20121204



Unfortunately, this 2012 will hold the record for the warmest year for the continental united states. Data has been being kept for the last 118 years. The previous record was 1998.

The only way avoid setting the new record would be if December ended up being about one degree colder than the coldest December recorded. From the looks of things, this is highly unlikely.

Needless to say, this has also been an extremely dry year. At the end of November, approximately 62% of the US was experiencing drought.

With below average rainfall, and above average temperatures, I just hope we can have a white New Year.






sources:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/cold-snow-return-20121204
http://www.weather.com/news/warmest-year-on-record-noaa-november-20121206

For The Record..

It's snowing!

And this is what I like to see.. especially that 100% !!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow... Please

It is 5:21AM, December 7th and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the 13th coldest city in the United States, still fails to have snow. There was one morning, quite foggy in my memory, a few weeks ago that snow stuck to the ground for a few hours, but was gone as the sun rose to high noon.

This area usually has around 11 inches of snow on the ground by December first. As a lover of winter and all things snow, this is killing me. I have a snowboard that is begging to hit the mountain and there is nothing I can do about it. My home hill, Granite Peak in Wausau, WI still fails to be open consecutive days. Not to mention its tentative opening day was November 17th. HA!

Across the Midwest, records are being broken for most consecutive days without measurable snowfall. Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska have already broken their records of 277 and 295 days. Chicago and Milwaukee are just days away from setting new records.

The National Weather Service has blamed this on the drought. Damn thing. However, there may be hope.. dim dim hope. The NWS has created a winter storm watch for the Cities and westcentral Wisconsin starting Saturday night and through Sunday evening.


some facts from weather.com:

Chicago, Ill.

• 277 days without measurable snow
• Record is 280 days set in 1994
• Average snow total by December 5 is 2.4 inches.

Des Moines, Iowa.

• 277 days without measurable snow
• Previous record set in 1889 of 277 days was tied on Thursday.
• Average snow total by December 5 is 4.3 inches.

Milwaukee, Wis.

• 276 days with no measurable snow
• Current record is 279 days set in 1999
• Average snow total by December 5 is 4.1 inches

Omaha, Neb.

• 286 days with no measurable snow
• Previous record streak of 285 days set in 2001 was broken on Thursday.
• Average snow total by December 5 is 3.7 inches

sources:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/snowless-streaks-midwest-20121205
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/07/3131065/snow-savvy-midwest-cities-breaking.html
http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WI124CD566D968.WinterStormWatch.124CD5681698WI.MPXWSWMPX.9041764308ecf182dc881c70d4f58129

Earthquake in Japan

Around 8:18 UTC today (Friday evening in Japan), a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck 176 miles east off the coast of Sendai, Japan. Or about 200 miles east of Fukushima, Japan.

This earthquake affected the same areas that are still recovering from the destruction of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

CNN reported that nearly all channels stopped their broadcast to alert the area that a quake was going to strike soon. A tsunami warning was also in effect and the announcer also urged the people to get to higher grounds soon. This prompt alert goes to show how shaken up the area is from the 2011 event.

Though the timely alert was a good idea considering the area's still fragile state, a "tsunami" of approximately 1 meter came to shore. The quake lasted about 90 seconds, and left buildings  in Tokyo shaking for quite awhile.




This video shows the building shaking, and also gives some information from reporters:

sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57557719/japan-earthquake-brings-small-tsunami-to-northeastern-disaster-zone/
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/07/world/asia/japan-earthquake/?hpt=hp_t1

Life After Sandy

New York is working hard to create jobs for those who have been out of work since the aftermath of Hurricane/ Tropical Storm Sandy.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Peter Rivera of the NY Department of Labor are creating government paid jobs to help with the clean up and rebuilding of neighborhoods destroyed by Sandy. Damages from the storm are estimated to be in the tens of billions.

The process is slow, but the resilience of the population is great. Neighbors are helping neighbors to get their lives back in order.


watch the video here:
http://www.weather.com/weather/videos/news-41/top-stories-169/life-after-sandy-jobs-returning-32359