WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING?
Written By: Scott Hetsko
Life and weather in our area is often full of fun surprises! This morning wasn't really one I wanted to wake up to, how about you? April snow rarely is a problem, more of nuisance but I'm sure you're wondering why we had wet snow earlier this morning.
The map represents absolute vorticity at about 15,000 to 18,000 feet above you. The area highlighted shows a very strong upper air disturbance about to cross the area. Ahead of that upper low, there is strong lifting occurring which will often blossom showers and snow showers when cold enough. Ah ha! Just cold enough with the rising air to surprise many with a fresh dusting of wet snow.
Why did we miss it? That 500 mb low was supposed to be about 75 miles further East which would have meant no snow here. A little change in direction can go a long way in blowing a forecast!
Oh well. Ma' Nature has to show us earthlings whose really calling the shots, from time to time. It's nice to be humbled by the weather occasionally.
ReplyDeleteScott,
I notice the latest 12z GFS has the ridge even more amplified as it crosses our area from Friday into Sunday. Does it look like mid 70's could actually be a conservative number, now? Maybe a shot at 80 one of those days?
Yeah I think especially on Saturday we've got a real shot at 80 degrees to begin May. Would be ironic because that is exactly how we began April! For us to reach 80, showers and storms would have to hold off. I think we'll have more clouds at the very least on Saturday which may hold the numbers down a bit.
ReplyDelete...and there goes our shortest snow season on record.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's not too short lived, though. I also saw the GFS bring in colder air quicker by the start of the week. I'd like a nice solid 5 days of 70's. But I know that's not realistic this early in the season.
ReplyDeleteCould Friday night be one of the balmiest nights we've had so far this year?
ReplyDeleteWe may not fall below 60 overnight into Saturday morning. Feeling like Summer that night for sure. I'm looking forward to a couple sticky nights.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Scott. There's something about a warm, somewhat muggy night, when you can leave the windows open to let the breeze come in.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in the higher elevations of Ontario county, and even on the hottest of days with high dewpoints, the moment that sun went below the horizon, you could feel that temperature plunge. Now that I live Brighton, I notice the warmth hangs on MUCH longer into the evening during the summer months. Is it just my imagination or is there something to that?