The Nations Weather

NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:

A clipper system advanced from the Midwest through the OH Valley and into PA by the evening hours. This system produced a wide swath of 3-5 inches of snow from eastern IA through central IL, northern IN and OH. Lake effect snows also produced a few more inches of snow over much of MI. Most of NY and into the New England states were dry but cold in the wake of a cold front with many locations failing to make it out of the teens for highs. High pressure kept the southeast quiet but also below normal with 40s in the Carolinas and 50s across the Gulf Coast states for highs.

The real cold air remained over the Upper Midwest with highs failing to make it above zero from ND into northern IA and across northern WI and Upper MI. Some locations in northern ND and northern MN didnt get out of the teens below zero. This combined with 10-15 mph winds produces wind chills of 50-60 below at times. This bitter Arctic air continued to surge south through the Plains and Mississippi Valley, ensuring even colder weather for Thursday with records lows likely in some areas. Easterly, upslope flow from eastern MT through the Black Hills, western NE and northwest KS had produced a few inches of snow by evening.

A broad ridge of high pressure continued to dominate the region west of the Rocky Mountains. Dry weather with abundant sunshine brought above average temperatures to most areas including CA where highs reached the 80s once again over much of southern CA. Warm temperatures caused more snow melt across the mountains of WA, OR and ID keeping rivers and streams high in this region. Light winds under the high pressure ridge kept dense fog in the valley locations in the northwest with visibilities less than a quarter mile in areas.

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR YESTERDAY:

HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............90 Santa Ana, CA

HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)..............86 Santa Ana, CA

LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).............-43 Embarrass, MN

LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)..............-69 Morris, MN

HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).....................48 Blytheville, AR

HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)............0.29 Columbus, OH

ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:

In 1932, a record snow fell in portions of the Los Angeles basin with up to 2 inches reported. The Los Angeles civic center recorded an inch of snow and snow even whitened up the beaches in Santa Monica.

In 1952, heavy snow produced 24 hour snowfall records for NV with 22 inches at the University of Nevada and also in ID with 26 inches at Arco.

A single storm record of 149 inches of snow fell at Tahoe, CA over a six day period.

In 1988, Wilmington, NC recorded 5 inches of snow as a low pressure in the Atlantic combined with unusual cold for this coastal community. This was Wilmingtons third highest January snowfall recorded at the time.

DTN

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