Crazy weather

Okay, I know spring is approaching when this kind of thing happens. I am looking out my window now just before 0900 local and it's snowing to beat the band. We probably have 2-3" on the ground right now. Contrast that with the SPC tornado probs for today, with the 2% area showing up less than 30 miles south of us! Incredible!!

Spring is on the way!

How do I know? How about severe weather in the Plains yesterday and forecast for the lower Mississippi valley today? Add to that another cold air damming event for the Mid-Atlantic with a mixture of snow/sleet/freezing rain/rain forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Give it another 3 weeks or so and the mixture line will move north of our area and we can look forward to thunderstorms. Chase season is close!!

Valentine's Day: storm aftermath

Well, my prognostication started at 8 inches of snow, then went to 5 inches of mixed frozen stuff. A reality check this morning showed about 2 inches of sleet on the ground and about 1/4" of ice on the trees and bushes. Stupid mid-level warm layer! The ice and sleet mix made for a strenuous digging out this morning as it took quite a while to clean off the cars and sidewalk. At least if it had been all snow the cars would have been easier to uncover. As I told my wife after I dragged myself back inside, if she ever hears me say something remotely resembling anything nice about winter to please tell me to quit lying. Where's spring??

Updated accumulation totals

Okay, the models have begun to wimp out and allow mid-level warm air intrusion while surface temps remain below freezing. Translation: my forecast of eight inches of fluffy white stuff is in serious jeopardy. New forecast: by the time all is said and done at lunchtime Wednesday we will have five inches of a frozen concoction of snow, sleet, and ice. I am sooooooo ready for spring!!

Update on "ready for spring"

Let's see...car thermometer on Thursday morning registered eight degrees F, while Friday morning it read 13 degrees F. HEAT WAVE!!!! And models are showing strong indications of a major winter storm early next week for the Mid-Atlantic, with my personal prediction as of last evening for 8 inches of white stuff in our immediate area. Springtime can't get here quick enough!

Where is spring when you need it?

Okay, I'm officially ready for spring. This morning my car thermometer read two degrees (F) and we're facing snowfall tonight - albeit only an inch or two - from an Alberta clipper. For winter in Virginia that's pretty much the bottom of the barrel. Maybe that means that spring is on the way...after all, March is next month and usually I've been able to squeeze in a storm chase or two during the year's third month. In the meantime I'll keep slogging through the dry frigid air and telling myself "it's wintertime, it's supposed to be cold..."