Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Mighty North Atlantic low bombs to 930 mb
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 6:04 PM GMT on January 26, 2013 +35
In the Northern Atlantic south of Iceland, an extratropical storm that brought up to 6" of snow to Maryland on Thursday has put on a remarkable burst of rapid intensification over the past 24 hours, with the center pressure dropping 58 mb in 24 hours. The Free University of Berlin, which names all major high and low pressure systems that affect Europe, has named the storm "Jolle." This meteorological "bomb" was analyzed with a central pressure of 988 mb at 12Z (7 am EST) Friday morning by NOAA's Ocean Prediction Center, and hit 930 mb by 7 am EST Saturday morning. The storm may deepen a few more millibars today, but it is close to maximum intensity. A 930 mb central pressure is what one commonly sees in Category 4 hurricanes, and is one of the lowest pressures attained by an Atlantic extratropical storm in recent decades. Since extratropical storms do not form eyewalls, the winds of the massive Atlantic low are predicted to peak at 90 mph (Category 1 hurricane strength), with significant wave heights reaching 52 feet (16 meters.) The powerful storm brought sustained winds of 52 mph, gusting to 72 mph, to Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland at 6 pm local time Saturday. Fortunately, the storm is expected to weaken dramatically before Jolle's core hurricane-force winds affect any land areas.


Figure 1. Winter Storm Jolle, as seen at 10 am EST January 26, 2013. Three hours prior to this image, Jolle was analyzed with a central pressure of 930 mb--one of the lowest pressures in recent decades for an Atlantic extratropical storm. Image credit: Navy Research Lab, Monterey.

According to wunderground's weather historian Christopher C. Burt's post on
Super Extratropical Storms, the all-time record lowest pressure for a North Atlantic extratropical storm is 913 mb, set on January 11, 1993, near Scotland's Shetland Islands. The mighty 1993 storm broke apart the super oil tanker Braer on a rocky shoal in the Shetland Islands, causing a massive oil spill.

Other notable Atlantic extratropical storms, as catalogued by British weather historian, Stephen Burt:

920.2 mb (27.17”) measured by the ship Uyir while she sailed southeast of Greenland on December 15, 1986. The British Met. Office calculated that the central pressure of the storm, which was centered some distance southeast of the ship, was 916 mb (27.05”).

921.1 mb (27.20”) on Feb. 5, 1870 measured by the ship Neier at 49°N 26°W (another ship in the area measured 925.5 mb)

924 mb (27.28”) on Feb. 4, 1824 at Reykjavik, Iceland (the lowest on land measured pressure in the North Atlantic)

925.5 mb (27.33”) on Dec. 4, 1929 by the SS Westpool somewhere in the Atlantic (exact location unknown)

925.6 mb (27.33”) on Jan. 26, 1884 at Ochtertyre, Perthshire, U.K. (the lowest pressure recorded on land in the U.K.)

For comparison’s sake, the lowest pressure measured on land during an extra-tropical storm in the United States (aside from Alaska) was 952 mb 28.10” at Bridgehampton, New York (Long Island) on March 1 during, the Great Billy Sunday Snowstorm.


Figure 2. Infrared satellite image of the North Atlantic Storm of January 11, 1993 at 0600Z when it deepened into the strongest extra-tropical cyclone ever observed on earth, with a central pressure of 913 mb (26.96”). Satellite image from EUMETSAT Meteosat-4.

Links
You can see a nice AVHRR image of the east side of the storm at the University of Bern. The raw MODIS pass is here.

The Meteorological Institute of Norway has a nice satellite animation of Jolle.

Wunderground's weather historian Christopher C. Burt's posts on Super Extratropical Storms and World and U.S. Lowest Barometric Pressure Records

Claudio Cassardo's January 23, 2013 post,
Very low minima of extratropical cyclones in North Atlantic

Read my story of what it was like to fly though a 936 mb Atlantic low pressure system on January 4, 1989.

Intense winter storms are expected to increase in number due to climate change
In my 2010 blog post, The future of intense winter storms, I discuss how evidence for an observed increase in intense wintertime cyclones in the North Atlantic is uncertain. In particular, intense Nor'easters affecting the Northeast U.S. showed no increase in number over the latter part of the 20th century. This analysis is supported by the fact that wintertime wave heights recorded since the mid-1970s by the three buoys along the central U.S. Atlantic coast have shown little change (Komar and Allan, 2007a,b, 2008). However, even though Nor'easters have not been getting stronger, they have been dropping more precipitation, in the form of both rain and snow. Several studies (Geng and Sugi, 2001, and Paciorek et al., 2002) found an increase in intense winter storms over both the North Atlantic, but Benestad and Chen (2006) found no trend in the western parts of the North Atlantic, and Gulev et al. (2001) found a small small decrease of intense winter storms in the Atlantic.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), a scientific advisory board created by the President and Congress, concluded this in their 2009 U.S. Climate Impacts Report: "Cold-season storm tracks are shifting northward and the strongest storms are likely to become stronger and more frequent". The USGRP concluded that an increase of between four and twelve intense wintertime extratropical storms per year could be expected over the Northern Hemisphere by 2100, depending upon the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air (Figure 3). If we assume that the current climate is producing the same number of intense winter storms as it did over the period 1961-2000--about 53--this represents an increase of between 8% and 23% in intense wintertime extratropical storms. Two studies--Pinto et al. (2007) and Bengtsson et al. 2006--suggest that the more intense winter cyclones will affect only certain preferred regions, namely northwestern Europe and Alaska's Aleutian Islands. At least three other studies also find that northwestern Europe--including the British Isles, the Netherlands, northern France, northern Germany, Denmark and Norway--can expect a significant increase in intense wintertime cyclones in a future warmer world (Lionello et al., 2008; Leckebusch and Ulbrich 2004; and Leckebusch et al., 2006). None of these studies showed a significant increase in the number of intense Nor'easters affecting the Northeast U.S.


Figure 3. The projected change in intense wintertime extratropical storms with central pressures < 970 mb for the Northern Hemisphere under various emission scenarios. Storms counted occur poleward of 30°N during the 120-day season beginning November 15. A future with relatively low emissions of greenhouse gases (B1 scenario, blue line) is expected to result in an additional four intense extratropical storms per year, while up to twelve additional intense storms per year can be expected in a future with high emissions (red and black lines). Humanity is currently on a high emissions track. Figure was adapted from Lambert and Fyfe (2006), and was taken from Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate, a 2009 report from the the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). The USGRP began as a presidential initiative in 1989 and was mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which called for "a comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change".

Jeff Masters
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Reader Comments
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101. PedleyCA 3:14 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Long Time no see. How are you. getting any rain?
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102. Chicklit 3:16 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Member Since: July 11, 2006 Posts: 14 Comments: 10254
103. Some1Has2BtheRookie 3:18 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting AussieStorm:


Um........ That is not a stick, that is a very deadly Brown Snake seeking refuge on the window of a flooded car. A bite from that snake, you'll be dead within an hour.

Photo courtesy of State Emergency Service Queensland


Well, the snake is well named, considering its color. Wouldn't it have more aptly been named the Brown Snake of Death? ... Or, Brown is in Town So Don't Stick Around Snake? ... Something a little more descriptive of its capabilities as well as its color, perhaps???? ... I mean, you do get tourist there, right?
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104. PedleyCA 3:21 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Chicklit:


I thought you lived in Tx, my bad ..... That looks very cold.
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105. Chicklit 3:24 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting PedleyCA:


I thought you lived in Tx, my bad ..... That looks very cold.

East Central Florida Ped...it's gorgeous here.
What a night. Beautiful. According to our nearby weather station, it's 61 F.
Wish my camera could have caught those clouds around the moon better but that's the best we could do.
Anyway, off to try my luck at sleep.
Quite an interesting system in the Atlantic.
Glad no one's getting torn up by it so far.
Member Since: July 11, 2006 Posts: 14 Comments: 10254
106. AussieStorm 3:32 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Some1Has2BtheRookie:


Well, the snake is well named, considering its color. Wouldn't it have more aptly been named the Brown Snake of Death? ... Or, Brown is in Town So Don't Stick Around Snake? ... Something a little more descriptive of its capabilities as well as its color, perhaps???? ... I mean, you do get tourist there, right?


I think we have 10 of the top 15 most deadly snakes in the world here. So it doesn't really matter, if you're bitten by a snake, you'll probably die from it unless you're given anti-venom.

Also, that snake is probably a King Brown Snake, King Browns are northern Australian, the Brown Snake is a southern Australian.

This is a fully grown King Brown Snake.



This is a fully grown Brown Snake.
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107. srqthymesage 3:32 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Sarasota nearly full moon has huge blue aura round it! Orion, Sirius and other stars are bright here, grazi!
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108. Bluestorm5 3:43 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Ugh, nothing scares me more than snakes...
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109. AussieStorm 3:43 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Army choppers called in as Qld floods

THE Queensland government has asked for army helicopters to be sent in, with the state in the grip of an unfolding flood crisis.

Cities and towns along the central Queensland coast are flooding as the low pressure system that was cyclone Oswald batters the south east corner of the state with cyclonic winds and torrential rain.

Releases from dams that protect the cities of Brisbane and Ipswich are continuing, with falls of up to 300mm expected over the next 24 hours.

Destructive winds gusting to 60 knots are also expected.

Forecasters are expecting conditions "comparable to a high category one cyclone" with wind gusts of 60 knots, or 125kph, in the southeast corner over the next day.

The low pressure system is expected to be over the Sunshine Coast on Sunday afternoon, Brisbane by this evening, and the Gold Coast by late on Sunday night or early on Monday.

It will then move across the border into northern NSW.

The bureau's Queensland weather services manager Richard Wardle says there's a strong chance of more tornadoes like the six that caused severe damage in the Bundaberg region on Saturday and Sunday.

In the state's southeast corner, falls of between 200 and 300mm are expected but that could reach 400mm in some locations, Dr Wardle said.

The central Queensland cities of Gladstone, Bundaberg and Gympie are all experiencing widespread flooding.

There have been dramatic rescues across the region, including in Gympie where the mayor says people had been rescued from rooftops.

There are grave fears for at least one man who remains missing after trying to cross a flooded creek near Gympie on Sunday morning.

Residents of north Bundaberg are being ordered to leave their homes immediately, the ABC reported at midday (AEST), with fears 300 homes will flood and those that don't to be left isolated.

Some residents in south and east Bundaberg also being told to leave, the ABC said.

The Queensland government has asked for army helicopters to be sent in to help, the ABC reported.

And Premier Campbell Newman has called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to say the state will need help to deal with a crisis spanning many communities simultaneously.

Mr Newman said it was highly likely the army would be called on for more support, particularly in the clean-up phase.

"I know she and her government will provide the support we need," Mr Newman told reporters in the tornado hit community of Bargara near Bundaberg.

"The challenge now is that we've got multiple events going on."

In the central Queensland city of Bundaberg, residents are braced for the Burnett River to peak at levels higher than in 2010/11, when floods caused significant damage to the city.

Up to 200 homes and 100 businesses are expected to flood, and evacuations are being ordered in north Bundaberg, with some residents in the south and east also being told to head to evacuation centres.

At Gympie, south of Bundaberg, residents have been rescued from rooftops, Mayor Ron Dyne told AAP.

And the search is continuing for a 27-year-old man who was swept away while trying to cross the Widgee Creek near Gympie. His two companions were rescued.

The Mary River is expected to peak at 17 metres - just shy of levels reached during floods that devastated the region in 2011.

The river is so swollen that it looks more than a kilometre wide, Gympie local Suzanne Chapman told AAP.

"We're not far off from starting to evacuate," said Ms Chapman, who works at the Royal Hotel in Gympie.

"The sports bar will get a metre or so of water if the river stops at 17 metres but if it goes higher the restaurant will go under. The power hasn't been cut yet but we've been told it might be soon."

At Gladstone, floodwaters appear to be dropping but 900 homes have been evacuated in low lying areas.

And there are reports of homes flooded to their ceilings at Baffle Creek, between Gladstone and Bundaberg.

The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a Queensland-wide catastrophe.

Severe weather is now affecting the Sunshine Coast, and the Moreton Bay Regional Council areas north of Brisbane, causing severe beach erosion and three to four metre swells.

Brisbane city is also being lashed by cyclonic winds gusting above 120kph, and the city's disaster co-ordination centre has been activated.

There are already reports of localised flooding in Brisbane, including in Bayside suburbs.

***********************************************

Evacuation order for north Bundaberg

NORTH Bundaberg is being evacuated after the Burnett River broke its banks.

A disaster declaration now covers most low-lying suburbs of the central Queensland city, giving authorities the power to enforce mandatory evacuations if people refuse to leave.

North Bundaberg residents have been told they have a very short window to get out, with up to 100 homes and businesses already flooded there, the ABC reports.

Several properties have also been inundated in the city's east - some of them the same ones that were hit during the city's 2010-11 floods.

The Burnett River is now expected to peak at 9 metres - well above the levels recorded during the 2010/11 floods.

Evacuation centres have been set up for those forced to leave their homes.
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110. AussieStorm 3:44 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Bluestorm5:
Ugh, nothing scares me more than snakes...

opps, I hope I didn't scare you.
Member Since: September 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13351
111. AussieStorm 3:44 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Floods likely to isolate hundreds in NSW

MORE than 500 people are expected to be isolated by floodwaters in northern NSW as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald brings damaging winds and heavy rain to the state.

A severe weather warning was issued for the Northern Rivers, the mid-north coast, Northern Tablelands and parts of the Hunter and North West Slopes and Plains on Sunday as Oswald slowly moved south from Queensland.

State Emergency Service (SES) spokesman Phil Campbell said two motorists had already been rescued from floodwaters on Sunday, with one person caught in their car near the border at Tenterfield and another trapped further south at Grafton.

Meanwhile at around noon (AEDT) a Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) helicopter was helping the SES move campers who had been surrounded by floodwaters near Grafton.

"The initial concern for us will be the potential for flash flooding and the potential for people to get themselves into trouble," Mr Campbell told AAP.

More than 400 SES volunteers were stationed in the north of the state with warnings that Oswald was likely to bring damaging winds of up to 110km/h.

"That wind velocity can cause damage to property and bring down trees and power lines," Mr Campbell said.

"There is also some potential for local destructive winds in the Northern River region."

Once the rain sets in, Mr Campbell said the SES will be monitoring the state's main rivers with moderate to major flooding expected.

On the Bellinger River at Thora in the state's north, a minor flood warning is in place and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is warning that a further 150mm of rain could fall over the next day or two.

Mr Campbell said this was expected to cut off more than 500 people in rural properties slightly upstream at Darkwood.

"They will be isolated for a couple of days so we have asked them to stock up," he said.

The wild weather is expected to move further south on Monday, with strong winds and downpours forecast for Sydney, the SES said.

Motorists travelling on the state's mid north or far north coast are being urged to take extreme care, with reports of heavy rainfall, debris and reduced visibility at some local roads, the NSW Transport Management Centre said.

"Additionally, heavy holiday traffic is also being experienced on the Pacific Highway for motorists travelling southbound approaching the Hexham Bridge, in Newcastle," it said in a statement.
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112. etxwx 3:45 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Tonight's wolf moon just after sunset:
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113. Some1Has2BtheRookie 3:48 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting AussieStorm:


I think we have 10 of the top 15 most deadly snakes in the world here. So it doesn't really matter, if you're bitten by a snake, you'll probably die from it unless you're given anti-venom.

Also, that snake is probably a King Brown Snake, King Browns are northern Australian, the Brown Snake is a southern Australian.

This is a fully grown King Brown Snake.



This is a fully grown Brown Snake.


Not just snakes, Aussie.

This little guy has a reputation of its own. The Funnel Web spider



Along with this friendly face. The RedBack spider.



Then there are these little sea creatures. Such as the Box Jellyfish.

Box Jellyfish

Australia is on my bucket list, but I think I will get a native guide. ... I wish Steve Irwin was still with us. I loved his shows and his attitude.
Member Since: August 24, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 4102
114. AussieStorm 3:52 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Some1Has2BtheRookie:


Not just snakes, Aussie.

This little guy has a reputation of its own. The Funnel Web spider



Along with this friendly face. The RedBack spider.



Then there are these little sea creatures. Such as the Box Jellyfish.

Box Jellyfish

Australia is on my bucket list, but I think I will get a native guide. ... I wish Steve Irwin was still with us. I loved his shows and his attitude.

His Daughter, Bindi and Son, Jack, Are just like him. Yeah We all miss him too.
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115. HadesGodWyvern 3:54 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
look at those fangs.. :o
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116. AussieStorm 4:00 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Blue Ring Octopus



Stone Fish



Tiger Snake



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117. AussieStorm 4:02 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting HadesGodWyvern:
look at those fangs.. :o

As always, the female is worse than the male.
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118. Some1Has2BtheRookie 4:05 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting AussieStorm:

His Daughter, Bindi and Son, Jack, Are just like him. Yeah We all miss him too.


I wish Steve would have listened to his own instincts. He said he knew the land creatures and their moves and his reflexes were fast enough to get out of the way when he is land. He said that he did not know the marine creatures as well and knew he would be too slow in the water to avoid their attacks.

I had heard that Bindi and Jack were continuing their dad's work. Good for them! I wish them both the best of luck in their pursuits in life. I hope their dad gave them an important lesson. Do not work outside of your area of comfort and expertise when working with wild animals. How sad that is no longer with us. He was known and loved the world over.
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119. etxwx 4:05 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Here's a pic from this spring of one of our local snakes, commonly called a black or rat snake. (non-poisonous) This one was about a 6 footer and had thoroughly woven himself into the bird netting over my blueberry bush. It took me about 15 minutes to un-weave him and then I let him go out near the woods. The next day he was back and had woven himself into the net again! I disentangled him one more time and gave him a severe talking to before I let him go. He stayed away. We also have rattlers, copperheads, and cottonmouths here, but I'm not near so understanding with them.
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120. PedleyCA 4:07 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Afternoon Aussie, Good Night Everyone Else. Stay Safe - Stay Warm - Sleep Well.
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121. Some1Has2BtheRookie 4:10 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting etxwx:
Here's a pic from this spring of one of our local snakes, commonly called a black or rat snake. (non-poisonous) This one was about a 6 footer and had thoroughly woven himself into the bird netting over my blueberry bush. It took me about 15 minutes to un-weave him and then I let him go out near the woods. The next day he was back and had woven himself into the net again! I disentangled him one more time and gave him a severe talking to before I let him go. He stayed away. We also have rattlers, copperheads, and cottonmouths here, but I'm not near so understanding with them.


We have all 4 of the deadly snakes in Texas and I have seen them all. Face to face. The Copperhead is the hardest to spot. It blends in perfectly with its background.
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122. etxwx 4:23 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Some1Has2BtheRookie:


We have all 4 of the deadly snakes in Texas and I have seen them all. Face to face. The Copperhead is the hardest to spot. It blends in perfectly with its background.


Oh, I forgot about the coral snake . I dang near stepped on the coral snake lookalike milk snake (Scarlet king snake) one night this fall. I had to stop and quickly think of the rhyme:
Red and yellow kill a fellow,
Red and black, venom lack.





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123. AussieStorm 4:25 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting PedleyCA:
Afternoon Aussie, Good Night Everyone Else. Stay Safe - Stay Warm - Sleep Well.

Good Afternoon.

Sydney Radar....



Brisbane Radar....



Australia View.....

Member Since: September 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13351
124. Astrometeor 4:31 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting etxwx:


Oh, I forgot about the coral snake . I dang near stepped on the coral snake lookalike milk snake (Scarlet king snake) one night this fall. I had to stop and quickly think of the rhyme:
Red and yellow kill a fellow,
Red and black, venom lack.







Never heard that one, I learned it
Red and yellow, deadly fellow.
Red and black, friendly jack.
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125. mitthbevnuruodo 4:34 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting AussieStorm:

His Daughter, Bindi and Son, Jack, Are just like him. Yeah We all miss him too.


One thing I do also love about the UK...lack of deadly spiders! Growing up with black widows everywhere (and supposedly scorpions and tarantulas [I know all tarantulas aren't deadly] but never saw nay of those) I hate poisonous spiders. Here, I let pretty much the daddy long legs live free...garden variety spiders that look scarier will take outsoide etc...don't mind spiders if I know they're not totally lethal! Have adders here...never seen one, though apparantly can be found round here. Never saw anything but red racers growing up though (though did find BIG non-red racer snake skins in the yard occassionally!).

Anyway, this storm Dr Master is talking about in the blog, must be bringing this wild weather right now. Have had below feezing temps the last week, winter wonderland at my place all the last week, and so pretty. But last night the rain and milder weather came in and started to melt it all (causing a glacier effect on the high elevation, sloping farmland around my place, funky!)...and tonight driving home from work...never had heavy wind and constant, proper torrential driving rain all the way home for my 35-40 minute drive from work. You usually go through a few heavy spells, but was all the way and just mad. My daughter said she surely heard thunder earlier in the night too. All the snow gone now boohoo! But wow, even wild for here, and this super heavy rain with all the snow melt, probably will be very bad in the valleys. The warm front hitting the cold air is causing soem very heavy...been moving inland from last night...already changed to rain here by the time was off work Fri night, but was snowing good on the way to work Fri in front of the warm front...but even colder east and has apparently been as mess as they didn't warn people what happens when a wet warm front collides with the very cold air...lots of snow at first, as those in the US know!
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126. AussieStorm 4:35 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Astrometeor:


Never heard that one, I learned it
Red and yellow, deadly fellow.
Red and black, friendly jack.


Red touches yellow,
dangerous fellow.
Red touches black,
friend to Jack.

or

Red on Black,
Friend of Jack.
Red on Yellow,
Watch out, Fellow.
Member Since: September 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13351
127. mitthbevnuruodo 4:41 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting etxwx:
Here's a pic from this spring of one of our local snakes, commonly called a black or rat snake. (non-poisonous) This one was about a 6 footer and had thoroughly woven himself into the bird netting over my blueberry bush. It took me about 15 minutes to un-weave him and then I let him go out near the woods. The next day he was back and had woven himself into the net again! I disentangled him one more time and gave him a severe talking to before I let him go. He stayed away. We also have rattlers, copperheads, and cottonmouths here, but I'm not near so understanding with them.


My first pet snake was a rat snake...and was a lil' brat!!! Very aggressive and would somehow nudge out of the terrarium! Took him back to the pet shop and got a ball python instead who was awesome...awwww, was a special lil' guy, always miss that reptile and tell my daughter about him 20 years later! (gave him to a friend when who really fancied him when I moved from California to Colorado...they hit it off too at least, what a cool snake he was and very clever)
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128. AussieStorm 4:46 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Friendly or Deadly??

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129. Wunderwood 4:54 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Has this site been purchased by Animal Planet?
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130. etxwx 4:59 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Wunderwood:
Has this site been purchased by Animal Planet?


LOL, just kind of a lull in the weather I guess.

I'm out for the rest of the evening, hope everyone has a good night.

I guess I'll be counting snakes instead of sheep tonight. :)
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131. TomTaylor 4:59 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
First half of February should be cold across much of the East, especially for the northern half (northern planes across the Great Lakes and into the NE). The polar vortex which is pretty much nonexistent at this point will reform along the backside of an amplifying ridge around Alaska. This will send a nice, fat longwave trough into the East, keeping temperatures below average across the region. The greatest cold (relative to the anomaly) will be in the northern half of the east half of the nation. The SE and South will also be cold for the first week of February. By the second week, however, the SE and South could be looking at above averarge temperatures, as resistance to the longwave trough (ridging) develops in the South. Hard to say how much ridging this region will see at this point because it depends on how the troughing situation evolves beneath the high latitude blocking going on in the Pacific NW and Alaska region.

Here are some different solutions for the 500mb pattern over NA in 300hrs

12z GEFS @300hrs



12z Canadian Ens @300hrs




00z GEFS @300hrs

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132. Doppler22 5:47 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
it may be close to 1am where I am... but i cant sleep :/ sooo I figured I'd jump on... How did u guys start talking about snakes/spiders?
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133. Skyepony (Mod) 6:11 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
This is 94S

Here's the cloudsat. Click boxes 14 & 15.

Heavy rains in Zimbabwe have seen many people losing their lives and homes. Some villagers expressed shock at the insensitivity of authorities who have turned a blind eye to their plight. For example Tinevimbo Beni, who lives in Mawale village lost two children when the room they were sleeping in caved in. "We have not received any help from any quarter so far. We were hoping that we would receive some sort of assistance," said Beni, standing next to the room where her children perished. "I would like to rebuild my homestead." Another villager Mboneni Sibanda also lost her only two-roomed house which was completely flattened. She, however, escaped harm as she went to seek shelter at a neighbour%u2019s homestead before the house collapsed. In Mawale village alone, more than 15 homesteads were destroyed. Other affected areas include Tshasvingo, Tshitulipasi and Chikwalakwala. Heavy rains started pounding the area on Friday last week and only abated on Tuesday. Beitbridge district administrator Simon Muleya, who also heads the local Civil Protection Unit (CPU), said they had not turned a blind eye to flood victims, but were merely prioritising help to the most affected areas.
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134. Skyepony (Mod) 6:14 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Flooding from the Atlantic low.

Large areas of Wales have been hit by flooding as emergency services dealt with hundreds of calls. Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and parts of southeast Wales all suffered floods after a warning of localised flooding was issued by the Environment Agency Wales on Friday night. And there was a further warning of more rain to come, with Wales set to be among the areas worst affected. Chris Burton, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said temperatures could rise to around 8C today before reaching more than 10C in the south tomorrow, followed by wet and windy weather next week. He said: "Heavy rain will fall across most parts of Britain tonight and into tomorrow morning. "The worst affected areas will be the west of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which will see up to an inch of rain overnight. "Combined with rapid melting snow it brings a risk of localised flooding." Aled Edwards, 25, of Rhydargaeau, travelled to Llanddowror, Carmarthenshire, on Friday night as a voluntary member of 4x4 Response Wales to help householders caught in the floods. He said: "The water seemed to be running down from the mountains behind the houses. It was just gushing down into these houses. In some places it was 3ft to 4ft deep with water." One homeowner told Aled the floods were the "worst he had ever seen" in the area, while others spoke of the damage to their properties. Aled said: "I spoke to one guy there who said he had almost finished a new build there, and the floods had set him back quite a bit."
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135. Civicane49 6:23 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
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136. trHUrrIXC5MMX 6:38 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Doppler22:
it may be close to 1am where I am... but i cant sleep :/ sooo I figured I'd jump on... How did u guys start talking about snakes/spiders?


yeah...can't sleep either... I'll be here for a little while
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137. hydrus 6:42 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Gaboon Viper....WIKI.....-GaboonViper.Bitis gabonica, commonly known as the Gaboon viper, is a venomous viper species found in the rainforests and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. This is not only the largest member of the genus Bitis, but also the world's heaviest viperid, and it has the longest fangs (up to 2 inches), and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate race described here.

The species is also commonly known as butterfly adder, forest puff adder, or swampjack.Pic wont show darn it...
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138. hydrus 6:46 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
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139. hydrus 6:58 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
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140. Some1Has2BtheRookie 6:58 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting AussieStorm:
Friendly or Deadly??



That depends. Do heart attacks count?

Added

"The red-bellied black snake is somewhat less venomous than many other Australian snakes, but you're more likely to come across it in urban areas and its bite is certainly no picnic, causing significant illness and requiring medical attention.

Red-bellied blacks are one of the few large venomous snakes still found in the Sydney region, and at 2m-long are capable of eating other snakes. They are not particularly aggressive and will escape from humans if possible, but when threatened will flatten their bodies and hiss loudly.

The venom causes blood-clotting disorder and muscle and nerve damage, enough to knock you off your feet, but rarely deadly. No deaths have been confirmed from bites by this species."

Source
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141. OracleDeAtlantis 7:04 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13:
If you've not been outside to see the moon yet, and are in a position to actually, physically see it (clear skies), then I suggest going to look at it. Tonight's full moon is what they call a Full Wolf Moon. It's nothing rare, but still interesting to look at.

Reminds me of that cute Volvo commercial ... implying I suspect, that the vehicle can handle any sort of road conditions.
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142. HadesGodWyvern 7:52 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Fiji Meteorological Services
Tropical Disturbance Advisory #31
TROPICAL CYCLONE GARRY, CATEGORY ONE (09F)
18:00 PM FST January 27 2013
======================================

At 6:00 AM UTC, Tropical Cyclone Garry (995 hPa) located near 23.2S 158.0W has 10 minute sustained winds of 35 knots. The cyclone is reported as moving south southeast at 10 knots. Position fair based on hourly GOES visible imagery and peripheral surface reports.

Gale Force Winds
================
70 NM from the center in northwest quadrant
90 NM from the center elsewhere

Overall organization has not changed much past 24 hours. Deep convection displaced to southeast of partially exposed low level circulation center. System lies east of an upper shortwave trough in a high sheared environment. Outflow good in southeast quadrant of system but restricted elsewhere. Sea surface temperature is around 27C. Dvorak analysis based on 35nm sheared distance from deep convection edge, yielding DT=2.5. MET=2.0 and PT=2.5. Final Dvorak number based on DT.

Dvorak Intensity: T2.5/3.0/S0.0/24 HRS

Global models have picked up the system and move it southeastwards with gradual weakening.

Forecast and Intensity
======================
12 HRS: 25.2S 156.0W - 35 knots (CAT 1/Tropical Cyclone)
24 HRS: 27.8S 152.7W - 30 knots (Tropical Depression)
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143. HadesGodWyvern 7:52 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Mauritius Meteorological Services
Tropical Cyclone Advisory #5
DEPRESSION TROPICALE 07-20122013
10:00 AM RET January 27 2013
=====================================

At 6:00 AM UTC, Tropical Depression 07R (1000 hPa) located at 13.6S 63.4E has 10 minute sustained winds of 30 knots. The depression is reported as moving west at 6 knots.

Near Gale Force Winds
======================
60 NM from the center in the eastern semi-circle

Dvorak Intensity: T2.5/2.5/S0.0/24 HRS

Forecast and Intensity
=======================
12 HRS: 14.3S 61.1E - 30 knots (Depression Tropicale)
24 HRS: 14.8S 58.8E - 30 knots (Depression Tropicale)
48 HRS: 15.1S 54.8E - 35 knots (Tempête Tropicale Modérée)
72 HRS: 15.9S 52.1E - 50 knots (Forte Tempête Tropicale)

Additional Information
==========================
For the last 6 hours, pattern of the system has few evolved. First visible satellite pictures show a partially exposed low level circulation center south of convection that is rejected northward due to moderate southerly vertical wind shear (estimated at 9 knots thanks to 0000z CIMSS data). OSCAT data of yesterday evening and 0350z SSMIS f18 (curved band on 0.3 wrap) suggest that near gale force winds exist in the eastern semi-circle.

System keeps on tracking westward to west southwestward on the northern edge of the low level subtropical high pressures.

Available numerical weather prediction models are in rather good agreement for the forecast track. System is expected to keep a west southwestward track throughout the next 72 hours (ARPEGE-ALADIN suggest a few more southwestward track). Over this forecast track, the upper level southeastern vertical wind shear is expected to strengthen progressively within the next hours, and to keep on being unfavorable until monday late or tuesday morning. So a significant deepening seems not likely for the next 36 hours.

Tuesday and Wednesday, environmental conditions are expected to improve aloft as vertical wind shear decreases. Low level convergence remains very good within the same period, on the both sides. Therefore, system is expected to regularly strengthen and to undergo the steering influence of the mid-level ridge existing in its east northeast

After Wednesday and up to the end of the forecast range, system is expected to slow down and re-curve south southwestward along the eastern Malagasy coastline.
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144. trHUrrIXC5MMX 7:55 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    

__________________________________________

As long as there is contact, forget about the rest...

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145. jamesrainier 7:58 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
**Edit: Link at the bottom is of the 2011 floods! Current flooding is showed in a video montage at the top of this page. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-27/live-wild-w eather-queensland-calls-in-army/4486270

Before and after Queensland flooding pictures. http://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/qld-floods/

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146. FLWaterFront 8:02 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting AussieStorm:


Um........ That is not a stick, that is a very deadly Brown Snake seeking refuge on the window of a flooded car. A bite from that snake, you'll be dead within an hour.

Photo courtesy of State Emergency Service Queensland


Australia has no shortage of snake species which are capable of producing death quite quickly.

Along with the Funnel Web spoidah (er.. spider) in the Sydney suburbs, these snakes make it imperative that one always be conscious of where feet and hands are touching or reaching at all times when in Oz.
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147. trHUrrIXC5MMX 8:17 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
HAWAII WEATHER REPORT... 81 UPDATED
_______________________________

Heavy rains for Hawaii in the upcoming week..
Sorry, I noticed I did lots of spelling errors...so it's now fixed.


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148. trHUrrIXC5MMX 8:19 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Big wintry mess in the Chicago area
Winter storm Luna (really...moon??)

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149. Civicane49 8:28 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
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150. Civicane49 8:32 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting trHUrrIXC5MMX:
HAWAII WEATHER REPORT... 81 UPDATED
_______________________________

Heavy rains for Hawaii in the upcoming week..
Sorry, I noticed I did lots of spelling errors...so it's now fixed.




Did you mean the island of Niihau when you wrote Nihue?

BTW, thanks for posting this.
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151. trHUrrIXC5MMX 8:39 AM GMT on January 27, 2013    
Quoting Civicane49:


Did you mean the island of Niihau when you wrote Nihue?


yes... forgot that one.

No problem...love doing it
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Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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