2/13/2001
Matt Gilmore, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Research Meteorologist
Howdy! My name is Matt Gilmore. I am a research
meteorologist
at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. I will be providing the "Message
of the Day" on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week.
Precipitation:
Rain will continue over southern California with heaviest amounts in the Los Angeles region before noon. Rainfall may total 1 to 2 inches in 6 hours and 3 to 4 inches in 24 hours. The long lasting rains may cause local flooding. If isolated thunderstorms occur, they may produce lightning, isolated tornadoes, and hail. Heaviest snow will fall in the mountains just to the north and east of Los Angeles where 1 to 2 feet of snow are possible before noon.
Can you explain why the snow will be more likely in the mountains and not as likely in Los Angeles?
South central Oklahoma will also experience heavy
precipitation with local amounts up to 2 inches over 24 hours.
Temperatures:
More than half of the country will have a temperature below-freezing in the morning. The warmest weather will occur in extreme South Florida and South Texas.
Can you explain why the air temperature gets colder further to the north?
2/13/2001
Question 1: Can you explain why the snow will be
more likely in the mountains and not as likely in Los Angeles?
Answer 1: The air temperature decreases with increasing
altitude.
Question 2: Can you explain why the air temperature
gets colder further to the north?
Answer 2: The sun's light is less intense/direct there.
KGS MESSAGE OF THE DAY
2/14/2001
Matt Gilmore, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Research Meteorologist
I and others are eagerly awaiting your weather questions. Please don't
hesitate to ask.
Precipitation:
Main areas of rainfall and snow have moved from
southern California yesterday to central Arizona today. No flooding
is expected. Mountain locations in Arizona may receive up to 1 foot
of snow. A few inches of snow will occur in the higher elevations
of northern New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
The greatest amount of rain will occur in southern Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois along a frontal zone.
Can you explain why the heaviest rainfall will be located in association
with the front?
Temperatures:
An above normal temperature will be found in the eastern US today.
The southeast will experience temperature in the mid to upper 70's with
low 80s in parts of Florida. The evening will stay remarkably warm (in
the mid 60s) in the southeast. A below-normal temperature will be
found in the north central US (Montana,Minnesota,North Dakota,South Dakota)
with a temperature below freezing most of the day.
Can you explain why the evening/nighttime air temperature is much higher than normal in parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia?
2/14/2001
KGS MESSAGE OF THE DAY
2/20/2001
Matt Gilmore, National
Severe Storms Laboratory, Research Meteorologist
Precipitation:
The greatest rainfall in the US will occur in Northern
California along the coastal foothills with nearly 1 & 1/2 inches by
the end of the day. Northern California's Sierra Nevada mountains
will experience the greatest snowfall in the US with as much as 1 foot
of snow by the end of the day.
Lighter precipitation will fall along a front extending northeast from
Arkansas to Maine.
Temperature:
The temperature will be below normal in the northern sections of the
United States (US). The temperature will cool off in the eastern
US as a cold front passes by. The highest temperature in the US will occur
in extreme south Texas with a high near 75°F.
2/20/2001
KGS MESSAGE OF THE DAY
2/21/2001
Matt Gilmore, National
Severe Storms Laboratory, Ph.D. Research Meteorologist
Precipitation:
Today's weather in California will be quite similar
to yesterday's. The greatest rainfall in the US will occur in Northern
California along the coastal foothills with nearly 1 inch by the end of
the day. California's northern Sierra Nevada mountain range
will experience the greatest snowfall in the US. Thunderstorms may
be possible from east Texas through Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama,
and Tennessee.
Temperature:
The temperature will continue to be below normal in the northern sections
of the contiguous United States (US) with coolest temperature in Minnesota,
Wisconsin, upstate New York, and Maine with some areas below
0°F.
The highest temperature in the US will again occur in extreme south Texas
with a high near 80°F.
Question: Is there a relationship between the coldness of the
air and the surface pressure? What direction does the air move
around areas where surface pressure is high (clockwise or
counterclockwise)?
What direction does air move around areas where surface pressure is low?
2/21/2001
KGS MESSAGE OF THE DAY
2/27/2001
Matt Gilmore, National
Severe Storms Laboratory, Ph.D. Research Meteorologist
Precipitation:
The hazardous weather threat today appears to be
greatest in the Lone Star State. The greatest rainfall in the
United
States (US) will occur in Northeast Texas with upwards
of 2 inches possible. Flooding may occur. Freezing rain
may also be possible in the Texas panhandle while severe hail (greater
than 3/4 inch in diameter) and severe damaging winds (in excess of 58 miles
per hour) will be possible with storms occurring in South Central Texas.
Greatest snowfall will occur over Nebraska and Kansas.
Temperature:
The temperature will be below normal across much of the northern tier
and midwestern US and above normal in south Texas.
Question: Explain the difference between freezing rain, snow,
and hail. Which of these do you think would fall through the air faster?
Which of these are most dangerous to people traveling by cars and airplanes?
2/27/2001
KGS MESSAGE OF THE DAY
2/28/2001
Matt Gilmore, National
Severe Storms Laboratory, Ph.D. Research Meteorologist
Precipitation:
Greatest rainfall in the United States (US) will
total about 1 inch by the end of the day along the Gulf coast in Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. Snowfall will be
seen today in Colorado, New Mexico, Western Oklahoma, and North
Texas.
The greatest snowfall in the US will be between 6 and 12 inches in SE
Colorado.
Sleet and freezing rain will occur in north central Texas and across central
Oklahoma. Isolated severe thunderstorms could occur along the
Gulf Coast.
Temperature:
Temperature is quite cold across much of the US today. The cold
front has pushed all the way to the Gulf Coast and most of the US is dominated
by high pressure. More mild temperature will be found along the
California
coast and Gulf coast regions.
2/28/2001