Weather Hazards Outlook, Jan. 30 – Feb. 10, 2012

Here is a look at some of the potential or ongoing weather hazards and headlines ahead in the days to come:

Heavy rain is predicted for western parts of Washington, with snow in the higher elevations, January 30-31.

Moderate flooding is likely in the vicinity of the Guadalupe River near Bloomington in southeastern Texas, January 30-31.

Severe drought for parts of the central and southern Great Plains, Desert Southwest, the central Sierra Nevadas, the Southeast, the western Corn Belt and northeast Minnesota.

Weather Hazard Outlook Map

Weather Hazard 3- 7 Day Outlook Map

Weather Hazard 8 – 14 Day Outlook Map

Fire Weather Outlook

For Monday, no large-scale critical areas areas for wildfires exists across the Nation. 

Fire Weather Outlook and Discussion

Severe Weather Outlook

For Monday, no organized areas of severe thunderstorms are forecast across the Nation.

Current Severe Weather Watches
Reports of Severe Weather
Storm Prediction Center

Several snow systems from the Pacific Norrthwest to New England

Multiple days of heavy precipitation and heavy snow are upcoming, with accumulations of multiple feet of snow possible in portions of the Washington and Oregon Cascades into the ranges of Idaho and northwest California. There should be widespread snowfall on the order of feet in the Cascades and the northern part of the Intermountain West through Friday morning, especially in areas which favor enhanced snowfall due to upslope flow.

An upper short wave will slide through the Midwest and upper lakes later Tuesday with an upper low gradually developing over Michigan. The development of the low leads to the threat of moderate to heavy snow, especially over northern Michigan.   In addition, a streak of enhanced snowfall will extend from the Great Lakes into the northeast U.S.

Snow Cover
National Snow Analysis

Indiana River flooding to persist into the New Year

River flooding and high stream levels will continue into the New Year.  Another weather system will drop one-half to possibly an inch of rainfall on much of Indiana by Wednesday.  This will caused renewed rises in central and southern Indiana and extend flooding in western and southwest Indiana.  In areas where the rivers crested during the past weekend, renewed rises will not exceed levels already seen in December.  Significant river flooding is not expected in central and southern Indiana at this time.

High water will continue to flood several river roads, a few state roads, public access sites and fallow agricultural land.

Record / Near-Record Setting November Ohio Valley Precipitation

NOAA: U.S. experiences second warmest summer on record

The blistering heat experienced by the nation during August, as well as the June through August months, marks the second warmest summer on record according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, N.C. The persistent heat, combined with below-average precipitation across the southern U.S. during August and the three summer months, continued a record-breaking drought across the region.

The average U.S. temperature in August was 75.7 degrees F, which is 3.0 degrees above the long-term (1901-2000) average, while the summertime temperature was 74.5 degrees F, which is 2.4 degrees above average. The warmest August on record for the contiguous United States was 75.8 degrees F in 1983, while its warmest summer on record at 74.6 degrees F occurred in 1936. Precipitation across the nation during August averaged 2.31 inches, 0.29 inches below the long-term average. The nationwide summer precipitation was 1.0 inch below average.

This monthly analysis, based on records dating back to 1895, is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

The Complete Story from NOAA

Tropical Weather Outlook

For the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48-hours.

Atlantic Basin Outlook
National Hurricane Center

NOAA’s Atlantic hurricane season update calls for increase in named storms

NOAA has issued its updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, raising the number of expected named storms from its pre-season outlook issued in May

The Complete NOAA Outlook
National Hurricane Center

A rare October Winter storm for the Northeast

The recent early-season Winter storm has ended across the Northeast.

Snowfall accumulations of over 32 inches have been repported in parts of New England.

Another early seaon Winter storm is developing over the Northern Rockies of Wyoming and Colorado into the central High Plains for Tuesday and Wednesday as a strong upper trough brings much colder air into that region. Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches are possible Tuesday through Wednesday.

NOAA: Heat wave leads to fourth warmest July on record for the U.S.

Persistent, scorching heat in the central and eastern regions of the United States shattered long-standing daily and monthly temperature records last month, making it the fourth warmest July on record nationally, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.

The Complete NOAA Story