The most powerful low pressure system in 140 years of record keeping swept through the Southwest U.S. yesterday, bringing deadly flooding, tornadoes, hail, hurricane force winds, and blizzard conditions. We expect to get powerful winter storms affecting the Southwest U.S. during strong El Niño events, but yesterday's storm was truly epic in its size and intensity. The storm set all-time low pressure records over roughly 10 - 15% of the U.S.--over southern Oregon, and most of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Old records were broken by a wide margin in many locations, most notably in Los Angeles, where the old record of 29.25" set January 17, 1988, was shattered by .18" (6 mb). Bakersfield broke its record by .30" (10 mb). The record-setting low spawned an extremely intense cold front that rumbled thought the Southwest, and winds ahead of the cold front reached sustained speeds of hurricane force--74 mph--last night at Apache Junction, 40 miles east of Phoenix. Wind gusts as high as 94 mph were recorded in Ajo, Arizona, and a Personal Weather Station in Summerhaven (on top of Mt. Lemmon next to Tucson) recorded sustained winds of 67 mph, gusting to 86 mph, before the power failed. Prescott recorded sustained winds at 52 mph, gusting to 67 as the cold front passed, and high winds plunged visibility to zero in blowing dust on I-10 connecting Phoenix and Tucson. The storm spawned one possible tornado in Arizona, which touched down at 8:32 pm MST in Phoenix near Desert Ridge Mall. No damage or injuries were reported. If verified, it would be only the 7th January tornado in Arizona since record keeping began in 1950.
Figure 1. Radar reflectivity from the Phoenix Doppler radar at the time of the Phoenix tornado. The tornado touched down under the circle with a "+" inside it. The Doppler velocity image did not show any rotation to the clouds in the vicinity.
Some of the all-time low pressure records set in yesterday's storm:
Los Angeles, CA: 29.07", Old Record: 29.25", January 17, 1988
Eureka, CA: 28.90", Old Record: 28.91", February 1891
San Diego, CA: 29.15", Old Record, 29.37", March 3, 1983
Fresno, CA: 28.94", Old Record, 29.10", January 27, 1916
Bakersfield, CA: 28.94", Old Record, 29.24", February 3, 1998
Salt Lake City, UT: 28.94", Old Record, 29.00" April 2002
Reno, NV: 28.94", Old Record, 29.00", January 27, 1916
Las Vegas, NV: 29.03" Old Record: 29.17", December 1949
Phoenix, AZ: 29.22", Old Record: 29.32", May 18, 1902
Flagstaff, AZ: 29.13", Old Record: 29.15", February 7, 1937
Yuma, AZ: 29.15", Old Record: 29.37", September 12, 1927
Three tornadoes in California
Three tornadoes were reported in California yesterday. A small EF0 twister hit the east side of Ventura, leaving a 1.5 mile damage path. Another tornado hit Santa Barbara, downing trees and power poles. The most damaging California tornado yesterday touched down just west of Blythe, on the Arizona-California border, at 4:31 pm MST. The twister crossed I-10, blowing three semi trucks over, ripping the roofs off houses, and downing power lines. I-10 was closed for several hours to clear the debris and toppled trucks.
Two tornadoes also hit Southern California on Tuesday. A sheriff's deputy spotted a possible tornado in Goleta that caused some roof damage, and another tornado hit Huntington Beach, damaging boats and buildings and flipping cars.
If all five tornadoes are confirmed as genuine by the National Weather Service, it will tie the record of most January California tornadoes. The all-time record for most California tornadoes in a single day is seven, set on April 1, 1996, and November 9, 1982.
Figure 2. Radar reflectivity from the Los Angeles Doppler radar at the time of the Santa Barbara tornado.
Figure 3. Storm-relative radial velocity from the Los Angeles Doppler radar at the time of the Santa Barbara tornado. The area of yellow and orange colors, lying right next to a region of blues and greens just west of Santa Barbara shows that the winds in that region were moving towards and away from the radar in a very tight area, signifying the presence of a rotating thunderstorm and possible tornado.
The storm will continue to bring heavy rain and snow to many portions the Southwest today, then wind down on Saturday. A new storm is expected to move ashore over Northern California on Sunday night, but this storm will not be as intense. Another storm is also possible next Friday, January 29, but it appears that a renewed battering by a long succession of storms like we had this week will not occur next week.
Selected storm total snowfalls (in inches) from 7 am Sunday January 17, through 7 am PST Friday January 22:
...ARIZONA...
FLAGSTAFF 3.2 NNW 36.5
SUNRISE MOUNTAIN 29.0
FOREST LAKES 26.0
HEBER 21.0
PINETOP/LAKESIDE 4 ESE 20.4
ALPINE 20.0
CLAY SPRINGS 20.0
CLINTS WELL 19.0
KACHINA VILLAGE 18.6
WILLIAMS 16.5
PRESCOTT 7.0
...CALIFORNIA...
CHAGOOPA PLATEAU 73.6
SODA SPRINGS 63.0
SUGAR BOWL 61.0
LWR RELIEF VALLEY 50.6
KIRKWOOD 48.0
SQUAW VALLEY 47.0
SIERRA AT TAHOE 38.0
BIG BEAR CITY 37.0
...COLORADO...
DURANGO 24.0
PAGOSA SPRINGS 9 NW 24.0
SILVERTON 24.0
WOLF CREEK PASS 1 SSE 24.0
ABAJO 19.0
TELLURIDE 15.0
COAL BANK PASS 14.5
RED MTN 12.3
CREEDE 10 SW 12.0
SOUTH FORK 4 SW 12.0
MOLAS PASS 10.0
...NEW MEXICO...
JEMEZ SPRINGS 14.0
CHAMA 12.0
FARMINGTON 7 NE 10.5
AZTEC 8.0
BLUEWATER LAKE 11 WSW 8.0
BONITO LAKE 5 SW 8.0
FARMINGTON 7 NE 8.0
LUNA 8.0
KIRTLAND 2 ESE 6.0
MOGOLLON 6 ESE 6.0
RAMAH 6.0
BLOOMFIELD 3 SW 5.5
LOS ALAMOS 5.5
...NEVADA...
YUCCA FLAT 20.0
BERRY CREEK 19.0
BIG CREEK SUMMIT 16.0
DRAW CREEK 13.0
POLE CREEK R.S. 13.0
MT. POTOSI 12.0
ELY 8.3
WARD MOUNTAIN 8.0
CHARLESTON 6.0
...UTAH...
BRIGHTON CREST 35.0
ALTA/COLLINS 33.5
DEER VALLEY DALY WEST 28.0
PARK CITY JUPITER PEAK 28.0
BIG COTTONWOOD SPRUCES 19.0
SOLITUDE 17.5
SNOWBIRD 13.5
Selected storm total precipitation (in inches) from 7 am Sunday January 17, through 7 am PST Friday January 22:
...ARIZONA...
DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB/TUCSON 10.23
BLACK CANYON CITY 10 N 6.57
CROWN KING 6.50
SURPRISE 1 ESE 5.58
SUN CITY WEST 2 NNE 4.78
COTTONWOOD 1 WSW 4.63
SCOTTSDALE 5.5 NNW 4.21
NEW RIVER 5 ESE 4.05
WITTMAN 5 SW 4.05
PAYSON 4.01
PINE 1 SW 4.00
SIERRA VISTA 3.83
LUKE AFB/PHOENIX 3.58
CASTLE HOT SPRINGS 3.55
FLAGSTAFF PULLIAM AP 3.41
CLIFTON 2.96
WINSLOW 2.84
GILBERT 4 NW 2.74
CHANDLER 4 WNW 2.72
YUMA MCAF 2.43
PRESCOTT/ERNEST A LOVE FIELD AP 2.28
PHOENIX AIRPORT 2.21
TUCSON AIRPORT 0.52
...CALIFORNIA...
LOS GATOS 4 SW 14.70
CAZADERO 13.46
LYTLE CREEK 13.39
MINING RIDGE 13.14
PETROLIA 7 SE 12.17
BARTLETT SPRINGS 11.23
LAKE ARROWHEAD 11.23
ALTADENA 1 ESE 11.14
CLOVERDALE 1 S 10.30
CRESTLINE 10.27
DEVORE 9.58
DESERT HOT SPRINGS 8.04
UKIAH MUNI ARPT 7.58
NEWHALL 7.08
SANTA ROSA/SONOMA CO ARPT 6.55
SAN LUIS OBISPO ARPT 5.37
SAN DIEGO/MONTGOMERY FIELD 4.32
SAN FRANCISCO INTL ARPT 4.30
LOS ANGELES-USC 3.89
PALM SPRINGS RGNL ARPT 3.75
SACRAMENTO METRO ARPT 3.65
SAN JOSE INTL ARPT 3.19
...NEVADA...
NORTH LAS VEGAS AIRPORT 1.50
HENDERSON AIRPORT 1.17
MERCURY/DESERT ROCK ARPT 1.06
...OREGON...
AGNESS 6.4 NE 3.90
PORT ORFORD 5.0 E 3.52
BROOKINGS 4.2 ENE 2.83
BANDON 11.4 S 2.67
ASTORIA 1.45
...WASHINGTON...
HOQUIAM/BOWERMAN AIRPORT 2.01
Tornadoes, severe weather in the South
Severe weather associated with a separate storm brought damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes to portions of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida last night. Two tornadoes were reported, one in Tennessee, and one in Alabama, near Huntsville. The Huntsville tornado injured approximately six people, and cut power to 10,000 people. The storm responsible for the severe weather has moved out to sea, and no further severe weather is expected today. A slight chance of severe weather is expected Saturday over Arkansas and Mississippi, and there is also a severe weather threat for Georgia and surrounding states on Sunday.
Figure 4. Last night's Huntsville, Alabama tornado was captured by wunderphotographer Southampton.
Portlight's Paul Timmons to appear on NBC and CNN
Portlight.org, the disaster-relief charity that has sprung up from the hard work and dedication of many members of the wunderground.com community, has successfully shipped medical equipment and a water filtration unit capable of supplying the needs of 3,500 people per day to the Dominican Republic. The relief supplies were trucked to Haiti via road, and have made it to the earthquake zone. The supplies have been targeted to go to those with disabilities, or to those who are living in areas where the main aid efforts have been inadequate. Portlight is working through the local Catholic Church, which is probably best positioned to deliver private aid donations to those in need. Paul Timmons, leader of the Portlight relief efforts, is scheduled to appear on NBC news later today, and on CNN news tomorrow, to discuss Portlight's efforts.
Figure 5. Walkers and medical supplies for Haiti getting ready to ship from the Portlight warehouse in Atlanta.
Please visit the Portlight.org blog to learn more. Floodman's blog has the latest info on Portlight's plan for Haitian relief. The Reeve Foundation, founded by Christopher and Dana Reeve has awarded Portlight Strategies a $10,000 Quality of of Life grant to assist in the relief efforts in Haiti. This is very big and will allow Portlight to pursue more aggressive relief efforts over the course of the next few weeks.
For those of you more interested in helping out with the long-term rebuilding of Haiti's shattered infrastructure from the quake, I recommend a contribution to Lambi Fund of Haiti, a charity that is very active in promoting reforestation efforts, use of alternative fuels, and infrastructure improvements at a grass-roots level in Haiti. I've developed a great respect for the work they do in the country in the five years I've been a supporter.
Next post
My next post will be Monday.
Jeff Masters
Road disappears in flood in San Luis Obispo, California (
annestahl)
Cops stand by closed road.
Southern California Snow (
gemd)
A Pacific storm (usually warm) came and dropped snow in Southern California in area which rarely see snow. This was not even an "insider slider" (lingo for a northern, non-Pacific cold jet stream). Snow days for schools are rampant and there are many accidents on the roadways. Our snow is not the typical fluff, but very wet and slick.
Prescott 2010 Snowstorm (
kempix)
Heavy Snowstorm came in last night with almost a foot of snow in the mountains of Prescott.
the ocean in Santa Barbara takes no prisoners
Amazing bolt of lightning strikes the Pacific Ocean in Manhattan Beach, CA.
I took a drive this morning to document some of this amazing weather we're having in Arizona. My path took me over to the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix and I beheld some sights that I don't expect to see again. (HDR)
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Good morning -- beautiful, sunny day here!
Howdy, KOTG. I promise I am done with that one...couldn't get that hook out of him and throw him back if I tried.
Abstract: Guinea pigs were found to have a much higher susceptibility to carbon dioxide than rats. During exposure to CO2 concentrations ranging from 1-50% CO2, marked species differences were observed in mortality, growth curves, organ/body weight ratios and serum enzyme responses. The difference in tolerance to CO2 between guinea pigs and rats has been related to their differing buffer capacity. Guinea pigs showed higher levels of hydrogen ion concentrations for every exposure. No evidence of tissue necrosis in heart, liver, and other organs was obtained in guinea pigs or rats exposed for prolonged periods to 15% CO2. The increased levels of serum enzymes (GPT, GOT, LDH) observed in guinea pigs under these conditions were interpreted as signs of increased permeability caused by hypercapnia. An organ specific pattern of fat accumulation was observed in chronic hypercapnia.
link
Neat!
It's all about timing looks like the shear and dew points will be high enough for some severe weather, but will the atmosphere be unstable enough? (specifically, the temperature lapse rate) Your guess is as good as mine.
Or a Kum-bah-yah moment of well...,schoolyard recess pacts.
LOL
The data and peer reviewed reality is empirical and not subject to emotional digression.
Short term...
from previous discussion...
radiational sea fog continuing to form along the lower Mississippi
River and immediate MS coast. Will keep dense fog advisory for the
MS coast and lower la parishes as warm air advection continues
through the night. Advisory may need to be expanded north and west
later but for now it appears low level jet is providing enough
mixing to keep visibilities up. Should be clearing up not long after
sunrise.
Expecting another unseasonably warm January day across the Gulf
south. Should take a while for cloud cover to move in today and with
temperatures 15 degrees above normal yesterday...went on the warm side of
guidance with low to middle 70s across much of the area. Did keep
locations along the coast below 70 as southerly winds across the
relatively cool Gulf waters restrict surface warming.
Surface analysis shows cold front slowly moving across central Texas
with shower activity Post frontal. An associated warm front is
draped across East Texas through hou and into the central Gulf of
Mexico. A surface low will drop out of The Rockies and across the
middle to lower miss valley tonight. The warm front will lift north of
the County Warning Area later this evening with the cold front reaching the western
half of the County Warning Area between 00z and 06z. Most of the heavier rain should
remain north of the area. Not very impressed with instability in
terms of storm strength but will likely be enough for few
thunderstorms and maybe some sub-severe. Did undercut mav guidance
for western areas as it looks like the better lift will occur as the
front reaches east of I-55.
Showers will persist in the southeastern half of the area through Sunday as
the cold front slows due to the upper trough digging a little
farther south and flattens. Should be rain free across the County Warning Area by
Sunday night.
Long term...
colder and drier air will filter into the region behind this front
and high pressure will build in. High temperatures through middle week
will be much closer to normal. A light freeze will be possible
Tuesday and Wednesday morning as light winds and clear skies allow
for good radiational cooling. Temperatures will moderate a little late this
week ahead the next system that will impact the area. There/S still
a problem with consensus between models in terms of timing but
expecting rain between Friday and Saturday. A few thunderstorms will
be possible but not looking severe at this time.
Meffer
I was just looking at the current Forecast CAPE and it does not look too bad...But, the lift index is a little high...i agree looks like Monday during the day after with heating of the day involved also....
The only thing i see is a Saints Ass whippin on Sunday by the Vikings and a The Jets taken a Butt kicking by the COLTS! LOL
Being older does have its rewards, doesn't it, Pat? BTW, now that you've had a week to get used to it, how do you like being 50? I'm betting it's just fine! Wait until 56...that's when the drumbeat begins again, jmo!
Im sure those with the intellect of that caliber can easily account for the whereabouts of the tonnage of CO2 and other Fossil Fuel burning derived toxins that pollute the Earths atmosphere 24/7/365.
Should be good reading.
O yeah,..been to Busy with a lot things to even ponder that AIM.
And now the Championship Looms tomorrow.
I still feel Like 17,but the RAM is getting full upstairs a tad one could say.
Thanks, now I can blame losing information on my 'puter. And I have to de-frag constantly.
ADD: Yes, good luck in the game! This Terp is rootin' for ya'!
Java..
Again, your best post ever. And applies well to everyone.
Offense in NFC ranking
1) Saints
3) Vikings
Defense in NFC ranking
2) Vikings
13) Saints
Winner Vikings! Vikings will be able to stop the Saints on more drives than the Saints can stop the Vikings!
Offense in AFC ranking
4) Colts
11) Jets
Defense in AFC ranking
1) Jets
9) Colts
Winner is truly a toss up! Game comes down can the Colts stop the running game of the Jets while can the Jets put up enough points to beat the Colts. Gut says Manning will win!
Lay the 8 points against the Jets - Colts win by two touchdowns
Just caught this post. That was my laugh for the day :)
Civility and Humor is a must in all we do here and in our life.
And the few hours we spent traveling on a worthy mission was one good day in my Life's pages.
British rescue teams have relived the horror of the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake as they arrived back in the UK after a 10 day lifesaving mission.
Donuts,and Hot chocolate and Im in..
LOL! SOOO true -- Why, I aughta' flame you, young man! (JUST joking.)
Say, wasn't PAT the one burning his leaves this year?
AND enjoying it immensely???
Thank you, kind sir. Tho' I believe I'm among those the good Dr. Jeff has labeled, meaning he's said he sort of enjoys "middle school" humor from time to time. Ahhh, makes me feel young again. (:
BTW, where is your "G-d's Own Country"? I'm not being a wise arse, I went to your blog and don't see a location. Around here that country is often considered "West-by-God Virginia!"
Just my opinion, and let me underscore that it's only my opinion -- your screenname kind of unnerves me, because when the blog is going by fast (well, too fast for ol' me), it kind of looks like "Dr. G-d" -- and I feel like I need to atone or something.
My location is in Germany. If someone tells me how to change the username, go ahead.
Thank you for answering and the explanation.
It's good to have international bloggers.
I appreciate your being very decent about the screenname thingee. I've only had one, and I know we're not generally supposed to have multiple (though some do, lol)! If you're serious, others here will know what to do, or, just a suggestion -- WU Admin. and ask them about it. Thnx. again.
Not me,..hard to burn anything outside Uptown here,..fire dept would be Like..
Yo,Dude..?
Good morning, everybody! Weather is rather sullen here this morning, but temps are still warm - 81 degrees with a predicted high of 77 LOL - so I'm not complaining too much.
Looking at the OZ storm (Olga, right?) I notice they are now forecasting a chance of reintensification in the GoC.....
Again, I'm predicting that the storm will strengthen to cat. 3 in the GoC and then re-emerge west of Australia.
Sorry, Pat... maybe it was that Canadian, Orca -- he's not here to defend himself, is he? lol
It's projected path will give it about 24hrs over water, If it took a slight jump to the north at would give it more time over water and more to to intensify.
TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 6
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 2:06am EST on Sunday the 24th of January 2010
A Cyclone WARNING remains current for coastal and island areas from Cape
Melville to Cardwell.
At 1:00 am EST Tropical Cyclone Olga, Category 2 was estimated to be
215 kilometres east northeast of Port Douglas and 210 kilometres east northeast
of Cairns moving west northwest at 22 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Olga, category 2, is currently located over the northwest Coral
Sea and is continuing to move steadily towards the coast.
GALES are expected to develop about the coast between Cape Melville and Cardwell
this morning.
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS are likely to develop about the coast between Cooktown and
Cairns by late morning.
Very heavy rainfall with localised flooding is expected to develop about the
North Tropical Coast during the day.
As the cyclone crosses the coast, abnormally high tides are expected between
Cape Tribulation and Innisfail, but the sea level should not exceed the highest
tide of the year. Large waves are likely along the beachfront.
People between Cape Melville and Cardwell should complete preparations quickly
and be prepared to shelter in a safe place. Boats and outside property should be
secured as quickly as possible.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Olga at 1:00 am EST:
.Centre located near...... 15.9 degrees South 147.4 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 35 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the west northwest at 22 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 140 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 2
.Central pressure......... 983 hectoPascals
The next advice will be issued by 5:00 am EST Sunday 24 January.
Kinda reminds one of this image..
..and Maybe the Mayans are right.
patrap 4:45 PM GMT on January 23, 2010
All the bloggers who deny the data should expound their own Hypothesis for the warming in a blog entry of their own.
Im sure those with the intellect of that caliber can easily account for the whereabouts of the tonnage of CO2 and other Fossil Fuel burning derived toxins that pollute the Earths atmosphere 24/7/365.
Should be good reading.
Seems like lots of scientists would beg to differ. I suspect it won't jive with AGW "science"
It is not the responsibility of ‘climate
realist’ scientists to prove that dangerous human-caused climate change is not happening. Rather, it is those who propose that it is, and promote the allocation of massive investments to solve the supposed ‘problem’, who have the obligation to convincingly demonstrate that recent climate change is not of mostly natural origin and, if we do nothing, catastrophic change will ensue. To date, this they have utterly failed to do so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Addressed to His Excellency Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General, United Nations, New York, NY, United States of America; dated 8 December 2009
I think it was Ike
Whoopsie, that's why we need the smart gramma's around. (And yup, I already apologized to Patrap.)
I'd love your input, GrtLksQuest -- I've posted something like this on a couple members blogs -- I'm doing some Shameful (as opposed to Shameless) self-promotion. I have a new blog post and I'm asking for more ideas for de-cluttering, selling, trading, giving up...that might actually make our own lives and others' better. I have a strong suspicion that your comments would be wise and useful! TIA.
ADD: BBL. Nice day here -- things to do and promises to keep.
Processed - see the HDR tag
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