Browsing all posts in Severe Weather.

Tornado Warnings & Flooding/Wind Damage in & around Phoenix AZ 01/21/10

Tree Down Near Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix/Tornado Warning at the time

Desert Ridge Mall or Marketplace in Phoenix(Was Not Damaged)

Tornado Warnings, (any touch downs?)  went up just North and East of Phoenix Near Scottsdale AZ and Gilbert AZ on the evening of January 21st, 2010.  There are numerous reports of trees down and damage.  Flooding is a major problem with many water rescues happened on the evening of the 21st. Crews are searching for a missing boy swept away in flood waters.

2 small tents Collapsed at Russo-Steele Auction in North Scottsdale in high winds Thursday evening. One person suffered a minor injury and people were evacuated from the larger tent, police said.

The storm has already forced the closure of schools, major interstates and a ski resort, and grounded flights at Sky Harbor, one of the nation’s busiest airports.

The National Weather Service has to survey the damage Friday January 22nd and look for signs of tornado damage or straight line wind damage. They will be looking to see if the downed trees show any signs of  twisting.  In the picture above, of the tree down in the parking lot, it looks like it may have been twisted.   In the mean time there are big flooding issues across La Paz, Maricopa, and southern Gila counties.   Creek levels were still rising on the morning of the 22nd, especially the Tonto, Salt River, and the San Carlos Creek.  Showers and Thunderstorms are still in the forecast on Friday the 22nd of January.  Law enforcement officials said that flooding was still occurring through Friday afternoon January 22nd around Campaign Wash in the Roosevelt area, Pinal Creek was flooding the road crossings in the globe area and both Tonto Creek and Pinal Creek were flooding at all road crossings.
The Video Above: a monster storm system dumping buckets of rain in the Prescott, Arizona area. Flooding throughout the state January 21st, 2010.
The video below: The Wind and Rain 1/21/2010 hitting Tempe, AZ

The Video Below: We can’t forget that the mountains got hit very hard with several feet of snow, check out Flagstaff! A Winter Storm Warning Continues into Saturday January 23rd, 2010.  The Snow Level will drop to near 3,000 ft by Saturday morning and Arizona mountains can expect:  3,500ft to 4,000 ft. where they could see an inch.  4,000 to 5,000 ft. 2-4″, 5,000 to 7,000 ft 4-6″, and above 7,000 ft 6-10″.

Phoenix & Tucson -flooding/Heavy Mtn. Snow/Strong Winds 01/21/10

Phoenix and Tucson have also been dealing with flash flooding and the S. CA storm moves east.  Heavy rain and mountain snow is expected across Arizona along with high wind gusts.   Believe it or not, a blizzard warning has been posted above 7,000 ft. in SE Arizona until Friday morning on January 21st.  including the higher elevations around Tucson.  Also, a TORNADO WATCH has been issued until 10 pm.

@ 1:41 pm Thursday JAN 21st, 2010-National Weather Service Meteorologist detected WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING in Central Gila Co. in E. Central AZ and East Central Maricopa County in S. Central AZ.   Flooding is expected along US HWY 60 between Apache Junction and Globe as well as Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake.   Never Drive your vehicle into areas where water is covering the roadway.  Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road.  Also, Agua Fria river above Rock Springs is under a flood warning until late Friday night on the 22nd.  Record Flooding is forecast. Flood Stage is 16 ft./// stage at 2pm Thursday the 21st was 15.6 ft.//// Forecast is for  30.7 ft by 7am Friday/// 9.8 ft. Sat/// 7.2 ft. by Sunday

Great Coverage at CBS 5 in Phoenix: Watch Here

Watch it LIVE as it happens Here CBS News Feed: Click Here

Snow Shuts Down I-5-Grapevine in S. CA & Flooding/Mudslides 01/21

Snow on I-5/Grapevine Shuts Down & Flooding/Mudslides All Over

The strongest of a series of 4 storms this week has been pushing into Southern California Thursday January 21st, 2010.   The 4th storm of the week is bringing more heavy rain Thursday, also heavy mountain snow, snow to I-5 -Grapevine,  strong gusty winds and some severe thunderstorms to S. CA.    Coastal Flood Warnings are in effect, High Surf Warnings, Flash Flood Warnings, Winter Storms Warnings for heavy snow in the mountains 1 to 2 more feet above 5,500ft and 6-12″ above 4,000 ft with gusty wind, Gale Warnings for the beaches, and some severe thunderstorm warnings.   This is the last storm of the week.  Sunnier weather is forecast for the weekend. Los Angeles on Saturday, a morning shower, then clearing 46/54/// Sunday: Mostly Sunny 44/57 /// Monday: 47/63 Partly Sunny.

Here’s a mudslide capurted on video in Southern California this week in the “burn areas”. The areas that had fires over the summer and the extreme runoff from the flash flooding this week.

Below: Southern California fire August 28th, 2009///La Canada Flintridge Station Fire 24hours compressed into 6 amazing minutes! This is one of the burn areas that are seeing mudslides!

Storms Continues on the West Coast 01/19/10

Thursday 10 AM Low off the NW Coast/Low in S. CA/Low in Gulf of Alaska

Lightning in California on Tuesday January 19th

Bert in Long Beach, CA sent this to me/ His patio is getting drenched !

As I was talking to a friend in Long Beach about a strong thunderstorm cell moving into his area, a TORNADO WARNING was issued at 12:36 pm for south central Los Angeles County including the city of LONG BEACH!

The storm cell is moving fast-NE @ 35 mph!

The TORNADO WARNING is now in effect for Huntington Beach until 1:30 pm  as the cell moves fast. The TORNADO WARNING continues until 2 pm for Anaheim(Walt Disney Land), Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Laguna all the way to San Diego.

More strong thunderstorms with damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, lightning, hail, and isolated tornadoes or waterspouts are likely Wednesday into Thursday.

Another High Wind Warning for East Puget Sound Lowlands/Foothills 01/18 Late

Strong 969 MB Low off the NW Coast/2nd of the week 01/18/10

Local STRONG EAST winds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts as high as 80 in and around ENUMCLAW late on the 18th and into the early morning on the 19th of January.  The 2nd strong low pressure system about 250 miles off the NW Coast will move north into early Tuesday increasing the easterly surface pressure gradients across the Cascades.  The strongest winds were in and around Enumclaw, but I also found stronger gusts in the  Cascade foothills including strong wind reports around Snoqualmie, North Bend , Bellevue & Issaquah, also the Pacific Co. area.

A High Wind Warning was Effect until 2 am Tuesday, January 19th for the East Puget Sound Lowland/foothills and Pacific Co. including Long Beach and Raymond.

High Wind Warning SW WA/Foothills & OR Coast

At 8:57 pm on the 18th, a trained spotter 4 miles WNW of Enumclaw reported an East wind sustained at 50 mph with gusts to 80 mph. 01/18/10

Stormy in Southern California the Week of 01/18/10

Winter Storm Warning Ventura Co./Los Angeles Co. Mountains except Santa Monica Range

A very powerful west to  east Jet Stream (150-200 mph) will allow a series of powerful Winter storms and each one will bring periods of Heavy Mountain Snow/Heavy Rain & Thunderstorms to the lowlands and High Winds in areas the week starting January 18th, 2010.

1st storm-mainly Monday had some gusts in the mtns. as high as 75 mph.  The snow is not expected to affect the I-5 corridor with the first storm, it is important to note that strong winds and heavy rain will still create dangerous driving conditions.  Strong thunderstorms are likely again with hail, strong wind gusts, and isolated weak tornadoes or waterspouts on Wednesday & Thursday.  Long Beach, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana had a tornado warning as a thunderstorm cell with strong rotation moved overhead from 1 to 2 pm on the 19th.  A waterspout was sighted at 1:02 pm moving NE toward the coast at 30 miles per hour.  The TORNADO WARNING  continued until 2 pm for Anaheim(Walt Disney Land), Santa Ana, Irvine and Huntington Beach.

Another STRONG storm system will affect the forecast area Wednesday and Thursday, January 21st.  The snow level was between 6,500 & 7,000 ft. on Monday and then lowered to 5,000 ft. Monday night the 18th.  A WINTER STORM WARNING was in effect from 6 am Monday until Tuesday evening on January 19th above 6,000 ft. and included the cities of Acton, Mount Wilson, Sandberg, Lockwood Valley & Mount Pinos.  More heavy snow showers and damaging winds will be likely Wednesday afternoon and evening into Thursday and Thursday night.  2 to 4 feet of snow above 6,000 ft. is likely and the snow level on Thursday will likely drop to 4,000 ft. in places.  Don’t forget to carry chains, blankets and water/food while traveling in these conditions. Wind will likely be out of the S and SW 35 to 50 mph with Gusts to 75 mph.

Flash Flood Watch continues for the recent burn(Station & Morris Burn areas) in Southern CA. Monday’s storm brought up to 2″ of rain to the coasts and valleys and 2-5″ to the mountains where the snow level was 7,000 ft.  Tuesday’s storm had heavy rain and up to 2″ again with isolated tornadoes.  More is expected Wednesday and Thursday.

3 storms will likely bring a total of 4-8″ of rain in coastal and valley areas and 8-16″ in the foothills with local amounts over 20″ in the mountains.  This will likely be the wettest week since early 2005 for S. CA.  Mountain snow could add up to several feet per storm.  Snow level lowers to between 5,000 and 6,000 ft. for storm 2 (Tuesday) and 3 (Wednesday-Thursday).

A HIGH Surf Advisory starts at 6am Tuesday to 3 am Friday for large groups of swell that will start arriving at the beaches by Tuesday morning.  Dangerous Rip Currents will form and moderate to extensive beach erosion is likely with minor coastal flooding and possible damage to some piers.   1st group will be a long period 15 sec. west swell @ 10 ft.  2nd group will be 17 sec. 15 ft. and 3rd group will have maximum sets to 22 ft. on Thursday. The 4th and largest will be a 17 sec. foot west swell with max sets to 25 ft. on Friday.  Even the most experienced swimmers should stay out of the water during this extreme weather event.

High Wind Sunday Eve. 1/17/10 into Monday for the Coast/Strait/Olympics/Bellingham/Mt. Vernon/Whidbey Island/San Juans

Strong Low off the WA Coast Late on 1/17 & am 1/18

High Wind WARNING -Brownish Orange Shaded Area 30-40 G 60-65mph

A strong Pacific low pressure system is developing and will intensify late Sunday the 17th into early on Monday the 18th of January.

Pacific Co., which includes Raymond and Long Beach WA down to Astoria, OR,  has a High Wind Warning from 7 pm Sunday the 17th to 8 am Monday.  A High Wind Watch has been upgraded to a WARNING and is in effect form Sunday evening the 17th through Monday morning the 18th.  This is for the central & north Washington Coast, the Western Strait of Juan de Fuca & the Olympic Mountains and from Whidbey Island into the San Juans and the Bellingham to Mt. Vernon Areas.  Strong SE winds are expected to develop and possibly reach as high as 30 to 40 miles per hour SUSTAINED with Gusts to 60 to possibly 65 mph especially exposed ridges and open beaches/headlands.  The wind should shift to the south and SW early Monday and ease by noon.  A wind advisory has been issued for most of the rest of  Western WA including Seattle until the morning of the 18th, Monday.

Portland SNOW 12/29/09 Fed Ex Truck Spinning it’s wheels and sparks flying!

Portland, OR snow 12/29/09 Fed Ex Truck Spinning it’s wheels and sparks flying!
Warming temperatures helps the roads around Portland to return to normal after a few inches of snow fell on 12/29/09. ODOT estimated 1,000 abandoned vehicles on the interstates and in the suburbs. Great Viewer Coverage below:

Portland, OR Streets a Sheet of ICE 2 years ago( January 2007 )

Channel 8′s Coverage in Portland 2 years ago. Amazing Video and one of Jim’s favorites!

Winter Storm Ends -Cascades & Eastern Washington 1/2/10

Winter Storm-Cascades up to 2 more feet & Eastern Washington-Including Winthrop 5-9″ below 3,500 ft. 2″ at the crest, Omak, Chelan, Wenatchee 3-6″ and a glazing of ice in spots, Ellensburg & Pasco…  All Watches and Warnings/Advisories ended on 01/02/10 in Washington State.

Weather Hazards

Official Snow Storm Totals 12/20/09

New York City & Long Island: Central Park  10.9″, Upton on Long Island 24.9″ @ the National Weather Service, Sag Harbor 20″,  Islip 17.1″ , Brooklyn Marine Park 11.5″, Commack 18.2″

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia 23.2″, Upper Chichester 18″

Rhode Island: West Greenwich 20″

New Jersey:  Cherry Hill 20″, Mount Holly @ the National Weather Service 16.6″, Atlantic City 12.1″, Toms River 21″

Connecticut: Norwich 17″, Old Saybrook 12″, Darien 10.5″, Milford 10″

Massachusetts as of 10 am and still snowing 10 to 16″

Washington, DC: American University 16″, The Mall 16″

Delaware:  Wilmington 17″

Maryland: Bethesda 23″, Germantown 22″, Baltimore-BWI 21″, Annapolis 20.8″

Virginia: Indian Valley 26″, Alexandria 19″, Dulles International 18″, Reagan National 16.4″

North Carolina: Asheville 17″, Greensboro 4.5″

South Carolina Rainfall Totals Were High: McClellanville 5.96″, Mount Pleasant 5.38″, Isle of Palms 4.80″, Charleston 3.93″, North Myrtle Beach 2.96″

The Surface Low Pressure Area causing the heavy snow and strong winds is tracking northeastward, away from the coast Sunday 12/20/09.  Snow and Wind is tapering off.

PHILADELPHIA 23.2″