South; East enjoy more warmth
By: Steve Sawyer | Source: Weatherbank
April 19, 2005 9:25AM EST
NATIONAL WEATHER SUMMARY:
In the East, a weak upper-level disturbance brought scattered light rain showers to parts of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic late in the afternoon hours. Rainfall amounts were minimal at best, under a tenth of an inch. However, in Kents Store, Virginia a dust devil did manage to damage a barn and a fence. Elsewhere, high pressure lead to sunny to partly cloudy skies and warm conditions for the rest of the region.
In the central part of the country, scattered rain showers and strong to severe thunderstorms developed across the central and southern Plains, and through the Mid Mississippi Valley during the afternoon and evening hours. The main threat with these storms was frequent lightning, strong winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes, and brief heavy downpours. Three tornadoes were reported in southeastern Nebraska, including one in York, Nebraska. Baseball size hail was the cause of one person being injured in Geneva, Nebraska as well. Severe thunderstorms also pounded the Texas panhandle with a storm spotter reporting nickel size hail falling for a length of ten minutes. Rainfall amounts stay around a quarter of an inch; however, Fremont, Nebraska received 0-point-75 inches of rain. High pressure dominated the northern Plains once again, allowing for mostly sunny skies and very warm temperatures. In fact, Fargo, North Dakota was 28 degrees above normal for this time of year with a high temperature of 85 degrees.
In the West, an upper-level trough of low pressure was the main weather feature for the Pacific Northwest, the northern and central Rocky Mountains, the northern high Plains, and the Great Basin. Heavy snow showers fell across parts of Montana with Lewistown, Montana receiving 10 inches of new snow, and Bozeman, Montana receiving 8 inches of snow. Elsewhere, rain showers fell across the rest of the region with a few isolated thunderstorms as well. No severe weather was reported with any of this activity. Rainfall amounts remain light, below a quarter of an inch. High pressure provided a beautiful day of sunny skies and warm conditions to much of California, the Desert Southwest, and the central and southern high Plains.
ON THIS DATE IN HISTORY:
In 1881, Nation City, South Dakota finally received the first train of the year with supplies after a 79 day snow blockade ends.
In 1971, four inches of snow accumulated in El Paso, Texas setting a new late season snowfall record.
In 1996, between the period of April 19th and April 21st a continuous tornado outbreak occurred front Arkansas, through Illinois, and into southern Canada. In total 111 tornadoes ripped through the land. Almost every one of the 150 homes in Ogden, Illinois were damaged or destroyed by a tornado that struck at seven at night on the 19th. There were seventeen people injured, but thankfully no deaths in the residential area. 105 of the 111 tornadoes were in areas which had been alerted with tornado watches.
FRONTS IN THE NATION:
A stationary front lies across northwestern Minnesota, southeastern North Dakota, western South Dakota, extreme northwestern Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, southern Utah, and southern Nevada.
NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST:
In the East, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected across portions of Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, in response to a surface boundary affecting the area. No severe weather is anticipated at this time. Across portions of the western Gulf Coast, scattered showers and thunderstorms will also be possible as an upper-level disturbance combines forces with ample gulf moisture. Across portions of northern New England, clouds will be on the increase as a frontal system begins affecting the region. Meanwhile, across much of the Southeast, partly cloudy skies and fair conditions will be the rule as a ridge of high pressure remains in control. Temperatures across the region will range in the upper 60's across northern New England; 70's across much of the Great Lakes, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, as well as much of the Gulf Coast; 80's across the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and much of Florida.
In the central third of the Nation, a migrating low pressure system and its associated frontal boundaries, will be the focus for scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the western Great Lakes, upper Mississippi Valley and portions of the northern and central Plains. It currently appears the strongest storms are expected across High Plains of Nebraska and portions of South Dakota, where the greatest threats will likely be large hail. Moving to the south, scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible across portions of western Texas, where the hail will once again be the main threat. Temperatures across the region will range in the 60's across the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley; 70's across the central and southern Plains, as well as the lower and mid Mississippi Valleys; and 80's across much of southern and coastal Texas.
Across the West, a strong upper-level disturbance moving through the Great Basin will be the forcing mechanism for unsettled weather across much of the Great Basin and northern Rockies. This feature will lead to widespread snowfall across the higher elevations, with over 1 foot being possible throughout the day across portions of Wyoming and Montana. Snow will also fall across the mountains of Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. In some areas, especially eastern Wyoming, scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible, with large hail again being the primary concerns. Moving to the south, fair conditions are expected across much of the southern Rockies and Desert Southwest as much of the activity remains to the north. Temperatures across the West will range in the 40's across the northern Rockies; 50's across the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest; 60's across coastal California, and western portions of Washington State; 70's across the interior valleys of California, as well as the southern and central Rockies; and 80's across the Desert Southwest.
- Drought may last 3 to 5 more years
- Sunny, warm conditions dominate most of the East
- Yankees play Baltimore at Oriole Park
- China's Economy Grows 9.5 Percent, More Than Expected
|
