GLOBAL WEATHER SUMMARY
JANUARY 2014
1st-11th...A cold frontal boundary extended from the central Rockies to the Mississippi Valley on Wednesday, while a ridge of high pressure continued to build along the eastern Pacific. Winter weather advisories were issued across the Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast on Wednesday as snowy conditions accompanied a cold front. The heaviest snow associated with this system impacted Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. Van Buren, Mich., reported a midday total of 5.50 inches of snow, while Kalamazoo, Mich., reported a midday total of 4.0 inches of snow. The northern Plains and upper Midwest continued to experience below normal temperatures due to a high pressure system over the area. Cook, Minn., recorded a morning low of -34 degrees, while Bigfork, Minn., recorded a morning low of -32 degrees. A separate frontal boundary stretched across the Gulf of Mexico, just south of the Gulf Coast, and across Florida on Friday.. This system triggered widespread showers and thunderstorms across a handful of southeastern states. Vero Beach, Fla., reported a midday total of 0.46 inches of rain. Meanwhile out west, wet weather approached the coast of Washington. The remainder of the West Coast stayed clear of precipitation as a ridge of high pressure continued to build over the eastern Pacific.
A strong winter storm moved away from the East Coast on Friday, which allowed for snow showers to come to an end for the Northeast. Storm totals ranged from 10 inches at Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania to 6.5 inches at Columbia, Maryland. Fulton, New York reported 19 inches of snow from this system and New York City saw 6 inches of snow at Central Park. As this system passed, the back side of this system pushed cool Arctic air in from Canada as high pressure built over the Eastern Valleys. This forced temperatures down to 25 to 35 degrees below normal for the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and into the Ohio River Valley. Temperatures in the Tennessee Valley and Mid- to Lower Mississippi River Valley dropped to near 20 degrees below normal. The coldest temperature Friday morning was reported at Ely, Minnesota with a morning low of 32 degrees below zero. Meanwhile, out West, another strong winter storm developed over the US and Canadian border. This system created a wintry mix of rain and snow showers across the Dakotas, with heavy snow showers over Montana, Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin. Heavy snow showers also developed north of the border in southern Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
A cold frontal boundary extended from Florida to New England on Monday, while a high pressure system continued to dominate the central U.S. A cold front pushed an active weather system across the Eastern Seaboard on Monday. Snowy conditions developed behind the front in New England and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Heavy rain moved through Maine, while lighter rain lingered along the Mid-Atlantic coast. Buckhannon, WV, reported a midday total of 2.60 inches of rain, while Augusta, Maine, reported a midday total of 1.28 inches of rain. Meanwhile, a high pressure system continued to provide cold, blustery conditions across the northern Plains, the upper Midwest, the Great Lakes and into the Mississippi Valley on Monday. Temperatures ranged between 20 to 40 degrees below normal throughout the regions as wind chill warnings were issued in a handful of states. Crane Lake, Minn., recorded a morning low of -38 degrees, while Park Rapids, Minn., recorded a morning low of -27 degrees with a wind chill factor of -55 degrees. The southern Plains and Gulf Coast also experienced chilly conditions on Monday as hard freezing warnings were issued across the two regions. Along the West Coast, light rain began to push onshore in the Pacific Northwest due to a low pressure system over the area. The Southwest stayed clear of wet weather as a ridge of high pressure continued to build over the eastern Pacific.
A cold frontal boundary extended from the southern Plains to the Ohio Valley on Wednesday, while a separate cold front approached the Pacific Northwest. Moderate to heavy rain pushed across western Washington and northwestern Oregon on Wednesday due to an onshore flow from the Pacific. Winter weather advisories were also issued across the Cascades as snow fell at higher elevations. Quillayute, WA, recorded a midday total of 0.55 inches of rain. Moisture also moved over parts of the northern and central Rockies, which triggered snow showers across the Intermountain West. The Southwest stayed clear of precipitation on Wednesday as high pressure brought clear skies to the region. Temperatures ranged between the 50s and 60s across the desert Southwest. Meanwhile, a cold front over the central U.S. ushered snowy weather across parts of the Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley. Freezing rain and sleet also impacted parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, which created dangerous conditions along roadways in eastern Oklahoma and Arkansas. Along the northern tier of the country, high pressure continued to provide cold, blustery conditions to the upper Midwest. Crane Lake, Minn., recorded a morning low of -34 degrees, while Park Rapids, Minn., recorded a morning low of -29 degrees with a wind chill factor of -44 degrees. Southern Florida experienced spotty showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday, while the majority of the East Coast stayed clear of rain and snow.
A strong low pressure system ushered moderate to heavy precipitation across the central U.S. on Friday, while rainy weather moved across the Eastern Seaboard along a frontal boundary. Heavy precipitation pushed over the central Plains and the middle Mississippi Valley on Friday as a low pressure system developed over the region. A strong onshore flow from the Gulf of Mexico allowed for thunderstorms to form, which triggered flood watches across Arkansas and Missouri. Mena, AR, reported a midday total of 1.81 inches of rain, while Corsicana, Texas, reported a midday total of 0.86 inches of rain.. Meanwhile, parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois experienced a mixture of freezing rain, sleet and snow. Along the East Coast, a frontal boundary stretched from Florida to the coast of Virginia. Rain and thunderstorms developed to the northwest of the front, as Camden, SC, reported a midday total of 2.39 inches of rain, while West Palm Beach, FL, reported a midday total of 1.37 inches of rain. Portions of upstate New York and New England experienced very cold temperatures on Friday morning as an arctic air mass lingered over the Northeast. Houlton, Maine, reported a morning low of -13 degrees. Out West, low pressure ushered rainy weather across parts of Oregon and western Washington, while heavy snow showers impacted the Cascades and northern Rockies. Missoula, Mont., reported a midday total of 10.0 inches of snow. The Southwest stayed clear of precipitation on Friday.
A strong cold frontal boundary extended from the Gulf Coast to the central Great Lakes on Saturday, while a separate cold front trekked across the western U.S. A strong cold front triggered severe weather across the southeast and Mid-Atlantic, while a mixture of rain, freezing rain and snow developed across the Northeast. Severe thunderstorms moved over a handful of states, as tornado warnings were issued in Florida and Georgia, and tornado watches were issued across the Carolinas and Virginia. Cartersville, GA, reported quarter sized hail, while wind speeds ranged between 50 to 60 mph in Vinings, GA. Heavy rain also accompanied the front, as Athens, Ga., reported a midday total of 2.75 inches of rain, while Anderson reported a midday total of 2.27 inches of rain. Meanwhile, flood watches and warnings were issued across the Northeast on Saturday as heavy precipitation moved across the region. A warm air mass from the Atlantic also aided in melting ice and snow across the area, which fueled flood possibilities. Out west, a strong frontal boundary moved over the Pacific Northwest, while a low pressure system ushered widespread rain across western Washington, western Oregon and northwestern California. Heavy snow also impacted the Cascades, while more moderate snow showers moved through the northern Sierra Nevadas. Stevens, Wash., reported a midday total of 4.0 inches of snow. A separate low pressure system along southern Canada ushered rain across Idaho and Montana, while the northern Rockies experienced moderate to heavy snow showers. Bonner, Idaho, reported a midday total of 6.0 inches of snow. The desert Southwest stayed clear of precipitation on Saturday.

12th-18th...A cold frontal boundary extended from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes on Monday, while high pressure triggered a Santa Ana wind event over southern California. A cold front ushered a band of precipitation between the central and eastern thirds of the country on Monday. Flood warnings were issued in the lower Mississippi Valley, as a swath of rain stretched from Alabama to Pennsylvania. Heavy showers and thunderstorms developed along the Gulf Coast due to a surge of warm, muggy air from the Gulf of Mexico. Galliano, LA, reported a midday total of 1.23 inches of rain, while Boothville, LA., reported a midday total of 1.10 inches of rain. Freezing rain advisories were also issued in portions of northern New England as precipitation approached the region.
Meanwhile, winter weather advisories were issued across the northern Plains and the upper Midwest due to a cold front over the area. Light snow and strong winds moved over parts of the Intermountain West and the northern Plains due to a low pressure system just north of Montana. Browning, MT, recorded wind speeds of 71 mph, while Ravalli, Mont., reported a midday total of 3.50 inches of snow. Light rain lingered in the Pacific Northwest on Monday, while the remainder of the West Coast stayed clear of precipitation. High pressure over the Great Basin also initiated a Santa Ana wind event over southern California. Wind gusts ranged between 60 to 70 mph along mountain slopes.
Cold temperatures continued to pour across the eastern states on Wednesday, while snow showers persisted for the upper Midwest. A strong low pressure system moved eastward from the northern Plains and toward the Great Lakes region, bringing heavy snowfall to Minnesota and Wisconsin. The tail end of a cold front associated with this system brought rainy conditions to South Dakota and into the central Plains. Snowfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches for most areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota, with the heaviest snow reported in Minnesota City, Minnesota with a midday total of 7.0 inches of snow. Meanwhile in the East, a strong low pressure system moved over the Great Lakes and created a cold front that stretched down the East Coast. This system was limited in moisture, however, the southern side of this system pulled moisture in from the Gulf of Mexico, which allowed for some heavy showers to develop along the Gulf states. Rainfall totals remained less than an inch for the region by midday Wednesday. Scattered showers developed to the north as this system stretched over the Mid-Atlantic states and into New York state. A rush of cold air poured in behind this system with temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees below normal for the Eastern Valleys. Daytime high temperatures only reached into the lower 30s for the Tennessee Valley and the mid-20s for parts of the Midwest and Ohio River Valley.
A series of cold fronts extended from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes on Friday, while a ridge of high pressure continued to build over the West Coast. Winter weather advisories were issued in the northern Plains and the upper Midwest on Friday as snowy conditions moved into the regions. Vilas, Wis., reported a midday total of 3.20 inches of snow. Cold, blustery conditions also accompanied a low pressure system on Friday, as Baudette, Minn., recorded a morning low of -20 degrees, while Grand Forks, N.D., recorded a morning low of -16 degrees. A mixture of rain and snow also moved over the Ohio Valley and parts of the Northeast as winter weather advisories were issued in Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New York. The Southeast stayed clear of precipitation and experienced warm, muggy conditions on Friday. The Intermountain West and the West Coast also stayed clear of rain and snow as a ridge of high pressure continued to build along the eastern Pacific. Red flag warnings were issued across California due to high fire danger, as Santa Ana winds kept conditions warm and dry. Point Mugu, Calif., recorded a midday high of 87 degrees, while Camp Pendleton, Calif., recorded a midday high of 82 degrees. Meanwhile in the Pacific Northwest, freezing fog warnings were issued in southeastern Washington.

19th-25th...Temperatures plummeted across the northern Plains and the upper Midwest on Monday as an arctic cold front stretched across the region, while a separate cold front extended across the Northeast. Cold, blustery conditions and snowy weather moved across the northern Plains and the upper Midwest on Monday as a cold front stretched from eastern Montana to southern Wisconsin. Temperatures dropped significantly across several states as wind chill warnings were issued in the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Grand Marais Airport, Minn., recorded a morning low of -16 degrees, while International Falls, Minn., recorded a morning low of -11 degrees with a windchill factor of -31 degrees. Another cold front extended across the southern Plains and the Mississippi Valley on Monday, although no precipitation accompanied this system. Texas experienced warm, sunny weather, as Kingsville Naval Air Station, Texas, recorded a midday high of 82 degrees. Cold, snowy weather also pushed across the Great Lakes and the Northeast as a frontal boundary extended from Ohio to Maine. Ogdensburg, NY, reported a midday total of 5.7 inches of snow, while Walden, Vt., reported a midday total of 5.5 inches of snow. The Southeast stayed clear of wet weather on Monday. The western third of the country also experience dry conditions due to a ridge of high pressure over the eastern Pacific. Dense fog advisories were issued across Oregon, Washington and Idaho, while freezing fog advisories were issued in southern Oregon.
An extensive cold frontal boundary moved southward off of the Gulf Coast on Friday, while a separate frontal boundary pushed over the northern Plains and upper Midwest. A cold front moved southward, away from the Gulf Coast states on Friday, while freezing rain, sleet and snow lingered over several states. Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings were issued in eastern Texas, southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi, as midday temperatures ranged in the 30s. Vernon, La., reported a midday total of 3.0 inches of snow, while Tyler, Texas, reported a midday total of 2.0 inches of snow. Meanwhile, a separate frontal boundary drove snowy weather across the northern Plains and upper Midwest as winter weather advisories and blizzard advisories were issued in the Dakotas and Minnesota. Koochiching, Minn., reported a midday total of 2.0 inches of snow, while Washburn, Wis., reported a midday total of 1.6 inches of snow. Just to the east, an arctic air mass swept across the Northeast as cold, blustery conditions affected the region. Watertown, N.Y., recorded a morning low of -29 degrees with a windchill factor of -42 degrees, while Mount Washington, N.H., recorded a morning low of -18 degrees with a windchill factor of -51 degrees. The West Coast continued to experience dry conditions on Friday due to a ridge of high pressure over the eastern Pacific. Bakersfield, Calif., recorded a midday high of 77 degrees, while San Diego, Calif., recorded a midday high of 75 degrees.

26th-31stA cold frontal boundary extended from the southern Plains to the Northeast on Monday, while a cluster of showers pushed across the Northwest. A cold front stretched from southern Texas to Vermont on Monday as another surge of arctic air moved across the central and eastern thirds of the country. Winter storm warnings and watches were issued across the Gulf Coast and the Southeast as precipitation from the Gulf of Mexico interacted with a cold air mass over the region. St. Petersburg Airport, FL, reported a midday total of 0.68 inches of rain. Temperatures remained fairly warm across Florida, as Immokalee Regional Airport, FL, reported a mid-day high of 86 degrees. Meanwhile, snow showers moved across the central Plains on Monday, while the northern Plains and the upper Midwest were inundated by another arctic air mass. Wind chill warnings were issued across the northern tier of the country, as Ely, MN, recorded a morning low of -25 degrees, while International Falls, MN, recorded a morning low of -24 degrees with a wind chill factor of -47 degrees. A mixture of rain and snow also moved across the Northeast on Monday. The Pacific Northwest experienced rainy weather as an onshore flow from the Pacific pushed showers across Washington, Oregon and northern California. High pressure continued to prolong a drought across the Southwest.