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Winter Storm Names

Winter storm naming in the United States has been used since the mid 1700s in various ways to describe historical winter storms. These names have been coined from days of the year that the storm impacted, to noteworthy structures such as a theatre the storm had destroyed. In recent years winter storm naming has become controversial with the Weather Channel, and various media coming up with their own names for winter storms.

It has been argued by meteorologists that winter storms can reform more than once, making the process of naming them both difficult and redundant. On the other side of the argument those in favor of naming storms argue that the names help people with preparation.

Entities from the United States government which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Weather Service (NWS) have also weighed in stating that they would not be naming winter storms, and have asked others to refrain from doing so. Despite the request though, the issue with naming winter storms continues to come up yearly with various names dubbed by the media.

Here is the list for this year…

 

Aiden was our first named storm well west in the Denver area where most of the snow fell last year in the Rockies and well west of the Mississippi.

No snow is in the forecast for Michigan through the end of the month – temperatures will remain above normal with rain being near to slightly below normal.  I am not seeing frost in the southern half of Michigan until maybe the end of this month which is late by Michigan standards.

Hurricane season lasts until November 30th and we are not out of the woods for storms and tornadoes.

There is a smaller number of tornadoes on average across the country during October and November, compared to April and May, according to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

Based on an averaging period from 1991-2010, the NCDC reports that 155 tornadoes form during April, while a whopping 276 occur in May. That number drops to 61 in October and 58 in November. Still, while the number isn’t as large, it’s important that people are always prepared for a severe weather event.

Severe storms can encompass areas from from the Plains to the Ohio Valley and Southeast, because it’s easier for warm and humid air to reach those areas. The threat can also reach the Northeast, but it’s not as high, because the region is farther removed from widespread heat and humidity.


Long Range Outlook

 

Our first hard frost may not come until the last few days of this month.  The long range GFS is bringing in the first hard frost for southern Michigan and believe it or not the chance of snow the 28th and 29th – this will bear watching as this could be a strong system coming from the north. As of now the snow is predicted to mainly fall in southern Wisconsin where they may see up to six inches.

Stay tuned for further forecasts!

 

 

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ROCKY (Rockford)
ROCKY (Rockford)

I love all of this talk about SNOW, however this week I will be enjoying the sun and getting in plenty of golf!

Slim

One issue I have with naming winter storms is what criteria should be used. In our area the storms of 1967 and 1978 are the bench mark for past storms and they would have deserved to have been named
Slim

Mookie
Mookie

GR is now +7.4 degrees above average for October – without a single below average day.

It looks like more beautiful sunny summer weather this week.

Slim

I think its safe to say that October will go down as a wet and warm month. And depending on 1. how warm it gets next week and 2. how cold it gets at the end of the month. We could be looking at a top 10 for warmest all time Octobers.
Slim