Tuesday, March 13, 2012

himalayan surprise... (am.13.mar.12)>

WOW... thunder began around 2:00am... I had exactly 1.0" (2.5cm) of rain here on Tushita Road below the Mountaineering Center.  But the bigger news is that there is SNOW just above Mcleod Ganj.  Waiting to hear reports from Naddi and Dharamkot where there is surely some accumulation.  The temperature dipped much lower than expected overnight with the prolonged thunderstorm in the area... I recorded a low of 40.1F (4.5C).

*Just got a report from above Dal Lake, near Naddi village... about 2" (5cm)  of snow on the ground, some bare patches... but nothing on the trees.
*Another report... in Naddi village... 2cm (0.80") of precipitation.  A coating of snow on the ground, but melting.


The last few days I've been making reference to the fact that the various computer models have been in a state of total disagreement over the strength of this "weak" upper-level disturbance.  Well, it is now obvious that it turned out much more organized, with more dynamic energy, and more cold air aloft than any of the model guidance was picking up on.  I'm wondering if there has been another accumulating snow event as low as Naddi and Dharamkot this late in the season... at least during the past decade.  Someone can enlighten me if you have any memory or record of such.

At any rate, the snow will melt very fast today, as this system rapidly pulls off to the east.  The sun will be trying to make a return, but there could still be a random shower or thundershower around the area.  Starting tomorrow, we'll resume an aggressive warming trend, after this set-back to our spring momentum.  A building ridge of high pressure should be responsible for bringing us our warmest temps of 2012 by Friday and Saturday...

TUESDAY:
a mix of clouds and sun.  still a risk of a shower or thundershower.  coolish.
high: 14C (58F)

TUESDAY NIGHT:
clear to partly cloudy skies.  rather cool.
low: 9C (48F)

WEDNESDAY:
sunshine and a few clouds.  an isolated PM shower?  
high: 17C (62F)

THURSDAY:
sunny to partly cloudy.  milder.
morning low: 9C (49F)
daytime high: 18C (64F)

FRIDAY:
mostly sunny and warming up.
morning low: 11C (51F)
daytime high: 19C (66F)

SATURDAY:
sunshine and a few clouds.  warmest day of 2012.
morning low: 12C (54F)
daytime high: 20C (68F)