Cirrus Weather Blog

October Global Temperature 6th Warmest on Record

blindmeier — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:19:11 +0000

: Temperature Anomalies October 2009

You would never know it considering the weather we had locally in October, but it was warm month globally. According to NOAA, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature for October was the 6th warmest on record, with an anomaly of 1.03 degrees above the 20th century average of 57.1 degrees.

In contrast, Madison recorded a monthly average temperature of 45.5 degrees, or 3.9 degrees below normal in October, 2009. The map above shows that most of North America and northern Europe experienced below normal temperatures (blue dots), while most of the remainder of the globe recorded above normal temperatures (red dots).

This is a good example of why one must consider not only the weather where you live when considering the possibility of global warming.

A Dry November

lmercurio — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:01:49 +0000

It’s been awhile since we have seen rain. In fact, only 0.02 of an inch of rain had been reported in Madison through the 17th. (which occurred on November 2nd) 0.14 of an inch fell at the airport today, bringing our monthly total to a whopping 0.16 of an inch! This is 1.25 inches below average and a far cry from the wet weather we saw in October. (Madison received 3.8 inches of rain in October, which was 1.62 inches above average.) Periods of light rain and drizzle will continue tonight into Thursday, especially during the morning. But just like today, it’s not going to add up to much. Rain looks more promising early next week, from Monday into Tuesday.

An Above Average November…

bolson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:18:27 +0000

So far this month temperatures have been above average almost all of the time! Only on November 3rd & 4th did we have high temperatures that were cooler than average. And if you combine the high & the low temperatures into a daily average, then only the 1st & the 3rd were below average. We’re certainly making up for the chilly October! It’ll likely get colder next Wednesday & for Thanksgiving, but it looks as if we’ll warm up again by the second half of the long holiday weekend. I love it!

November - 2008 Versus 2009

lmercurio — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:47:31 +0000

A viewer emailed us to see what temperatures were like for the WIAA State Championship games at Camp Randall last year, and whether they would be any warmer this year. So this got me wondering how this November compares to last. (through the 17th) This has definitely been a warmer first half of November, with an average high of 55.2 degrees. Compare that to 49.7 degrees November 1-17 of 2008. We have had no days with highs in the 30s yet this November, but had already seen 6 chilly days with highs in the 30s through the same time last year. (In fact, 4 of the 6 days highs were just in the lower 30s!)

When you look at lows, though, it’s actually been cooler through the first half of this November than last, with an average of 32.3 degrees so far this November compared to 35.9 degrees through the first half of last November. (Since it’s been very quiet and dry this November, “clearer” skies at night have allowed overnight lows to drop further.) But there were a few more colder nights last November with two nights in the teens. We’ve yet to see overnight lows drop into the teens this November.

So to answer the viewer question, the WIAA State Championship at Camp Randall this Friday (November 20th) will be warmer than last year. We will have more clouds than sun with highs near 46 degrees. That’s much more tolerable than the 26-degree-high we had on November 21st of last year!

Packers Forecast

lmercurio — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:32:32 +0000

If you are curious what the weather will be like for the Packers/Cowboys game tomorrow, or if you’re lucky enough to be going, here’s what you can expect:

-Sunny skies (High of 48)

-Temperature at 47 at the 3:15 p.m. kickoff, dropping to around 40 degrees by the end of the game

-Winds: NNW 5-10 mph

43 degrees is Green Bay’s average high for this time of year, so they will be above that. But today’s 55-degree-high would have been nice, too. GO PACK!

Wisconsin/Michigan Forecast

lmercurio — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:22:11 +0000

Can you believe we’re down to the remaining Badgers home game this weekend?! We will be cutting it close with the forecast, though, and here’s why…an approaching cold front brought thickening clouds today and will keep the clouds around tonight and on Saturday. As this front tracks through later Saturday afternoon, it will produce scattered showers from mid to late afternoon, perhaps as early as 3 or 4 p.m. in Madison. So it won’t be out-of-the-question to have a few showers by the end of the game. (But at this point, most of it will be dry!) Here’s the complete forecast:

11 a.m. kickoff:
-Cloudy skies with temperatures near 50 degrees. Winds: S to SW 5-10 mph.

By the end of the game:
-Cloudy skies with readings near 53 degrees. Outside chance of a few showers.

Enjoy the game and go Bucky!

Preparing for Winter Weather

lmercurio — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:10:46 +0000

Continuing with Winter Weather Awareness Week…part of winter weather awareness is being prepared. Here are some tips to get you prepared for the impending cold and snow:

-Check temperatures and the wind chill before heading out
-Dress warmly with several layers (wear a warm coat, gloves or mittens, a hat and water-resistant boots)
-Cover exposed skin as much as possible
-Watch for frostbite on finger tips, ear lobes, the nose and toes
-Avoid over-exertion (namely, when shoveling) The cold already puts a strain on the body and heart.

At home or work, make sure you have:

-Extra flashlight and batteries
-A battery-powered NOAA weather radio or an AM/FM portable radio
-A 2-3 day supply of food and water
-Extra medicine and baby items (if needed)
-First aid supplies
-Emergency heating source (But never place it near another object that may catch on fire. Keep space heaters at least 36 inches away from other objects and turn it off when you leave the room.)

When traveling:

-Winterize your vehicle
-Check the forecast and road conditions before you leave
-Consider adjusting your route to avoid poor driving conditions
-Carry a cell phone for use during emergencies
-Keep the gas tank near full
-Notify others of your destination and times of travel
-Yield to snowplows. The snow cloud they produce can lower visibilities to near zero. Remember to stay back 200 feet.
-Have a survival kit in your car, items like extra blankets or a sleeping bag, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit with a pocket knife, booster cables, a rope, a small shovel, a bag of sand or cat litter for traction, extra gloves, hat and socks, non-perishable food items, bottled water and road maps for alternative routes

If you get stuck in a blizzard:

-Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
-Start the car for about 10 minutes every hour for heat
-Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow
-Tie a bright colored red or orange cloth to the antenna
-Turn the dome light when running the engine
-If you must venture away from the car, use a life-line or rope

Another Guessing Game: Snowfall ‘09-’10

bolson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:33:15 +0000

With a moderate El Nino in progress, it still stands to reason that our season will be less snowy than average. And what is average you ask? Between 48 and 49 inches (It’s easy to forget after our past two seasons!). Last season we were up over 72 inches, & of course the prior winter season was the record 101.4 inches.

My guess for this year? 43.2 inches… a bit below average. However I’d MUCH sooner choose 37 inches than 49 if forced to move my guess up or down. I think temperatures will be all over the place for what it’s worth, with a few bitter outbreaks but also some serious thaws. Snow, though, should be less than average. It’s not just El Nino, but the law of averages that would suggest that too.

What’s your number?

Play Along! When’s The First Snow?

bolson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:22:23 +0000

I’m a little late with this question this year, but no harm done… there’s been no snow. Yes we’ve already had a few flurries (back in October), but there’s been nothing measurable yet. So take a guess. I’ll start: How about a very late December 3rd… that’s my pick.

As you can see from the Average First Snow Table below, we received flurries earlier than usual (sometime back in mid-October), but we’ve normally seen our first measurable snow by now. And I can say with certainty that we won’t receive our first inch by the 18th either. So… what’s your guess? When’s that first tenth of snow going to be measured?

Average First Snow Occurrence In Winter
Trace	Measurable (greater than 0.1″)	Greater than 1″
October 25	November 5	November 18

Wisconsin Winter Awareness Week

lmercurio — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:30:16 +0000

There is so much that can be said about winter weather in Wisconsin! If you’re new to the area or have never thought much about what the weather can be like in Wisconsin in the winter, you will likely find the following information very interesting. Winter storms that affect the state usually develop hundreds or even thousands miles away, sometimes as far away as Japan or Asia. They migrate across the Pacific, cross the western U.S. and the Rockies and redevelop over the Plains. Precipitation with most winter storms falls to the east and north of the storm’s center. So a storm moving from the Plains into northern Illinois would be the most ideal for producing snow in southern Wisconsin. As the storm moves east of the state, cold air is often drawn in from Canada. Wind and cold air from the north can combine to produce wind chills as low as -20 to -50!

On average, southern Wisconsin experiences about 2 or 3 major storms each winter, while northern Wisconsin averages about 6. (The event could be heavy snow, ice or a combination) Typical snow accumulations in these storms usually range from 6 to 12 inches. But some storms can produce as much as 20 to 30 inches of snow over a 2-day period, with snow drifts of 4 to 8 feet! Thankfully, though, those storms are few and far between.

Major winter events usually occur from mid-November through mid-April, but this time frame is earlier and later across northern Wisconsin. It’s always interesting to look at extremes…here’s a list of state snowfall and temperature records:

Greatest daily snowfall - 26″ in Neillsville (Clark Co.), Dec. 27, 1904
Greatest single storm - 31″ in Superior (Douglas Co.), Oct. 31 - Nov. 3, 1991
Deepest snow on the ground - 60″ in Hurley (Iron Co.), Jan. 30, 1997
Greatest monthly total - 103.5″ in Hurley (Iron Co.), Jan. 1997
Greatest seasonal snowfall total - 295.4″ in Hurley (Iron Co.), 1996-97
Record low temperature -55F near Couderay (Sawyer Co.), Feb. 2nd and 4th in 1996

Of course, we’ve been on the other end of the spectrum with above average temperatures most of the month, so far. But the mercury will drop back to seasonal levels next week, which means highs in the 40s. So more winter-like weather is not far off!