Good morning bloggers,
If you were out of town you missed a very dramatic day of weather in Kansas City Saturedaycapping off weeks of ups and downs. Severe thunderstorms moved in at 4:45 AM Saturday, then it was below freezing within two hours, and we had some freezing rain, and then the day finished off with snow. Here are a couple of pictures:
The first picture was taken by one of our bloggers in St. Joseph. Remember it was in the 60s earlier in the morning. And, this second picture is from 161st and Nall where 75 mph wind blew through during a severe thunderstorm Saturday morning.
We just completed a very exciting three weeks of weather. In our winter forecast we predicted two very active periods, this one now, and a second one likely later in January through February. And, we talked about the first half of January and the end of this year being a wild card. Arctic air is still near by and this could present some rather cold and stormy set-ups even before we get to the next wild 25 day stretch. Look at the snow cover chart valid yesterday:
And, Arctic air is building again stronger than during the past three weeks over Canada and Alaska extending over the North Pole to Siberia. This will have to come down either in small doses or in a couple of big outbreaks. This weeks pattern alone is fascinating and we believe that we are in around a 50 day cycle (48 to 52 days). This is really coming together this week and for a full discussion on this go to www.LRCweather.com and click on the blog as I go in-depth into this amazing weather pattern that we are experiencing.
Unfortunately, Kansas City is on the edge of extreme excitement for the winter weather enthusiast this season. It has been an unbelievable snowy and cold winter season across the Dakota’s, Minnesota, Wisconsin, into the Great Lakes states. And, Kansas City has only had glancing blows from the storm systems for the most part. I wouldn’t call Saturday’s weather a glancing blow, however, as we had severe thunderstorms with damage and 75 mph winds to freezing rain just two hours later to snow by the end of the day. We are still waiting for that first major winter storm. They have been close, but so far it has yet to produce a big one in our viewing area.
I still think there will be one or two storm systems where it all comes together and our viewing area gets hit. But, as I look at the cycles I only see two or three storm systems capable of producing a major winter storm in KC. We will need a major Arctic outbreak to be in phase with some kind of ejecting wave from the southwest. Or, a storm may form right on top of us later in January as it did right after Thanksgiving. There is potential, but so far it just hasn't happened for us.
Have a fanatastic day. I will try to answer any of your questions. This is a very complex weather pattern as I am sure you already know!
Gary