gpsnavigator

-3 low in Sparta.  Wind has died down nice, and I'm ready for a little warmup, although not to the extent of what's forecast.

I'm wondering what will become of the spring bloom, with things already popping through, and quite a ways to go yet until the official start of spring.

Twenty flakes on my hood this morning, which amounts to exactly zero accumulation (or is it technically recorded as a trace?).

Seems like it might be too dry for anything up in north jersey.  Dewpoints are in the low teens and even a few single numbers.  I could be wrong.

Looks like a southern special for an inch or so.  Guess I might miss this one.  

Serious question - with the incredible warmth, we've got bulbs popping through already.  Anyone have any feedback as to how to see them through this weekend's blast and the rest of winter so we still have a shot at a nice bloom come April?

11 minutes ago, MANDA said:

Has been snowing for about 90 min.  Have .7” thus far.  Temp fell from 32 to 29.5 and now stuck at 29.8 for last 30 min.  Sticking on all surfaces including treated road out front albeit not a well traveled road.

 

 

Similar here, although I'm slightly warmer and 250 feet lower than you.  The street out front is covered.  Turns out maybe this isn't an entirely wasted snow day, as my district would begin dismissing in 15 minutes, and of course everyone else following shortly thereafter.  It's enough on these side streets to start to be slippery.

Snowing moderately and consistently for the last 20 minutes.  Definitely getting evaporation cooling.  Down to 32.8.  Snow sticking to the grass.

Snow started at 12:15 and within a few minutes was starting to come down pretty good.  And just like that, now nothing again.

Seems like there is just not enough to fully saturate the air column.  Modeling has never done well with dry air.

11 minutes ago, weatherpruf said:

Surprised they still have snow days; they are able to transition to online classes for snow in some districts now. No need for snow days anymore.

Terrible idea.  I could see if you hit like your seventh or eighth snow day having that as an emergency option, but otherwise, remote learning is a complete and utter failure for many.  Only ones that really benefit are the tech companies that write all the software and sell the hardware to make it happen.

27 minutes ago, Volcanic Winter said:

Wow they cancelled school in Sparta? Itching to burn some snow days I guess, lol. I have a good friend up in Montague, wondering what she'll even see.

It's good to be cautious though, no doubt.

They called at 5:45 this morning.  All Sussex County schools are closed with the exception of one.  It's a limp pee pee of a radar right now and I even had the sun breaking through a few minutes ago.  Temp is 33 and RH is 72%. 

Maybe the radar will fill in later, and if we get some evaporation based cooling, it'll be bad for a couple of hours.  But that's a big IF.

School is closed.  Just overcast at the moment.  The last time they closed like this, I remember it ended up being the better call to make because there was a bad 3 hours or so right around school dismissal time.  We'll see if that's the case today.

Several schools in North Jersey have already closed for tomorrow.  Seems really premature given the marginal forecast.

Interesting observations from today:

I work on the outskirts of Newton - Elevation 570 feet and zilch on the snow.  

I started driving back to Sparta and saw evidence of accumulation around the Lafayette border, with a coating on the shady grassy surfaces.  As I headed towards Sparta, I noticed things got more interesting quickly.  At our house, elevation 800 feet, about 1.25".  Up Glen Road, toward the top of Sparta Mountain looks to be at least 3, maybe 4" in spots.  Plows are out in full force and there are even some tree branches down up there.

I had noticed on radar earlier today that a nice band seemed to have set up roughly in a line from West Milford, down through Sparta.  That, plus the modest elevation difference explains the world of difference in the snow amounts over just a few miles.

Just had a flash and long roll of thunder here while out with the dogs.  Unexpected to say the least.

Temp 36.5 with moderate rain.

Is that sub-tropical storm acting to draw the moisture out of our immediate area?  RH/DP has dropped several points in the past two hours and it is a deep blue sky with plenty of sunshine.  I'm seeing dewpoints in the single digits in west jersey with air temps in the mid and upper 30s.  Some wispy white clouds are visible on the horizon to the north and east.  

Isn't much of the northern hemisphere in near record warmth now?  I'm reading about records being shattered all over Europe, and not just by a degree or two, but many degrees.

53 minutes ago, Rjay said:

Will EWR hit 90 in January?

No, but I don't think 80 is completely nuts to ponder.  It's already happened in February (2/21/2018).

Put me down for a 50 degree drop in about 17 hours.  High of 53 early this morning, and we currently stand at 3.  DP -7 and WC -10

Equally impressive is the 60-65 degree drop in some of the dewpoints during that same time frame.

We must have broken some records.

Down to 11 from an early morning high of 53.  Wind is howling.  I've not seen a 12 hour temperature spread like this that I can remember.  

Temp crash underway.  Along with a fresh coating of snow.  Driving could be bad right now and they are out salting everything.

I'd be horrified if either of my vehicles were sitting in salt water like that.  Sucks for them.

One of the stations in western PA is at 3, while the Philly area is recording 46.  Impressive.

Temps are currently below zero in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and northern Arkansas.  

Funny how once our wind kicks around to the WSW will be when the temperature really plummets.

Disappointing that we will see such a huge warmup after this.

1 hour ago, JustinRP37 said:

I hope this does not get deleted because I do think it is important information. I am an ecologist that teaches both ecology and some climate science at a university..........

 

FWIW, I agree with you on these points, and mostly lean right politically.  Many so-called liberals and myself don't connect that well on a host of other issues.  This one I can find common ground on.