Category: Elsewhere in Weather News

Elsewhere in Weather News: March 9th, 2013

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Australian Waters Remain Active

This past week, Australia and its surrounding waters have remained active as yet another cyclone has spun up – this time in the Coral Sea. Cyclone Sandy, currently located about 1,200km north-east of Queensland, Australia, is headed in an easterly direction with sustained category one hurricane winds of 120km/h. The cyclone is too far off coast to adversely affect the state of Queensland at this time.

Sea surface temperatures

Sea surface temperatures with forecast track/intensity and cone of uncertainty (purple) as of Friday night. (Source: CIMSS)

Cyclone Sandy’s route is expected to shift to a south-easterly direction this Saturday but there is much uncertainty as to its destination after the forecasted three-day track. Almost all models agree that Queensland will be spared from this storm, but the island of New Caledonia is still at risk for a direct landfall. This landfall could have a significant impact on New Caledonia as Sandy is expected to continue to strengthen. Before the cyclone weakens, there is a good possibility that it attains a category four level with sustained winds of approximately 180km/h due to sea surface temperatures being very warm (29°C). If the storm does manage to avoid New Caledonia by taking a southerly track, it’s likely that it will die off in the Tasman Sea and not affect populated areas.

Shear

Shear values in yellow, as of Friday night. Low shear environment will contribute to Sandy’s intensification. (Source: CIMSS)

Australia’s cyclone season runs from November 1st to April 30th. Currently they are at the peak of the cyclone season. On average, 11 cyclones affect Australia per year and the tally so far this year (including Sandy) has reached 8 cyclones – a normal count for this time of the year.

Elsewhere in Weather News: March 2nd, 2013

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Strong Cyclone Affects Australia, Temperature Records Tallied

This past week a cyclone, Rusty, formed off the coast of north-western Australia and quickly spun into a strong cyclone by Australian standards. The cyclone made landfall as category one by Saffir Simpson Scale standards, (rated category 3 by Australian Bureau of Meterology) and even though it brought hurricane force winds, it affected an area of Australia that is sparsely populated. This meant that not much damage was caused by Rusty and only some overland flooding was reported as well as about a hundred houses without power. As Rusty moved inland, heavy rains and high wind gusts were the main concerns; over 450mm of rain fell and gusts of 150km/h were experienced around and south of the area where Rusty made landfall. Rusty’s quick strengthening off the north-western was aided by unusually warm waters – near 31°C and only about ten knots of shear present at the time.

Rusty Flooding

Flooding in an area just south of where Rusty made landfall. (Source: @Sturap)

This week the Australian Bureau of Meteorology also announced that the warmest summer on record (records since 1910) occurred this past summer. Australia’s average temperature surpassed the normal by 1.1°C and 95% of the country had above average temperatures this summer. Birdsville, Australia which typically has an average high temperature between 35°C and 38°C during summer had 31 consecutive days above 40°C. It has truly been an impressive summer 2012-2013 temperature-wise for Australia!

Average temperature anomalies

Average temperature anomalies for Australia summer 2012-2013. Much of Australia above average. (Souce: BoM)

In other news, another significant blizzard went through the Southern US Plains bringing more short-term drought relief to the area. Some areas in north-western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle received over 35cm of snow. Blizzard conditions were in place as strong winds and heavy snow fell along the deformation zone of the low pressure system. Almost all roads in the Texas Panhandle were impassable because of large snow drifts, residents were urged to stay home. Weather in the Southern Plains will be fairly calm this weekend and at the start of next week; no significant precipitation accumulation is expected.

Elsewhere in Weather News: February 23rd, 2013

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Major Snowstorm Hits US Plains

Another trough digging through the southern half of the US this past week, caused trouble for travellers and residents of the Great Plains. Moist air from the Gulf of Mexico made its way north into Kansas which fell as freezing rain and snow ahead of the warm front. In the warm sector a line of thunderstorms, some severe, formed along the trough line that plowed through part of Texas and Louisiana.

850mb analysis

850mb analysis of early Wednesday morning. Heavy snow was already falling at this time. Highest accumulations circled in pink. (Source: Twisterdata)

Highway conditions quickly deteriorated after snow started falling and 150km of I-70 had to be shut down in Kansas due to many vehicle accidents. This system also prompted the closure of schools, delayed flights at airports or even closed airports such as the Kansas City airport. This same trough is to be blamed for suspending play at the PGA in Marana, Arizona where an uncommon sight could be seen; snow – about 4cm of it, covered luscious greens with cacti nearby in the background.

Snow affecting PGA

PGA golfers leaving the course while it’s snowing. (Source: AP)

Snowfall rates of 3-5cm/h were not uncommon for several hours in Kansas and Nebraska and contributed to significant snow accumulations. Highest accumulations were just below the two foot mark (60cm) in south-central Kansas with a good part of Kansas receiving over 20cm of snowfall. Most of the Southern Plains residents welcome any type of precipitation at this time however due to a severe/extreme drought is currently in place through much of the Plains (as talked about in last week’s EIWN). Last Thursday’s storm should at least make for slight improvements in the short term drought index but for longer range improvements the Plains need to get out of a persisting dry pattern.

Recent model runs show another major snowstorm, with as much as another foot of snow, Sunday night into Monday for the US Plains.

Elsewhere in Weather News: February 16th, 2013

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Tornado Hits Hattiesburg, MS

The Deep South in the United States experienced another round of severe weather this past Sunday as gulf flow brought moisture and other crucial ingredients –such as vertical wind shear and forcing– to the area, creating ideal conditions for the spawning if tornadic supercells.

The tornado that occurred late Sunday afternoon and travelled through Hattiesburg Mississippi (population 51,000) was the strongest tornado of the outbreak (total of 14 tornadoes) and caused the most damage. Rated as a low-end EF-4, the Hattiesburg Tornado made its way through the north-west side of the city. It tore off roofs, took down brick walls, and caused damage to the south end of the University Southern Mississippi campus. Two dozen injuries were reported and no fatalities occurred with this tornado, thanks in part to quick warnings issued by the NWS citing that there was a confirmed tornado heading towards the city.

Video of the Hattiesburg, MS tornado as it passed through the north-west part of town. (Source: Youtube – tarah106)

With these additional 14 tornadoes, the United States is running slightly above their tornado average of 73, with a current count of 103 tornadoes. All 103 tornadoes occurred in the Southern and Midwest US. What remains to be seen is how the peak tornado season will play out in April/May in Tornado Alley where they are currently experiencing significant drought. The lack of moisture in that area could impact the season’s typical storm activity.

NOAA graph

US (inflation adjusted) tornado percentile ranks, created by NOAA – SPC. (Source: NOAA)

Elsewhere, there has not been much extreme weather other than more hot temperatures for Australia and a weakening tropical cyclone Indian Ocean (Gino) which managed to reach category two earlier this week.