StormTeam 6

Adding Up…

2009-01-07T19:46:28Z

December was a very wet month and we are off to another active start to January.

In December, a trace or more of rain or snow fell on 27 out of 31 days. In total we measured just under 6 inches of precitipitation in the last month of the year.

So far this month, a trace or more of precipitation has been measured on 4 out of 7 days.

If you add up all those days, we have had a trace or more of precipitation in Indianapolis on 31 out of the last 38 days!

Close, but Still Cold…

2009-01-06T19:50:17Z

Each month, I receive an Astronomy newsletter from Indiana University. The newsletter is called Star Trak. Here is a link: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/cat/page/normal/216.html

When you get a chance, ask your kids tonight if Earth is closer to the sun in the winter or summer. I’m predicting they will say Earth is closest when we experience the warmest temperatures.

This month’s Star Trak answers that question:

On Jan. 4, Earth will reach its closest point to the sun in its orbit, the position called perihelion. A popular misconception is that our seasons are caused by Earth’s changing distance from the sun. The actual cause is the tilt of Earth’s axis. Winter in the Northern Hemisphere happens when the North Pole is tilted away from the sun, so that sunlight must pass through a greater amount of Earth’s atmosphere to reach the surface. We experience the coldest time of year when we are closest to the sun.

For the Record…

2009-01-05T18:55:58Z

With temperatures and precipitation both forecast to be above average for the month, I thought it would be good to look at the extremes for the month. The measuring stick for snowfall is still 1978. Just over 30 inches of snow fell that month. I’m sure you have pictures of the Blizzard of ‘78!

The information below is from the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis. You can visit their site at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ind/

Monthly Temperature and Precipitation Extremes for Indianapolis
(City Office from 1871 to January 1943…Airport from January 1943 to Current)

..JANUARY..

Coldest Driest Least Snow

           Year Temp        Year   Precip      Year Snowfall
           —- —-        —-   ——      —- ——–
           1977 10.3        1944     0.21      1937    0.0
           1918 14.6        1981     0.36      1960   Trace
           1940 16.7        1925     0.49      1944   Trace
           1912 17.2        1931     0.54      1942   Trace
           1970 17.9        1945     0.57      1989    0.1
           1893 17.9        1943     0.65      1933    0.1
           1979 18.0        1986     0.73      1919    0.1
           1978 18.2        2001     0.74      1932    0.2
           1963 19.5        1902     0.76      1973    0.4
           1875 19.8        1919     0.91      1923    0.6

Warmest Wettest Most Snow

           Year Temp        Year   Precip      Year Snowfall
           —- —-        —-   ——      —- ——–
           1880 45.0        1950    12.69      1978   30.6
           2006 39.8        1890    10.20      1996   25.2
           1933 39.2        2005     9.39      1918   22.0
           1932 38.4        1937     8.05      1982   21.8
           1876 38.4        1907     7.68      1977   20.9
           1950 37.4        1913     7.63      1895   20.0
           1890 37.4        1949     7.41      1979   19.1
           1990 37.3        1930     7.34      1999   18.3
           1998 36.6        1916     6.55      1915   17.6
           1989 36.3        1999     6.35      1968   17.0

{Temperatures shown in Fahrenheit}
{Precipitation and Snowfall shown in Inches}

Back to the Grind…

2009-01-04T22:32:43Z

I hope you all had a great holiday! The upcoming work week will bring a return to colder conditions to Central Indiana.

The most significant chance of precipitation will come on Tuesday when a storm system will impact the region. At this point there is considerable uncertainty regarding the track of the low pressure and the possible types of precipitation, but it seems a good bet that there will be at least a mixture of rain, freezing rain and snow across the area on Tuesday.

After the storm pulls east, much colder air will arrive from the northwest. This will send high temperatures plummeting, and they will only reach the 20s by Wednesday.

Above Average…

2009-01-02T21:45:52Z

Both temperatures and precipitation are predicted to be above average this month. The maps above are from the Climate Prediction Center.

January is the coldest month of the year in Indiana. Our average low temperature drops to 18 degrees this month. The average high is around 34 degrees. This is also our snowiest month. Over 9 inches of snow usually falls in Indianapolis this month.

Looking Ahead…

2008-12-30T19:27:28Z

We have definitely had some crazy weather over the past two weeks. Central Indiana experienced some wild weather during the December 21-28 time frame. Temperatures were near zero to start out the period, but climbed to record levels near 70 on December 28. High temperatures on December 27 broke records and were around 35 degrees above the normal high for the date.

As we end 2008, we will once again see temperatures below average. Highs on New Year’s Eve will only be in the lower 30s.

Looking ahead to 2009, the Climate Prediction Center is calling for January to be warmer and wetter than average.

Slowly Rising…

2008-12-23T21:51:48Z

Temperatures will rise slowly overnight changing freezing rain to rain. Roads quickly became ice covered during the afternoon hours. As temperatures climb, road conditions will slowly improve.

Watch RTV6 for my latest forecast.

Morning temperatures Wednesday will climb into the 40s.

Measuring Up…

2008-12-22T20:03:49Z

So far, we have been on the mild side of several winter weather systems. As a result, we have had more rain and freezing rain than snow.

Another round of mixed precipitation is headed our way for Tuesday and Wednesday. Check out my forecast for the latest.

Here are some area some Midwest snowfall totals for the season:

Indy: 2.6″

Madison, WI: 34″

South Bend: 31″

Rockford, IL: 27″

Chicago, IL: 18″

Detroit, MI: 18″

Snow Talk…

2008-12-16T19:28:28Z

Light snow, sleet and freezing rain are likely especially along and north of interstate 70. Snowfall accumulations will be heavier in the northern third of the state where snow should dominate. Snowfall accumulations of 1 to 3 inches are possible. Amounts should be lightest along interstate 70 and increase as you move north.

With a new frosting of snow, perhaps you are wondering about a white Christmas. All the information below is a present from the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis.

Here are a few snow extremes from Christmas Day:

Greatest Snowfall on Christmas Day	Greatest Snow Depth on Christmas Day
5.9” in 1909	9” in 2004
4.4” in 1926	7” in 2002
3.3” in 1890	7” in 1909
2.6” in 2005	6” in 1995
2.4” in 1935	6” in 1935

And a few temperature and precipitation extremes as well:

Warmest Max Temp	Coldest Max Temp	Warmest Min Temp	Coldest Min Temp	Most Precipitation
64 in 1893	-4 in 1983	55 in 1877	-15 in 1983	1.36 in 2005
63 in 1982	7 in 1985	50 in 1889	-5 in 2000, 1878	1.14 in 1957
63 in 1889	10 in 1924	45 in 1982	-4 in 1935, 1924	0.98 in 1982
59 in 1877	13 in 1884	44 in 1888	-3 in 2004, 1980	0.72 in 2006
58 in 1973,1932,1891	14 in 1980, 1902	42 in 1940, 1936, 1895, 1891	-2 in 1872	0.61 in 1926

Cold Hard Facts…

2008-12-15T19:48:27Z

To say we have had a big temperature change today is an understatement. At 3am this morning, the temperature in Indianapolis was 56 degrees. By noon the temperature was 19 degrees. Tomorrow morning temperatures will be in the lower teens.

All told our temperature drop will be about 45 degrees today.

What do you think the greatest temperature change in a calendar day is for Indianapolis?

a. 49 degrees

b. 52 degrees

c. 55 degress

d. 58 degrees

The greatest temperature change in a calendar day in Indianapolis is 58 degrees. The record was set on January 12, 1916.