March 2024 Observations and Discussion

[Ottawa CO, MI]

2 hours ago, westMJim said:

Still getting moderate snowfall and now here in MBY I am now at just under 5" of snow on the ground.

8 inches here in Hudsonville, MI

[jaster220]

Just 3" up here with this one. Good for a very distant 4th place storm total of the winter.

[westMJim]

A new record snowfall record for the date was set yesterday at Grand Rapids with 6.5” There is now 6” of snow on the ground. At some point there was a reported 1% of sunshine. For today the record H/L is 48/29 the record high of 74 was set in 1907 and 2021 the record low of 4 was set in 1983. The most snowfall of 8.4” fell in 1956 the wettest was in 1897 with 1.38” that fell as 4.0” of snow. The most snow on the ground was 14” in 1965. Last year the H/L was 48/36 and there was 0.04” of rainfall.

[Tom]

I read this WGN Article which illustrates the incredible snow season across S/C Alaska, of which, Tom Skilling wrote while he's enjoying his retirement.  He really loves traveling both up to Alaska and Hawaii (where he is currently).  The correlation to the 2011-12 season is reminiscent to what transpired this season for the lower 48.

https://wgntv.com/weather/weather-blog/snow-in-south-central-alaska/

Quote

“It’s been an extraordinary 2023-24 snow season in southern Alaska. I was just checking and see that Anchorage—about 35 miles north of where this photo was taken—has measured 122” of snow to date at the National Weather Service Forecast Office near Ted Stevens International Airport there. That’s twice normal and 68.8” above the normal tally to date. The all time snowiest season in Anchorage occurred in 2011-12 when 134.5” fell—a tally which is within reach before the current snow season closes.

 

 

[CentralNebWeather]

Very chilly for our prom tonight. My wife and I are high school teachers and we are helping sponsor. People standing outside watching the walkup all had winter coats, hats and gloves. Prom season in Nebraska, last years prom night here had 5” of snow. 

[Hawkeye]

Models had been showing a continuation of the storm train into April, with at least two more strong troughs ejecting out of the west.  That is all fading fast as the models are, instead, turning the flow to the northwest.

[OKwx2k4]

One sure way to know La Niña is back.....

Days of wind in the spring here and violent t-storms. A cold, wet south wind is another oddity.

Outside of the La Niña influences, this is really ascended from a warmer start to a very typical spring month.

[westMJim]

The official H/L yesterday at Grand Rapids was 36/23 there was a trace of snowfall. At 7AM there was 6” of snow on the ground. The sun was out 90% of the time. For today the average H/L is 48/29 the record high of 78 was set in 1910 and 1939 the record low of -3 was set in 1974. The wettest and most snowfall was 1.07” that fell as 5.3” of snow in 1947. The most snow on the ground was 15” in 1965. Last year the H/L was 44/31.

The overnight low here in MBY was 20 at the current time it is cloudy and 27 and there is just a trace of snow left on the ground.

[Tom]

After a 6 year hiatus, Luke Days 2024 hosted a fantastic Air Show yesterday at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, AZ.  This was hands down THE best Airshow I have ever witnessed.  The aircraft flew so close you can see the pilots and FEEL the power of the jets as they throttled up and then you can see the glow of the after burners!  It was incredible.  God Bless our Military and the USA!

https://www.lukedays2024.com/

Thankfully, the weather cooperated in perfect fashion with calm winds and high clouds during the 1st half.  Then around Noon, the skies started clearing up but it was getting a bit warm in the sun, however, I knew the wind would start picking ahead of the big storm and it sure did.  The winds were out of the SW at 10-15mph and made it very comfortable with temps in the upper 70's.   

The unique aspect of this show is you can meet and greet the pilots that fly these phenomenal aircraft.  The F-35 Raptor, F-15's, etc...I was talking to a pilot that flew the F-15 that was at the show and I asked him when was the last mission?  He said it was last year in Romania doing air support with the Canadians.  There was also a Canadian pilot with his group.  What a great experience.  Not to mention, but there were all sorts of military choppers, cargo planes (esp the C-5 Galaxy) the largest plane in our military!  I'll share pics and vids in the next post.

 

[Tom]

As I mentioned, the jets put on a routine that resembled an attack from the Air as they would in a potential situation.  Here was one of those passes…

 

Here are some more pics and vids of the Apache chopper and various aircraft.    

 

 

 

[Tom]

And some more…if you ever have a chance to go see one of these shows, I encourage you to go check it out.

 

[Beltrami Island]

I am weird,but I find it interesting when a storm system demonstrates climo so closely. 

[chescowxman]

Yesterday's 2.58" at Kennett Square broke the all station daily rain record in the county. The old record was the 1.96" at Glenmoore in 1977. Today was our 7th straight day with below freezing low temps. The next couple days will be sunny but continuing our run of below normal temps. Near normal temps (low to mid 50's) should continue for much of the upcoming week. Next rain chances are Wednesday and Thursday.

Chester County wide records for today: High 81 West Chester (2012) / Low also in West Chester at 12 degrees (1897) / Record rain 2.11" Chester Springs (2021) / Snow 3.5" Coatesville (1965)

[OttumwaSnomow]

8 hours ago, Beltrami Island said:

I am weird,but I find it interesting when a storm system demonstrates climo so closely. 

Its complete opposite  of climo in Iowa. SE Iowa by far wettest  part of Iowa. Not this system.  If fact ZERO precip wont surprise  me.

[Iceresistance]

Winter's Revenge 

[mlgamer]

Not trying to pick on Hastings, but check out their weather story graphic from this afternoon and that big warm up for Tuesday...

[CentralNebWeather]

18 minutes ago, mlgamer said:

Not trying to pick on Hastings, but check out their weather story graphic from this afternoon and that big warm up for Tuesday...

I noticed it also. 

[Iceresistance]

2 hours ago, mlgamer said:

Not trying to pick on Hastings, but check out their weather story graphic from this afternoon and that big warm up for Tuesday...

I am sure the 87-92 was a bug and they were trying for 37-52

[mlgamer]

23 minutes ago, Iceresistance said:

I am sure the 87-92 was a bug and they were trying for 37-52

A bug? How disappointing...I was looking forward to an early taste of summer. [sigh] 

[CentralNebWeather]

6 minutes ago, mlgamer said:

A bug? How disappointing...I was looking forward to an early taste of summer. [sigh] 

I think they are way too busy to fix it with all the weather happening now and tomorrow. 

[mlgamer]

21 minutes ago, CentralNebWeather said:

I think they are way too busy to fix it with all the weather happening now and tomorrow. 

For sure...they probably wouldn't mind an early taste of summer themselves right about now...lol

[CentralNebWeather]

5 minutes ago, mlgamer said:

For sure...they probably wouldn't mind an early taste of summer themselves right about now...lol

I see they just fixed it on their site. 

[Andie]

Texas & Oklahoma are getting in the act tonight.   
Currently under a severe thunderstorm warning. We expect storms sweeping NE till 3-4 am
65*

 

[westMJim]

It was another cold and windy day yesterday with the official H/L of 40/22 there was no rain/snowfall. The highest wind gust was 33MPH out of the E and the day had 24% of possible sunshine. The average H/L for today is 48/30 the record high of 77 was set in 1945 and the record low of -1 was set in 1974. The most rainfall of 2.85” fell in 1954 the most snow fall of 7.7” fell in 1930 the most snow on the ground was 15” in 1965. Last year the H/L was 37/32 there was 0.89” of rainfall and 0.2” of snowfall.

 

[westMJim]

Some weather history for southern lower Michigan for March 25

1954: Heavy rain and high winds occur as a cold front moves through. Grand Rapids measures 2.82 inches of rain for their wettest March day on record. Flooding of streams is widespread and winds gusting over 70 mph cause roof damage and uproot trees.

1974: Grand Rapids falls to one below zero for its latest subzero reading on record.

 1945, record high temperatures for the day were set simultaneously in Detroit (78 degrees), Flint (79 degrees), and Saginaw (80 degrees)!

 1947, a snowstorm dumped 13.3 inches on Saginaw. This was the 11th heaviest snowstorm in Saginaw history.

Across the USA

1901, More than 20 people were killed by an estimated F3 tornado that moved across parts of Birmingham, Alabama. The twister cut a 15-mile path from the south side of the city to Avondale and Irondale.

1935,  Suffocating dust storms frequently occurred in southeast Colorado between the 12th and the 25th of the month. Six people died, and many livestock starved or suffocated. Up to six feet of dust covered the ground. Schools were closed, and tenants deserted many rural homes.

1992,  Hailstones up to four inches in diameter resulted in more than $60 million in damage in Orlando, Florida. This storm is still the costliest Florida hailstorm on record.

 

[Andie]

Northern tier states should check to see if they can view the Aurora tonight.  

Clear or partly clear skies should give you a nice view.  

[Black Hole]

As far as severe weather goes, it looks like our next chance of some action will be in early April. Might get a few showers Wed-Thurs but mostly quiet weather otherwise until next Sun-Mon. 

[chescowxman]

Widespread below freezing temps again this morning. We should see another day of below normal temps with highs struggling to escape the 40's to near 50 for most areas. Clouds will increase tonight as a storm continues to spin off the coast and will begin to push a marine layer from the ocean across the area from NE to SW tonight. Tomorrow looks cloudy and chilly again. Rain chances increase by Wednesday night into the day Thursday. May cause a delay till Friday for the Phillies home opener.

Records for today: High 85 degrees in Phoenixville (1939) / Low 12 above in Kennett Square and Coateville (1896) / Rain 1.63" Kennett Square (1909) / Snow 4.5" East Nantmeal (2013)

[Hawkeye]

The 5.9" of snow we got a few days ago is completely gone this morning.

[Niko]

Beautiful weather here on the EC. NYC attm w/ lots of sunshine but chilly temps. Lows dipped in the 30s last nite but recovered only in the 40s these last 2 days. Will be in Times Square tanite dinner and possibly a show.

[Beltrami Island]

23 hours ago, OttumwaSnomow said:

Its complete opposite  of climo in Iowa. SE Iowa by far wettest  part of Iowa. Not this system.  If fact ZERO precip wont surprise  me.

In this case that is the dry slot of this storm, no? Iowa still has the nw to se gradient on average.  Minnesota's gradient is particularly contrasting between gulf moisture feeding into storms of upper Mississippi vs the arid plains of ND/MT, etc.

[gabel23]

7 hours ago, Hawkeye said:

The 5.9" of snow we got a few days ago is completely gone this morning.

That will green the grass up!!

[OttumwaSnomow]

3 hours ago, Beltrami Island said:

In this case that is the dry slot of this storm, no? Iowa still has the nw to se gradient on average.  Minnesota's gradient is particularly contrasting between gulf moisture feeding into storms of upper Mississippi vs the arid plains of ND/MT, etc.

Yes.. just this massive  weird dry slot. But as soon as the cold front approaches  the Mississippi  river BOOM!  line of solid precip. I have witnessed this so many times in recent  years its uncanny. Thus  much of Illinois  has not been in the severe  drought as SE iowa just 60 to 80 miles away!  And looking  at historical  averages Illinois  east of Mississippi  river doesnt not receive  more precip than SE Iowa. But in recent years they have!!!!

[westMJim]

The official H/L yesterday at Grand Rapids was 63/33. There was no precipitation the highest wind gust was 29 MPH out of the SE. The sun was out 14% of the possible time. For today the average H/L is 49/30 the record high is 77 in 1976 the record low of 6 was set in 1996. The wettest was 1.20 in 1948 the most snowfall of 10.2” fell in 1970 the most on the ground is 13” in 1965. Last year the H/L was 49/30 and there was 0.19” of rainfall.

The overnight low here in MBY was 48 there was 0.15” of rainfall. With cloudy skies the current temperature is 49. Even after recent period of 7 out of 8 days below average the mean for March is still at 41.2 and that is +6.7 March is above average is participation with 3.10” (1.84 is average) and snowfall 7.2” (6.9”) is average. Note that 7.2 for the month is average so we still could be average for the month.

[chescowxman]

Some lower spots in the county again fell to below freezing this morning - while higher spots like here in East Nantmeal remained just above freezing. We should now stay above freezing for at least the next week. Not much sun today through Thursday with rain chances ramping up by late tomorrow PM.

County records for today: High 84 Coatesville (1921) / Low 11 Devault (1960) / Rain 2.03" Coatesville (1978) / Snow 4.0" Honey Brook (2013)

[Tom]

The LR is looking mighty fine out here in the 4 corners region as the storm parade will continue well into April providing ample moisture and eventually runoff for the farmers out here in the desert SW.  Gosh, I love it when nature proves to be an answer and wipe away all the FEAR that was driven by politicians/media into signing stupid agreements. I gotta feeling some of these arrangements will be reversed and there will be an abundance of water as this part of the country will benefit largely due to the reversal in the Long Range cyclical nature of the weather patterns.

CFSv2...extended Snow season in the West...

[MIKEKC]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

The LR is looking mighty fine out here in the 4 corners region as the storm parade will continue well into April providing ample moisture and eventually runoff for the farmers out here in the desert SW.  Gosh, I love it when nature proves to be an answer and wipe away all the FEAR that was driven by politicians/media into signing stupid agreements. I gotta feeling some of these arrangements will be reversed and there will be an abundance of water as this part of the country will benefit largely due to the reversal in the Long Range cyclical nature of the weather patterns.

CFSv2...extended Snow season in the West...

Tom, I hear ya loud and clear on those silly agreements!!!!

Anyway,  it appears the middle of the nation has a shot at a cooler and wetter April??? We really need moisture, last 60 days I have only seen 1.56 inches of rain and 1.2 of that came in 30 minutes. Lots of dry air masses and wind has really dried us out. 

[Meatyorologist]

Minneapolis hadn't set a monthly record high since 1999, until they did it twice in the span of six months, both last September and now this February.

[westMJim]

The official H/L yesterday was 61/36 there was 0.44” of rainfall it was a windy day with the highest wind gust of 47 MPH out of the S. There was just 5% of possible sunshine. For today the average H/L is 49/30 the record high of 81 was set in 1945 and the record low of 0 was set in 1965. The most precipitation of 1.03” fell in 1908 the most snowfall of 6.9” was in 1948 the most on the ground was 12” in 1970. Last year the H/L was 50/33 and there was 0.13” of rainfall.

The overnight low and current temperature is 33. At the time it is cloudy and very windy here in MBY. I had a rain event total of 0.38" of rainfall yesterday. 

[westMJim]

Some weather history in southern lower Michigan.

1991: A tornado outbreak hits the Midwest, wreaking havoc from Iowa to Ohio. In Michigan, at least seven tornadoes strike southwest Michigan. Eighteen people were injured in Calhoun County as eight homes were destroyed there. There were around 15 in tornadoes in Michigan.

 1934, a record low temperature of 3 degrees was recorded at Detroit Metro Airport.

 1991, one of the largest tornado outbreaks hit Michigan. Fifteen tornadoes moved across parts of the state, making it the third-largest tornado outbreak by the number of tornadoes, and certainly the earliest tornado outbreak in Michigan history. Three tornadoes hit portions of Southeast Michigan including two in Monroe County and one in St. Clair County.

Across the US

1890, 

 The middle Mississippi Valley saw a significant tornado outbreak on this day with 24, estimated F2 or stronger tornadoes impacting the area. Tornadoes killed at least 146 people. The most notable of the tornadoes was an estimated F4 that carved a path from the Parkland neighborhood to Crescent Hill in Louisville, Kentucky. This tornado destroyed 766 buildings and killed an estimated 76 to 120 people. Most of the deaths occurred when the Falls City Hall collapsed. 

1931, A blizzard struck western Kansas and adjoining states was called the “worst since January 1888”. Twenty children, ages seven to fourteen, were stranded in a makeshift school bus for 33 hours during this blizzard.

1994, The Southeastern Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak occurred on this date. What began as a peaceful Palm Sunday quickly changed to a historic day in weather history when a powerful tornado ripped through southern Alabama and Georgia. By the time the storm was over, 22 people were dead, and 92 were injured. The F4 tornado cut a 50-mile path from Ragland in St. Clair, County Alabama to the Georgia line. The storm touched down near Ragland at 10:51 am. The storm struck Ohatchee then roared across northeastern Calhoun County, passing near Piedmont and hitting Goshen in Cherokee County. The most disastrous damage occurred at Goshen, where the twister struck the Goshen United Methodist Church at 11:37 am. 20 people were killed at the church, which did not hear the tornado warning issued 10 minutes earlier by the National Weather Service in Birmingham. A tornado watch had been released at 9:30 am. Following the tornadoes, Vice President Al Gore pledged to extend NOAA Weatheradio coverage into the areas affected by the twisters, which had previously been unable to receive the alarm signals.