NOT AS FLAKEY BUT MAN, IT'S COLD...
The system that clipped the southeast half of my area with another 1-4" of powder is departing early Tuesday opening the door for several more days of bone chilling cold. We were fortunate not to take a direct hit from yesterday's storm as it will have a history of dumping more than a foot of snow in parts of Illinois (Chicago), Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Winter storm warnings remain in effect for those areas and if you are headed that direction, you might want to sit tight. Traveling is very difficult. Look at the totals Chicago is expecting before the snow ends later today. Snow in spots from Evanston to Midway Airport may accumulate up to 20".
Behind this storm, the rest of the week promises to be less flakey but there is at least a chance of light snow or flurries Wednesday. In the 500mb animation below you can see Monday's storm depart, the little system for Wednesday follows, and then another wave approaches with another snow chance Sunday.
The main thing to note is that by the end of the loop with a trough over Alaska we are changing the trajectory of our air mass. There will be a Pacific influence as we ease away from the bitterly cold Arctic air that's brought the most prolonged stretch of cold weather since 1912, 109 years!
Here's how much fun the past two weeks have been (basically the month of February). The average temperature in Cedar Rapids has been 3 degrees. That means the city is running 19 degrees below normal per day. Here's the high temperature departures for February in Cedar Rapids which have been especially brutal. Sunday the high of 6 below, February 14th was 39 degrees short of the average. Ouch!
These are the actual highs. Cedar Rapids has not been above 9 degrees for the past 10 days. The ice is getting thick.
The ugly trend continues with the EURO showing highs the next 7 days averaging 20-22 degrees below normal per day.
However, that is front loaded. As you can see by this Sunday the departure is down to only 10 degrees below the norm. HEAT WAVE!!!
So the cold has been bad and so has the snow. This is the seasonal snowfall and much of my area is now in the 30-50" range for the winter so far.
You take the snow and cold combined and the winter severity index now resides in the severe category in a 200 mile wide swath from Omaha to Des Moines and on to Madison. I did not see that coming last fall!
Well, we're another day closer to spring. That's about all the good news I have for you on another frigid February morning. Be tough my friends and roll weather...TS
LIMITED COPIES LEFT:
A SECOND PRINTING OF MY NEW BOOK IS ON THE WAY...
The second printing of my new book Derecho, Iowa's Inland Hurricane has just arrived and can be purchased below. However they are going fast and if you are interested in having the most authoritative account of this extreme event you need to act now. Don't miss this opportunity to own the weather story of a generation. You can order yours at derechobook.com See the book endorsements below
BOOK ENDORSEMENTS.
*This book has been quite the talk with the Iowa State Library promoting it. I have never seen the State Library promote any books like this unless it was an award winner of particular interest to libraries. Hopefully your sales are through the roof!
Jolene Kronschnabel-Director of Hawkins Memorial Library, La Porte City, Iowa
*I ordered one of your Derecho books about the storm in Cedar Rapids, IA back in December. I love it! I had also bought one that the Cedar Rapids Gazette sold. Your book by far is so much better, you have a lot more pictures and it just tells more of the story. Thank you for putting a wonderful keepsake together! Do you have any left? If so can you tell me how to get at least one more.
Thank you so much! Penny Brecke
*Hi Terry and Carolyn!
Thank you for my book, the kind dedication and wonderful job on the book warmed my heart!! Loved all the info-great job Terry! Carolyn the stories brought tears to my eyes. I have to admit it was difficult to read at first-reliving that day, but joy also with the way you wrote them in such good faith! We are living in town as our house is still gutted. Work is slow but progressing. The damage was far greater than we thought, but it will be glorious again one day! Love and prayer.
Jenny Janssen
*I received my book yesterday (just in time for Christmas). Thank you for all the hard work it took to put it together and trying so hard to get this book out. My husband will love it. Enjoyed your Christmas Video.
Karleen Booth
*Got the book today and am reading it now! Very well done. Thanks.
Jack Wiley
