NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY

MARCH 2006

1st-4th...Heavy snow freezing rain along with plain old rain were
creating a travel nightmare in the Northeast on Thursday. As of midday,
freezing rain was mainly limited to central New Jersey and the New York
City Metro area. Earlier in the morning snow had fallen in these
locations. North of NYC, snow was the predominant form of
precipitation, with heavy snow being reported from Montauk, on Long
Island, to Binghamton, NY, and into Southern Massachusetts. Boston
however, had not yet received any snow by early afternoon. Snowfall
accumulations from this system were expected to end up being upwards of
6 inches in the worst hit areas, most likely to the north of New York
City. While the Northeast was experiencing chilly temperatures and
winter weather, just a short Distance away, temperatures in Virginia
were soaring into the 80s. Much of the Southeast was under the
influence of similar weather. Partly cloudy skies were seen south of
Maryland all the way to Florida, with many areas of almost completely
clear skies. Temperatures through most of the region were in the lower
80s. Elsewhere in the nation, the West getting some light rain and high
elevation snow from a storm and its associated cold front moving
through the region. Northern Texas and Oklahoma were also seeing
disturbed weather as low pressure was developing over the Southern
Plains
Rain fell on the West Coast and the South on Friday, while snow spread
through the Great Lakes and New England. A Pacific storm pounded
California and parts of southern Oregon, then moved east. Moderate to
heavy rain and a few thunderstorms were reported in Northern California
and parts of the coastal ranges. Snow coated some mountain areas.
Isolated showers fell from the southern Plains into the Gulf states,
though most rainfall was on the light side. The Great Lakes and New
England saw lake effect snow, with heavier amounts mostly over the
southern shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Light to moderate snow fell
on the northern Appalachians. After a warm spell, the Plains cooled
down a bit, though highs were in the 60s and 70s across the southern
states. But in the northern Plains,
Midwest and Great Lakes, temperatures ranged from the teens to the 30s.

5th-11th...Both coasts were battling with winter storms on Monday while
the Central U.S. experienced a dry and tranquil day. A Pacific storm
pushed northeast towards the British Columbia and carried a cold front
into the Intermountain West Monday morning. Moist onshore flow caused
steady rain to fall in northern two-thirds of California through the
morning hours while moderate to heavy snow fell in the Sierra Nevada
with light to moderate amounts in the Intermountains, Northern Rockies
and Great Basin. As of Monday afternoon, 3 to 6 inches of new snow was
reported from the northern California Mountains and the northern Sierra
Nevada. Much of the Coastal rages received some light to moderate rains
as well. By late Monday morning, the steady rain over California
changed into showers as the cold front progressed farther inland. To
the East, a newly developed low pressure system pushed eastward through
the Ohio and Tennessee Valley as well as the Mid-Atlantic States.
Widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms spread across the
region Monday morning. Heavier rains along the associated cold front
swept through parts of the Southeast. By late Monday afternoon, much of
the Southeast cleared out as the system pushed offshore. Farther north,
a couple of disturbances sagged southeast through the Upper Midwest,
Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and central Appalachians and caused an
expansive area of snowfall. Parts of the Ohio Valley remained warm
enough for the rain to continue instead. The warm spell persisted
across the southern states where afternoon highs climbed into the 70s
and 80s. The Northwest was in the 40s and 50s while the Midwest and
Northeast experienced highs from the upper 20s to lower 40s only.
Severe storms caused extensive damage across the Southern Plains on
Thursday as low pressure moved across the center of the Nation. As of
early afternoon, many reports of large hail and high winds had come in.
Several of these reports included wind gusts over 75 mph. While no
tornadoes had been confirmed as of early afternoon, a possible tornado
had been reported in Woodruff County, AR. Structural damage to
buildings and downed power lines accompanied this possible tornado.
Large hail was also reported from thunderstorms on Thursday morning.
The largest, 1.25 in diameter, was reported in Elkhart TX. While the
Southwest was the focus of the most severe weather, strong
thunderstorms were bringing rain, wind and lightning all the way north
into Michigan. The storms outside of the main severe threat area of the
Southwest were a cause for concern mainly for their ability to produce
heavy rain and potentially cause flash flooding. Elsewhere in the
nation, cloudy conditions dominated, with scattered cloud cover across
the entire West. Along with the cloud cover, unseasonable cold was felt
in the West. Temperatures across California were generally below
normal, and a stiff wind was making the cool air feel even colder. The
East was experiencing similarly cloudy conditions, on Thursday, though
temperatures were at or above normal for many areas as south winds
brought warm air out of the tropics.

12th-18th...Storms brought rain and relief to Southern California and
the Southwest on Saturday, while severe weather threatened in the
Plains. A cold storm system moving into the West brought snow to the
area around Scottsdale, Ariz. Phoenix's airport received nearly an inch
of rain, marking the first time in 143 days that it received at least a
trace of precipitation. The eastern half of the country will be rather
active Sunday March 12, 2006 as one low moves out and another develops.
Rain and thunderstorms are expected through through much of the East.
Rain and snow are likely through the Southwest. In Southern California,
snow and even a few funnel clouds were reported. Several inches of snow
fell in some mountains in Los Angeles County. Severe thunderstorm
warnings were also in effect for parts of California. Blizzard
conditions were possible in some mountain passes. Several inches of
snow fell in Utah, Colorado and Nevada. Several record-tying low
temperature readings were noted, including at Ely,
NV, which hit 2°F. Spotty rain and snow showers also affected the San
Francisco Bay Area. Moderate to heavy rain fell throughout the middle
Mississippi Valley toward the Ohio Valley and pushed into southern New
England. Along the main cold front through Illinois, Missouri and
eastern Oklahoma developed an area ripe for severe thunderstorms and
tornadoes. Tornado watches were in effect, and hail reports were
common.
Storms swept across the Plains and the Mississippi Valley on Monday,
downing power lines and trees, damaging buildings, and bringing golf
ball-sized hail.
Tornados were spotted in Mississippi, while hail fell over southern
Michigan, northern Indiana and western Tennessee. A tornado also
rumbled through Marionville, Mo., late Monday morning, flattening
several turkey houses. Thunderstorms raced through the Great Lakes
region and southern New England, while snow mixed with freezing rain
fell across the upper Midwest and the northern and central Plains. In
the West, scattered light snow fell across the Sierras and Rockies.
Rain dampened the Pacific coast.
Gusty wind continued to rake the Northeast Wednesday, with lake-effect
snow across a wide swath of New England. Low pressure brought light
rain to the drought-stricken southern Plains, from northern Texas to
southern Kansas. Rain dampened the Mississippi Valley, and the West
Coast saw scattered showers.

19th-25th...A storm system moved inland from the Pacific on Monday,
bringing rain to much of the West Coast and light snow to the Sierras.
Parts of Texas saw record high temperatures. While coastal rain
dampened California and outhwestern Oregon, showers and thunderstorms
also dampened the central Mississippi Valley into eastern Texas.
Extreme southern Texas set record highs, with temperatures soaring into
the mid- to upper-90s. Moderate to heavy rain pushed through the Texas
Panhandle and Oklahoma. Rain was lighter across the northern and
central Plains, which also saw some locally heavy snow. Penny-sized
hail was seen in Humble, Texas. Gusty wind raked parts of the lower
Mississippi Valley, while freezing rain fell in parts of Kansas and
Oklahoma. Light snow dusted western Pennsylvania, New York and northern
New England.
Low pressure in the Southwest on Wednesday brought showers to Arizona,
and light rain and snow to New Mexico. Light rain and high-elevation
snow also fell in western Washington, while light to moderate rain
dampened parts of Texas and Louisiana. Most of California and Oregon
stayed dry. In the East, high pressure that had produced light rain and
snow in the morning moved out into the Atlantic. Cold air funneling
across the Great Lakes brought snow to western New
England.
Snow and rain fell in parts of the nation's eastern half Friday, with
similar conditions affecting the West Coast. A low pressure system
brought rain to the Carolinas and Virginias, and snow showers developed
in the Ohio Valley, Upper Midwest and New England. A fairly strong cold
front pushed onto the West Coast, renewing rain and high-elevation snow
showers in parts of Washington, Oregon and California. The country's
midsection remained dry. The Southwest was the country's warm spot as
temperatures rose into the 80s in areas. The Northern Plains and the
Upper Midwest didn't get above the 40s.

26th-31st...Low pressure pushing across the nation's midsection Monday
spread rain from the Plains to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. Mild
weather prevailed in the East. Wind gusted to 45 mph in parts of the
Plains, where some snow showers were also reported. Temperatures rose
into the 40s and 50s in the Northeast and
Mid-Atlantic. The Southeast saw highs in the 60s and 70s. In the West,
increasing clouds brought rain to the California coast. Scattered
showers also dampened Arizona and New Mexico.
Heavy rain lashed the central Plains on Thursday, while warm southerly
winds and cloudless skies combined to bring a pleasant day to much of
the East. Strong low pressure moved across the central Plains, with
reports of large hail and tornadoes. Gusting wind caused damage from
Oklahoma to Nebraska. Temperatures soared in the East, with some areas
12 degrees above normal. Clear skies and humid conditions prevailed
along the Gulf Coast. The West was cool with scattered light rain.