Minnesota Weather Creates New Records Spring 2012

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Cheryl Hanson

News from spring 2012 has created new records of warm weather across the midwest, and in parts of Minnesota, three days in a row created three separate warm weather records for Minneapolis and St. Paul.  Normal high temperatures for March 16-18 are around the freezing temperatures, and not the records of 81,80 and 79.  For today, March 19th 2012, the warmth continues, with temperatures forecast-ed for the middle 70s.

Spring 2012 will Rush the Summer Heat

Forecasts for the spring 2012 season are forecasting a rush of earlier than usual summer heat for the midwest, and edge of the rocky mountains, and east coast as well.  The lower sections of the Southwest and the Florida pan handle are experiencing normal temperatures, with the usual precipitation schemes.  Alaska is experiencing a longer winter season, due to the changes in the polar wind.  The spring 2012 season for Alaska in Fairbanks and Anchorage, is expected to break all snow fall records in the next few days.  The people in Alaska are used to cold temperatures and high snowfall amounts, but are complaining due to the large snow they have received.  It has been a brutal season for these hardy folks.

Spring 2012 will be Wet Closer to Summer 2012

With the addition of warmer temperatures, the dew point is higher in the plains and the midwest parts of America, with spring 2012 showing signs of higher precipitation periods towards the technical summer 2012 start.  The expectation is showing signs of a dry spring 2012, with the end becoming very wet and stormy.  High winds are expected during the times of waning moon phases, and will create a warmer than usual trend during this period of time.  When the moon is waxing to its fullest point, expect more precipitation and cooler temperatures.

Pests and Pollen in Spring 2012

With the earlier warm weather in Minneapolis and St. Paul, many residents are indicating symptoms of colds and runny noses.  This is in fact early allergies starting to show themselves, as trees and bushes are releasing large amounts of pollen into the air in spring 2012.  With this increase of temperatures, expect longer growing cycles for all plants and crops during this season, as a full freeze in parts of southern Minnesota will be doubtful.  A review of temperatures for the end of March shows no sign of averages to be below 40 degrees.

Rodents and other pests and bugs are showing up earlier, and the resident winter hibernators like possums and chipmunks are showing up earlier than ever expected before spring 2012.  The spring is highly developed in the Midwest, all the way up to Canada, with snow melting at a fast rate, with little to melt.   The area should show no flood participation with this heat wave.

Faster Warmth Will Create Storms in Spring 2012

All residents of the midwest and upper plains should be aware of the weather during the dinner hours, and be ready for strong storms to develop with the humidity levels and winds creating fast moving storms.  The forecast ahead, shows strong trends in April to continue this dinner hour storm path, from Oklahoma, to Tennessee, and northern plains.  Keep your weather radios on for the weird spring 2012 storms, as they will be unpredictable.

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Does the Siberian Weather with its Polar Wind Stream Affect North American Weather?

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Cheryl Hanson

The impact of global weather, particularly polar wind, is now only being considered, as the many areas of the world seem to be changing with the warmer and colder weather we have been seeing in the last few years.  It is often shown to be warmer in North America, when it is colder in Siberia and parts of Asia and Europe.  For the most part, the polar wind has shifted in a way in the winter of 2011-2012, that benefits warmer winter conditions for North America.  The lack of precipitation, colder winter days and nights, has been very evident for the winter of 2011 and 2012.

Polar Wind Stream is the Arctic Oscillation Effect

Polar Wind Impacts North America

Changes in the atmosphere are not always just based on pacific weather systems like El Niño or La Nina.  The Southern Oscillation Effect, or El Nino, is the pacific wind that impacts North America mostly in the winter, but it can impact a summer condition as well.  Blamed for weather in the west and the southern parts of America and Mexico, this warm water mass, can bring an impact on the jet stream, and how much moisture it travels across.

Similarly, in the polar wind stream or the Arctic Oscillation Effect, the winds are contained by the pressure variations around the northern polar cap.  When the pressures are positively phased, the coldest air is kept near the polar caps, or over the Siberian Deserts and Mountains.  The areas of Scandinavia and Northern Alaska see great precipitation and cold.

Eventually the Polar Wind Changes

As the positive effects of the arctic oscillation moves in a negative phase, the northern trade winds, push their moisture to the North American jet stream, and the wet, cold effect is felt.  The winter snows, and cold temperatures that this phase creates is a common effect that most of North Canada and that Northern United States have prepared for.  Alaska winters in this phase can be mild, and there will be more wet conditions across the Colorado and Nebraska Plains.

The change in negative phases recently, has ensured that their were more colder temperatures, but the fact that the soil temperatures have stayed fairly warm this winter during the Polar Wind positive phase, as shown that the remainder of 2011 and 2012 will be warmer than the 2010-2011 winter was in contrast.

Global Warming or Polar Wind Normal Oscillation?

So is this weird wind convergence the beginning of the global warming trend?  The fact is, we are currently at the warmest average temperature that has ever been recorded, with a new average of 1 degree of warmth in average global temperature.  The scientists that are predicting the global warming trend, see this as an a very ominous predictor of a warming trend to continue.  The fact that our population on earth continues to expand, and our limited resources are becoming visibly restricted in poorer parts of the world, shows that the growth of warming will continue.

Polar winds are only one part of the puzzle to predicting weather, but they are a great global predictor of dire weather changes in the near and long term of future weather impacts to come.

 

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Winter in Alaska 2011-2012 is a Doozy

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Cheryl Hanson

Winter in Alaska is always been a tricky and dangerous time for the largest state in America.  It is the time when most hardy Alaskans use their considerable extreme weather skills, and come up with ways to deal with the darkness and the cold.  The extreme of cold and snow this winter, in 2011-2012, has created havoc for the state, and even those who have years and decades in experience with winter are reeling from this winter.  The areas of the state are worth reviewing, because most of us in America have no geographic knowledge of where things are in the state. Here is the winter in Alaska map, with the current snowfall for today’s date, January 11, 2012.

Map of Alaska

 

Image courtesy of Lonely Planet

Winter in Alaska for 2011-2012

 

If you are looking for the cities that have been hit the hardest from the Winter in Alaska in 2011-2012, look no further than Cordova. To the east of Anchorage, they are experiencing over 18 feet of snowfall, and all of it in less than 30 days. Here in Minnesota, we have had no real snowfall, and many are saying that farmers will be experiencing drought conditions this coming summer.  The most hardy of Alaskans are used to the high snowfall totals, especially in cities like Cordova.  But, when fuel trucks and other energy providers cannot get through to ensure residents have energy to keep warm, the national guard must be called in to manage what is unusual, even for winter in Alaska.

Winter in Alaska Averages

Most cities in Alaska average from 70 inches of snow to 100 inches in the most heavy precipitation areas.  This is fairly common for temperatures that average around 10 degrees or less for the winter months, as all precipitation falls as snow.  The most snow that was received in Alaska was 560.7 in the winter of 1989-1990, and that was record snowfall for Alaska near the Thompson pass which is north of Valdez, and not heavily populated.  The areas that are receiving record snowfall, like Anchorage and Cordova are more populated, although Cordova is only a city of 2,000.

Alaska Snow Depth January 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of http://www.iditarodforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=100

So, it is not unheard of to receive feet of snow for days, but in the areas that are snowed in, and having some issues getting food, energy and assistance, it is troublesome for certain.  Having a plan, the cities are spending time removing snow from roofs that are having trouble with the weight of the snow, and there are many residents that are being careful to keep up with their snow fall amounts each day, keeping a path clear, and heading out to the roof.

Winter in Alaska Temperatures

As mentioned, Alaska stays well below freezing in winter.  There are not many days where the precipitation can arrive in the form of rain after the end of September.  The winter in Alaska always arrives with the jet stream changing paths from the southern United States, and dropping to the border of Canada and the U.S.  When this happens, the cold pockets of air that stay hovering over the North Pole drop further South, and the temperatures plummet.  There have been many below zero readings in this winter in Alaska, with below temps of 45 below zero not unheard of.

In this range, the winter in Alaska is harder than in recent years, and can be deadly if not properly prepared for.

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Halloween Storm Minneapolis 1991

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

Halloween Storm Survivors: Where Were You in Minnesota?

My Husband Mark Digs out a Car in 1991

Hearing the news about the 12 inches of snow in Colorado this week, and now the Halloween storm out east with over 20 inches of snow in some parts of the east coast, made me think of our large snow event in Minneapolis in 1991.  We were involved in a weird series of snow events that winter, that dumped over 28 inches of snow on us on Halloween, and made life generally a challenge for the next 6 months.

Halloween Storm in 1991 Was the Perfect Storm

We woke up on Halloween in 1991 to reports of rain that day, late, and a high of 60 degrees.  It was a really nice day, with temperatures reaching up into the middle 60s, with a brisk wind developing.  I was busy finishing my senior thesis that day, and worked steady inside until around 2pm, when I broke to take care of some of the leaves in the yard. There was alot of leaves that were falling, and I managed to get them all off the grass in an hour, and into the side section of our back yard, but not bagged.

Our Dog Keesha Before the Halloween Storm

We then went back inside, Keesha and I, and worked on getting ready for Halloween, and get the pumpkins ready for the trick or treaters.    I went back to work on my thesis, and kept working until the door bell rang, and kids were coming to visit for candy.  We noticed the temperatures had dropped quickly, and the kids were having trouble with the rain.  It was coming down pretty fast, and everything was quickly freezing.

The sidewalks and paths were really slippery, and local weather stations were starting to get giddy with the news of the storm coming our way.  We managed to welcome some very ambitious and happy trick or treaters, and then closed up the house with around 10pm, when we noticed big snow flakes coming down, and how slick the roads were getting by the cars bumping up on the sides of the road.

I went back to my thesis, and stayed up until 4am, working away, not looking outside, but focused on finishing my presentation for the next day.  I went to bed, and was woken by a phone call at 5am.  My coworker at the University of Minnesota was calling, and that was very unusual.  She was just letting me know that the University of Minnesota was closed, and it was due to the Halloween Storm.  I was confused, tired, but excitedly got up, and woke my husband, and we were shocked.

Our fall landscape was now a winter wonderland!  Welcome to the Halloween Storm!

Here is some information on this particular storm, which inspired the book and movie, The Perfect Storm, and sunk the legendary Andrea Gail, as it was occurring at the same time as our halloween storm.  The fact that the noreaster was there, at the same time as our storm, kept it spinning over minnesota, and created a record breaker we all will never forget.

Thanks to Paul Douglas on the Star Tribune for this really nice piece of data on the storm:

http://www.startribune.com/weather/blogs/Paul_Douglas_on_Weather.html

Thanks to Chad Merrill at Earth Networks for passing on the snowfall records. Remarkable.

* Click here for a great recap of the Halloween Superstorm from the Minnesota State Climate Office.

The Halloween Storm was Now Almost Over

We now had to deal with clean-up, and in Minnesota, if you do not clean up your snow, it will become a large frozen block of ice and will not be moved until the spring.  It was now November 1st, and on All Saints Day, we spent the day clearing snow.  The ice underneath the snow, was at least an inch thick.  It was a bumpy, irregular frozen river, underneath the snow.  The roads in Minneapolis and St. Paul were a wash board of bumpy and stuck ice, and they did not improve the entire winter.  The winter was here now, and we did have another large snow event on Thanksgiving weekend of this year, and it was really, a very long winter.

Covered Car in Minneapolis 1991

Our Home In Minneapolis Halloween 1991

Our Snowy Back Yard in 1991

The Halloween Storm was a storm we will never forget, and I know today, that there are people on the east coast dealing with their own version of this large wet snow storm, which will begin the winter for them, earlier than they would like.  Please share with our your experience if you lived in Minneapolis, St. Paul or Minnesota in 1991, as we ask: What is your Halloween Storm Memory?

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North Carolina Tornados Kill 40

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

The weather in the southeast has been deadly in the last 24 hours, and many stores, buildings and homes have been destroyed with wild tornadoes and straight line winds.

Over 40 people have been declared dead over the storms, which have been hardest hit in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Our prayers and wishes go out to all the hard working people in the area, who have been affected by these strong spring storms.

Keep your ears tuned to your weather radios, and stay in safe areas if there are reported watches and warnings, as the storms are still possible in the next 24 hours.

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Parts of Ohio Flooding, Indiana Tornados

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

Over the last 12 hours, parts of Ohio have experienced flooding, and torrential over flow of rivers and waters near the Ohio river.  As well, the state of Indiana, experienced the first strong spring storm of the year, with over three tornadoes touching ground, and numerous homes and buildings being damaged.

The flooding is expected to continue through the week, and based on current projections, the rivers and streams around most of the state of Ohio, should begin to subside no earlier than next week.  Be sure to keep close to your weather radios for the latest information if you are in this area, as the storms could be expected to populate with all the warm and cold front interaction.

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Record Winter Snowfall

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

At our house, it has been a wild winter ride!  On November 13th, we got a huge start to the snowy winter, with over a foot of snow.  It was an early storm for us in Minnesota, so it was heavy and wet.  If you are not used to snow, the heavy wet snow is the worst, as it takes lots of effort to move.

We had a tree lose a large branch, which is shown here, and we had to have the branches chopped up before it snowed again. The power went out as well, and we lost a full day of power.

I do remember in 1991, the halloween storm, and that was over 25 inches in a two day dump, starting on Halloween, and ending sometime on November 2nd.

Once the winter began so early, it is easy to see the snow pile up.  So far for this season, we have had over 87 inches here in our town, and it will continue, as the winter has been cold.  I do see some signs of spring, as we had one day on February 13th, where it was close to 50 degrees.  That was exactly three months of freezing temperatures, and it really has been a race to keep up with the snow.

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Spring is on Its Way

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

It is seemingly stuck in winter right now, but soon, the temperatures will climb, due to the increased amount of sunlight we receive in the Northern Hemisphere, this time of year.

With this increase, the sun is just as warm and intense, as it is in early August.  It is not long, before the end of March will yield to warmer days, with longer sun filled days.

That means, we could be on the edge of sleet, ice, and rain, during the early part of the transition from winter to spring.  In the midwest, the winter has been cooler and wetter, than ever, as it is in the top 10 snowiest of winters, since records began in 1870.

For your spring, look for the following signs, of things to come!

  • Increased bird, and squirrel presence
  • Hibernating animals, like the possum, or the ground squirrels, make an appearance.
  • Wild Turkeys gather around feeders, before mating season
  • Deer populations are often seen at dawn and dusk, as the snow begins to fade.
  • Wind speed increases, as the systems move through quickly on the jet stream
  • Storms are often quick and fast, and barometer dropping is increased and very volatile
  • Your cloudy days are numerous, then are replaced by quick and strong storms, with violent outcomes.

Spring weather, can be dangerous, so a weather radio is a handy tool to have around the home and office.  Keep aware of the situation, but briefly checking here.

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Winter Snow and Flooding

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

With all the snow we have received this winter, there is a real challenge ahead of us all, and it involves the threat for flooding.  Hopefully, over the next few weeks, we will see an increase of gentle temperature climb, as that can really help to keep the snow in its solid form, long enough for melt to work its way down the rivers and streams.

But, with all of the changes that have been made over the last 15-20 years in the outlaying agricultural areas, there is a danger of flooding, even without the snow fall.  If you can recall, the red river in Minnesota flows north, and it will be expected to flood the fargo morehead areas this spring, as it has since 1997.

The reasons are complicated, but, it does have to do with increased agricultural changes along the river, the outlaying areas of the fields and town river systems, and the general damming of the larger rivers, like the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.

 

If ever a project needs to be reviewed, the area around New Orleans, the delta region, needs to be analyzed for possible reasons why the land there has simply vanished.  If you review the Mississippi in its entirety, there should be some great information that will bring forward the fact, that this river needs to return to its natural flow, for at least a few months.

This could be catastrophic for those you rely on river management, and water access because of the management.  With everything, there is much sediment that is building up along these controlled areas, and it has created a monster with flooding threat.

Think about your neighbors, and keep an eye out for the threat ahead!

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February Record Snow

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Cheryl Hanson

February 20th Snowfall Prior Lake Minnesota

On February 20 and 21st, we had a record dump of snow, over 14 inches in total.  The snowfall record for the month of February was broken, and now there is a new record of 14.8 inches for any snowfall in February, in Scott County, MN  This beats the 10.4 inch record that was set in 2004.  And, added to the largest snow fall recorded for one day in  the month of February since 1913.

That being said, the record is set at 97 inches in 1983-1984, for the largest recorded snow count.  If we continue with our current kind of snow fall, we could very well beat the record for the snowiest winter on record in Minnesota.

That is a big deal, as the snow fall here is often close to 80 inches in one season, but rarely gets above 80 inches.  The average is around 55 inches, and recently, we had only around 35 to 40 inches of snow, in the previous 5 years.

Why is the snow so deep this year?  It could be said that the cooler pacific waters, have created a normal range of snowfall, and that the warmer waters of the last few years, have been slowly creating a form of a snow deficit.  If you believe the connection between an El Nino Year and a La Nina year, you can be sure to have a larger indicator to how snowy your season may be.

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