Wednesday, February 20, 2013

even more moody... (pm.20.feb.13)>

Wednesday's stats:

Early morning low temp: 43.3F (6.3C)
Afternoon high temp: 57.6F (14.2C) -- at 2:20pm 
Rainfall: 0.15" (4mm)

The sunshine definitely won the weather battle until about 2:30pm today, but thereafter, we've had a mish-mash of clouds, peeks of sun, some fog, and even a period of showers with thunder between 3:30 and 5:00pm.  The foggy gloom has thickened once again just before sunset this evening.  Despite all that, my high temp today was the warmest in almost a week, but still several degrees below normal for the date.

There are scattered instability-induced thundershowers along the front ranges of the mountains from western Kashmir into central Himachal Pradesh, which should continue to die out after sunset.  The stage is now being set for our next significant weather-maker which is on its way for the weekend.  Upper-level low pressure will be gradually developing over Afghanistan and Pakistan during the coming 48 hours or so, then move across northern India between late Friday night and early Sunday.  Precipitation is already running well above normal for the month of February in our area, and it still looks like we are going to be adding significantly to the tally in the coming days.  Once again, there is a discrepancy among the various computer models -- from about 3 to 7cm (1.2-2.8") of liquid-equivalent precip being forecast -- but no matter how you slice it, it looks like a healthy amount is on the way.

Although temperatures will remain below normal for this time of year, right now it appears that it's going to be too warm for snow to make it much below the 2500m/8200ft level as this system moves through.  But please stay on top of updates, as we know how fickle (and unpredictable) the snow line can be.

There is no sign of a return to a quiet weather pattern next week, with an active jet stream and more potentially wet weather waiting in the wings.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
lingering clouds and fog giving way to mostly clear skies.
low: 7C (45F)

THURSDAY:
increasing clouds.  one or two showers possible during the PM.
high: 13C (56F)

THURSDAY NIGHT:
partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of a couple of rain showers.
low: 9C (48F)

FRIDAY:
clouds, with a peek or two of sun possible.  occasional periods of rain likely, with some thunder possible as well.
high: 13C (55F)

SATURDAY:
mostly cloudy and unseasonably cool, with periods of rain likely.
low: 7C (44F)
high: 10C (50F)

SUNDAY:
becoming partly cloudy, but still a chance of a couple of rain showers.
morning low: 5C (41F)
daytime high: 11C (52F)

MONDAY:
a mix of sun and clouds.  milder temps.
morning low: 7C (44F)
daytime high: 13C (56F)