FRIDAY’S FOLLY March 31, 2007

For about the past two days a few of the long range forecasting models have been hinting at a cool down for the end of next week. This much is plausible. So far, this months average high temps have been warm, with Fort Smith averaging 72.2º and Fayetteville averaging 68.9º. These figures are both 8.2º [...]

The Severe Weather Threat Has Ended…… March 30, 2007

Showers and storms have diminished in intensity across northern Texas, and we don’t anticipate any more severe weather for tonight. A few rumbles of thunder along with scattered showers remain in the forecast, mainly across eastern Oklahoma. The complex of storms has been cutoff from the warm humid air, so it will likely [...]

*9:30 UPDATE March 30, 2007

The wind field aloft is becoming interesting. For most of the day, winds from the surface up through 500mb (18,000’) have been out of the due south. Subsequently, thunderstorm activity has remained in a convergent zone through central TX and OK. Winds are now displaying a slight kick to the east. [...]

Newly Issued Tornado Watch: March 30, 2007

The Storm Prediction Center has issued A Tornado watch which will extend through 1:00 AM Friday morning. This encompasses most of our counties in Eastern Oklahoma and stretches further to the south and west.
Most of the activity today has been confined to central Oklahoma and Texas. The parent Low pressure system has moved [...]

Classic Dryline Storms Tonight March 29, 2007

All was quiet on the western front early this afternoon. Slowly, the clouds started to break, and the instability started to increase ahead of the dryline. The cap was still in place during the early afternoon, holding off convection until around 4:00 p.m. Surface heating and convergence along the dryline wasn’t enough to break the [...]

Severe Storms for Thursday? March 28, 2007

Our next big weather maker is moving across the southwest, however, a warm southwesterly flow aloft will dominate our weather pattern for Wednesday afternoon. Look for highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s thanks to warm 850mb temps. So will this trough yield any severe weather?
Computer model guidance suggests that the dry [...]

Ring Around the Moon March 27, 2007

I know many people have called and e-mailed about the ring around the moon. It was a glorious sight, with a fairly easy explanation.

Typically you see these optical displays when high cirrus clouds precede a storm system from the west. High cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals, and they help refract the moon’s light. [...]

A DEVELOPING LA NINA March 27, 2007

Over the winter there was an anomalous warming of the waters off the equatorial Pacific Ocean off the South American coast. This is referred to as El Nino conditions. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which is part of the National Weather Service, declares the onset of an El Nino episode when the 3-month average sea-surface temperature [...]

OMNIPRESENT POLLEN & TWO CHANCES FOR RAIN March 26, 2007

If you are suffering from the sneezing, the itchy eyes, the runny nose, the sinus pressure and the fatigue caused by the blooming season… you are not alone! Many, many people are at about wits end with the pollen. It has been a bad year so far. Pollen counts have been in ALERT status and [...]

PLIGHT OF A CLOSED-LOW March 25, 2007

Six days ago a trough was digging, or amplifying if you wish, off the Pacific Coast. With great consistency over some two days, long-range forecast models had this swinging through our area and giving us copious amounts good ol’ H2o. Did this happen? Well, no, not even close! Just take a look around at the [...]