THE

WEATHERFUN

NEWSLETTER

February

2007

Welcome to the

issue of the WEATHERFUN Newsletter


Words From Jerry
Well folks, I am writing this on February 2nd, and you all know what day this is? Ground Hog Day when they take that furry critter out of his comfortable warm hole, and bring him out before thousands of people and TV cameras just too see if he see his shadow or not. Well, today for only the 14th time since 1886, Punxutawney Phil did not see his shadow. Thus he has decided to not go back into his hole but to stay out of his hole and enjoy an early spring.
Well, I do not know about this critter but with zero temperatures on the way for the beginning of next week, I would say that we definitely have to wait for the official start of spring on March 21st or even the metrological beginning of spring on March 1st before putting much faith into Phil's prognostication. Of course we also have Day Light Savings time that begins for the first time this year on March 11th, and with also some spring flowers starting to show I would think that spring is not all that far away. Think spring folks.
The other big thing weatherwise is the lack of snow in many parts of the country. Here in Rhode Island we are officially 15 inches below normal. Even in Northern New England where they normally measure the snowfall in feet this time of year are only measuring it in inches. Some areas of the country that normally do not see snow at this time of the year are seeing more than what we have here in the north east. I have only recorded 3 inches so far this season here in Warren. This time last year we had already had close to 18 inches. But we still have time folks. In 1978 we had also up until the Blizzard of 78 been in a snow drought and then the big Blizzard came along and you all know what that did to use. So, we still have time, but like I say in my daily reports we are starting to run out to time in the snow department.
We have also seen just today a terrible outbreak of tornado's in central Florida. This has touched some of our members and also members of our families that live in that area. A very early start to the severe weather season folks. Please remember though that when severe weather does break out in your area a Weatherfun member is only a phone call away to give you vital weather information for your area. This was proven today when Steve was driving in the central Florida area and he received a phone call from Lynn telling him that more severe weather was in his area. As in the past folks, this proves that Weatherfun members are here literally 24/7 to provide you with severe weather information if you need it. Please feel free to call one of us if you should be in the line of severe weather.
REUNION: As I write Jerry's Words we are making plans for this year's Annual Weatherfun Family Reunion to be held July 12th to the 15th. We are making plans for a great time this year folks and if you have not attend a family reunion as of yet, why not start with this year's reunion? Where can you go to talk about weather, visit some areas of the northeast, great family fun, and great food other than a Weatherfun Family Reunion. Why not plan to attend this year's reunion folks, and join in the fun? Further information will be coming your way shortly.

Remember folks this is your newsletter. If you have an article that you think your fellow Weatherfun members would like to see, why not send it to Bill or me and we will see that it gets in the next newsletter.
Until Next month folks, stay safe and keep an eye to the sky and above all think spring.

JERRY LAROCHE
WEATHERFUN FOUNDER

Click Map to see counties hit by
the 2/2/07 tornadoes in Florida

January's Weather
  • 1st: Many areas of the country had average temperatures in December well above normal.
  • 4th: Strong to severe storms in Louisiana with a possible tornado that killed 2.
  • 5th: More snow in Colorado where they are still trying to dig out from the 2 blizzards within 8 days in late December.
  • 5th: Heavy rain and strong thunderstorms lashed the Southeast, causing widespread wind damage and producing at least two tornadoes in South Carolina.
  • 6th: An avalanche blocked a major highway just west of Denver, CO burying cars, but luckily no injuries. Abnomally high temperatures along the East Coast with record Highs for many in the NE area as the very mild Winter continued.
  • 6th-7th: High winds and blowing snow continue to give drivers fits in Colorado. Gusts reached almost 100 miles per-hour in the mountains west of Denver. Snowdrifts of up to four feet closed Colorado 93 between Boulder and Golden. Dozens of people were reported to be stranded. Whiteout conditions were a factor in a 25-car pileup.
  • 7th: A line of severe thunderstorms moved across north Georgia, spawning possible tornadoes, damaging some houses and downing trees and power lines, and dropping up to 4" of rain flooding roads.
  • 10th: After a very mild December into January, the Northeast and mid-Atlantic got colder, but only down to normal levels. In the NW, a storm dropped up to 9 inches of snow with strong winds that caused traffic problems and closed schools.
  • 12th: The Gov of Oklahoma declared a state of emergency for entire state of Oklahoma due to freezing temps with freezing rain, sleet and snow. At least 6 deaths were due to the storm. Temperatures in southern oklahoma dropped 30+ degrees in last four hours. Central Texas was coping with more than six inches of rain and a tornado.
  • 14th: Over the past few days ice storms are now blamed for at least 20 deaths continue to wallop Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
  • 15th: The death toll from the powerful winter storm rose to 36 across six states as utility crews labored to restore service to hundreds of thousands of Missouri households and businesses. A weekend cold snap that had worried citrus growers and other farmers in California produced rare freezing temperatures this morning in southern Arizona. The 8 a.m. reading in Phoenix was 29°F. The freezing temperatures may have destroyed up to three-quarters of California's $1 billion citrus crop.
  • 16th: More than 40 deaths are now being blamed on the massive winter storm that dropped ice and snow across the Midwest and eastern United States. Hundreds of thousands of people remain without power.
  • 17th: A surprise storm dusted parts of Southern California with snow, snarling traffic but delighting many who raced to snap pictures and pack snowballs in the hour before it melted.
  • 20th: A winter storm marched across the Plains, causing numerous accidents that killed at least eight people in three states. Up to 6 inches snow caused limited visibility and created hazardous driving conditions.
  • 21st: A rare snow storm moved across the Arizona and New Mexico. More than a foot of snow fell on parts of northern Arizona and southern New Mexico received up 9 inches. There were 11 traffic fatalities reported.
  • 25th: An Artic Cold Front brought the coldest airmass of the season into the country and caused Lake Effect snows in Pennsylvania that piled up 50 vehicles in a chain-raction, including an ambulance carrying patients, killing one person.
  • 26th: The coldest temperatures in 2 years hit much of the East Coast. New York City had a Low of 9 degrees.
  • 27th-29th: Lake Effects snow hit parts of northernmost Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and southwest Lower Michigan were blanketed with as much as 1 to 2 feet of snow. East-central Lower Michigan just south of Lake Huron picked up as much as 4 to 8 inches of snow. To the east, lake-effect snows intensified downwind of Lake Erie between Cleveland and Buffalo got between 4 and 10 inches but a few locations had over a 1 foot.
  • 29th-30th: Freezing temperatures reached into northern Florida and southern part of the state had overnight Lows in the 40s.

CAM OF THE MONTH
Jackson Hole, WY resort cam

New Fujita Scale
As of Feb 1st, there is a new enhanced Fujita Scale for Tornadoes.
You can read more about the Enhanced Fujita Scale HERE & HERE

Links 4 You
You can get live NOAA Radio Feeds by going to our Current Page and scrolling down to the bottom of the page and click on the link.
Hello New Members
  • rmharp_2000@yahoo.com
Did You Know?

The El Nino developed so quickly from June to December 1997 that a record high for sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific was set every month, rising to 83-84 degrees Fahrenheit, 7 degrees above normal.
It was not until the easterly trade winds, which had reversed in 1997, abruptly returned to near normal strength in mid-May 1998 that the cold subsurface waters were drawn upward. When that happened, sea surface temperatures plummeted 14 degrees during one 30-day period, marking an end to the El Nino.
SPECIAL NOTE

NEWSLETTER

This issue of the WEATHERFUN Newsletter marks the beginning of it's 5th year. We hope that you have enjoyed the past 4 years. As always feel free to contact us with any ideas or additions that you'd like to see in the Newsletter.

We thank you for your support.

We hope that you enjoyed this month's Newsletter. See you next month, and be sure to visit the WEATHERFUN Website but most of all have fun with your weather.
Past issues of the Newsletter can be found at the Newsletter Library

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