http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2277379/Valentines-Day-Veni...

Valentine's Day in Venice? Take your wellies! City of romance is hit by snow, ice... and one of the highest tides in history

• The 1m 43cm (56ins) tide was the 15th highest in the city's history, according to Italian news reports
  
• Hotel and restaurant owners spent much of the night trying to protect their businesses from the rising waters
• The high tide came after heavy snowfall which blanketed St Mark's Square and the famous gondolas
  
• Venice is regularly hit by high tides at this time of the year and work is underway for new £4billion flood barrier
  

By Becky Evans

PUBLISHED: 11:48 GMT, 12 February 2013 | UPDATED: 13:03 GMT, 12 February 2013

Much of Venice's historic centre was underwater overnight after the city recorded one of its highest ever tides. 

The waters of the Grand Canal rose to 1m 43cm (56ins) and flooded streets, hotels, restaurants and the city's famous churches.

Italian news reports said up to 60 per cent of Venice was flooded as it was hit by its 15th highest tide since records began.

A woman breaks slabs of frozen snow floating on high water in Piazza San Marco, in Venice as the notorious high tide reached a peak of 1m 43cm (56ins)

This morning more than 30 ° C difference between the Jura and the Landes! France

This morning, there is a 32 ° C difference between the highlands and the Doubs Aquitaine coast. The national minimum was measured in La Chaux (25) and Maiche (25) -20.9 ° C, while the mercury has not dropped below 11.1 ° C in Capbreton (40). Between these two extremes, there were frosts east of a line Dieppe - Montpellier, including between the French Riviera and Corsica.

Source in French

Sri Lanka: Heavy rain; Floods and Landslides

Floods and landslides were reported in several parts of the island yesterday with the heavy rain caused by the atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said floods were reported in Matale, Ampara, Batticaloa, Killinochchi, Mullaithivu and Vavuniya districts, while a flash flood was experienced in the Kandy district.

Huruluwewa reservoir spill gates open. Picture by Amila Prabath Wanasinghe.

Landslides were reported in Badulla and Matale. The DMC Situation Report said as at yesterday noon, 134,693 people belonging to 45,918 families have been affected due to the inclement weather.

One person in Welimada, Badulla died due to a landslide while another in Thirukkovil, Ampara was injured due to floods.Two hundred seventy three houses were fully damaged while another 1,558 houses have been partially damaged due to inclement weather.

As at yesterday noon, 1,060 people belonging to 292 families were at 24 evacuation centres.

Meanwhile, an Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry spokesman said spill gates of many reservoirs had been opened due to rising water levels.

He requested people living in down streams to be extra cautious about the water levels.

Spills gates of Hurulu wewa, Padaviya wewa, Nachchaduwa wewa, Wahalkada wewa and Rajanganaya reservoir in the Anuradhapura district were opened.

In the Hambantota district, four spill gates of Weheragala reservoir were opened.

Ten spill gates of Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa were opened while seven spill gates of Minneriya reservoir were also opened.

* Sri Lanka again under flood threat [ColomboPage: 15 Feb 2013]

Feb 15, Colombo: Heavy rain showers experienced in most parts of Sri Lanka had resulted in rising water levels in the major reservoirs again, Irrigation Department officials said.

According to the Irrigation Department, the average water storage in irrigation reservoirs is 94 percent of capacity as of yesterday.

Five reservoirs of Mahaweli Development Scheme and 16 irrigation reservoirs were at spill levels by yesterday.

Mahaweli reservoirs Randenigala, Udawalawa, Kandalama, Kala Weva, Rathkinda and Ulhitiya and a number of other irrigation reservoirs in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa and Hambantota districts are at spill levels.

Major reservoirs Padaviya, Rajanganaya, Nachchaduwa, Minneriya, Parakrama Samudraya, Kavudulla and Lumugamwehera are also spilling.

Thee road from Somawathiya to Suganwila in Polonnaruwa remain closed due to heavy rains inundating the area while the road from Polonnaruwa to Batticaloa is passable, the Disaster Management Center said.

Several areas of the Ampara district are submerged and thousands of acres of paddy fields are under water following the heavy rains experienced throughout the Eastern Province last few days.

The Meteorology Department expects heavy rain falls of about 100mm at some places in the Eastern, Central, Uva and Southern provinces due to a persisting atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.

Coldest village in the world just got even COLDER... weather takes turn for the worse in -71C Russian hamlet

The valley of Oymyakon in northeast Russia is known as the 'Pole of Cold' and with an average January temperature of -50C, it is no wonder the village is the coldest permanently inhabited settlement in the world.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280650/Oymyakon-coldest-vi...

what is so unusual is that the ice break up in Manitoba doesn't begin until at least April and into May.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/02/20/manitoba-flood-2013-ice-bre...

Manitoba Flood Fight Begins With Ice-Breaking On Red River

ST. ANDREWS, Man. - Manitoba's annual fight to prevent flooding is underway.

Three amphibious ice-breaking machines have started punching holes in the frozen Red River, in an attempt to ensure the river doesn't back up when the spring thaw begins.

Premier Greg Selinger says the ice is thick and there is a lot of snow on the ground this year, but the soil was very dry in the fall, so that could help reduce the chance of major flooding.

He says the government will issue its first flood forecast of the year next Wednesday.

Manitoba's low-lying, flat river valleys are prone to spring flooding as meltwater comes in from as far away as The Rockies.

The last bad year was in 2011, when thousands of people were evacuated.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2282051/Snow-play-today-Rar...

Snow play today! Rare blizzard halts golf championship in city more used to scorching temperatures

• Snow stopped the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona
• Top seeds Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods hadn't teed off yet
• Settled snow in the host city Tucson is extremely rare

By Steve Nolan

PUBLISHED: 02:04 GMT, 21 February 2013 | UPDATED: 11:50 GMT, 21 February 2013

It may be more associated with sweltering temperatures, arid land and cacti than snow.

But a rare blanket of the white stuff stopped some of the world's most famous golfers teeing off at a major tournament in Tucson, Arizona, yesterday.

Instead of the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods gracing the greens, snowmen occupied the course at the Ritz Carlton Club in Dove Mountain.

Freak weather: Play was suspended at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson, Arizona, when heavy snow fell yesterday

Winter wonderland: Spectators make their way off the course during a snow storm yesterday

Freezing conditions: A cactus is seen in the foreground as snow covers the 18th green

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/comment.html?entr...

An amazing 515 cm (202.8” or almost 17’) level snow depth was measured at Sukayu Onsen, Aomori on Honshu Island in Japan on February 21st, the deepest snow measured at an official weather site in Japan records. However, much deeper snow has accumulated at uninhabited sites in the Japanese Alps.





Winter and fall images of Sukayu Onsen where the record depth of 515 cm (203”) was just measured. The resort is one of Japan’s most popular hot springs. Top photo taken last December by Nogiuchi and bottom photo from Japanese tourism web site.

Sukayu Onsen is a hot spring resort south of the town of Aomori in Aomori Prefecture, which is the northernmost province of Honshu Island. The onsen (hot spring) is known as the snowiest inhabited site in Japan and rests at an elevation of 890 meters (2,900’) on the slopes of Mt. Kushigamine (in the Hakkoda Mountain complex). The peak rises to a height of 1,585 m (5,230’). Snowfall records began here in 1977 and the average annual snowfall for the period of record 1981-2010 is an amazing 1,764 cm (694.5”). This site is an officially recognized weather station by the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA). Thus the average annual snowfall measurement of 1,764 cm (694.5”) makes it the snowiest site in the world for which climate data is available. Even the famous Paradise Ranger Station located at 5,500’ on the slopes of Mt. Rainier, Washington does not equal this (Paradise R.S. average seasonal snowfall is variously reported at 640-680”).



Prior to yesterday, the deepest snow depth at an official site in Japan was 501 cm (197.2”) also measured at Sukayu Onsen in March 2005. However, since the location is at a relatively low altitude the snow cover goes through many melt cycles during an average winter so the depth of snow never approaches the record depth for Paradise Ranger Station which is 367” (932 cm) measured on March 10, 1956. The North American record snow depth was an amazing 451”/37.5’(1,145 cm) recorded at Tamarack, California (located at 7,000’ near the Bear Valley Ski Resort) in March 1911.

There are also places in Japan that regularly see much deeper snow than Sukayu Onsen. These locations are located in the Japanese Alps several hundred miles south of Aomori Prefecture. On February 14, 1927 a world-record snow depth of 1,182 cm (465.4” or 38.8’) was measured at a site located at about 1,200 m (4,000’) on the slopes of Mt. Ibuki in Shiga Prefecture.



As can be seen from this screen shot of today’s snow depths reported from various Japanese ski resorts, snow depths above 500 cm (200”) are fairly common. However, these figures are not officially recognized by JMA (the Japanese Meteorological Agency). Chart from snowjapan.com

The reason the snowfall is so great in the Japanese Alps and other mountain ranges of Honshu Island is because Siberian air blows over the Sea of Japan (which never freezes) and the moisture from the sea is orographically lifted by the mountains creating tremendous snowfalls along the northern and western slopes and shoreline. A ‘lake effect ’snow pattern, so to speak, but on a sea-like scale.

It is estimated that the average seasonal snowfall at the snowiest locations in the Japanese Alps amount to as much as 3,800 cm (1,500”) around the 1,200-1,800 m (4,000-6,000’) level. The snow accumulates so deep here that it is a tourist attraction and a highway that bisects the mountains and is kept plowed year around. A portion of the highway is known as the Yuki-no-Otani Snow Canyon.



It is obvious in this extraordinary photograph that snow depths in Japan regularly exceed the record 515 cm recently measured at Sukayu Onsen. The photo was taken in the famous Yuki-no-Otani Snow Canyon that bisects the Japanese Alps. Photographer not identified, from buzzhunt.com.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21544991

Athens under water after several hours of rainfall

The floods caused chaos in Athens on Friday morning

Several hours of heavy rain and a thunderstorm in the Greek capital Athens have flooded roads and homes, caused traffic jams and disrupted the train and tram network, officials say.

The deluge inundated basements and forced authorities to close underpasses and a central subway station.

The fire department said it had received at least 600 calls to drain water from houses and businesses.

Many of the city's streets remain ankle-deep in water.

"It was one of the worst thunderstorms we have ever had in the greater Athens area [since 1961]," fire department chief Sotiris Georgakopoulos told NET state television.

At one point the rainfall was so intense that parked cars were swept away by racing waters.

"There are cars immobilised on several Athens highways and we have dispatched tow trucks to clear the roads," senior traffic police officer Dimitris Papanagiotou told NET.

Fire chiefs say that they have about 60 crews tackling the floods which they expect to recede throughout Friday.

No injuries have been reported.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/25/us/weather-winter-storm/index.html?hp...

'Truly a historic blizzard,' weather service says

Wichita Sets A New Snowfall Record

February 26, 2013

The recent winter storms will put Wichita in the record book.

The National Weather Service says Wichita has set a record for snowfall in the month of February at 20.6 inches and counting. That breaks the old record of 20.5 inches in 1913.

Wichita remains under a Winter Storm Warning and could see more snow this morning.

Source

Living with Calcutta's record low temperatures

Dressing for the cold has become a major talking point in Calcutta, where the temperatures are the lowest for a century. One piece of cold-weather gear appears to be de rigueur in this city - the monkey hat.

This year the mercury dropped to 9C (48F) - balmy for London or New York in winter, but here it was the coldest day for 100 years.

Source

New Zealand North Island has declared the worst drought in the last...

Trucks have begun moving feed from the South Island to drought-affected farmers in the North Island in need of straw to feed livestock.

Northland, South Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel and Hawke's Bay are officially declared in drought, while Manawatu and Rangitikei have asked the Government to declare drought zone in their regions.

Earlier this month, Federated Farmers said the hot dry summer had provided perfect harvesting conditions in Canterbury, but despite the drought there seemed to be little interest from the north in the straw. Farmers were considering shredding or burning the excess.

Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills said on Sunday that since then there has been a lot of interest from farmers needing feed and others offering straw.

Trucks had begun the journey to transport feed north and other forms of transport may be used. "We're making enquiries as to whether we can use trains or indeed ships to bring this feed up, if the demand is there."

Federated Farmers said farmers have been sending livestock to the South Island to be killed and processed to reduce their numbers, and that is likely to continue.

Drought 'worst in 70 years'

Auckland climate scientist Jim Salinger says records show the North Island is in the grip of the worst drought in almost 70 years of climate records.

The severity of drought for agriculture is indicated by the potential soil moisture deficit, measured in millimetres of rain required to keep pasture growth going. The higher the deficit, the more severe the soil moisture deficiency.

Dr Salinger said the potential soil moisture deficit was at 362mm at the end of February, breaking the previous record of 361mm in the 1945/46 season.

Other very dry seasons for the North Island were 1997/98 (360mm) and 1972/73 with 347mm.

Chance of rain from cyclone remnants

Meanwhile, the remains of Tropical Cyclone Sandra could bring relief to farmers in some areas in the coming days.

MetService severe weather forecaster Erick Brenstrum said 30 to 40mm of rain could fall in the North Island, but warned there remains a possibility it could bypass the areas worst hit by drought.

Mr Brenstrum said MetService will get a clearer picture of the cyclone's path about the middle of the week. Rain from the cyclone is the only significant fall on the horizon at the moment.

Winter Marches on: Temperatures will fall by 10C in the space of 24 hours... the snow is back again (and it's meant to be spring!)

• Dip will start in Scotland and spread down across the country
• Warning comes after Britain was hotter than Ibiza this past week
• Snow is predicted across the country on Monday
• Motorists urged to take extra caution and not under-estimate weather

Melbourne equals March heat record

Melbourne has equalled its March record for consecutive days of 30 degrees or hotter and on Monday is almost certain to equal the record for all months.

Sunday was the city's seventh consecutive day of 30 degrees or hotter, equalling the March record, set in 1985, 1940 and 1914.

The run of 30-degree heat is virtually guaranteed to extend to eight days on Monday. This will set a new March record and equal the record for any month.

In 157 years of records there have been four previous eight-day runs this hot. There were in 1961, 1951, 1898 and 1890, all in summer.

Source

Record heat in central Tasmania

Launceston is on target to more than double the record for consecutive days above 30 degrees with three more days to go.

Butlers Gorge has also been very warm, experiencing their hottest March week in 42 years of records, averaging 27.8 degrees. This is 11 degrees above the March average.

Source

Where's spring?

-Late winter storm brings flooding, snow and wind to New England-

Parts of New England have received more than a foot of snow , coastal flooding washed away a home in Massachusetts. Commutes have turned into slushy crawls.

Plum Island, a coastal community 40 miles north of Boston, had the greatest damage. High tide and heavy storm surge pushed the sea about 10 feet higher than normal. One two-story beachfront home collapsed on its side. “This was a home that, coming into this morning, had its foundation compromised, there was a crack in it. It was not a surprise at this point,” said Peter Judge, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, adding that the state was “watching a number of other houses” along the same coastal road.

From Massachusetts south to New York and Pennsylvania, snow made for slippery commutes. Thousands of home and businesses lack power and schools across new England remain closed.

Some districts, including Boston were criticized for holding classes despite icy sidewalk and poorly plowed road. The National Weather Service reported 13 inches of snow at Logan International Airport, with up to 22 inches in parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. “This is a heavier-than-projected snowfall which made this morning’s commute if anyone was in it-and I was- a mess,” Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said at a briefing.

Source

Since 1928 not as cold as on 11 March(Holland)

AMSTERDAM -

This late in March it has (almost) never been that cold, especially during the day. Monday, in De Bilt (the national main station)it  is not warmer than minus 1.2 degrees. Only on 11 March 1928 it was even colder, with minus 2.2 degrees. Weather Bureau MeteoConsult said Tuesday that again records were broken.

The amount of snowfall is a peculiarity in this time of the  year, just as the fact that more snowfall is on the way. That the snow does not melt is also quite unique, says Meteo Consult. Snow in March is not very strange, but that it does not melt is special.

If it stays below 0C Tuesday, it is unique, according to the weather bureau. That never happened this late in the season.

source in dutch

SWEDEN HIT BY 'UNUSUALLY LOW' TEMPERATURES

Temperatures in Sweden are ten degrees Celsius colder than usual at this time of year, with experts predicting that the "unusually low" thermometer readings are likely to stick around for the week.

Even though the calendar suggests that it's March, the thermometer is behaving like it's January.

The mercury dropped as low as -20C in Stockholm on Sunday night, and -22C in some parts of Dalarna in central Sweden. While these two areas were among the worst hit, the chill was felt across the whole country.

"Only Munka-Ljunby in north-western Skåne (southern Sweden) recorded higher then zero, but not by much - just 0.2C," wrote Sweden's weather agency SMHI on its website.

Nasa reveals shocking image to show how ice cap is melting.  They say it's because of Earth changes but it is really from Planet X being  in the vicinity.

• Researchers analysed 30-year record of land surface and newly improved satellite data sets
• Also reveal pictures showing receding glaciers and trees where there was once permafrost
• Scientists say growing seasons are now dramatically different

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2291482/How-Northern... 

Record snow beat for 30 years in Ariège (France)

It does not stop snowing in Ariege and the Pyrenees. Record-breaking snow for thirty years in the region according to the center of Météo France Antichan.

Winter 2013 promises to remain in the annals of the Ariege weather. The snow record was beaten for the last thirty years.

According to Jacky Mayer, the center of Météo France Antichan, "we approach eight feet of snow this winter cumulative Guzet at 1400 meters altitude. We are at 8.6 meters to Ax-3 Domaines 1800 meters altitude, "says the meteorologist. Snow depth found at all levels. In the village of L'Hospitalet-près-Andorra, for example, fell nearly 6.5 meters of snow accumulated. Aulus, which is 750 meters, measuring 3.36 meters. It was also a record temperature in Saint-Girons on March 13 with a thermometer -2 ° C. The previous record for March 13 was in 1958 with 0.5 ° C.

Source in French

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293273/The-ice-fields-GUER...

The ice fields of GUERNSEY! Record-breaking cold spell sees rare 8ft-high snowdrifts hit what is usually one of the UK's warmest spots

• Freezing conditions led to a heavy frost developing across much of the UK
• Temperatures dropped to -8.7C in some parts of Britain
  
• Met Office warns: 'Nowhere should be surprised if it snows this weekend'

By Anthony Bond

PUBLISHED: 12:46 GMT, 14 March 2013 | UPDATED: 20:19 GMT, 14 March 2013

These incredible pictures show that even the warmest corner of the UK has fallen victim to this week's unseasonably cold weather.

The holiday island of Guernsey was hit with huge 8ft snow drifts, bringing the Channel Island to a complete halt.

They are the worst snow storms to affect the island in decades and follow a week of freezing temperatures across much of Britain.

Wintry: These are the incredible scenes of 8ft snow drifts which wreaked havoc in the holiday isle of Guernsey - the warmest corner of the UK

Deep: The Channel Island has ground to a halt over the past few days following the worst snow storms in decades

Snowy: These pictures were taken by Danielle Stonebridge, 21, of her father Dave, 61

Danielle Stonebridge, 21, took these pictures of her father Dave, 61, waist deep in the snow.

Miss Stonebridge  said: 'I have never seen snow like this before, my dad can remember something like this when he was around 10 years old, but there is just so much of it.

Watch the weather wobble

Last week in Southern Califorina  

Rain, snow, thunderstorms through Southern Calif

LOS ANGELES — A late-season wintry blast rumbled through Southern California on Friday, unleashing snow, rain, hail and lightning bolts as the sun played hide-and-seek in an alternately gray and bright blue sky.

Treacherous conditions forced the California Highway Patrol to close vital Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles for nearly six hours.

Trucks and other vehicles backed up for miles waiting for weather to improve enough for traffic to flow safely over Tejon Pass, which rises to an elevation of more than 4,100 feet in the Tehachapi Mountains.

Los Angeles' backdrop of mountains sported a fresh coat of white well down their slopes.

The National Weather Service said that by late morning, 6 inches to 10 inches of snow had accumulated at elevations above 5,000 feet, with lighter accumulations down to 3,000 feet.

With less than two weeks to go before spring, snowplows, shovels and chains were in demand in mountain communities to the east of Los Angeles, where ski resorts were getting fresh coverage just in time for weekend crowds.

Several school districts, including Julian and Mountain Empire, were closed.

The NWS said the cold low-pressure system was expected to bring low mountain snow, isolated thunderstorms and numerous rain showers through late afternoon, followed by isolated showers east of the region during the night and early Saturday.

Despite traffic accidents and other problems, the precipitation was welcome in unusually dry Southern California. As of Thursday night, the downtown Los Angeles rainfall tally was more than 7 inches below normal for the rain-year that began on July 1.

Forecasters said building high pressure and a light offshore flow of air would bring a warming trend and clear weather to Southern California during the weekend and into the middle of next week.

Source  

This week in Southern California

More warm weather coming to Southern California

Temperatures will be slightly cooler Thursday but inland areas of Southern California could still experience record highs, the National Weather Service said.

Woodland Hills, which hit a record high of 94 on Wednesday, is expected to cool to 91 Thursday. But that could best the record of 89 set on the same date in 1994.

Burbank could also set a record Thursday with an expected high of 88. Wednesday in Burbank, it was 93, breaking the old record of 85 set in 1951.

Dense fog in coastal regions and the San Gabriel Valley, which slowed down commutes Thursday morning, may return again Friday, said Scott Sukup, a NWS meteorologist.

By Friday, inland areas should cool further to the upper 70s and 80s, with temperatures still above normal for the weekend, Sukup said.

In downtown Los Angeles, where it was 85 Wednesday, the high Thursday is expected to be 79, with weekend highs in the mid to upper 70s.

Source  

Extreme cold weather in Hungary.

For decades has not been a march 15 in Hungary as now.

Many motorways have been closed off due to snow and 100 km/h wind.

Also villages been cut off, roads were impossible to drive on.

The army had to rescue people who had been stuck on the roads in some cases for more than 15hour.

The government  advised people not to travel, and they predict the bad weather could stay till Sunday, Monday..

http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2013/03/14/severe-droughts-in-indi...

Severe droughts in Indian state of Maharashtra

• The Watchers Share
• 6

   
  Email

Maharashtra, an Indian state, is facing one of the worst droughts in the past 40 years. Reports say severe droughts have prompted people to migrate to Mumbai and neighboring states of Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from 3,905 villages in 12 districts of the state.

Districts of Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Osmanabad are reported to have only enough drinking water reserves to sustain through March. Impending summer will only worsen the situation and the state will have to transport water from neighboring districts and even by trains from other states, a high-ranking bureaucrat told Times of India.

According to the sources, water availability in dams is grim. On Thursday, March 7, Marathwada region had only 9% water left in dams as compared to 30% of previous year, whereas western Maharashtra is left with 32 percent stock against 40 per cent last year. State had called for Rs. 1801 crore (about $331.6 m) aid from the Central government, against which they were granted Rs. 807 crore (about $148.6 m) from the National Response Fund after an assessment by a central team of ministers (Empowered Group of Ministers) . An additional amount of Rs. 400 crore will be released under the National Horticulture Mission to 1,100 villages where drought has hit kharif crops.

On 12th March, 2013, in response to a petition filed against sand excavation in drought-stricken regions, The Bombay High Court issued orders to restrain any such allowances so as to avoid shortage of potable water for people and animals.

The state is the largest producer of sugarcane in the country, where sugar factories rely on groundwater for processing requirements. Experts say it further aggravates the drought problem that state faces at least once each decade. As a corrective measure, the state government has mandated drip irrigation for sugarcane cultivation.

Source: Times of India, Business standard

Snow Storm Xavier Paralyses Belarus

Large parts of Belarus and the Belarusian capital Minsk have spent this weekend under exceptional circumstances. The cyclone Javier has paralysed large parts of the country for almost two days.

While similar weather conditions in the USA would make it to the top news in Europe, there has been no mentioning of the storm in Belarus in Western media. 

It started as simple snow fall on Friday morning, but approximately 20 cm of snow fell in the following 24 hours. The wind was 22 metres per second according to the Belarusian hydro-meteorological centre. Sight was limited to 100 metres in the Minsk region on Friday afternoon because of the heavy snow falls. Although the country is used to severe winters and well equipped to deal with large amount of snow, public life has come to a halt at this weekend.

“The last time I have seen something similar was in the 1980s” says Sasha

While in Minsk, inconveniences consisted mainly in perturbed traffic and the impossibility to reach home, by Friday evening more than 530 villages and towns in Belarus were left without electricity. Up to Saturday evening, 26 villages are still without electricity in Brest region. This region suffered especially from heavy snow falls and wind: 82 cars were freed from snow drifts. 320 persons, among them 37 children were in the cars. None of them was injured.

Source

Weather service says Fargo, North Dakota should prepare for 1 of its 5 worst floods; city calls for sandbags

Seriously - THIS is SPRING?!?

Wednesday, March 20 marks the first day of Spring.

Spring! Hooray! That means flowers will be blooming! Joggers will be trading in treadmill runs for outdoor trails! You can push our snow shovel into the depths of the garage and leave it 'til November. Right?!?

Wrong.

Meteorologists say winter-like weather isn't over. And that's a drastic change from last year.

2012's mild winter gently glided into an early, and historic, spring from the Midwest to the Northeast into the South. Between March 1 and March 22 last year, more than 6,000 record highs had been tied or broken.

2013 won't be so kind. Some major cities are forecast to have daily highs that are 60 degrees lower than last year's. Click here to discover 10 Cities with Drastic temperature differences.

Some examples

Chicago

Actual High on March 20, 2012: 85 Degrees
Forecast High for March 20, 2013: 25 Degrees
Difference: -60 Degrees

Indianapolis

Actual High on March 20, 2012: 83 Degrees
Forecast High for March 20, 2013: 30 Degrees
Difference: -53 Degrees

Detroit

Actual High on March 20, 2012: 82 Degrees
Forecast High for March 21, 2013: 29 Degrees
Difference: -53 Degrees

St. Louis

Actual High on March 20, 2012: 83 Degrees
Forecast High for March 20, 2013: 35 Degrees
Difference: -48 Degrees

Minneapolis

Actual High on March 20, 2012: 65 Degrees
Forecast High for March 20, 2013: 19 Degrees
Difference: -46 Degrees

Record snowfall turns Kiev into Chaos

In just one day Kiev saw over 50 centimeters of snowfall - while the entire monthly norm is 47 centimeters.

http://rt.com/news/ukraine-emergency-snowfall-yanukovich-716/

What a difference a year makes: As Britain endures its coldest March since 1963,  just 12 months ago we were basking in sunniest March since 1929 

As our pictures show, then sunseekers flocked to beaches, and even northern Scotland enjoyed temperatures exceeding 22C.

Yesterday it peaked at 2C amid the snow. Whatever will the climate deal us next?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2298255/UK-weather-What-dif...

Big freeze to grip Britain until the end of April say forecasters after jet stream which brings us mild air dips down to Africa

• Jet stream has been pushed to unusually southerly location
• Band of high pressure has stopped the belt of wind from moving
• Jet stream cannot push in milder weather conditions from the west
  
• Bitterly cold conditions expected to remain throughout April

Snowstorm spares Chicago, may be the last of unusual winter

The snowstorm that buried central and southern Illinois on Sunday only skirted Chicago as it headed east - carrying with it maybe the last of an unusual winter that it seemed would never end. The storm dropped 17 inches of snow in Springfield, demolishing the old record of 2.4 inches for March 24 set in 1947. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign canceled Monday classes because students had trouble getting back to campus after spring break, according to the National Weather Service. Roads remained hazardous south of Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Stretches of interstates 55, 57 and 70 were reported covered in ice or snow through central Illinois. In the Chicago area, snowfall totals were more in the 1- to 3-inch range, National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Seeley said.

"We've got temperatures in the mid-50s for Saturday and Sunday. That's not so bad," said Seeley, who indicated there was a chance for rain Saturday night and Sunday as well. The Chicago Weather Center said the weekend storm is likely the last significant storm of a winter that saved its punch for February and March instead of December and January. With temperatures expected to rise into the 50s by the weekend, the string of consecutive days of below-normal temperatures may come to an end. The long-term forecast may be a little less positive: temperatures below average and precipitation above average over the next eight to 14 days, WGN-TV meteorologist Tim McGill said. But things are looking up for mid-April, with the possibility of some temperatures above normal. According to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center, the Chicago area should see above-normal temperatures for April, May and June, Seeley said. The average for April is 48.9 degrees. Above-normal precipitation is also expected, she said.

Source

White Easter: Germany Faces Coldest March Since 1883

Complaining about the weather has reached epidemic proportions in northern Germany this "spring." And with good reason. With Easter just around the corner, meteorologists are telling us this could end up being the coldest March in Berlin and its surroundings since records began in the 1880s.

Source

March set to be coldest in UK since 1962

Mean temperature for the month so far is 2.5C (36.5F) – three degrees below long-term average

The coldest March in the UK was in 1962, at 1.9C (35.4F), followed by 1947, 2.2C (35.9F), 1937, 2.4C (36.3F), and 1916 and 1917, 2.5C (36.5F).

Source

Coldest Easter since 1964 (The Netherlands)

In 1964 the maximum temperature was on Easter Sunday at 3.9 degrees above zero

March 2013 is in the top 10 coldest months ever in March. The average temperature is 2.6 degrees, normally it would be in March averaged 6.2 degrees should be. Especially the latter part of March is cold.

source in dutch

Lambs get woolly jumpers to survive -10°C Easter

SHIVERING sheep are being given woolly jumpers to help them survive as Britain faces its coldest Easter on record — with temperatures of -10°C.

Farmers were still digging livestock out of snow drifts yesterday and fear at least 10,000 sheep may have died.

The current icy blast has struck in the middle of lambing season, putting newborns at even greater risk.

Huge spring tide floods south bank of the Thames

Plans for traditional Easter egg hunts and family walks will have to be put on hold tomorrow as the UK prepares itself for yet another chilly day.

The elusive spring weather will once again be eclipsed by low temperatures, although forecasters predict that the sun will make an appearance.

After what is thought to be the coldest March in decades, the Bank Holiday weekend will also be accompanied by temperatures up to four degrees lower than the seasonal average.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2301473/UK-weather-Youre-go...

Spring: Where has it gone?

This week, violent easterly winds and drifting snow made a mockery of spring, and battered the most resilient living things in Britain.

A "wreck" of more than 500 puffins occurred on eastern Scotland, the biggest mass fatality since 1947. Welsh mountain sheep, and other equally hardy breeds, have been smothered by Easter snowdrifts on high ground from Snowdonia to the Isle of Man that recall the gruesome winter of 1963. And a week of digging into 35ft snowdrifts in search of lambing ewes has brought tears to the eyes of the hardiest farmers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/30/spring-where-has-...

Weather: Coldest Easter and no respite in sight

Published on Monday 1 April 2013 00:00

SCOTLAND endured the coldest Easter Day on record yesterday – with –12.5C recorded on Royal Deeside.

The temperature shattered the previous record of –9.8C on Easter Monday 1986.

And weathermen warn that high pressure sitting to the north of the UK will continue to bring cold conditions until next weekend.

The honour of the record-breaking low fell to Braemar between Saturday night and Sunday morning. It followed another freezing night on Friday, when –11C (12F) was recorded in the same area.

Lying snow and light winds were blamed for creating the ice-box conditions.

Overall, this March has been provisionally declared the coldest in 50 years. A spokesman for the Met Office in Aberdeen said: ”Frost and low temperatures are not uncommon at this time of the year. What is unique about this Easter is this extreme low temperature recorded on Sunday morning – it’s unique.”

Families heading out for a walk on Easter Day experienced some of the chilliest conditions for years, though daytime temperatures are predicted to rise into April.

Towns and cities across Scotland were last night down to –3C and –4C (25-27F).

The Met Office spokesman added: “You could say things are fairly settled – remaining cold and frosty at night, but with things warming up during the day. There will be the odd snow flurry on the east coast, but, effectively, high pressure is guaranteeing no change for the forseeable future.”

Thousands of families jetted off for sunnier climes last Thursday and Friday, but many would have found the surprise Easter weather extended into Europe’s traditional hot-spots, forecasters also warned.

Source

Driest First Quarter of Year on Record for Much of California

There was no ‘miracle March’ for rain lovers in California this year following an exceptionally dry January and February. The dry weather continued through March resulting in the driest first three months of the year on record for San Francisco and other sites across the state.

San Francisco received a March total of .96” with half this amount falling on the last day of the month (Sunday March 31st). This brought the 3-month total (since January 1st) to 2.30”, just 19% of normal (normal amount for the period is 12.22”) and is thus the driest such period since precipitation records began in the fall of 1849. The previous driest Jan-March period was in 1851 when 3.20” was measured. The next (now 3rd) driest was during the great drought of 1975-1977 when only 3.31” was recorded in Jan-March 1976. It is quite astonishing to see the huge margin between this year’s driest ever Jan-March (2.30”) and the previous such record of 3.20” in 1851: a full 30%, and this for a site with 163 years of record.

Across the Bay from San Francisco, Oakland was even drier (it missed, for instance, the isolated rain cell that dropped heavy rain (.48”) on San Francisco yesterday. The January-March total for Oakland has been a meager 1.30” (JAN: .29”, FEB: .52”, MAR: .49”). The monthly totals in San Francisco were JAN: .49”, FEB: .85”, MAR: .96”. Oakland’s normal Jan-March rainfall is 12.60” so this year is running just 10% of normal at this time.

Here are some of the three-month totals (January-March 2013) for other sites in the San Francisco Bay Area and northern California (listed from north to south):

Source

Statewide snowpack at half of normal levels

 With the statewide snowpack at only 52% of the norm for this time of year, state and federal water managers are expecting below-normal spring runoff and falling reservoir levels.

The last three months in California have been the driest of any January-through-March period on record, going back to 1895.

It has been a winter of extremes in the state, beginning with an unusually wet November and December and ending with a string of parched months.

Storage in the state’s two largest reservoirs, Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville, is a bit above normal for the date, thanks to the big storms in the Northern Sierra that turned the final three months of last year into the 10th-wettest on record for that region.

But that cushion is expected to disappear in the coming months. Although no one is declaring drought, the state last week cut projected water deliveries to Southern California.

Read more: http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/03/29/statewide-snowpack-at-half-of-no...

Buenos Aires Inundated By Record Rainfall (Apr 2)

Argentina's capital was hit Tuesday by the heaviest rains in more than a century, causing floods that claimed at least six lives and left pockets of the city without electricity.

About 350,000 residents were affected by a storm that dumped up to 185 millimeters (7.3 inches) in 7 hours in the early hours of the morning, Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri said in a news conference.

The city is struggling to prepare for additional problems and has deployed hundreds of emergency workers due to weather forecasts calling for more rain, the mayor said.

At least six people likely died due to flooding, Alberto Crescenti, the head of the national health service, SAME, told reporters. One of the fatalities included a subway worker who was electrocuted when he entered a flooded station the capital, according to the subway workers union.

Local news stations showed cars covered up to their roofs in water, flooded homes and offices, and emergency workers crossing some of the hardest hit areas in inflatable boats.

Residents tried to clear storm drains plugged by garbage and other detritus. As night set in, some angry residents in areas still without electricity took to banging pots and pans as a form of protest.

The storm would have caused even more chaos had it not been for two back to back public holidays—Easter and Veterans Day—that have kept government offices and many businesses closed since last Thursday.

Power was cut in seven of some of the heaviest-populated neighborhoods of the city due to the risk of electrocution.

Sources

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323611604578398924249...

http://photos.mercurynews.com/2013/04/02/photos-flooding-in-buenos-...

Drought now covers almost 99 percent of Texas

More than 98 percent of Texas is in some level of abnormal dryness as spring arrives, conditions that could set drought records and lead to severe water restrictions in some regions of the state.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Neb., showed increases in Texas in each of the five levels of drought. Only 1.4 percent of the state is not in drought, compared with 3.6 percent a week ago.

Nearly 11 percent of Texas is in "exceptional" drought, the most severe level, up from 9.9 percent a week ago. Three months ago, 95.4 percent of the state was in drought.

Tarrant County is mostly in the "severe" drought category except for a sliver along the Johnson County border, which is in "extreme" drought. Neighboring counties including Johnson, Hood, Somervell and Bosque are entirely in "extreme" drought.

Conditions statewide are now only slightly better than they were six months into the 2011 drought, the worst one-year dry spell in Texas' history, said state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon. Conditions have steadily worsened because five of the past six months have had lower than average rainfall, he said.

Soil moisture is low statewide, and reservoirs and aquifers have not fully recharged since 2011, Nielsen-Gammon added.

"Depending on how much rain we get in the spring or summer, we may be facing more water restrictions in some parts of the state, maybe some that haven't been used before," he said.

The Edwards Aquifer, the primary water source for San Antonio, is one of several basins affected by the drought. The aquifer is nearing historically low levels, and Nielsen-Gammon said authorities fear they will have to place the most severe restrictions ever on residents in the city, one of the nation's 10 largest metropolitan areas.

Several lakes, rivers and streams also remain unusually dry. A Central Texas water authority recently cut off irrigation waters from rice farmers for the second year in a row after several Central Texas reservoirs failed to refill.

Some parts of the state could break drought records set over a seven-year stretch in the 1950s -- a dry spell so severe all water planning in Texas is based on those conditions.

"Officially, we're still in the same drought since 2011," Nielsen-Gammon said. "There's never been a time when even half the state has been out of drought so this is the third year of drought, and if it lasts through the summer, it will be the second worst drought on record."

Based on current forecasts, that is a real possibility.

Meteorologists, including Nielsen-Gammon, say outlooks show below normal rainfall during the spring -- generally the rainy season for chunks of the state -- and warm temperatures through the summer.

Drought killing century-old native trees

 Downpours with enough grunt to cause flooding are needed to reverse dry soil conditions that are already killing off century-old native trees, a climate scientist says.

Jim Salinger says 70-100mm of rain is needed over a week to redress the driest soil conditions since records began 70 years ago in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa and Westland.

Already, native trees including rimu - some over 100 years old - were starting to die out in Auckland.

Masterton's soil moisture was near Auckland's, meaning natives there were also at risk.

With no serious rain on the horizon, there was little that could be done for native trees and shrubs in the face of these conditions.

''It's going to rain over the next couple of weeks but that will be it for the next while.''

The 70-100mm of rain needed could cause flooding if it arrived over a short period but would not if it fell steadily over a week.

He has used a measure of soil dryness called potential evapotranspiration deficits (PED), which measures water going into the soil from rain, against that leaving through run-off, evaporation, and use by plants.

''Until there is an extended spell of rainfall during April in these drought effected areas it is probable farmers will continue to struggle to maintain adequate home grown feed supplies for stock. Producers will face extended difficulties in maintaining production on their land," Dr Salinger said.

Anything with a PED rating over 500 was extreme.

Between July last year and March this year, Masterton recorded 554, Palmerston North 432, Taupo 467, Auckland 560, and Tauranga 601.

Wellington Airport had a PED rating of 509, the third driest since records began there in 1960. At Kelburn, the rating was 346, which was above average and not unusual, Dr Salinger said.

Source  

Floodwaters in Spain

A man looks at floodwaters surrounding his home in Puente Duero, Spain on April 1, 2013. Spain suffered its wettest March since 1947, according to information released by the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET.

Source

March, extremely wet, with  more than triple rainfall

Precipitation

The month of March has been extremely wet in most of Spain, so that the average monthly rainfall nationwide reached the value of 157 mm., Which exceeds three times the normal value of the month is 46 mm. (Period: 1971-2000). Attempts have been the wettest March in Spain as a whole throughout the series started in 1947, exceeding 20 mm. as of March 1947, which had been so far the highest average precipitation.

As shown on the map attached in March accumulated rainfall exceeded 300% of the average in Spain, except for the regions of the northern peninsula, as well as the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic and Canary Islands part. Only small areas of the southeast peninsula and southern Balearic March rainfall did not reach normal values. Because of these heavy and persistent rainfall in March, there has been the fact that in many observatories scattered communities of Asturias, Castilla y Leon, Madrid, La Rioja, Castilla La Mancha and Extremadura Andalusia has been the month wettest March of the corresponding series, having surpassed himself in many seasons the previous maximum number of precipitation days in this month. As an example we can highlight data observatory Jaén, where there have been throughout the month to 247.4 mm. , Which is more than double the previous maximum value of the series (begun in 1985) corresponding to 2001 with 121.3 mm and Ciudad Real, where there have been 157.8 mm compared to the previous maximum of 104 , 7 mm in 1975, all on a series begun in 1971.

Source Spanish

Another low temperature record falls in Hawaii

A third low temperature record has fallen as cold north winds bring unseasonably cool temperatures to the islands.

Wednesday's low temperature of 59 degrees at the Lihue Airport broke a record low temperature set in 1956 of 60 degrees for this date.

It's the third low temperature record to fall in the last couple of days.

The temperature at Honolulu International Airport dropped to 61 degrees Tuesday morning, below the date's previous record of 62 degrees set in 2002.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Honolulu is 52 degrees, marked on Jan. 20, 1969. Coincidentally, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Lihue — 50 degrees — falls on the same date.

It's also cold on Hawaii island, where thousands are gathering this week for the annual Merrie Monarch Festival celebrating hula and Hawaiian culture.

Temperatures dipped to 58 degrees at Hilo Airport Tuesday morning, lower than the previous record of 60 degrees set in 1953.

Hilo hit an all-time-low of 53 degrees on Feb. 21, 1962.

National Weather Service forecasters say things should start to change Thursday as warmer trade winds return. But the winds are still light, so expect another night of long-sleeve and sweater weather this evening as temperatures dip into the 50s and low 60s.

Trade winds could also bring a few showers to the usual windward and mauka areas

Source

 Tasmania in March 2013: exceptionally warm

March 2013 was the warmest recorded in Tasmania, with an unprecedented run of hot days to start, almost no cold weather, and another warm burst in the final week (before a cool final day). There was some heavy rain in the central north.

Prolonged heatwave ensures Tasmania's warmest March

A prolonged heatwave affected Tasmania and the rest of southeast Australia between 2 and 13 March, helping create the warmest March ever recorded in Tasmania. Many sites had their highest March mean temperature on record or their highest for many years. In several cases the March record was set in 2010, with 1974 and 1971 also very warm for Tasmania. Averaged across the state, the mean temperature was a March record of 15.7 °C, which is 2.2 °C above normal and 0.3 °C warmer than the previous record from 1974. The state average maximum temperature was a March record of 21.0 (2.9 °C above normal and 0.9 °C above the previous record from 1974), and minimum temperatures were the 3rd-warmest for March at 10.3 °C (1.6 °C above normal).

A near-stationary high over the Tasman Sea directed warm air across the state from the 2nd to the 13th, and coincided with exceptionally high sea surface temperatures. The heatwave was characterised by prolonged sequences of days and nights above threshold temperatures, and was accompanied by high humidity and generally light winds. Launceston reached 30 °C on 8 consecutive days from the 5th to the 12th, double the previous record for such a warm spell (28 to 31 January 2009). Lake St Clair and Sheffield both had an unprecedented 9 consecutive days reaching 25 °C, whilst Hobart Airport and Orford had 7 consecutive nights above 15 °C. With the heatwave affecting Victoria and SA as well, a Special Climate Statement was prepared.

Record warm days

The heatwave included several particularly warm days; the hottest day was the 12th with 37.4 °C at Bushy Park, and 37.3 °C at Grove. Some sites (including Launceston) had their highest March temperature on record, either on the 7th or the 12th. Although the second half of the month was not as warm as the first half, the 27th saw an approaching cold front push temperatures into the 30s at many sites. The 32.8 °C at Bushy Park that day was within a whisker of the highest late-season temperature ever recorded in Tasmania (33.0 °C at Scamander on 27 March 1990), whilst Launceston (30.0 °C), Strathgordon (28.5 °C) and Lake Leake (27.0 °C) were among sites that had their highest late-season maximum.

The warm weather at the start of the month, and a shortage of cold weather, meant almost all sites had their highest March mean daily maximum temperature on record (the main exceptions were on the east and south coasts, where 2010 was warmer). Many sites broke their previous records by a wide margin, and in several cases were more than 3 °C above the March average.

There was some cold weather: on the 16th and 17th temperatures in the low to mid-teens were common, some snow fell on the highest peaks, and Mount Wellington reached just 5.3 °C. For most sites the coolest day was the 31st in the wake of a cold front.

Record warm nights

Overnight temperatures were also persistently high through the first part of the month, peaking on the 12th or 13th when some sites (including Hobart, Bicheno and Devonport) had their warmest March night on record. With little in the way of cold nights it was not surprising that many sites had their highest March mean daily minimum temperature on record.

The coldest morning for most places was the 17th (when Mount Wellington fell to -1.7 °C and Liawenee and Mount Read also dropped below zero), or at the very start of the month: Liawenee dipped to -1.4 °C on the 1st.

Source

It seems they are giving up trying to explain all the weather anomalies (in this article at least) and are just reporting what they observe, which makes no sense unless you take into account the presence of Planet X aka Nibiru and the resulting wobble.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two-Year City Snowfall Hits Record Low

Despite the mild winter, snowpack levels in Northwest Montana are the best in the state, but the seasonal outlook is still uncerta

By Dillon Tabish, 04-07-13

While most of Montana and the continental U.S. experience worsening drought conditions, this corner of the state is exhibiting a stark contrast in weather patterns.

Separate meteorological reports released recently show the mountains in Northwest Montana benefitted from winter snowfall more than anywhere else in the state this year, while the valley floor in Kalispell broke a 120-year-old record for its lack of snow.

Through April 1, snowpack levels in the mountain ranges of the Flathead and Kootenai river basins were at the 30-year median, ranking better than anywhere else in Montana, according to the latest survey data from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

SNOTEL sensors planted at different mountain elevations, ranging between 5,000 and 7,500 feet, showed the snow accumulation in the Flathead is at 98 percent of average, according to Brian Domonkos, NRCS water supply specialist.

Specifically, the North Fork Flathead River watershed is at 103 percent of average; the Middle Fork is at 107 percent and the South Fork is at 103 percent. Areas throughout the Swan Range and Kootenai basin show similar levels that are average or slightly above average.

“The Flathead’s got it pretty good right now,” Domonkos said. “Especially with respect to what’s going on in the rest of the state where the levels are 80 to 90 percent of average.”

Yet, in sharp contrast, the lower elevation in the city of Kalispell has received the lowest amount of total snowfall the last two winters since records were first kept in 1893, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The weather station at Glacier Park International Airport reported 48.4 inches of overall snow the previous two winters. The winters of 1940-41, which held the previous low, produced 49.2 inches.

This year’s seasonal snowfall from October through March was 17.1 inches in Kalispell, which is almost 30 inches below average. The city’s average snowfall is 45.7 inches.

“It was a pretty gentle, benign winter. There wasn’t a whole lot going on, particularly in the valleys,” said Marty Whitmore, NWS meteorologist in Missoula. “Temperatures were on the mild side at times. The mountains themselves aren’t doing too bad. But it’s not really a huge year for snow in the mountains either.”

As one example, total snowfall accumulation at Whitefish Mountain Resort this season was tied for the second lowest since measurements were first kept in 2005. As of April 1, resort officials reported Big Mountain received 256 inches of snow this season, the same amount as in 2005. In 2010, the resort reported 170 inches. Last winter produced 301 inches on Big Mountain.

High temperatures appear to be the primary culprit.

Western Montana has not been hit with a full-blown arctic front in two years, Whitmore said. Cold fronts regularly bring blizzard conditions and long periods of cold temperatures that produce snowfall and maintain typical winter conditions.

The temperature in Missoula has not dropped below zero since Feb. 25, 2011, according to the NWS. This is the city’s second longest stretch on record, and will likely surpass the all-time mark because there has never been a subzero day in Missoula between April and October, the NWS noted.

Last month was also warmer and drier than usual in Kalispell. The average temperature in March was 36.2 degrees. The historical average is 35.4.

The temperature in Kalispell on April 1 reached 67 degrees, two degrees shy of the city’s record set in 1900.

Weather, like temperature and rainfall, will largely determine the sudden impact of runoff and what summer eventually looks like in terms of fire danger, according to both Domonkos and Whitmore.

Snow in the mountains typically begins melting in April at the lower elevations and consistent runoff occurs by May.

Water supply conditions will likely end up below average for most of the West’s rivers, according to the NWS. But early forecasts show spring and summer streamflow could remain normal in Western Montana. Flathead Lake is currently at 106 percent of the average streamflow, Domonkos said.

Other states are already bracing for the coming months and a possible sequel to last year’s historic fire season.

The Pacific Northwest could see below-normal temperatures but drier-than-normal conditions from now until July, according to the spring outlook report released recently by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The report adds that areas in the U.S. that are plagued by drought could experience above-average temperatures and little moisture relief.

Last year marked Montana’s worst wildfire season in more than 100 years. More than 2,100 fires scorched 1.14 million acres statewide, according to the Northern Rockies Coordination Center. It was the most land consumed in a single year since the infamous Big Burn of 1910.

The U.S. as a whole endured one of the worst fire seasons on record in 2012. Wildfires burned more than 9 million acres nationwide, surpassing that mark for only the third time on record, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Only 2006 and 2007 had more acreage burned.

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/springs_pivotal_tran...  

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2013/04/09/sk-sask...

 More record lows and wild weather swings

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Lubbock temperatures hit April record low

When the senior public relations major from The Colony looked outside Wednesday morning and saw snow, the first thing she did was go back to bed.

When she woke up to go to class, however, Taryn Beadles saw the sun shining.

“I looked on the balcony and the whole ground was covered in snow,” she said. “I was like, this is unbelievable. I definitely didn’t want to go to class today, so I hopped back on the couch and snuggled up, but when I left to go to class, it was sunny.”

Charles Aldrich, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lubbock, said the city hit a record low of 22 degrees, while the previous low was 26 degrees.

The low temperature, he said, was unusual for Lubbock, but the freeze was not.

Lubbock typically experiences its last freeze April 9, so the snow was one day late, Aldrich said.

“The degree of the temperature itself, how cold it was, was fairly uncommon,” he said, “especially considering it was a record. But, to get a cold front, that’s not too uncommon this time of year.”

The upper-level low brought air to the South Plains from the arctic region, including northern Canada and Alaska, which also have been experiencing below-average temperatures, Aldrich said.

The ice and snow created by the cold front made for hazardous driving conditions in Lubbock on Wednesday morning, he said.

Between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., 113 car accidents were reported, Lubbock Police Department Sgt. Jonathan Stewart said.

While the accidents reported involved only minor injuries, he said the number was abnormally high for a typical day, and the wrecks could be attributed to the weather.

Two accidents occurred on Texas Tech’s campus on the Ninth Street bridge, Stephen Hinkle, Tech Police Department administrative captain, said.

Both accidents involved cars sliding off the road and hitting the guardrail.

LPD, he said, responded to a five-car pile up on I-27, a pile up on Loop 289, and a pile up on Marsha Sharp Freeway.

The reason for the lack of car accidents on Tech’s campus, Hinkle said is because the physical plant began salting the roads early in the morning.

Drivers, he said, need to slow down and be cautious when on the road.

Greg Howard, a freshman advertising major from Houston, said seeing the snow in April was a culture shock, and drivers in Lubbock need to be careful.

“I like the snow,” he said, “but I feel like more people should be informed on how to drive better in the snow rather than be uninformed.”

On Tuesday, the high temperature was 81 degrees, Aldrich said.

With Wednesday’s high temperature reaching the upper 40s and becoming sunny after the low of 22 degrees with snow, Howard said predicting how to dress is a challenge.

“Here, you have to wear two different outfits throughout the day,” he said, “because the first half of the day will be cold and then the second half will be warm, so you go through clothes pretty quick.”

Aldrich said he believes Lubbock did not win The Weather Channel’s Toughest Weather City title because of the fast-changing temperatures.

“I think it’d be mainly the dust storms and the amount of severe weather that Lubbock can get is what got Lubbock into the toughest weather city in the U.S.,” he said.

Whether the sun is shining or the temperature is freezing, Beadles said loving Lubbock is the key to liking its weather.

“One of my friends embraces it and said that she is happy the city won, but for me, I’m just ready to get out of here,” she said. “I think you really have to love Lubbock to love the weather in it.”

Source  

Denver weather sets record low temperature

 Denver tied a record low temperature on Wednesday, as the mercury dipped to a paltry 6 degrees.

The reading broke the low mark for April 10, 7 degrees set in 1959.

After several inches of snowfall on Tuesday, the cold will stick around Wednesday in Denver. Weather forecasters predict a 10 percent chance for additional snow.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for the high temperature in Denver on Wednesday to reach 28 degrees.

"The average highs for this date are near 60s," said Bob Kleyla, a meteorologist with weather service. "If we only get to 28, that's 30 degrees below normal."

Wednesday night into Thursday, the low temperature is expected to dip to 18 degrees.

A warming trend is on tap for the rest of the week, according to the weather service.

"Saturday, we should be back up to near normal," Kleyla said.

Roads in the Denver metro area are wet, with patches of ice and snowpack in some spots. Main roads have been cleared, but side streets could be tricky.

The Colorado Department of Transportation reopened an eastbound stretch of Interstate 70 to the Kansas border around 5 a.m. after closing it overnight.

Denver International Airport has all runways clear and open Wednesday, after canceling 495 flights on Tuesday. The FAA is not reporting any major delays at DIA Wednesday morning, and officials said they did not expect to need to put full deicing operations in place.

Source

 More wild weather swings

-----------------------------------------------

Record Cold In March 2013

Last March, we were smashing records with highs in the 80s and enjoying sunshine. This March couldn't have been more different. With gray skies and cold temps, you might expect surplus moisture. But the lack of rain wasn't the only surprise.

More than a foot of snow blanketed Sisseton last month and while most of it's gone now, it was still the coldest March on record. The average temperature for the month was 18 degrees. That ‘s more than ten degrees below normal.

Last March was the warmest on record. 

It was a similar situation in Watertown, where the average temperature was nearly 24 degrees colder than a year earlier. 

Pierre picked up nearly three feet of snow this winter but March didn't add to the stockpiles with just 15-hundredths of an inch. That is more than an inch less than usual. 

Aberdeen actually got more moisture last March, but lost much of it to evaporation. 

While Sioux Falls received half its normal moisture, we fell seven inches behind on snowfall.
And while we were cold, perhaps the lack of snow helped temperatures.  Though Sioux Falls was more than five degrees cooler than average, it wasn't quite enough to crack the top ten coldest Marches on record.

Source

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2013/04/11/sk-roof...

It's been an unusual year for snow accumulation in Saskatchewan, normally we don't get heavy wet snow or high humidity, but we've had plenty of the white stuff this year.  Residents have been cautioned to move the snow off their roofs to prevent collapse as the spring thaw takes place.

Hockey rink roof collapses in Bredenbury, Saskatchewan.

CBC News

Posted: Apr 11, 2013 1:21 PM CST

Last Updated: Apr 11, 2013 3:54 PM CST

The roof of the rink in Bredenbury collapsed under the weight of snow. (Supplied to CBC)

It's a common story in Saskatchewan this year — heavy snow destroying buildings.

The only hockey rink in the town of Bredenbury is the latest victim. The roof of the rink collapsed on Wednesday night. Bredenbury is about 40 kilometres southeast of Yorkton.

The exact cause of the roof collapse is still unknown, but heavy snow was a factor.

Kim Varga, the town's administrator, said she is just relieved no one was injured.

"Everyone is sad and sort of in shock," Varga said. "Everybody is just devastated and people are thankful that nobody got hurt and nobody was around."

Terry Hall, Bredenbury's rink manager, said the arena was host to about 50 hockey games every winter. It was also used by several hockey teams from surrounding communities.

More heavy rain on way will worsen flooding

“ The brutal drought that gripped southern Wisconsin in 2012 will be a distant memory by the time a series of storms drenching the area end in snow on Friday, with more storms possible Sunday through Tuesday, according to forecasters.

The weather-related woe replacing the drought is flooding: the counties of Rock, Green, Jefferson, Lafayette and Sauk are under flood warnings, and all other counties in south-central Wisconsin are under a flood watch through Friday at noon.

The rivers causing the flood warnings are the Crawfish in Jefferson County, the Baraboo in Sauk County, the Rock in Jefferson and Rock counties, the east branch of the Pecatonica in Lafayette County, the Pecatonica in Green County, the Sugar in Rock and Green counties. as well as the Fox in Lake and Kenosha counties, the Milwaukee on Ozaukee County, and the Sheboygan in Sheboygan County.

Officially, a record 1.46 inches of rain fell at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison on Tuesday, boosting Madison’s 2013 precipitation total (rain plus snow converted to liquid) to 9.76 inches, 3.92 inches above normal.”

Source