It was cold today - not much of a surprise to anyone who was outside even for just a minute. From inside the house or the car, that beautiful blue sky and abundant sunshine could sure fool you into thinking it was a short sleeve shirt day. But might it surprise you to know that the afternoon high of 41 degrees at the official observing site at the Birmingham airport was the fourth coldest day for 2005?
Yup, that's right. Looking over the records for 2005, there were only three days this year that had colder high temperatures than today. The five coldest highs this year included:
January 18 - 43 (also occurred on February 2)
December 9 - 41
January 29 - 40
January 17 - 38
January 23 - 34
And if our low overnight gets to 22 degrees, it will tie the fifth coldest low for this year. All of those lows were recorded in mid and late January roughly around the same time period as those cold highs.
And as James pointed out today, it doesn't look like we'll be seeing any significant warm-up in the near future as we stay under a fairly deep long wave pattern over the eastern half of the country. And that snow storm yesterday and today helped to expand the snow field to our north adding another cold factor to figure into future forecasts.
-Brian-
Having a Cold One
December 9, 2005, 10:33 pm
by Brian Peters
in General Thoughts
Right place, right time
December 9, 2005, 9:46 pm
Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time...
Riding on the City of New Orleans,
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders,
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail.
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles.
This familiar song was written by Steve Goodman. But it is familiar to most of us as a song recorded in 1972 by folk singer Arlo Guthrie. It plays through my head often, since I love trains. On Tuesday night, I was in Chicago. I had to travel to Kankakee, Illinois. No better way to go than by train. So I killed a couple of hours by going to the original Pizzeria Uno. If you have never had real Chicago deep dish pizza, you have not lived. No better place to get it than the original Pizzeria Uno. After dinner, I took a taxi to Union Station. The bank thermometer read 12F at the time. There I boarded The City of New Orleans, Amtrak train number 59.
The conductor came on over the PA system and made the announcements shortly after we pulled out of Chicago. He welcomed the famous Arlo Guthrie on board the train. I learned from other passengers that Arlo and his group had an entire car. I also learned that he was getting off at Kankakee, which was where I was going.
When I detrained in Kankakee, Mr. Guthrie was being greeted by a group of well wishers. I got to go up and shake his hand. It was quite an honor. He was on a fund raising tour on the famous train, raising money for the musicians of New Orleans, who have suffered mightily at the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.
More about the fundraising effort in tomorrow’s Weather Talk.
Riding on the City of New Orleans,
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders,
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail.
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles.
This familiar song was written by Steve Goodman. But it is familiar to most of us as a song recorded in 1972 by folk singer Arlo Guthrie. It plays through my head often, since I love trains. On Tuesday night, I was in Chicago. I had to travel to Kankakee, Illinois. No better way to go than by train. So I killed a couple of hours by going to the original Pizzeria Uno. If you have never had real Chicago deep dish pizza, you have not lived. No better place to get it than the original Pizzeria Uno. After dinner, I took a taxi to Union Station. The bank thermometer read 12F at the time. There I boarded The City of New Orleans, Amtrak train number 59.
The conductor came on over the PA system and made the announcements shortly after we pulled out of Chicago. He welcomed the famous Arlo Guthrie on board the train. I learned from other passengers that Arlo and his group had an entire car. I also learned that he was getting off at Kankakee, which was where I was going.
When I detrained in Kankakee, Mr. Guthrie was being greeted by a group of well wishers. I got to go up and shake his hand. It was quite an honor. He was on a fund raising tour on the famous train, raising money for the musicians of New Orleans, who have suffered mightily at the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.
More about the fundraising effort in tomorrow’s Weather Talk.
by Bill Murray
in General Thoughts
A Loss In The Family
December 9, 2005, 9:45 pm
It has come to my attention that word has spread that my father died recently.
Yes, James Max Spann, my father, died on Saturday December 3.
In reality, he died long ago.
He made the decision to walk away from me and my mom when I was a young child, so I really haven't known him for 40 years or so. When I got the call about his death, I was in Target with my 8 year old. I really didn't know what to think or feel. It was very strange.
That night, I drove to Clay county to speak to the Christmas dinner at Wellborn Cabinet. It was great being with a big group of believers that night, and the trip gave me the chance to reflect on his death.
Nobody on my dad's side of the family seemed interested in a funeral; seems like he chose to remove himself from the entire family. Instead of family life, he chose a life of booze and debauchery. Not once did he visit me after he left.
I did have the opportunity to speak with him about 12 years ago after I tracked him down. I wanted him to know he had no problem with me; I had forgiven him. God has forgiven me for all of my sins; I have no right to withhold forgiveness from him. That visit did not lead to any relationship; he was drunk during our conversation. I might have well been speaking to a brick wall.
I was hoping to share my faith with Max that day, but he did not have a sound mind.
I watch the end of the movie "Field of Dreams" and cry everytime. If only I could "have a catch" with my dad one more time.
He was creamated with no fanfare on Monday.
I understand he was a very good lumber broker; I have fond memories of visiting his office at W.T. Smith Lumber Company in Chapman, south of Greenville, where I grew up as a young child. I do remember Max taking me fishing on a number of occasions, and to the circus in Montgomery. I am thankful for that.
The death of my father also opened the door for many conversations with long lost relatives on his side of the family in recent days. I have many wonderful cousins, aunts, and uncles on the "Spann" side. People of integrity that have lived wonderful lives. I am sorry I have been so out of touch with them. Some of my most fond memories are playing with my cousins at Granny Spann's home in Chapman, which used to be a "company town" pretty much controlled by W.T. Smith Lumber and the McGowin family. The Chapman of my memories is long gone; it is now a sprawling complex owned by International Paper just of U.S. 31. I do want to go back on their grounds and look for signs of my childhood one day. I was raised in Butler county; it is a big part of who I am.
Anyone remember the old locomotive that sat on U.S. 31 at the turnoff to Chapman? I understand it is over at Troy State now.
I recently read the book "All Over But The Shoutin" by Rick Bragg. Rick is one of the first people I have met that really understands rural Alabama culture. Rick had serious issues with his dad, and he writes about it in the book. I know how he feels, I reckon.
I am thankful for a wonderful mother who made incredible sacrifices to raise me. We were only a family of two, but a great family.
I am not angry at my father, but I cannot honestly say I feel real sorrow in his death. He is a stranger to me. It didn't have to be that way, but it gives great motivation for James Max Spann Jr. to be a better father in the years to come....
Yes, James Max Spann, my father, died on Saturday December 3.
In reality, he died long ago.
He made the decision to walk away from me and my mom when I was a young child, so I really haven't known him for 40 years or so. When I got the call about his death, I was in Target with my 8 year old. I really didn't know what to think or feel. It was very strange.
That night, I drove to Clay county to speak to the Christmas dinner at Wellborn Cabinet. It was great being with a big group of believers that night, and the trip gave me the chance to reflect on his death.
Nobody on my dad's side of the family seemed interested in a funeral; seems like he chose to remove himself from the entire family. Instead of family life, he chose a life of booze and debauchery. Not once did he visit me after he left.
I did have the opportunity to speak with him about 12 years ago after I tracked him down. I wanted him to know he had no problem with me; I had forgiven him. God has forgiven me for all of my sins; I have no right to withhold forgiveness from him. That visit did not lead to any relationship; he was drunk during our conversation. I might have well been speaking to a brick wall.
I was hoping to share my faith with Max that day, but he did not have a sound mind.
I watch the end of the movie "Field of Dreams" and cry everytime. If only I could "have a catch" with my dad one more time.
He was creamated with no fanfare on Monday.
I understand he was a very good lumber broker; I have fond memories of visiting his office at W.T. Smith Lumber Company in Chapman, south of Greenville, where I grew up as a young child. I do remember Max taking me fishing on a number of occasions, and to the circus in Montgomery. I am thankful for that.
The death of my father also opened the door for many conversations with long lost relatives on his side of the family in recent days. I have many wonderful cousins, aunts, and uncles on the "Spann" side. People of integrity that have lived wonderful lives. I am sorry I have been so out of touch with them. Some of my most fond memories are playing with my cousins at Granny Spann's home in Chapman, which used to be a "company town" pretty much controlled by W.T. Smith Lumber and the McGowin family. The Chapman of my memories is long gone; it is now a sprawling complex owned by International Paper just of U.S. 31. I do want to go back on their grounds and look for signs of my childhood one day. I was raised in Butler county; it is a big part of who I am.
Anyone remember the old locomotive that sat on U.S. 31 at the turnoff to Chapman? I understand it is over at Troy State now.
I recently read the book "All Over But The Shoutin" by Rick Bragg. Rick is one of the first people I have met that really understands rural Alabama culture. Rick had serious issues with his dad, and he writes about it in the book. I know how he feels, I reckon.
I am thankful for a wonderful mother who made incredible sacrifices to raise me. We were only a family of two, but a great family.
I am not angry at my father, but I cannot honestly say I feel real sorrow in his death. He is a stranger to me. It didn't have to be that way, but it gives great motivation for James Max Spann Jr. to be a better father in the years to come....
by James Spann
in General Thoughts
54 Below Zero!
December 9, 2005, 5:15 pm
It happened a few nights ago in Northern Utah.
There is a spot up Logan Canyon that is a big depression but still over 8,000 feet elevation.
It is known as Middle Sinks. A natural geographic feature that invites cold air to settle in.
It is in the Wasatch Mountain Range east of Logan, Utah and about as far north you can go in Utah without being in Idaho.
Yep, 54 below zero!
I have camped close to it but never saw the exact spot. Our 3340 Weather Watcher, Todd Foisy, now with the NWS, Billings, Mont., has visited the site.
This spot once registered 65 below zero. That is only 4 degrees above the all time low of -70 for the Lower 48 which occurred at Rogers Pass, Montana in January, 1954. We visited Rogers Pass a few months later.
The city of Logan is located at the mouth of Logan Canyon. Home of Utah State University.
Sometimes, under certain weather conditions, very high winds will pour out of the canyon and fan out across the valley. This has happened often enough over the years that many of the trees in and around Logan are leaning toward the west. They grew that way because of the east winds.
We appreciate Matt Marshall, Layton, Utah, for letting us know about the -54. He is one of our E-Forecast subscribers.
There is a spot up Logan Canyon that is a big depression but still over 8,000 feet elevation.
It is known as Middle Sinks. A natural geographic feature that invites cold air to settle in.
It is in the Wasatch Mountain Range east of Logan, Utah and about as far north you can go in Utah without being in Idaho.
Yep, 54 below zero!
I have camped close to it but never saw the exact spot. Our 3340 Weather Watcher, Todd Foisy, now with the NWS, Billings, Mont., has visited the site.
This spot once registered 65 below zero. That is only 4 degrees above the all time low of -70 for the Lower 48 which occurred at Rogers Pass, Montana in January, 1954. We visited Rogers Pass a few months later.
The city of Logan is located at the mouth of Logan Canyon. Home of Utah State University.
Sometimes, under certain weather conditions, very high winds will pour out of the canyon and fan out across the valley. This has happened often enough over the years that many of the trees in and around Logan are leaning toward the west. They grew that way because of the east winds.
We appreciate Matt Marshall, Layton, Utah, for letting us know about the -54. He is one of our E-Forecast subscribers.
by J.B. Elliott
in Winter Weather
A Very Miserable Weather Report
December 9, 2005, 4:56 pm
That low pressure area that spread snow over a wide area, "bombed out" when it reached offshore New England today.
Very low pressure and very high winds, not to mention all the inland snow.
Look at this report from an offshore automated weather station this afternoon.
BUZZARDS BAY
Temperature 35. Wind NW averaging 68 mph with gusts to 79 mph. That is hurricane force counting the gusts!
Huge waves.
How would you like to be caught out there in a small rubber raft without a coat or hat?
Very low pressure and very high winds, not to mention all the inland snow.
Look at this report from an offshore automated weather station this afternoon.
BUZZARDS BAY
Temperature 35. Wind NW averaging 68 mph with gusts to 79 mph. That is hurricane force counting the gusts!
Huge waves.
How would you like to be caught out there in a small rubber raft without a coat or hat?
by J.B. Elliott
in Winter Weather
A Hard Freeze Tonight
December 9, 2005, 3:33 pm
The Friday afternoon map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Wow... check out the bomb off the coast at Cape Cod. Pressure down to 992 mb... Boston reports 32 degrees with a thunderstorm! Winds gusting to 61 mph at Nantucket... gusts to 45 at Providence. What a wild day in the northeast...
AROUND HERE: Cold is the word. We are really struggling to reach the low 40s this afternoon, and a hard freeze is ahead tonight. Most spots will drop into the 20 to 25 degree range, but the colder places could reach the upper teens. The weekend will stay dry and cold; a fresh supply of cold air drops in here on Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: The 12Z GFS looks pretty reasonable and is accepted for now. This will bring the best chance of rain in here on Wednesday, followed by yet another surge of cold air Thursday and Friday.
LONG RANGE: The AO and the NAO still suggest colder than normal weather, generally speaking, through the rest of December. I know there are a ton of snow fans that read this blog, and I can't give you anything specifically to hang your hat on at this point. But, the pattern sure favors one, maybe two snow/ice threats between now and the end of the month. Significant winter storms are pretty rare around here in December, but at least the elements are out there we need to make it happen.
Gotta wrap this up early... headed out for a live weather shot from the Birmingham Christmas Parade this evening at 5:00 and 6:00. Have a wonderful weekend and do something fun!
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
Wow... check out the bomb off the coast at Cape Cod. Pressure down to 992 mb... Boston reports 32 degrees with a thunderstorm! Winds gusting to 61 mph at Nantucket... gusts to 45 at Providence. What a wild day in the northeast...
AROUND HERE: Cold is the word. We are really struggling to reach the low 40s this afternoon, and a hard freeze is ahead tonight. Most spots will drop into the 20 to 25 degree range, but the colder places could reach the upper teens. The weekend will stay dry and cold; a fresh supply of cold air drops in here on Sunday.
NEXT WEEK: The 12Z GFS looks pretty reasonable and is accepted for now. This will bring the best chance of rain in here on Wednesday, followed by yet another surge of cold air Thursday and Friday.
LONG RANGE: The AO and the NAO still suggest colder than normal weather, generally speaking, through the rest of December. I know there are a ton of snow fans that read this blog, and I can't give you anything specifically to hang your hat on at this point. But, the pattern sure favors one, maybe two snow/ice threats between now and the end of the month. Significant winter storms are pretty rare around here in December, but at least the elements are out there we need to make it happen.
Gotta wrap this up early... headed out for a live weather shot from the Birmingham Christmas Parade this evening at 5:00 and 6:00. Have a wonderful weekend and do something fun!
This Was (and Still is) a Nice Snowstorm
December 9, 2005, 10:32 am
Here is a list of some snow depths this morning. It is wide ranging geographically and in no particular order. These were selected at random.
10 inches at Fort Wayne, Indiana
8 inches at South Bend and Indianapolis
7 inches at Carmel, Ind. (nice to know that we have a regular blog reader there)
6 inches at Bloomington
9 inches at Bronson in SW Lower Michigan
11 inches at Iowa City, Iowa
8 inches at Dubuque, Iowa
2 inches in Philadelphia
12 inches at East Stroudsburg, Pa., in the Pocono Mountains (beautiful area)
11 inches at York, Pa.
1/4 inch of ice across Louisa County, Virginia with trees and power lines down
2 inches at Jefferson N.C., a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain
4 inches at Lewisburg, W. Va., a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain
7 inches at Frostburg, Md.
4 inches at Hunt Valley, Md. (Baltimore County) now changed to freezing rain
10 inches at Fort Wayne, Indiana
8 inches at South Bend and Indianapolis
7 inches at Carmel, Ind. (nice to know that we have a regular blog reader there)
6 inches at Bloomington
9 inches at Bronson in SW Lower Michigan
11 inches at Iowa City, Iowa
8 inches at Dubuque, Iowa
2 inches in Philadelphia
12 inches at East Stroudsburg, Pa., in the Pocono Mountains (beautiful area)
11 inches at York, Pa.
1/4 inch of ice across Louisa County, Virginia with trees and power lines down
2 inches at Jefferson N.C., a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain
4 inches at Lewisburg, W. Va., a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain
7 inches at Frostburg, Md.
4 inches at Hunt Valley, Md. (Baltimore County) now changed to freezing rain
by J.B. Elliott
in Winter Weather
Most of USA Shivering
December 9, 2005, 8:36 am
A computer analysis shows that 81 percent of the land area in the USA has temperatures freezing or lower this morning. And, this is not even counting Alaska.
This was using 7 am reports and only the stations that report each hour.
At 7 am, the range was from 26 below zero at Gunnison, Colo., to a warm 76 at Marathon, Fla.
7% of the country had zero or lower at 7 am.
This was using 7 am reports and only the stations that report each hour.
At 7 am, the range was from 26 below zero at Gunnison, Colo., to a warm 76 at Marathon, Fla.
7% of the country had zero or lower at 7 am.
by J.B. Elliott
in Winter Weather
Black Ice!
December 9, 2005, 7:43 am
Watch out for black ice! There have been several ice-related accidents on Birmingham area roads this morning.
We call it black ice because it is a layer of ice covering parts of a street or highway that is so thin you cannot see it; in fact, the road just looks wet! That's what makes it so dangerous! Especially dangerous this morning are elevated sections of roads like overpasses and bridges.
Remember to slow down, and if the road looks wet, it's probably icy. Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you in traffic this morning, and if you start to skid, don't jerk the wheel in the other direction!
The black ice will melt away later this morning when temperatures rise above freezing and we get a little sun on the asphalt. Bundle up!
A December Chill
December 9, 2005, 6:51 am
The Friday morning map discussion video is on the server:
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
I must confess a sin last night... on the way home (around 11:00) I went through the Krispy Kreme drive through and bought a dozen doughnuts. I sucked down four of them before I got home. Boy those things are good late at night when they are so warm they melt in your mouth. Guess we all have to live a little
FUN FRIDAY: Check out these observations as I write this:
Washington National Airport: 30 degrees with freezing rain
Philadephia: 27 degrees with snow
New York City: 29 degrees with snow
Boston: 28 degrees with light snow
Check out the New York City traffic cams for the snow:
http://nyctmc.org/xmanhattan.asp
I notice Fort Wayne, Indiana is reporting 10 inches of snow on the ground this morning. That is quite a snow cover building to the north of us.
AROUND HERE: Cold air has returned. We are in the 20s this morning, and we will struggle to reach the low to mid 40s today. I would not be shocked if some spots north of here stay in the 30s through the day. The weekend will remain dry and cold; a new surge of cold air arrives on Sunday that will keep temperatures well below normal through early next week. We expect low 20s early tomorrow morning, with some teens possible for the colder spots.
NEXT WEEK: Quite a muddy forecast, and I don't like the way the models look, making for a low confidence forecast. The latest GFS scoots a short wave through here with a chance of rain late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Then, it suggests another chance of some light rain Thursday, followed by another shot of cold air at the end of the week. Guess we ride with this until we see a solution that is more clear cut.
LONG RANGE: Still looks cold for the rest of December. Cold and unsettled. Scroll down a couple of posts (below the Mississippi coast pictures) to see some "White Christmas" facts for Alabama. It simply doesn't snow much around here this time of the year. But, I still think we will have a hard time making it to the end of the month without one, or maybe two decent threats of snow or ice. The pattern favors it.
The GFS shows a variety of setups for wintry weather here through Christmas, but we sure don't trust any specific solution so far in advance. You can watch the video for the specifics... but teleconnections all seem to favor a cold pattern here. And, once again you can't ignore the snow cover to the north over much of the nation.
I will be speaking at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham today at midday, but will be in the office for the afternoon map discussion video by 3:30 p.m...
http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
I must confess a sin last night... on the way home (around 11:00) I went through the Krispy Kreme drive through and bought a dozen doughnuts. I sucked down four of them before I got home. Boy those things are good late at night when they are so warm they melt in your mouth. Guess we all have to live a little
FUN FRIDAY: Check out these observations as I write this:
Washington National Airport: 30 degrees with freezing rain
Philadephia: 27 degrees with snow
New York City: 29 degrees with snow
Boston: 28 degrees with light snow
Check out the New York City traffic cams for the snow:
http://nyctmc.org/xmanhattan.asp
I notice Fort Wayne, Indiana is reporting 10 inches of snow on the ground this morning. That is quite a snow cover building to the north of us.
AROUND HERE: Cold air has returned. We are in the 20s this morning, and we will struggle to reach the low to mid 40s today. I would not be shocked if some spots north of here stay in the 30s through the day. The weekend will remain dry and cold; a new surge of cold air arrives on Sunday that will keep temperatures well below normal through early next week. We expect low 20s early tomorrow morning, with some teens possible for the colder spots.
NEXT WEEK: Quite a muddy forecast, and I don't like the way the models look, making for a low confidence forecast. The latest GFS scoots a short wave through here with a chance of rain late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Then, it suggests another chance of some light rain Thursday, followed by another shot of cold air at the end of the week. Guess we ride with this until we see a solution that is more clear cut.
LONG RANGE: Still looks cold for the rest of December. Cold and unsettled. Scroll down a couple of posts (below the Mississippi coast pictures) to see some "White Christmas" facts for Alabama. It simply doesn't snow much around here this time of the year. But, I still think we will have a hard time making it to the end of the month without one, or maybe two decent threats of snow or ice. The pattern favors it.
The GFS shows a variety of setups for wintry weather here through Christmas, but we sure don't trust any specific solution so far in advance. You can watch the video for the specifics... but teleconnections all seem to favor a cold pattern here. And, once again you can't ignore the snow cover to the north over much of the nation.
I will be speaking at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham today at midday, but will be in the office for the afternoon map discussion video by 3:30 p.m...
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