Beautiful Day Ahead

Mostly sunny and much warmer by this afternoon with highs in the 60's.  We stay dry through much of the work week with a chance for 30% chance for rain by Thursday afternoon followed by a better chance for scattered showers by Friday and Friday night.  A clearing trend follows by the weekend.  High temperatures likely climb into the middle and upper 70's tomorrow and Wednesday.  Enough cloud cover arrives Wednesday afternoon to keep temperatures in the 70's (versus 80 degrees).

Morning Mix of Sun & Rain Gives Way to More Rain

Rain increases throughout the day and becomes widespread 

 

A strengthening low pressure system will move across the area today and tonight, causing widespread rain to develop.  The rain could end as a wintry mix early Sunday morning as temperatures fall into the middle and upper 30's.

Likely Just A Dusting For The Tri-Cities

 

Monday 8:04 pm

A weather system will arrive late tonight, well after midnight, with light snow showers possible for the morning commute.  Temperatures are only expected to fall to around freezing in the Tri-Cities tonight, so mainly just wet roads are expected.  However, a few slick spots will be possible on bridges and overpasses, especially just outside of the Tri-Cities where temperatures may be a few degrees colder.

There will be a good chance for accumulating snow over the mountains and higher elevations where one to two inches of snow will likely fall.  Isolated amounts of three inches will be possible across the higher peaks above 3500 ft.

A light wintry mix will continue throughout the day on Tuesday, however, no additional accumulations are expected as temperatures rise above freezing.  We will remain chilly though with highs in the upper 30's in the Tri-Cities.  Skies will gradually clear tomorrow night and temperatures will fall into the upper teens to around 20.

Looking for some warmth?  We will rebound back into the 60's by Friday and Saturday, however, the warmer temperatures will be accompanied by a good chance for rain.  Clearing skies will likely follow by Sunday.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Spring Begins Today

Compliments of the Huffington Post

( For more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/19/first-day-of-spring-2014-vernal-equinox_n_4994025.html )

Six weeks after Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, winter is finally over. The first day of spring, which falls on March 20, hints that higher temperatures are not far off.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox (or spring equinox) takes place in March when the sun passes over the celestial equator. This year, the sun will move across the invisible line between hemispheres on Thursday at 12:57 p.m. EDT.

Earth experiences the astronomical events we know as equinoxes and solstices four times a year. They signify the end of one season and the beginning of another.

Equinoxes occur in March and September and herald the spring and fall, while solstices -- in June and December -- indicate the beginning of summer and winter. While the people in the Northern Hemisphere welcome spring, people south of the equator enter autumn.

Here are some myths associated with the annual spring equinox:

The length of the day is equal to the length of the night.  Well, not exactly. Though some believe the day is just as long as the night on the spring equinox, it turns "days of day-night equality" take place just before the vernal equinox, National Geographic notes. Geoff Chester, a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Naval Observatory, explained that it all hinges on location.  "Exactly when it happens depends on where you are located on the surface of the Earth," Chester told National Geographic.

The spring equinox falls on the same day each year.  Not always. While the spring equinox tends to occur in late March, the exact date differs from year to year. This has more to do with the number of calendar days than the equinox itself. It takes the Earth slightly more than 365 days to complete one revolution around the sun. However, the Gregorian calendar rounds down to 365 days and does not account for the extra 0.256 days. So the vernal equinox may fall on March 20 several years in a row and occur on March 21 in a later year.

You can balance an egg on its end.  Sorry, but this egg-balancing trick is just a myth. Trying to balance the oval-shaped object is no easier on the spring equinox than it is any other day of the year. The Earth's axis does not help stabilize the egg.

You can balance a broomstick on its end.

Like the egg trick, a similar myth persists that a broom can stand on its own around the time of the vernal equinox. As Discovery News notes, the ability to balance a broom on its bristly end has nothing to do with the equinox.

Rain Arrives Late This Morning 

   

9:08 am Sunday

Rain will gradually arrive this morning with widespread, occasional light rain continuing through the early afternoon hours.  Notice a drier air mass with a lack of rain across parts of Mississippi this morning.  As that air mass moves our way, showers will become less numerous by mid to late afternoon.  Between a quarter of an inch of rain and a half inch is expected. 

Rain will redevelop across our region tonight and continue through at least the morning hours tomorrow.  The rain may mix with sleet across Smyth county in Virginia.  Some sleet and freezing rain will be possible across western North Carolina.  Only minor travel problems will be possible in these areas.

No travel problems are expected in the Tri-Cities and across much of southwest Virginia where temperatures will be well above freezing. 

Here's a look at 850 mb temperatures for Monday morning.  The colder temperatures that are needed to produce snow will be located across northern Kentucky, West Virginia and northern Virginia (reflected by the dark blue and purple colors).  So only a mix of sleet and rain is expected across Smyth county, VA.  Light rain and drizzle will continue likely Monday morning.  Skies will continue mostly cloudy Monday afternoon with a 30% chance for a few lingering light rain showers as highs hold in the 40's.

Two "Days of Greatness"

Look for mostly sunny skies today and tomorrow with afternoon temperatures around 60 degrees both days.

An approaching storm system on Sunday will increase cloud cover, southeasterly winds along with our chance for rain.  Down sloping winds will likely keep most of the widespread rain away until the afternoon hours on Sunday.

Strong Cold Front Blows In Later Today

Mild temperatures highlight the forecast for the first part our Wednesday.  Rain showers will gradually arrive this morning with conditions becoming very windy by mid day as the front approaches.  

 

A line of showers and thundershowers will likely move through around lunch time or early afternoon with winds likely gusting over 30 or 40 mph.  Even stronger gusts will be possible across the mountains of western North Carolina, northward into Smyth county in southwest Virginia.  

 

Temperatures will turn colder by mid to late afternoon, falling into the 30's by this evening with overnight lows in the 20's tonight.  Conditions will continue windy through tonight with wind chills possible as cold as around 10 degrees by Thursday morning. 

 

A light dusting of snow will be possible in the Tri-Cities by Thursday morning with up to an inch or two possible over the mountains.  Sunshine will return by Thursday afternoon, however, high temperatures will stay in the 30's.

More Big Swings For The Week Ahead 

                     Colder with flurries by Wednesday night   

 

Let's start with today:

                   Wake up...it may be an hour later than you think it is

You'll notice a few more clouds this morning.  With morning temperatures only in the 40's, highs will top out around 60 degrees.  Hope you enjoy your first of Daylight Saving Time!

The Nice Weather Continues...

Afternoon temperatures will continue to rise early this week with highs in the middle to upper 60's Monday and Tuesday.  

 Tuesday Afternoon 850 mb Temperature Graphic

A storm system will begin to develop across the Plains and into the Midwest.  The circulation around this system will pull a warmer air mass into our area (indicated by the yellowing color on this 850 mb temperature graphic).  Notice the purple and red colors across Canada which indicates a very cold air mass.  This will be pulled down behind the storm system into our region by Wednesday.

Thursday Morning 850 Temperature Graphic

Snow flurries will be possible Wednesday night into Thursday morning with afternoon temperatures likely staying in the 30's to around 40 degrees by Thursday afternoon.  Afternoon temperatures will moderate back into the 50's by Friday and Saturday.  Expect sunny to partly cloudy skies from Thursday afternoon through most of the weekend.

 

Have a great week (of Greatness!)

 

Signs of Spring

Birds of a feather...

Video time lapse with link to facebook below

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152052620424506&set=vb.71594569505&type=2&theater

 

Weekend Weather Forecast

It looks like today will be the better day of the weekend with afternoon temperatures in the lower 60's.  Tomorrow will be only a few steps behind today's nice weather as more cloud cover increases, a slight chance for morning rain along with slightly cooler high temperatures in the 50's.

Icy Travel Tonight/Friday AM Confined to North Carolina

Mainly Rain for the Tri-Cities, mixing with sleet at times

Rain will arrive late tonight in the Tri-Cities and continue through the morning hours on Friday.  The rain will mix with sleet at times, but no major travel problems are expected as low temperatures likely hold just above freezing.  Even if temperatures fall to 32 degrees, it will be brief and roads in the Tri-Cities will remain wet instead of icy.  Bridges and overpasses on side roads and across the TN mountains outside the Metro Tri-Cities could see a few slick spots develop, but most of the icy travel will be located across western North Carolina.

Sleet and snow will gradually develop across western NC tonight with one to three inches of the icy mix expected.  Overnight low temperatures will likely fall into the upper 20's to around 30 degrees and because most of the precipitation will be frozen, side roads could easily become snow and ice covered for Friday morning's commute. 

Very cold start this morning with temperatures in the teens

However we'll enjoy plenty of sunshine today with highs in the 40's.

Our warming trend will continue over the next several days pushing temperatures into the 50's later this week and into the 60's by Saturday.  A few rain showers will be possible by Thursday, however, no strong weather systems will be moving our way.  Enjoy the sunshine today!

 

 

Temperatures likely stay above freezing in the Tri-Cities until mid to late Monday morning

Icy Conditions likely stay limited to bordering counties of Virginia and Kentucky for early Monday morning with just wet roads in the TRI for commute time

Here's a look at the weather system as of 6:00 pm Sunday evening.  Temperatures well below freezing across the Ohio Valley and into the Midwest will be slow to arrive.  Temperatures will likely start off close to 40 degrees Monday morning before falling to around freezing by noon Monday.  However, travel will become icy just to the north of the TRI across southwest Virginia during commute time where several inches of ice and snow will be likely.  The precipitation will eventually mix with and then change to snow and sleet in the Tri-Cities (late morning to Noon) and a brief dusting will be possible as temperatures continue below freezing Monday afternoon.  Conditions will become slick at times late morning through mid afternoon for Monday in the Tri-Cities but nothing like the hazardous driving conditions that will occur across Kentucky, West Virginia and across parts of southwest Virginia.

Significant Mix of sleet, freezing rain and snow likely across southwest Virginia

Rain in the TRI likely changes to a mix before ending Monday

After enjoying an unseasonably mild Sunday afternoon with highs in the 60's for most locations, rain and cooler temperatures will begin to arrive tonight.  The image below shows most of the cold air holding to the north of the Tri-Cities and much of southwest Virginia by Monday morning.  Despite what I am reading in forecasts by the National Weather Service, temperatures in the Tri-Cities early Monday morning will be well above freezing and possible even in the lower 40's.  One NWS forecast has us in the middle 20's by noon but most guidance numbers indicate middle to upper 30's for the Tri-Cities with freezing rain, sleet and snow more of a concern for parts of southwest Virginia, including Clintwood, Wise and the Grundy/Richlands area.

(The dark blue and purple indicate the colder temperatures just above the surface where conditions will be cold enough for mainly snow across much of Kentucky into the Ohio Valley.  The light blue across southwest Virginia indicates temperatures that are not cold enough to support snow.  However, what you don't see here are near freezing temperatures along the Virginia and the Kentucky border that will that will cause rain to freeze as sleet or freezing rain as it reaches the ground.)