Author: David Drummond

  • New Snowstorm to Wrap Up 2009?

    12.28.09.more.snow

    With snow still on the ground across the Southern Plains,  Mother Nature is about to hit us with round two less than a week from the epic Christmas Blizzard we had less than a week ago!

    Yet another storm system over Northern Mexico is getting it’s act together and has it’s sites set firmly on the Southern Plains.   The eastern half of New Mexico and West Texas will be the first to take the hit, although this time it doesn’t look to be anything like the system a few days ago.

    Snowfall totals should be quiet a bit less overall, but there could be some 4-6″ amounts to the northwest of Lubbock and in to the Texas Panhandle.  3″ or less should be more common elsewhere. Winter Weather Advisories have already been issued across the area for nearly all day on Tuesday the 29th.  By late in the day, travel should become impacted as roads become packed with snow across the area.  The system will then move on off into Oklahoma and Kansas.

    Again, this doesn’t look to be anything like what we experienced a few days ago, but given we haven’t really warmed up much since that event, we are in for more COLD, that’s for sure!

    I’m expecting to be streaming the snowstorm live on the LIVE ChaseCam at the very least on and off during the day from my house and possibly getting out mobile as things get more interesting later in the day.

    There also doesn’t really appear to be any severe weather threat associated with this system, unlike the last one that produced tornadoes in East Texas!

    You can get the latest on delays and closings at KCBD.com

    The latest road conditions can be found on the TXDOT website or by calling 1-800-452-9292

    For New Mexico Road Conditions or call 1-800-432-4269

  • Lubbock National Weather Service Christmas Long Range Forecast

    2009.white.christmas

    The long range forecast from the National Weather Service in Lubbock, Texas!  Great work  Jordan!

    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 IS PAST AND WHAT SNOW WILL REMAIN ON THE GROUND
    WILL DETERMINE HOW TEMPERATURES MANAGE TO REBOUND.

    THE CLOSED LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES WILL BE SLOW TO MOVE OUT
    AND NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY ISN/T IN DOUBT.
    ALL THESE CONDITIONS TOGETHER WILL LIKELY KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL
    SO GOING ON THE COLD SIDE OF MOS TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE RULE.

    TEMPERATURES STAY COOL WITH MID TO UPPER 40S FOR HIGHS
    AND LOWS IN THE TEENS TO NEAR 20 IS WHAT I CAN SURMISE.
    ANOTHER WEAK FRONT SUNDAY KEEPS WARM AIR AT BAY
    BUT CHANGES ARE ON THE HORIZON STARTING EARLY ON MONDAY.

    A DEEPENING TROF IN THE WEST WILL CHANGE THE FLOW UPSTAIRS
    SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT BY LATE MONDAY IS WHAT THE NWP DECLARES.
    RETURN FLOW TRIES TO SET UP AS THE TROF PUSHES EAST
    AND I REMAIN UNSURE HOW MUCH MOISTURE THE GULF WILL RELEASE.

    THE TIMING REMAINS SIMILAR BUT WITH A WEAKER APPROACHING TROF…
    WILL IT REMAIN JUST AS WEAK OR WILL IT CUT OFF?
    I HAVE MY DOUBTS BASED ON MODEL PERFORMANCES THIS LAST TIME
    FEW CHANGES WERE MADE EXCEPT TO NICKLE AND DIME.

    POPS REMAIN LOW FOR TUESDAY INTO MIDWEEK…
    AND I WARMED TEMPERATURES A BIT AS MODELS REMAIN QUITE OBLIQUE.
    SNOW COULD FALL EARLY THEN SWITCH TO A MIX OR ALL RAIN…
    THE RIGHT FORECAST THIS FAR OUT REALLY IS QUITE A PAIN.

    COOLER WEATHER WILL SLIDE IN AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE STORM
    BUT THE MODELS DIVERGE AFTERWORDS…THEY JUST WON/T CONFORM.
    THURSDAY THE TROF AXIS IS OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS
    BUT DIFFERENCES IN SURFACE WINDS ARE CAUSING ME GREAT PAINS.

    NORTHERLY IN THE EURO BUT WESTERLY IN THE OTHER TWO…
    GFS AND CANADIAN FAVOR WARMER SO I WILL WAIT AND REVIEW.
    ANOTHER STRONG TROF THURSDAY THE EURO IS STARTING TO MAKE…
    FAVORING COOLER TEMPERATURES WHICH HOPEFULLY ISN/T A MISTAKE.

    THE LAST THE DAYS OF THE FORECAST WILL BE LEFT COOL AND DRY
    TO SEE HOW THE MODELS CHANGE…FLIP-FLOP…AND TRY TO COMPLY.

    LITTLE SLEEP I HAVE HAD AS SHOWN BY MY RED EYES…
    SO IF I HAVE LEFT SOMETHING OUT I DO APOLOGIZE.
    WE STRIVE TO DO OUR BEST IN ALL THAT WE DO
    EVEN THOUGH THE SCHEDULE IS STRANGE AND OUR SLEEP IS ASKEW.

    FORECASTING IS FUN FOR MY FELLOW FORECASTERS AND I…
    THE SHIFT WORK IS HARD WHICH I CANNOT DENY.
    BUT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU AND WILL CLOSE OUT AS I CITE
    MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NWS LUBBOCK AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

    JORDAN