More Legends Say Goodbye, Freeze Coming Next Week

We still have another couple of warm days before the reality of winter returns.  I love this warmth, but I understand many of you don't.  Just wait until next week, and you'll be happy campers again.  Why?  The upper pattern is going to change from troughs along both coasts with a weak ridge over the southern states to a deeper trough over the Great Lakes.  We begin with the current U.S. satellite view. followed by today's upper pattern.

The GFS predicts that a trough along the West coast will race across the country this weekend, bringing an end to the unusually warm weather across the mid part of the nation.  The top view is for Sunday, followed by Monday & Tuesday.

What you should notice is that the lobe of the Polar Vortex doesn't dig down into the U.S.  That should keep the core of the cold to our north and east.  Hannah Gard showed the computer forecast lows for Tuesday & Wednesday that confirmed that thinking.

Bottom line, unless the upper trough deepens, this will not be a pipe-busting cold south of Lake P.  Northshore will need to take full precautions once again.    If I were still protecting my yard, I'd bring my plants into my He-shed on Sunday just to be safe.

In the short term (Sat-Sun), we are in for a Spring-like weekend.

We have more clouds around, but that hasn't kept us from being near 80.

This next front will bring back the heavy weather gear leading up to New Year's Eve.  It will finally get rid of the daily fog threat, making no issues for the fireworks on the River.  Finally, over the holidays, we lost 2 more legends in my life.  Dr. Neil Frank, former director of NHC, passed away at 94 in Houston.

I met Neil while I worked in Tampa back in the early 70s.  He replaced Dr. Bob Simpson in 1974 and, for 13 more years, was the Director, making him the longest serving Director in NHC history.  He and I were like 2 souls on a mission.  He was animated & passionate about educating the public regarding hurricanes.  He was a true legend, much like Bob Carr was locally.  In case you missed it...

I met Jan and Bob Carr back in the 80s, long after their TV career at WDSU ended.  They had a popular radio program and invited me to their home on Esplanade Ave. to tape a half-hour interview.  What a blast we had, and I remember how kind they were to me.  I was fairly new to the city, but they treated me like long time family.  Jan died in 2022, with Bob passing 3 years later.  Again, true legends in the history of my life.  Stay tuned!

Most Dreaming Of White Christmas

I know many of you long for another rare southern snowstorm like last January, but it's not happening for most of the nation (outside the mountain regions) for the rest of this year.  Remember last year, the snow didn't come until January 23rd, so don't give up on a repeat just yet.  The current upper pattern has the deep trough over the western states (California is getting drenched) with a huge ridge bringing record warmth to the central plains & southern states. Let's begin with last year's snow, which was a once-in-a-lifetime event here.

I still remember having to dig out a path for my now deceased Bailey.  It wasn't a walking path, but there is something about dogs liking grass to pee & poop on.  Gosh, I miss my dog!  So sad not being able to say goodbye.   It will take a flip-flop in the current upper pattern that is keeping the Arctic air bottled up in Alaska & western Canada for us to see a snow threat.

The Weather Channel said some morning lows were near 70 below.  Still, at mid-afternoon it's still 50-55 below!  But that upper ridge is blocking any cold air from coming into the lower 48 for Christmas week.  In addition, moisture flows off the Gulf have dew points 65-70, resulting in widespread fog and some rain.

 

Look at the 80s back in Texas.  Denver is in the mid 70s!  Where it's sunny south of NOLA, temps are near 80.

The main issue for the rest of this week will be daily AM fog.  A weak cold front arrives for Monday of next week, but until then, we're in the soupy air that is making a lot of folks sick.  Either it's the flu or allergies that have many feeling blue.

With this kind of Spring-like warmth, it surely isn't feeling like Christmas.  Hang in there Gang. An upper pattern shift in January could bring us another southern once-in-a-lifetime snow, but don't bet the house on that happening!  For my Podcast subscribers, I'll have a Christmas Eve message.  Sign up at bobbreck.com.  Probably won't free post until I see a real weather change coming.  Merry Christmas!  Stay tuned!