2009 Arkansas Severe Weather Stats December 31, 2009

 

This list was compiled by meteorologist John Robinson from the Little Rock NWS office.  That youtube clip is a sobering reminder of the Mena, AR devastation.  Remember, severe weather season is just a few months away! 

The tornado count for 2009 stands at 44.  Normal for the year is 26!  There were 4 tornado fatalities all from the Mena, AR storm. 

46 people were injured by tornadoes during the year. 

The maximum thunderstorm wind was 103 mph at the Corning Airport in Clay county.  There were 13 injuries from severe thunderstorms.

The maximum hail size was 4 inches (softball size) at Hackett in Sebastian county on June 12th.

There were 5 lightning injuries for the year.

Flash floods took 4 lives and caused 7 injuries for the year.

COLD START TO 2010… December 31, 2009

A strong shot of cold air is on the way for early next week.  An upper level trough will sweep through Sunday and provide some strong Northwesterly flow by Monday.  Temperatures Monday afternoon will have a hard time getting out of the 20s for highs in NWA.

TEMPERATURE FORECAST (MONDAY MORNING)

BLOG ENTRY BY: PATRICK CRAWFORD (12-31  7:50AM)

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Blue Moon New Year’s Eve December 30, 2009

I want to thank Dave Grosvold, President of the Arkansas Oklahoma Astronomical Society for this article.  AOAS and 40/29 weather have a great partnership together.  Dave will provide weekly articles for our blog readers.  

If you want more information about their club check them out at  www.aoas.org

Drew Michaels

Blue Moon Endings

 The Full Moon on Thursday, Dec 31^st marks a rare ending this year. There are normally 12 full lunar cycles in a year, but some years have 13. The thirteenth moon is sometimes known as the Blue Moon. Although different definitions place the blue moon at different times of the year, at least one definition places it at the end of the year.

 A March 1946 article in Sky and Telescope magazine by James Hugh Pruett misinterpreted the 1937 Farmer’s Almanac to mean that the second full moon in a calendar month was called the Blue Moon. This “misinterpreted” definition of a Blue Moon has come into widespread use in recent years after it was revived on the January 31, 1980 installment of the popular radio program StarDate.

New Year’s Eve Forecast December 30, 2009

A cold front will arrive late tonight into Thursday morning.  This front won’t yield precipitation, but the cold air will move in by Thursday evening!

No travel issues are expected for New Year’s Eve, but you’ll want the warm coat!

Drew Michaels

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Morning Snow December 30, 2009

This video was shot between 7-8 am from NE of Ozark as a heavy snow band developed and moved over me.  Snow totals even with the heavier snow were still only 1-2 inches and mostly confined to the more elevated areas.

Post by Brian Emfinger

CLOUDS STAY WITH US TODAY… December 30, 2009

All the winter weather has pushed out of the region, but the thick cloud cover has stayed put.  Some of these clouds could produce a little light drizzle off and on throughout the day, but we are not looking at anything major.  Here is a look at the latest cloud forecast for Wednesday.

CLOUD FORECAST (WEDNESDAY 12PM)

CLOUD FORECAST (WEDNESDAY 3PM)

BLOG ENTRY BY:  PATRICK CRAWFORD  (12-30  9:25AM)

3AM UPDATE… December 30, 2009

A wintry mix continues to fall throughout East Central OK and West Central AR.  Temperatures at the surface continue to be above freezing in those areas so road conditions should be safe as long as this temperature trend continues.  Now the wet roads and temperatures near freezing in NW AR and NE OK could lead to slick spots on the bridges and over passes.  It will be a good idea to take it slow this morning wherever you’re located.  Most of this precipitation will be moving out after sunrise.  Here is a look at the precipitation forecast for this afternoon.

PRECIPITATION FORECAST (WEDNESDAY 12PM)

BLOG ENTRY BY: PATRICK CRAWFORD (12-30  3:00AM)

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Midnight Update December 30, 2009

Light snow continues to fall across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas.  The heavier bands of snow across northwest Arkansas will move east over the next hour.  Expect light snow or flurries through 2 a.m.

I got a report in Bella Vista of around 1″.  Most of the area has received between a dusting to an inch.  It wouldn’t surprise me if some of the upper elevations picked up over an inch of snow.

Main roads should be fine tonight with temperatures hovering just above freezing.  Elevated bridges and overpasses need to be watched closely.

Drew Michaels

9:00 p.m. Update December 29, 2009

Well the dry air is not eroding as fast as originally thought across portions of northwest Arkansas.  I think the 1 to 2 inch original thinking is going to be too high.  I think I will downgrade that to a dusting to an inch.

The low levels are taking too long to saturate, and the window of opportunity for real measurable snow will end around midnight.  Please post your snowfall reports here on the blog!

Drew Michaels

8:30 Update December 29, 2009

There’s been a lot of dry air in the low levels of the atmosphere.  The precipitation is starting to fill in as we speak; however, it’s had a hard time overcoming the dry air. 

As the precipitation starts to fall the temperatures will likely drop a few degrees.  Just got a report from Sallisaw of some light sleet and snow.

Expect the precipitation to grow in coverage toward Midnight.  No changes in the forecast at this point.

Drew Michaels