Well, its finally warm again. Winter’s last hurrah (let’s all hope) certainly didn’t go unnoticed earlier in the week with scattered snow showers Monday Night into Tuesday morning. Moreover, it was very chilly as well. Highs on Tuesday struggled to break 40 and our low Wednesday morning came in at only 19. Only a stones throw away from the record of 14 set back in 1955. In fact a couple of nearby mesonet stations (both Allen & Logan Counties) dropped as low as 16.
Snow falls on the campus of WKU on Tuesday, March 25, 2014.
Out late season snowfall provided some interesting facts concerning the winter that was. All statistics courtesy of Dr. Gregory Goodrich.
- Snow on Tuesday (officially we received 0.3″) made for a few Our snow season went from November 25 (1.1”) to March 25 (0.3”) this year, which gives us a 120 day snow season (normal first/last dates are December 24 to February 24 or 62 days). This ranks as the 13th longest snow season since 1900 and is the longest snow season since 1994. The longest snow season was in 1914 with 152 days (first snow: 10/20; last snow: 3/21)!
- This snow season had the 2nd highest number of days with measurable (>0.1”) snowfall at 16 days. Tied with 1978 and 1996; 1895 ranks 1st with 18 days. So even though we didn’t get a lot of snow, we still had snow on a lot of days.
Moving on however… spring has sprung yet again. Temperatures warmed back into the 60s yesterday and we’ll be in the 60s again today. The weekend will coincide with a minor cool down before we move into a stretch of 70 degree weather next week.
Obviously, we have some active weather over the last 24 hours. Most noteworthy were the high winds Thursday evening. The peak gust in the area was reported at the BWG airport at 50 mph. At least some minor damage was reported when a tree limb fell onto a power line in BG. Moderate to heavy rainfall also fell with the airport picking up over 0.3″.
The system that brought this rain and wind is at least somewhat still with us today. While the main area of low pressure has pushed eastward, the dragging cold front remains over south-central Kentucky. This could lead to a few showers in the area today but the most of the rain will hold off until tonight, especially after midnight.
Tonight’s rainfall will come as an area of low pressure develops along the front in Texas and moves northeastward, passing just to our south. As a result scattered showers will again spread across the area. Rainfall totals will likely be more impressive than they were yesterday evening however. In general 0.50″-1″ of rain is expected and some locations could see locally more.
Weather Prediction Center’s forecast precipitation totals over the next 2 days.
Note that there could very well be a few rumbles of thunder as well, however nothing severe is expected in our area.
Scattered showers will continue right into Saturday morning as we receive moisture wrapping around the backside of the low pressure system. Being in this location, temperatures will also be cool, especially so with clouds and rain. While most of the rain should move out by noon, clouds will linger through much of the evening with clearing taking place overnight.
By Sunday, all the active weather will have pushed well to our east as it is replaced with an area of high pressure. This will lead to sunny skies on Sunday, however temperatures will remain just a tad on the cool side.
This surface model and analysis is valid 7pm Sunday. Note High pressure in control Sunday as well as the warmer temperatures over the Plains as a result of southerly winds. That warmer air will push east early next week.
As we move into early next week however, southerly winds will usher in much warmer temperatures which should push us into the 70s by Monday with that trend likely to continue into the week. The next big rainmaker currently seems as though it will hold off until after Wednesday and thus the first half of the week will certainly make you want to get outside and enjoy welcomed spring-like weather.
Today: Partly to mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of a few showers. High near 67. Winds will be 5-12 mph from the south this morning, switching to the southeast by this afternoon.
Tonight: Rain likely, especially after midnight. Low around 50. Easterly winds from 3-10 mph. Total rainfall (including Saturday morning) will range from 0.50″-1″ with locally 1″+ possible.
Saturday: Scattered showers likely before noon. Chilly with a high only around 52. Northwest to northerly winds from 8-18 mph with gusts 20+ mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear and cool with a low around 31. There could be some areas of patchy fog develop around morning with the potential for areas of freezing fog. Winds will be light to calm.
Sunday: Sunny with a high around 60. Light northerly winds.
Sunday Night: Clear with a low near 37. Southeasterly winds at 3-10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny with a high in the low 70s.