[Cambium]

Current snow depth vs monthly normals.
I couldnt find Jan 4th normals so I used the entire month.

It only takes one storm to put down a healthy snow depth but its still amazing to see the current colorless maps.

[Cambium]

Originally Posted by jp03

Here is the answer

Q: Why is the coldest weather associated with light or no wind?

Still looking into this cause it peaked my interest. I always hear about the snowpack cooling temps down & I thought wind would help further.

But everytime I find something it doesnt give a full senario. For instance like this below doesnt tell you that the layer above us can actually be cooler then the surface so there wouldnt be "mixing" of warm air.. I mean in winter the air above us is almost always a few degrees colder(sometimes more) thats why rule of thumb is temps drop 3.5 degrees every 100 feet of mountain you climb.

USATODAY.com

Q: Why do fruit growers use wind machines to circulate air to prevent freezing?
A: On calm, clear nights, the Earth radiates energy to space efficiently, with air near the surface cooling rapidly as the ground cools. This stubborn layer of cool air, called an inversion layer, is topped by warmer, lighter air. Without surface winds to push it around, this inversion layer will continue to get colder during the overnight hours and could result in freezing of fruit and tender vegetation. Wind machines are used to break up this inversion layer, mixing warmer air from above down to the surface to keep temperatures from dropping to the freezing mark.

And this doesnt mention a healthy snowpack which would have cooler air above it.

Q. I was wondering if the Appalachian range could have the same effect on cities on the East Coast?
A: Yes, winds flowing down the Appalachians do warm up as they descend. Descending air always warms at the rate of 5.5 degrees F for each 1,000 feet of descent. On the east side of the Rockies the winds might descend 7,000 feet from the mountain tops to the Plains below, warming by around 38 degrees. In the East, the winds would descend only around 2,000 feet, warming up by about 11 degrees. This is why in the summer, northeast winds that you would expect to be cool actually warm parts of the East. "Chinook winds" are the ones that blow down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the USA.

[jp03]

Originally Posted by Cambium

Still looking into this cause it peaked my interest. I always hear about the snowpack cooling temps down & I thought wind would help further.

But everytime I find something it doesnt give a full senario. For instance like this below doesnt tell you that the layer above us can actually be cooler then the surface so there wouldnt be "mixing" of warm air.. I mean in winter the air above us is almost always a few degrees colder(sometimes more) thats why rule of thumb is temps drop 3.5 degrees every 100 feet of mountain you climb.

USATODAY.com

Q: Why do fruit growers use wind machines to circulate air to prevent freezing?
A: On calm, clear nights, the Earth radiates energy to space efficiently, with air near the surface cooling rapidly as the ground cools. This stubborn layer of cool air, called an inversion layer, is topped by warmer, lighter air. Without surface winds to push it around, this inversion layer will continue to get colder during the overnight hours and could result in freezing of fruit and tender vegetation. Wind machines are used to break up this inversion layer, mixing warmer air from above down to the surface to keep temperatures from dropping to the freezing mark.

And this doesnt mention a healthy snowpack which would have cooler air above it.

Q. I was wondering if the Appalachian range could have the same effect on cities on the East Coast?
A: Yes, winds flowing down the Appalachians do warm up as they descend. Descending air always warms at the rate of 5.5 degrees F for each 1,000 feet of descent. On the east side of the Rockies the winds might descend 7,000 feet from the mountain tops to the Plains below, warming by around 38 degrees. In the East, the winds would descend only around 2,000 feet, warming up by about 11 degrees. This is why in the summer, northeast winds that you would expect to be cool actually warm parts of the East. "Chinook winds" are the ones that blow down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the USA.

Yea, the first Q/A was the point I was making...its hard to find a more definitive asnswer...

[Cambium]

Originally Posted by jp03

Yea, the first Q/A was the point I was making...its hard to find a more definitive asnswer...

Right, but here's my point and you can easily check. Unisys Weather - Upper Air Sounding Plots

How can the winds "mix" warm air from above us if the air is colder?? Take a look at the current data. Left line is dew point. Right line is temperature. Altitude is left hand column. Pink line is the 32 degree line. The temperature is obviously colder as you go high above us. Its -10 degrees Celsius at the 7000' level.

Thats whats not making sense to me. There's no "warm" air above to mix down. So if we had a snow pack and "NW" winds the air would stay cold and I think cool off a degree or two.

[jp03]

Originally Posted by Cambium

Right, but here's my point and you can easily check. Unisys Weather - Upper Air Sounding Plots

How can the winds "mix" warm air from above us if the air is colder?? Take a look at the current data. Left line is dew point. Right line is temperature. Altitude is left hand column. Pink line is the 32 degree line. The temperature is obviously colder as you go high above us. Its -10 degrees Celsius at the 7000' level.

Thats whats not making sense to me. There's no "warm" air above to mix down. So if we had a snow pack and "NW" winds the air would stay cold and I think cool off a degree or two.

You definitely make a good point. I don't get it really either but its always been that on a calm clear night you get the coldest temps. You would think a northwest wind would bring even COLDER air...but I guess it doesn't matter how cold the air is, as the motion actually somehow affects it. I still think its friction which in turn creates heat (albeit very little)..moving air creates friction, no wind allows the cold to settle . Shrug..

[Cambium]

The usual flip flop continues. We'll be 5-8 degrees above average until Tuesday. Here's Saturdays temps. Coast should get to 50.

Light Moisture back in picture for Sunday.
Dry Monday-Wednesday
Big storm still in picture for Thursday. Not sure on precip type but the trend has been rain so thats what I'm thinking. Will post if that changes.

[Mixum]

Seriously this is ridiculous and seems like there is no end in sight! Can we just have normal temps instead of this warm air sh##t?

[Mike 75]

I love the snow, but I have to admit after last winter, I'm enjoying these moderate temperatures.

[retiree2011]

Originally Posted by Mike 75

I love the snow, but I have to admit after last winter, I'm enjoying these moderate temperatures.

I don't like snow, so am really enjoying this weather. Did a 3-hour hike on Sun. and some of the people were wearing shorts! Tomorrow, I plan to take a lunch and go sit at the beach in a nearby town - the place I sit is near a cinder block bathhouse, so it gets really warm there. I can probably stay till the shadows reach my spot, then it cools off. My town, at this time, does not have a beach since it was washed away by storm Irene. Let's all enjoy this weather while it lasts.

[Arm&Hammer]

im loving this weather... really make winter feel short and closer to spring... feel bad for the snow lovers. To bad, it our mild weather lovers turn for 2012 hahahaha