Well we’ve been talking about this for several days and now the storm is about 24 hours away.  While we’re going to see the bulk of the precipitation in the form of rain falling temperatures, gusty winds and snow showers will follow late Thursday afternoon and evening.

The storm is now near the four corners region producing some snow in the Denver area.  Already there are Winter Storm Warnings and even Blizzard Warnings issued from Colorado through Michigan.

The track of the storm will move into the southern plains and eventually into the Great Lakes.  The heavier snow will fall on the northwest side of the area of low pressure.

By later tonight the storm will already be in the southern plains and the warm front will be ready to move through the Dayton area.

We’re going to be on the warmer side of this storm system.  This means we’ll see temperatures starting out in the lower 50′s by Thursday morning and early afternoon.  Rain will be knocking on our doorstep by early Thursday morning and may be heavy at times.  A rumble of thunder or a flash of lightning is not out of the question either.

Rain will be falling throughout much of the day Thursday.  The cold front is expected to move through after 6pm.  Once the front moves through temperatures will fall, winds will pick up and the precipitation will change over to snow showers.

Rainfall amounts will be around a half an inch to as much as three quarters of an inch.

By Friday morning the winds will continue to be gusty at times near 40-50 mph.  There will also be the chance for some snow showers.  Accumulations will be minimal because the bulk of the precipitation will fall in the form of rain.

With wind speeds so strong and temperatures falling into the 30′s wind chill factors will be in the teens for most of the day on Friday.  Be sure to bundle the kids up as you take them to the bus stop.  As always we’ll have the latest on this storm here online and tonight with Chief Meteorologist Brian Davis.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

There are lots of clouds to start this Tuesday and even some showers/snowflakes.  The light precipitation is quickly moving east and I’m expecting a dry afternoon.  Although we’ll see a cloudy start the sun begins to break out as high pressure wedges in later this afternoon.  We’ll see highs today above normal in the lower to middle 40′s but even warmer conditions on Wednesday with highs in the lower 50′s.

Of course the mild and sunny weather isn’t going to last for long.  We have big changes on the way as a large area of low pressure now very unorganized out west.  However the National Weather Service has already put up Winter Storm Watches and Blizzard watches from Kansas, Nebraska through Wisconsin.

The storm will arrive in the central plains by Wednesday evening and continue moving northward.  The Miami Valley will be on the warmer side of the storm system which means we’ll see more rain than snow.

By early Thursday morning temperatures will be near 50 and the rain on our doorstep.

The rain will eventually change over to some light snow showers once the cold front moves through.  The heaviest snow accumulations will be well to the north and west of us.  After the front moves through the precipitation will change over to some snow showers, temperatures drop and the winds pick up.

Expect winds near 40-50 mph and temperatures falling into the 30′s.  There’s a chance for a few light flurries early Friday but the main thing you’ll notice is the gusty winds and chilly temperatures.  Highs will only be near 30 on Friday.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

With temperatures in the 50′s over the weekend it really doesn’t feel like we’re a week away from Christmas.  Today temperatures once again will be in the lower 50′s with lots of clouds and even the chance for a few scattered showers this afternoon and evening.

This morning we’re dealing with some fog and visibility issues.  At one point this morning visibilities were reduced to a hlaf mile in some locations.  Fog will continue through about 9 or 10am.

An area of low pressure will track northward today and bring the chance for showers throughout the day but a better chance later this afternoon and evening.

The rain will come to an end late tonight but we’ll still see a little cloud cover early Tuesday morning.

But by the afternoon we’ll see a good deal of sunshine and mostly sunny skies for Wednesday with highs once again well above normal.

By Thursday our attention turns to the west while we are keeping an eye on a storm system there.  This storm system will begin to impact the Miami Valley early Thursday morning.  We’ll be on the warmer side of this area of low pressure which means we’ll see a good chance of rain.  However once the cold front moves through temperatures begin to drop and there’s a chance the precipitation will turn to a few snow showers.  The winds pick up as well and we’ll have a hard time hitting the freezing mark on Friday.

Since we’re about a week out from Christmas many people are wondering if Dayton will see a White Christmas.  Looking through climatology there have been many years when no snow has been on the ground. The National Weather Service office in Wilmington did a great job compiling statistics on the day.  A White Christmas is defined as having an inch or more of snow on the ground.

As far as the entire country goes….the farther north you go the better probability there is for seeing snow.  (I’m hoping that’s pretty obvious   )

Here’s hoping to some winter like weather soon!
Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Did you see any of the Geminid meteor shower this morning?  The shower peaked this morning and if you missed it one of our viewers sent us some great photos.  A big thanks to Gregory Opt in Centerville for sending us pictures via reportit!

Not only can you see the meteor in these photos you can also see the constellation Orion.  Notice were the three stars line up – that’s Orion’s belt.

The clear skies we had this morning for the great viewing conditions for the meteor shower are all thanks to an area of high pressure nearby.  This high means we’ll start out chilly but we’ll see lots of sunshine for the afternoon.  This will help warm our temperatures up really quickly.

The warm temperatures will continue for the weekend.  Look for highs in the lower to middle 50′s.  That’s WELL above normal.  Take a look at yesterday’s highs and today’s normals.

If you have any outdoor activities today is the day to do it.  Lots of sunshine and highs near 50 will make for a wonderful day outside.

The mild temperatures are going to stick around this weekend however rain chances will increase later in the afternoon and evening.

The best chance of rain will occur later in the afternoon and evening on Saturday.  Mostly after 2pm.

As the low pressure area lingers around the Great Lakes there’s still a chance for a few showers on Sunday.  So keep the umbrella handy throughout the weekend and remember you can always look at Live Doppler 2HD via our mobile app and at wdtn.com

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Clear skies and light winds are allowing temperatures to fall into the 20′s for the last couple of mornings.  Much of the Miami Valley including Whispering Pine Farm in Kettering dropped to 23 this morning!  The reason we were so cold is because an area of high pressure is right overhead.

Even though we’re seeing a chilly start we’re going to warm up later this afternoon thanks to lots of sunshine! The high pressure moves slightly and our winds turn out of the south and southwest.

It will be clear and cold once again tonight with lows in the middle to upper 20′s.  It’s going to be perfect for viewing the Geminid Meteor Shower.  I wrote a detailed blog about this yesterday.  Click here to read it.

The cold nights have allowed for Mad River Mountain to make some snow!  I know all the ski lovers are very excited about this.  Click here for the latest snow report.

High pressure remains in effect for Friday which means a chilly start but lots of sunshine once again for the afternoon.  Keep the umbrellas packed for the next two days and grab the sunglasses.

Things are going to change for the weekend.  A storm system to our west will begin to increase our cloud cover for Saturday morning.

It will be mild for the weekend with highs in the lower 50′s however temperatures drop for next week.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Are you ready to make a wish?  When you wish upon a star makes no difference who you are…. Yes by know you should know I try to use lyrics in my blogs to make sure I get songs stuck in your head

You may see a few streaks of light across the night sky tonight and tomorrow night as the Gemind meteor shower peaks.  The shower “peaks” on Thursday night however you can always see a few meteors before and after the main event.

So what are the Geminids?  Well according to NASA’s website the meteor shower happens as debris from an object called 3200 Phaethon.  Phaethon is an extinct comet and every year in December the Earth runs into its debris stream.

Why are they called the Geminids? The meteors or shooting stars tend to radiate from the constellation Gemini.

When and where do I look?  The best place to view a meteor shower is away from city lights.  A dark sky will allow you too see some of the faintest meteors.  The shower is going to peak Thursday night after 10pm – that’s when you’ll be able to see the most meteors but you’ll still be able to see a few tonight and Friday night.  All you have to do is look up – be patient and wait.

This year’s Geminids are going to be great because we’re going to have a new moon. This means that there’s not going to be a lot of moonlight to interfere with the viewing.

Astronomers suggest there could be as many as fifty to one hundred shooting starts an hour.  Our weather will also be cooperating!  A large area of high pressure will keep us clear not only for tonight but for Thursday night as well.

Of course with clear skies it’s going to be very cold!  Make sure if you are going to watch the shower to bundle up!  Enjoy the show!!
Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Is that catchy tune now stuck in your head too?  I love the Eurythmics and feel like this is a great way to describe our weather pattern.  More rain is expected Sunday and Monday.  We have had a lot of cloud cover today with a few sprinkles of rain earlier this morning.  Some of our weather checkers called in with generally small amounts.

Beavercreek:  .20″
Fairborn: .10″
Greenville: .04″
Kettering: .30″

While we’re seeing the rain and warmer temperatures it’s a different story out to our north and west.  The plains are gearing up for a winter storm with snow, gusty winds and chilly temperatures.  There are already winter warnings and advisories in effect.

We’re going to be on the warmer end of the storm meaning most of our precipitation will fall in the form of rain.  There’s a chance for a few scattered showers after midnight with a better chance of rain near daybreak Sunday.

We’ll see a lull in the precipitation between about 10am and 4pm before another round of rain moves through.

Colder air pushes in late Monday but most of the rain will be out of the area.  This means there is a slight chance for a mix or even a few snowflakes.  Accumulations will be minimal.

I know many people and even a few businesses are looking for colder air and snow.  Hang tight winter has just begun!

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

The unseasonably mild temperatures will continue for the next couple of days but there’s going to be little chance for seeing any sun.  Today was again another above normal day with highs in the upper 50′s for most locations.

Dayton officially picked up a little more than a quarter of an inch but some of our area weathercheckers picked up a little more rainfall.

The front that brought us the rain today is now pushing east and we’re tracking another one that will move through on Tuesday.  The second one will bring us a better chance of rain Tuesday and really drop our temperatures.

Tomorrow morning look for lots of clouds and a stray shower is possible throughout the day.

The secondary cold front moves through on Tuesday bringing us a much better chance for rain.  Until the front moves through expect temperatures to be in the upper 50′s and even lower 60′s.

We’ll finally see some sunshine on Wednesday but temperatures will return back to normal with highs in the lower 40′s.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Well the calendar says December and it’s the beginning of meteorological winter however the weather is anything but winter like.   Temperatures will remain well above normal for the rest of the weekend and even for the first half of the new work week.

We’re not the only ones feeling the above normal temperatures.  Pretty much the entire Midwest is above normal.  Even with lots of clouds and showers tomorrow highs will still be unseasonably warm.

Clouds increase tonight and we’ll see an overcast day for Sunday.  A front is going to drape through the region tomorrow bringing us a chance of on and off showers through the day.  There’s a chance of showers early in the morning, then another batch will move through later in the day.  Tomorrow will be one of those days to keep the umbrella handy throughout the day.

There’s a slight chance for a few scattered showers on Monday but only around a 30% chance.  A more potent cold front moves through on Tuesday bringing a good chance of rain and much cooler temperatures – or normal temperatures for Wednesday.

November 2012 will be marked as the fifth driest on record.   The total precipitation for the month was 0.79″ which is 2.6″ below normal.  Here’s a look at the top five driest Novembers on record in Dayton.

1.  0.34/1917
2.  0.48/1949
3.  0.63/1904
4.  0.69/1963
5.  0.79/2012

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

After a cloudy start we did end up seeing some sunshine across the Miami Valley to end out the day. The sunshine really helped to boost our temperatures into the middle 40′s.

The sunshine also painted a pretty picture across the sky.  This was sent in from our weatherchecker Jim Clark in Cedarville.  Don’t forget you can always send in your weather photos by using our reportit feature on our website wdtn.com

But some areas in had a taste of winter!  Here’s a picture from our sister station WLUK Fox 11 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  My former co-worker Doug Higgins took this photo from the Lambeau Cam.

Lambeau Field is just to the left of the photo.  When I worked in Green Bay four years ago I remember being able to hear the cheers from fans because the stadium is only two blocks away from the station (WLUK).

So what are our chances for seeing snow this week?  There’s a storm system that will head this way but it looks like it is going to skim the southern half of the area. We’ll see partly cloudy skies to start off the day on Monday but the clouds quickly increase as we head throughout the afternoon.

The clouds increase Monday night and after midnight the precipitation begins to head this way.  However it looks like it’s really going to be staying south of Dayton.  Warren, Clinton and Butler counties.

We may see a few flurries here but it looks like we’re going to miss out on this system.  The good news is we have plenty of time to try and get a white Christmas.

We will see some sunshine late in the day on Tuesday once the storm system heads east of us.

Enjoy the new week!

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Well after a warm Thanksgiving I think we all had a shock to the system with today’s temperatures.  Highs were in the lower 30′s and we were stuck in the clouds.

The winds have been whipping today and will continue to be pretty brisk for Sunday as well.  If you’re going to be heading out this evening make sure you get in the habit of bringing the heavier coat.  The wind chill or feels like temperature will be in the teens at times tonight.

The clouds have been hanging tough for the day and will continue to be thick tonight.  There will be little sunshine tomorrow too.  But with breezy southwest winds we’ll see temperatures rise a few degrees with highs in the lower 40′s.  We may see a few breaks in the clouds late Sunday afternoon.

I think we’ll see a little more sunshine for Monday though.

Notice there’s a bit of green in the lower left hand corner of the image in southern Missouri.  A storm system is going to skim the southern half of Ohio and computer models are now showing it’s trending farther south.  This means we may see some precipitation a rain or snow mix late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.  We’ll keep an eye on things  in case it will impact your morning commute.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  It’s been a long time since I have spent this day with family because I usually work the holiday.  However today I spent a few hours with one of my church choir members and their family.  It was fantastic to be around a family setting, enjoy some great food and laughs.  And of course the weather was fantastic!  Take a look at today’s highs.

Yes 62!  It was warm but it wasn’t the warmest Thanksgiving on record.  Here’s a look at some statistics that the National Weather Service put together.

Now what goes up must come down and yes that means our temperatures.  Say goodbye to the 60′s and hello once again to the 40′s.   The reason for the temperature drop is a cold front that will be passing through early Friday morning.

Look for skies to become mostly cloudy overnight and between about 4 and 8am there’s a chance for a few showers.  If you’re heading out to do some Black Friday shopping here’s what you can expect.

Once the front moves through the clouds begin to break up and sunshine peaks through.  Our temperatures drop throughout the day and winds switch to the northwest.  The chilly temps stick around for the Grande Illumination Friday.

If you’re heading to Columbus on Saturday to watch the big game make sure you are dressing warm because temperatures will only be in the 30s!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Wow what an amazing weekend!  I hope you were able to get out and enjoy the wonderful weather.  A few of our weathercheckers called in and said they were taking advantage of the nice conditions and put their Christmas lights up.  I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet but may as well put them up while it’s nice…as long as you don’t turn them on until after Thanksgiving

Today we saw highs again well above normal and it looks like it is going to stay that way for most of the short work week.

The sunny skies have given us some great sunrise and sunset pictures.  Here’s one I captured from our camera in Piqua at the Miami Valley Centre Mall.

Look for a few high clouds later tonight and temperatures falling near freezing again.  But another sunny day is expected for Monday.

With a lot of sunshine temperatures again will warm above November normals and will approach 60 degrees in many spots.

A very weak cold front will pass through the area on Tuesday.  The front is  moisture starved and will likely come through the area without producing any rain.  It will however increase our cloud cover so look for a mainly cloudy day with highs a few degrees cooler than Monday.

Turkey day looks sunny, warm and dry but we’re watching a cold front that may bring some rain on Black Friday.

While this week’s weather may be quiet it was a different story 20 years ago.  On November 22, 1992 around 60 tornadoes touched down in ten states one of them here in the Miami Valley.  An EF-3 twister hit Arcanum in the evening and left a path of damage about 20 miles long.  There were no deaths but 21 people were injured.

Here is a map from the Tornado History Project

The tornado damaged Faith United Methodist Church in Arcanum.  The roof, pews and stained glass windows were shattered but after 40 weeks of repair the congregation was able to resume services.

The Darke county tornado was one of many that day.  There were many other twisters that touched down in Ohio and Indiana.  Here’s a look at some of them.

This Thanksgiving week we can be thankful no severe weather is in the forecast for the Miami Valley.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

It seems we’ve been on a roller coaster ride of temperatures lately and now we’re on the ride up again.  Temperatures haven’t been that bad recently – right around normal and with a lot of sunshine it has been quiet and pleasant.  Many people are taking advantage of the nice weather and doing some last minute yard work or putting up outdoor Christmas lights.  (By the way – I can’t believe it’s almost Thanksgiving!?!?!  What has happened to 2012?)

This weekend we have an area of high pressure nearby.  This means light winds, lots of sunshine, cooler nights and pleasant days.

For the end of the weekend expect much of the same.  Temperatures early Sunday morning will be near freezing and highs will once again be in the middle 50′s.

Again this quiet pattern continues for Monday.  Look for lots of sunshine and temperatures slowly rising a degree or two.  There is a weak front that will pass through the Miami Valley on Tuesday.  This front is really moisture starved so if it does bring any precipitation it will be on the light side.  It will increase our cloud cover a bit on Tuesday but there’s only a very slight chance for showers.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Hopefully you were able to get outside and enjoy the wonderful day.  It was mild and windy but big chances are heading this way as a cold front pushes through tomorrow.  Take a look at today’s highs.  Another day in the upper 60′s.

If you look at high temperatures to our west you can see that there is a cold front evident and it’s a strong one.

Yep those chilly temperatures are heading for the Miami Valley.   As the cold front approaches Monday we are going to see three things:  1. Gusty winds 2. Rain 3.  Falling temperatures.

First the gusty winds – As the cold front approaches expect winds to gust to near 30 and 35 early tomorrow morning.  The winds will gradually diminish and switch direction as the front pushes through.

Second the rain – expect rain to start early in the morning first in the west then moving eastward as the days progress.

By lunchtime the entire Miami Valley will see the rain.

By 5pm the precipitation is coming to an end.  Notice that there’s a little pink and even some blue on Futuretrac. Yes there is a slight chance for some wet snow flakes to mix in with the rain but there’s a short period of time this will happen.  The colder air is going to come in just as the precipitation exits…if any snow does mix it will not be for long and will not accumulate.

Finally let’s talk about temperatures.  Monday is going to be the day where high temperatures are going to occur in the morning.  Ahead of the front morning temperatures will be in the 50′s but by the afternoon temperatures fall into the 40′s and by 5pm will be only near 40.

Skies begin to clear late Monday night as high pressure builds across the area however those clear skies will allow temperatures to crash into the 20′s for lows.  So winter is making an appearance once again.  The good news is temperatures will slowly moderate and dry conditions will stick around.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

If you look at the calendar and then step outside the two don’t seem to match.  But here we are in the second week of November and today’s high was 69 degrees.  Our normal high for today is 54.  As you can imagine what goes up must come down.  Tomorrow will be the last day we’ll see highs in the 60′s for awhile.  Highs drop back for most of next week.

The reason for the warm up is an area of low pressure and cold front now in the central plains.

As long as we are in front of the cold front we will continue to see strong winds out of the southwest and warmer temperatures.  However there’s active weather along the front and low pressure system.  Some parts of the country are experiencing winter weather while others are seeing the potential for severe weather.

Sunday across the Miami Valley will be nice – another warm, sunny but breezy day.  However the front begins to move through on Monday and this will dramatically change things.  First we’ll see some cloud cover increase late Sunday night and the winds will pick up as well.  Expect sustained winds out of the southwest around 10-20 mph with gusts near 25 and 30mph.

By Monday morning the front approaches and brings rain to much of the area.  High temperatures for the day will be early in the morning as readings fall through the afternoon.  Expect temperatures into the 40′s as you make your way home from work.

As we enjoy our unseasonably warm temperatures here  it was a different story on Lake Superior 37 years ago today.  The gales of November as they are often called came early with strong winds and large waves.  Both were no match for the Edmund Fitzgerald.

On November 9th the Fitzgerald left Superior, Wisconsin and was on its way to Ohio.  Gale warnings soon were in effect so the ship decided to take a more northerly route in Lake Superior to try and limit the wind and waves.   As the ship was trying to make it into Whitefish Bay a burst of strong winds and high waves were just too much and it sank near Whitefish Point, Michigan.   All 29 men were lost.

I first heard of this storm and shipwreck during my college years as one of my professors was studying the storm.  It wasn’t until I moved to Marquette, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula that I really was able to learn and appreciate the storm and story.  I took a tour of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in eastern Upper Michigan and was able to learn so much more about that fateful day.  I was able to see the bell that in 1994 was pulled from the wreckage and later restored.   This storm and story will always have a special place in my heart.  From Gordon Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, ” The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead when the skies of November turn gloomy.”  The bottom of Lake Superior is the final resting place for the 29 men who severed on board.

No matter the technology we have sometimes the weather is just too unpredictable.  On this anniversary my thoughts are with the families of those crewmen.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Weather isn’t going to be a problem for us here in the Miami Valley on Election Day.  While temperatures will start off chilly during voting hours it will be sunny and dry.  Highs will stay about 7-8 degrees below normal.

There is a cold front that’s going to move through the area late Tuesday.  Look for lots of sunshine for the first half of the day and for clouds to build in after 7pm.  Showers are possible after midnight and if enough cold air mixes in we may see a few wet snowflakes as well.    Here’s a look at what the radar will look like around 1am Wednesday.

Notice there’s some green in the Atlantic Ocean that’s pretty close to the east coast.  This is another large storm system that will affect the northeast.  This system will not be as strong as Sandy however this system has the potential to bring strong to high surf, strong winds, heavy snow and heavy rain.  This will likely affect some of the same locations still cleaning up from Sandy.

Here’s a look at one of the computer models we use called the NAM (North American Model) valid Wednesday night.

And one model all meteorologists have been watching because it did so well with Sandy is the European Model.  This is valid again Wednesday night.

While there are some differences in the models the main point is the northeast is going to get hit by another storm.  If we didn’t have Sandy just make landfall this would be a big deal but because Sandy made landfall it’s an even bigger deal.  Here’s why:  storm surge – There’s so much beach erosion from Sandy there is not really much of a natural barrier left.
Winds/Snow/Rain – more strong winds, snow where there is still no power.  This is going to make the recovery and clean up effort take even longer.

The one thing we’ll notice here in the Miami Valley after the Nor’easter moves off the coast the jet stream or storm track pattern begins to change.  A huge low pressure system in the plains cranks winds out of the south pushing our temperatures into the 60′s for the weekend.

Here’s a look at the warm air that will be pushed northward thanks to the area of low pressure to our west – This is valid Saturday evening.

Along with the warm up for the eastern half of the country the central plains may also see severe weather.  I’m pretty sure this may be the most active weather pattern I have seen in a long time.  Hurricane/super storm one week, Nor’easter another week and then a severe weather outbreak.  Wow.

Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

After sunny start to Sunday the clouds began to filter across the Miami Valley.  The clouds begin to break up once again tonight allowing temperatures to fall into the upper 20′s in most locations by Monday morning.

Remember the sun is going to rise around 7:11 Monday morning so don’t forget the sunglasses as you head out the door!  We’ll start off Monday chilly but with some sunshine.  A weak bubble of high pressure builds across portions of the area breaking up the cloud cover.

Expect a nice fall day Monday but temperatures will struggle to reach 50.  We’ll be running about 10 degrees below normal for the day.

Now the all important election forecast.  Weather won’t be a problem across the Miami Valley so you’ll have no issues heading to the polls Tuesday.  We’ll start the day with lots of sunshine but we will see clouds increase as the afternoon progresses.  A cold front will move through the Great Lakes by the evening hours.   There’s a chance for some showers to develop but they won’t begin until late Tuesday evening.  As colder air filters in some of the rain showers may mix with a few snowflakes but I’m not expecting any accumulation at all.

So here’s how Election Day is shaping up

The chilly weather we saw this weekend will continue to stick around for a few more days.  Our storm track or jet stream is keeping a trough in place meaning the cool weather is entrenched here while the warmer temperatures stay out west.

Notice that area of low pressure along the Gulf of Mexico.  That area of low pressure at the surface and a disturbance in the upper levels in our atmosphere are going to come together to create another storm along the east coast.  Now I do want to point out that this storm Wed/Thu will not be as strong as Sandy.  The strength and track are still not set in stone but it does appear that another storm is heading for the east coast which will really impact the clean up and recovery effort.

The National Weather Service has come up with a couple of great graphics I want to share with you.  The first shows the upper level disturbance that will merge with the area of low pressure at the surface.  Keep in mind this is all the way on the west coast.  Once our computer models get a grasp on its strength and motion they will be able to get a better feel for the strength and location of this next storm.

Here in the Miami Valley we are going to start off chilly but our jet stream or storm track will shift for the end of the week meaning temperatures will warm!  Expect highs near 60 and even the lower 60′s with breezy southwest winds.

Have a wonderful week!
Tara
Facebook
Google+
Twitter

We started the weekend with lots of clouds, chilly temperatures, rain and even a few ice pellets.  There’s still a chance for a few showers mixing in with some sleet through about 8 or 9 pm.   The clouds begin to break up later tonight as a ridge of high pressure slowly makes its way into the Miami Valley.

Today we stayed in the 40′s which is well below average for this time of year.  Remember just a week or so ago we were in the 70′s?!?!   The 40′s are going to stick around for the next couple of days but by the end of the workweek we’ll see temperatures climbing back to 60.

Tonight as skies clear late temperatures will fall near 30 degrees by early Sunday morning.  While we will start the day Sunday with some sunshine it will be on the chilly side.

Speaking of tonight….Don’t forget to turnbackyour clocks one hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time.  We’re returning to Standard Time.  The switch happens officially at 2am however I alwaysfall backbefore I head to bed.  I guess it gives me one less thing to do in the morning.  A couple of my friends with kids HATE the switch because it appears their kids decide to wake up early.  So I refrain from comments like “I’m going to enjoy my extra hour of sleep”  because I can’t even imagine getting up with a toddler at 5am instead of 6am.

The change is obviously going to affect our sunrise and sunset times.  Here’s a look at the difference.

On Sunday most of the day will be sunny but we’ll start to see some clouds develop by the afternoon.  Despite most of the day being sunny we’ll still see highs below normal.

The dry and quiet weather pattern continue for the weekend and most of the workweek.  We’ll see sunshine once again for Monday with a few clouds developing later in the afternoon.

Election day looks dry as well so there should be no weather related problems stopping you from heading to the poles.  Have a great weekend – and don’t forget to check those smoke detector batteries!
Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+

Hurricane Sandy is still a category one storm and hasn’t even made landfall yet but it’s effects are being felt all along the east coast.   Sandy is one large storm and it’s cloud shield is around 900 miles wide.

At 2am Monday the winds were at 75 miles per hour however the newest advisory has the winds now at 86 mph.

Preparations are underway and evacuations have already been set for the east coast.  Public transportation is closed in New Jersey and New York, Wall Street is closed, so are schools and of course MANY flights are cancelled.

There are so many issues with this storm: Strong winds, high waves, heavy rain and heavy snow.  Some of these will occur along the east coast but also here.  Here’s a look at all the watches/warnings including a Blizzard Warning for West Virginia.

For us in the Miami Valley I think our main concern is going to be the strong winds.   Winds will be sustained 20-30 mph today with gusts as high as 45-50 mph.  The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory for all of the Miami Valley until Tuesday at 6pm.  It might be a good idea to bring those Halloween decorations, secure lawn furniture and it might be a good idea to take down the flags.

Here’s how things will break down over the next 24 hours:

Today winds will whip at 45-50 mph at times.  With highs only in the middle to lower 40′s wind chill values will stay in the 30′s so be sure to dress for temperatures cooler than the thermometer shows.

Later tonight the winds stay strong but cooler air moves in and this may change our rain over to snow.   I don’t think we’ll see much accumulation at all and there are a few reason’s why.  First our ground is still very warm thanks to above normal temperatures the last week.  Some of the snow may start to stick on grassy surfaces but once warmer air moves back in the precipitation will quickly change over to snow.  So there will only be a short window of snow that will fall.

Winds will still be strong through Tuesday afternoon and temperatures will stay in the lower 40′s for Tuesday.  Expect a raw, windy, rainy and chilly day Tuesday.

As always if you have weather photos of snow or strong winds we would love to share them with our viewers.  Use the reportit feature on our website or your mobile device.  Be safe and stay warm!
Tara
Facebook
Twitter
Google+