Wednesday, December 26, 2012

something to watch... (pm.26.dec.12)>

Wednesday's stats:

Early morning low temp: 45.1F (7.3C)
Afternoon high temp: 55.2F (12.9C)
Rainfall: none

Sunshine has gradually given way to increasing high clouds today, with a thin, broken layer of cloudiness sprawled across the sky just after sunset.  Although temperatures remain a bit above normal for the season, my afternoon high was the coolest (just barely) of the past 10 days.

For several days I've been giving the "heads up" on a new storm system expected to affect us.  The high clouds this afternoon are the first sign of a very large system now centered over Iran, which is expected to move into northern Pakistan by Friday morning -- and then stall out there for most of the coming weekend.  On upper-level charts, this systems looks really powerful, but so far, we're not seeing evidence of a great enough increase in moisture ahead of it, in order to get really excited about a significant rain/snow producer.  The latest run of the computer models shows a little more data to support a good round of rain and snow in our neighborhood -- especially on Friday and Saturday -- but other computer model guidance shows a much less robust scenario.  At any rate, expect a more unsettled situation here in the western Himalayan region during the coming several days, and keep close tabs on the latest developments if you have travel plans.

More unseasonably mild air will be drawn northward ahead of this approaching system, but once its center gets close to us and we start to get even some light precipitation, temperatures should fall substantially.  Quite a difficult forecast... but one that will be fun to watch and follow.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
dim moonlight through occasional high clouds.
low: 9C (48F)

THURSDAY:
both clouds and some periods of sun.  a couple of rain showers possible, especially during the PM.
high: 14C (57F)

THURSDAY NIGHT:
partly to mostly cloudy with a little better chance of some showers.
low: 8C (46F)

FRIDAY:
partly to mostly cloudy and turning cooler.  good chance of a few rain showers in the area.
high: 12C (53F)

SATURDAY:
clouds and a period or two of sun.  still a risk of a few showers around.  cooling trend...
morning low: 6C (43F)
daytime high: 11C (51F)

SUNDAY:
a mix of clouds and sun.  quite chilly, with a chance of a period of showers or thundershowers.
morning low: 4C (40F)
daytime high: 10C (50F)

MONDAY:
partly cloudy and cool.
morning low: 4C (40F)
daytime high: 11C (51F)