Saturday, February 22, 2014

feb total increases... (pm.22.feb.14)>

Saturday's stats:

Low temp: 36.0F (2.2C) -- around 1:30am
High temp: 50.9F (10.5C) -- around 9:45am
Precipitation since midnight: 1.12" (2.8cm)
Snowfall: trace

There's been a lot of variability in the cloud cover late this afternoon and evening, and that remains the case at this hour.  In fact, all day long we've had sudden swings between glimpses of sun and then thick cloudiness and even some fog -- along with several periods of sprinkles and light rain showers.  There was even another rumble of thunder just after 5:00pm.  Nearly all of the measurable rainfall occurred between midnight and 6:00am, however -- and we've barely added to that at all since then.  Temperatures this morning swung wildly with gusty winds mixing this air mass around.

We've still got an upper-level disturbance/circulation nearly right overhead, and that's what has kept us dealing with a very changeable and unstable atmosphere today.  This system has delivered a rainfall total fairly close to expectations, though the fact that nearly all of it occurred during a six hour period very early this morning was surprising.  The February precipitation total at my location in the upper part of town has now reached 8.67" (22.0cm), which is more than double the normal amount.

The risk of a few rain showers remains during the overnight hours, but then that chance will decrease further on Sunday, as most of the remaining moisture gets shunted off to the east and a flat west-to-east flow develops in the upper atmosphere.  That will set us up for moderating temperatures until the middle of the week, with more of our recent trend of alternating sunshine and clouds.  There are no major storms on the horizon, but also no dramatic turn to consistent springtime weather.

CURRENT FORECAST info can be found on the tab above.