Suncoast Stormwatch

I know, not a very good title, but it was all I could think of. ;)

This week's local forecast has temps warming up from last week to stay in the low to mid 60s, with a spike into the mid to high 70s for Thursday. We could also see a bit of rain possible across the area for Thursday as well. Friday (New Year's Day), we take a step back back into the 60s (No, not the year). 

Here is the list you've all been waiting for (or not). I decided to keep it simple and just have a list for this year, instead of the entire decade.

The Top 5 Weather Events of 2009

1. Christmas Winter Storm --Links: 1,2

2. April Tornado Outbreak
 
3. West Europe Snowfall

4. European Snowfall

5. Southeastern Australia Heat Wave

If you liked this list, check out this list of cool weather images from 2009 by Stu Ostro at  the Weather Channel.

The first day of Winter is tomorrow, and right on cue are temperatures near freezing. Tonight and tomorrow, the counties of Levy, Citrus, Sumter, and Hernando will see temperatures at or possibly below freezing.

Other than that, we should have a relatively nice week with temperatures in the low to high 70s this week. Unfortunately, we might have a chance of rain for Christmas. That's fine, as long as we don't have any tornadoes.

There will not be a Weekly Update next week, due to Christmas, because I'll likely be busy playing some new video games. I will post again before 2010 comes around though. The next post will include my Top 10 Weather Events Of The Decade List. 

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, but I've been busy. Moving on......

Are you tired of the thermometer dipping below 70 in West Central Florida? Have you been looking for an escape? Well, look no further! Monday, temperatures will be warm, in the low to mid 80s, with sunny conditions.  Yes, you read that right. I'll say it again: Monday will have temperatures in the LOW TO MID 80s. There. Did it sink in?

You're probably saying something along the lines of "80s in December!?! something must be wrong with the weather!" or "Well, it's 80 degrees now, I guess it will be in the mid to high 100s in January, since the weather just keeps getting worse."

Anyway, after the return to paradise and maybe a trip to the beach on Monday, rain returns, along with temps in the mid to high 70s.

Either next week, or the week after, I will talk about some of the big weather events of 2009, as well as some of the biggest weather events of the decade.

There will also be the Suncoast Stormwatch Top 10 List. It will be much like these lists that you may have seen.

But until then: What was the National Weather Service known as before it was the National Weather Service?

If you live in the Midwest or the Northeast, you're probably seeing white.

Massive snow storms are beating down on those of you crazy enough to go out today. Parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois are expecting over a foot of snow, along with many areas in New England. New York City will not be seeing snow, but will have wind between 15 and 22 miles per hour tonight, with gusts as high as 47. For more winter weather information as well as your local weather forecast, stay tuned to your local NWS Office, your local news, and The Weather Channel.

Info on the current situation can be found here.

Ok, first of all, the answer to last week's weather trivia question of "What is the latest formed tropical cyclone in the Atlantic?" is Hurricane Kate. More info here

One of the major threats tomorrow will be rough seas, if you are out on the water, exercise caution. The severe weather is expected to be isolated.

From NWS Ruskin:

AS THE LOW PRESSURE AREA LIFTS NORTHEAST INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN
STATES WEDNESDAY A TRAILING COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE
WEST. AN INCREASINGLY MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS AHEAD OF THIS
FRONT WILL SET THE STAGE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP
ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE BOUNDARY AS IT MOVES TOWARD WEST CENTRAL
AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. CURRENT TIMING OF THIS FRONT WOULD BRING
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS INTO THE NATURE COAST AROUND MIDDAY
WEDNESDAY...WITH THIS ACTIVITY SPREADING SOUTH INTO THE TAMPA BAY
AREA DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND THEN ACROSS
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA DURING THE EVENING.

AT THE CURRENT TIME SUFFICIENT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE COMBINED WITH
STRONG PREFRONTAL CONVERGENCE AND INCREASING WIND SHEAR WITHIN
THE ATMOSPHERE MAY SUPPORT SOME STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS AS THE
FRONT MOVES SOUTH THROUGH THE REGION...ESPECIALLY FROM THE TAMPA
BAY AREA NORTH THROUGH THE NATURE COAST. THE MAIN HAZARDS FROM
THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED
TORNADOES AND WATERSPOUTS. IN ADDITION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
AND DEADLY LIGHTNING STRIKES WILL ACCOMPANY THE STORMS.

I'll monitor the situation and update as needed.