Snow fell over a 60-mile swath of southeast Texas yesterday, piling up to depths of four inches over some locales. The one inch of snow that fell on Houston was the earliest snow on record there, beating the record set just last year, on December 10. Remarkably, Houston has had more snow this year (1.0 inches) than Chicago (0.2 inches). The storm also dumped up to two inches of snow on portions of Louisiana and Mississippi. The 0.2 inches of snow that fell on Lake Charles, Louisiana was that city's earliest snowfall on record. The early season snow was caused by a sharp kink in the jet stream, which funneled cold, Canadian air far to the south over the Gulf of Mexico. An area of low pressure developed over the Gulf, and pulled in plenty of Gulf moisture that was able to fall to the ground as snow, due to the cold temperatures.
Hackers target Canadian climate scientists
According to an article in the National Post, the offices and computers of climate scientists working at the University of Victoria in Canada have been targeted by thieves and hackers in recent months. University spokeswoman Patty Pitts said there have been attempts to hack into climate scientists' computers, as well as incidents in which people impersonated network technicians to try to gain access to campus offices and data. These incidents took place at the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis, an Environment Canada facility located at the university. In addition, Dr. Andrew Weaver, a Canadian climate scientist working at the University of Victoria and a key contributor to the Nobel prize-winning work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, had his office broken into twice late last year, and his papers rummaged through and a dead computer stolen. "The key thing is to try to find anybody who's involved in any aspect of the IPCC and find something that you can...take out of context," Dr. Weaver said. "People don't like it, so they try to discredit it, and the way they try to discredit it is by attacking the individual responsible for it. The real story in this is, who are these people and why are they doing it? They're trying to find anything. They don't care what it is." Dr. Weaver stated that he believed the campaign is driven by the fossil-fuel industry, citing "a war for public opinion."
Other posts in this series
Embattled UK climate scientist steps down
The Manufactured Doubt industry and the hacked email controversy
Is more CO2 beneficial for Earth's ecosystems?
I'll have a new post on Sunday.
Jeff Masters
Earliest recorded snow fall in Deridder, La
I love it but my morning glories seem to be wilting abit
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Special Weather Statement
Statement as of 2:41 PM PST on December 05, 2009
... Potential for significant rain and mountain snow Monday followed
by cold temperatures and potential frost for many areas Monday night...
... Potential for additional storms to affect southern and central
California later next week...
A series of Pacific storms are expected to move into California
next week... bringing periods of rain and mountain snow to the
state.
A cold upper level low pressure system will develop across Oregon
and northern California on Sunday. As the system digs south... an
increasing chance for rain and mountain snow will occur across the
region late Sunday night... with precipitation overspreading the
entire forecast area on Monday.
This first storm system is now taking a more over-water trajectory.
Due to more available moisture... precipitation amounts have
been increased from earlier forecasts. Rainfall estimates with this
system are now expected to range between .50 and 1.50 inches
across most areas... with 1.50 to 3.00 inches expected across south
and southwest facing foothill and mountain locations. The highest
rainfall amounts are expected across Los Angeles County... especially
across the San Gabriel Mountains and adjacent foothills.
The greatest threat of precipitation for the station fire burn area
will be late Monday morning through early Monday evening. During this
time... there will likely be periods of moderate rain... with the potential
for occasional heavy rainfall. Rainfall rates across the station
burn area are generally expected to range between one quarter and
one third of an inch per hour from late Monday morning through early
Monday evening. However... since the air mass will be cold and slightly
unstable... there will be the potential for brief heavy showers... where
rainfall rates could reach as high as one half inch per hour Monday
afternoon into early Monday evening across the station fire burn area.
The increased threat of higher rainfall amounts and intensities will bring
greater concern for the potential for debris flows in recent burn areas...
including the station fire burn area. As we draw closer to the event... a
Flash Flood Watch may need to be issued for the recent burn areas.
This storm will also bring the potential for significant snow and
strong winds across higher mountain elevations. Behind the front...
snow levels will fall rapidly Monday night as very cold air
spreads across the region. Later Monday night... snow levels could fall
as low as 2000 feet... bringing the potential for snow showers
across the Antelope Valley... Cuyama Valley... and much of the Interstate
5 Corridor North of Castaic. The very cold air mass will likely create
dangerous icy conditions in the mountains... along with the potential for
areas of frost in locations free from precipitation and winds. For more
information on winter weather conditions... please refer to the latest
Winter Storm Watch product.
Later in the week... a second storm will likely impact southern and
central California late Wednesday into Thursday. Due to this systems
subtropical component... this system could be more powerful...
warmer... and be a more efficient rain maker. However... there still
exists some uncertainty in the exact timing and placement of heavier
rainfall across the area. Since this storm will likely have a greater
precipitation duration and intensity... residents and local emergency
officials are urged to stay tuned to the latest National Weather
Service forecasts for updates on this developing weather situation.
A third system remains a possibility for late next week... possibly
bringing additional precipitation to the region.
These storms will likely generate large swells and high surf
conditions at times next week. Please refer to the latest marine weather
statement for the latest details across the coastal waters.
Launch of the U.S. Air Force Readies For Third WGS Satellite To Extend Warfighter Capabilities
Next time you think you could provide a little more information. I hate those short little blurbs. It was like reading "War & Peace". LOL
Glad you got a good view on a beautiful night. How do these launches compare to the shuttle...up closer? Of course the shuttle is way bigger, but what attribute is best for these launches? Down here in Sfla we can't see these smaller ones.
Oh.. I posted a new blog too, but its a short one (and only partially related to weather).
Link to my blog
Link
we watched too, Skye. Dau and friend, just back from Air Force Nat'l Guard School in Texas. Was pretty cool.
The front has definitely passed. About an hour ago. It's cooled down 10 degrees with a strong wind shift. It's beautiful and clear. Unfortunately I didn't know their was a launch tonite until a few minutes ago. I would have had a good shot at a view, from what you're describing. Ah...next time.
Jeff~ If you do get to see one, try & get as close as you can.
hi Cosmic, we're cold here, but no wind.
Anyway...it's only 59 here, but it feels like 49. 20MPH sustained NW wind. I've got every window open. The dog hairs from June are flying around.....
I'm drowning my sorrows......
Next time you think you could provide a little more information. I hate those short little blurbs. It was like reading "War & Peace". LOL
SORRY, It copied it's self twice.
Didn't mean it to happen this way.
Trunk monkey
Just do it!
Delta IV Rocket Finally Launches
Saturday, December 05, 2009 9:45:51 PM
CAPE CANAVERAL -- A Delta IV rocket finally lifts off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, bringing a new communications satellite into orbit after days of delays.
The liftoff was scrubbed three times because of weather and technical problems.
Saturday night's launch was delayed because of upper level winds.
The launch of the Wideband Global SATCOM-3 satellite completes the initial constellation of three WGS satellites that Boeing says will provide vital, flexible, high-capacity communications to the U.S. military and its allies.
Each satellite can reportedly provide 10 times more information than its predecessor, the DSCS 3.
I know this post was way earlier in the evening
but better late than never. Here's a site that I use to stay up to date on all launches world wide.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/
Link
MMMMM interesting, wonder if it will come true.
Sure.
Tropical Disturbance Summary
TROPICAL DISTURBANCE 01F
18:00 PM FST December 6 2009
=========================================
At 6:00 AM UTC, Tropical Disturbance 01 (1003 hPa) located at 9.0S 170.E is reported as moving slowly. Position POOR based on multispectral imagery and peripheral observations. Organization has not improved in the last 24 hours with cyclonic circulation defined from low-mid level (800-500 HPA). TD01F lies to the west of an upper diffluent flow. Center is a moderately sheared environment. Sea surface temperatures are around 30C. Global models do not indicate further deepening of this system.
---
Aussie this disturbance heading towards eastern Australia?
You can go to my blog for that if you'd like.
Yeah I am watching it on Satellite.
Loop
It looks bad in that pic but on the loop it has no structure.
G'morn all.
That background can't be warrington, FL. I didn't know Florida had snow covered mountains!
On Edit: Didn't realize the background changes everytime you refresh!
edit; hmmm.. need more coffeee.. you are right.. it IS changing
Nice PWS setup...looks accurate except for your barometric pressure. Yours shows 30.10. Official readings from Pensacola airport....Pressure: 30.27 in (Falling)
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
400 AM PST SUN DEC 6 2009
...WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO IMPACT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SUNDAY
NIGHT AND MONDAY...
.A WEATHER SYSTEM OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL MOVE SOUTHWARD
AND GATHER STRENGTH TODAY BEFORE BRINGING HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY
WINDS TO THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA AND FOOTHILLS TONIGHT AND
MONDAY. LOW SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED...LOWERING TO BELOW 1000 FEET
MONDAY. THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY...MAINLY FROM THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY
SOUTHWARD INTO THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. SNOW IS EXPECTED
TO TAPER OFF FROM THE NORTH BY MONDAY EVENING.
CAZ017>019-070000-
/O.EXB.KSTO.WS.A.0010.091207T1200Z-091208T0600Z/
SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA-
NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SACRAMENTO ...FAIRFIELD/SUISUN ...
STOCKTON...MODESTO
400 AM PST SUN DEC 6 2009
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH FOR THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY...DELTA AND
NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE
TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.
* TIMING: SNOW IS EXPECTED TO POSSIBLY BEGIN EARLY MONDAY MORNING
AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF IN THE EVENING.
* SNOW LEVEL: LOWERING TO NEAR SEA LEVEL EARLY MONDAY.
* MAIN IMPACT: PERIODS OF MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY SNOW WILL
BE POSSIBLE...PARTICULARLY DURING THE MIDDAY HOURS MONDAY.
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES MAY OCCUR WITH LOCALLY
HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE ALONG THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS.
SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTIONS TO THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORK MAY
OCCUR.
* OTHER IMPACTS: POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES RESULTING
FROM BROKEN TREE BRANCHES.
THERE IS STILL UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER
SITUATION. IT DOES APPEAR THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR A BAND OF
ACCUMULATING SNOW TO OCCUR IN THE VALLEY ALONG A COLD FRONT MONDAY
IN THE AREA BETWEEN SACRAMENTO AND SOUTH OF STOCKTON. IT IS STILL
TOO EARLY TO FORECAST PRECISELY WHERE THIS BAND OF SNOW WILL
SETUP...SO FURTHER UPDATES WILL BE ISSUED LATER TODAY WITH
REFINEMENTS TO THE LOCATION AND AMOUNTS OF POTENTIAL SNOW.
kat~ pretty weak..your a better debater than screaming CHURCH when threatened with receiving your raw data...
Currently in Nassau it's 84 degrees, still, humid, and overcast. Looks like whatever there is of that front is going to pass by us rather than over us. We've been running 5 or so degrees above average for most of the last 6 weeks. Sure hope we actually get a cooldown to the 70s at some point in December....
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