March 2017 Observations and Discussion

[OKwx2k4]

Looks like they added an EF-1 to the tornadoes from Monday night's round of storms in my County (Adair county, OK). Passed about 8 miles south of where I live.

[westMJim]

 that was quite a wind event yesterday! This is from the  GRR NWS office

WIND (MPH)

  RESULTANT WIND SPEED  27   RESULTANT WIND DIRECTION   W (260)

  HIGHEST WIND SPEED    51   HIGHEST WIND DIRECTION     W (250)

  HIGHEST GUST SPEED    64   HIGHEST GUST DIRECTION    SW (240)

  AVERAGE WIND SPEED    28.2

I do not have the numbers but yesterday was likely the windiest day since either November 10^th 1998 or maybe November 17^th 2013. 

[Niko]

Much calmer today, thankfully. That was one wicked windstorm.

[Niko]

Currently a few wet snowshowers passing the area. No biggie.

[Tom]

@ IndianaJohn, You getting snow? S MI also looks good right now.

[jaster220]

Total virga-fest here in Marshall. Amazing windstorm on a sunny day yesterday! Massive trees down. And we've had a ton of damaging windstorms in the last decade.

[Niko]

@ IndianaJohn, You getting snow? S MI also looks good right now.

Lets see how quickly it intensifies and how close it hugs the coast. (This is for the system next week)

[Niko]

Total virga-fest here in Marshall. Amazing windstorm on a sunny day yesterday! Massive trees down. And we've had a ton of damaging windstorms in the last decade.

That wind yesterday was horrific. Almost nearing hurricane force winds under sunny skies. Never quite saw that before. Usually you see winds like that during a thunderstorm for several minutes and then, the winds relax, but, that was not the case yesterday.

[St Paul Storm]

Currently 4F with a wind chill of -6. Smack in the face.

[Tom]

Currently 4F with a wind chill of -6. Smack in the face.

Holy crap!  Can't believe t's that cold up by you without any snow OTG.  Haven't been really paying attn.

[Niko]

Its cold outside, but, Spring is around the corner. Also, looking forward to Sunday when we put the clocks an hour ahead. Any snow that does fall, will have a hard time sticking around.

[St Paul Storm]

Holy crap!  Can't believe t's that cold up by you without any snow OTG.  Haven't been really paying attn.

Very impressive with no snowcover. Many of the lakes refroze this morning. Temps won't get above freezing until Wed.

[Niko]

A few snowsqualls from time to time. Temps are in the upper 20s.

[Tom]

Very impressive with no snowcover. Many of the lakes refroze this morning. Temps won't get above freezing until Wed.

Took a trip to the store and I forgot how cold 30F felt with a stiff breeze out of the N and a WC in the low 20's.  While I was pumping gas, I thought about your comment and the thought of a 4F temp and -6F WC shook me to the bone!

[Niko]

It is windy again, but not as bad as earlier this week. WCF in the low teens. Its certainly is a blustery day out there, for sure.

[Niko]

Certainly feels like February or even January, not mid March. Temps neva cracked 32F.

[clintbeed1993]

This winter has been such a disappointment it even caused Jim Flowers to take down his Facebook page...

 

https://www.facebook.com/JimFlowersForecaster/videos/664765357044117/

 

This turd of a winter will be remembered for a long time, and not for good reasons.

[Niko]

Sunny & quite cold currently with temps @ 24F.

[Niko]

Now that the time went 1 hour forward, I am really into Spring mode. After this snowstorm, I am done with snow and ready for Spring.

[Grizzcoat]

1 hr forward??? From what??  Get rid of humanity thinking they can control via clocks "daylight" It's an asinine principle catered to those who are dumb enough to believe that clocks run the world. Stay on standard time saves just as much "energy"-- but doesn't please  those who know no better. DST is all about politics and $$,, nothing else.

[james1976]

Waterloo record low this morning of -5. Old record was 1 set in 1925.

[Tom]

Waterloo record low this morning of -4. Old record was 1 set in 1925.

Holy crap!  That's cold.  Waking up with temps in the upper 10's and a nice snow cover felt more like mid Winter over here.  Looks like IA/S MN was the epicenter of the cold last night.

[james1976]

Holy crap! That's cold. Waking up with temps in the upper 10's and a nice snow cover felt more like mid Winter over here. Looks like IA/S MN was the epicenter of the cold last night.

Yeah my car said -6 on way to work.

[Tom]

Yeah my car said -6 on way to work.

Very impressive...

[westMJim]

Over here on my side of the lake it has not gotten below zero in two winters now! The coldest this winter was +2° last winter it was +1° the last time it was 0° was on March 5, 2015 and the last time it was below zero was on February 28, 2015. The low here last night was +12° and we have 2" of snow on the ground. There are now bare spots where the sun is melting the snow. But there is still snow in the shade and in the woods. 

[Niko]

Sunny and quite cold with temps holding steady into the 20s all day. No snow melting at all, considering the strong sun this time of the year.

[Tom]

Temp and Precip Departures through mid month...

 

http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/products/maps/acis/nwscr/MonthTDeptNWSCR.png

 

 

http://www.hprcc.unl.edu/products/maps/acis/nwscr/MonthPDeptNWSCR.png

[jaster220]

1 hr forward??? From what??  Get rid of humanity thinking they can control via clocks "daylight" It's an asinine principle catered to those who are dumb enough to believe that clocks run the world. Stay on standard time saves just as much "energy"-- but doesn't please  those who know no better. DST is all about politics and $$,, nothing else.

 

No it's not, it's about losing an hour of sleep one night every spring, and feeling like crud for a few days afterwards..get ur facts straight 

[Tom]

March 2m temps through the 17th...

 

[Tom]

Signs of real Spring warmth in the Day 6-10...

 

http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfs-ens/2017031812/gfs-ens_T2maMean_us_6.png

 

Day 10-15...

 

http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfs-ens/2017031812/gfs-ens_T2maMean_us_10.png

[Niko]

Picked up a quick inch this morning. That makes season snowfall 38.5".

[Tom]

Today features, the last full day of Winter and opens the door to the Spring Equinox, which, officially begins at 5:28 CST tomorrow morning!  

 

Who's ready for Spring???

[Tom]

On today's date, a look back in Chicago history...

 

[Tom]

00z Euro precip over the next 10 days...much needed rainfall in NE/MO...

[westMJim]

Well today is officially the last day of winter.  While Grand Rapids has had 59.7” for this “season” there has only been 24.4” of snow for the official winter here in Grand Rapids. From December 20^th until today there have only been 27 days with one inch or more of snow on the ground and the deepest was 8” on December 21^st the deepest for the season (so far) was 9” on December 19^th there will be a more complete winter summery from the NWS in a few days. The sun has now broken out and the temperature is now up to 45°d here at my house.

[Hawkeye]

It's 84 in Lincoln, NE.

[BrianJK]

Was woken up twice overnight with 2 separate rounds of hail, and thunder that shook the entire house. Saw reports of a few fires in surrounding areas from lightning strikes.

[Tom]

Was woken up twice overnight with 2 separate rounds of hail, and thunder that shook the entire house. Saw reports of a few fires in surrounding areas from lightning strikes.

Ditto!  I think it was about 2:20am when I heard the loud boomers and the brief pouring rain.  I was on the very north end of the developing line of thunderstorms.  Here was a cool loop of the storms:

 

http://weather.cod.edu/satrad/nexrad/index.php?type=LOT-N0Q-1-200

 

Spring welcomed us with some heavy storms...signs of an active Spring???

[jaster220]

On today's date, a look back in Chicago history...

 

 

Awesome hidden bliz! That winter is considered to be the worst for the US overall since records were kept and was Detroit's #1 until toppled 3 yrs ago. IF that had tracked as forecasted, that season would likely still be #1 for them with 2013-14 comfortably in 2nd place. Very interesting - thanks for posting this Tom!

[jaster220]

Ditto!  I think it was about 2:20am when I heard the loud boomers and the brief pouring rain.  I was on the very north end of the developing line of thunderstorms.  Here was a cool loop of the storms:

 

http://weather.cod.edu/satrad/nexrad/index.php?type=LOT-N0Q-1-200

 

Spring welcomed us with some heavy storms...signs of an active Spring???

 

Awoken twice overnight in Marshall too, but not sure of the time but about 3:30 EDT here in MI could be about right. Looking like an active spring as long as we don't follow 2012's drought path and that's not looking too likely attm.