Author Archives: murray
Extreme Cold Ahead
There are increasing signs that we are going to see an Arctic outbreak with an intensity and duration that we have not seen in a while. Next week, we will see a setup that will bring some extremely cold air … Continue reading
Birmingham’s Means and Extremes for January
In just a couple of days, we will close the books on 2009. It is a year that we will remember for its rainfall. As Brian Peters has reported, we have received 71.49 inches of rain this year at the … Continue reading
The Ashtabula Train Disaster
Ashtabula, Ohio is in the lake effect snow belt of Lake Erie, like Buffalo. On December 29, 1876, Ashtabula was being buried by a major snowstorm, dumping huge amounts of snow on the small town. At about 7:30 p.m., the … Continue reading
Looking at the Evening GFS
The 00z run of the GFS looks less promising for snow chances across Central and North Alabama Thursday night. This is on the heels of the 18 run, which actually looked like the chances were better. The GFS has been … Continue reading
Buffalo Snow Blitz…
Incredible. Unprecedented. Historic. Astounding. These are adjectives used to describe an unbelieveable five day lake effect snow blitz that started in Buffalo NY on Christmas Eve in 2001. After an unprecedented November in which no snow fell in the city, … Continue reading
Updated Forecast Rationale…
High clouds have increased most of Alabama this afternoon. The only exception is over the Northwest part of the state, where skies have remained sunny. Light radar echoes are showing up over South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, but most … Continue reading
The Typhoon That Couldn’t Happen
Tropical cyclones form when masses of thunderstorms stay organized long enough for the Coriolis effect to give them a little kick and start them spinning. At the equator, the Earth’s rotational effect is zero. Theoretically, it is impossible for cyclones … Continue reading
The Tsunami
Just before 8 a.m. local time on December 26, 2004, the idyllic calm of a peaceful morning in Southeast Asia was shattered by one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. The epicenter was about 100 miles off the west coast … Continue reading
A Christmas Weather Poem
A Christmas gift from a forecaster at the National Weather Service Lubbock… IT IS THE MORNING OF CHRISTMAS AND I AM BACK IN THE CHAIR TO BRING YOU THE LONG-TERM DISCUSSION WITH A BIT OF CHRISTMAS FLAIR. THE MAIN STORM … Continue reading
Winds Calming
Our gravity wave has pushed east tonight. Ahead of it, winds are strong and gusty. Behind it they have relaxed considerably. Rain covers the eastern half of the state. This rain mass will continue moving eastward into Georgia. Drier and … Continue reading
