Friday, February 7, 2014

delivery received... (am.07.feb.14)>

*Update @ 11:33am... The light rain ended rather abruptly around 10am, and the clouds have even been trying to break up a bit since shortly after 11am.  Still, there could be some shower redevelopment as the day wears on, so probably a good idea to stay prepared for that.  I'm not able to check the temperature and rain gauge right now, but will update that info later this afternoon.

Getting a better view uphill, it seems that accumulating snow didn't make it much further down than Magic View Cafe, between Galu Temple and Triund.

*Update @ 8:00am... 2.40" (6.1cm) of total rainfall since yesterday afternoon.  Temp holding steady -- 40.6F (4.8C).

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We're getting the full treatment early this morning, and have been pretty much all night.  There is steady, moderate rain falling, and the temperature at my location in the upper part of town is hovering right around 40F (4.4C).  The low occurred just recently as the thermometer dipped to 39.7F (4.3C).  The bigger news to report is that I have 2.2" (5.6cm) in the rain gauge as of 7:00am -- evidence of the fact that the floodgates finally opened up.  It is still quite dark and clouds are hanging low, but it seems like the snow line is not very far above us.

If you were following along last evening, you remember that we were watching the gradual development of some substantial showers and also thunder and lightning between about 8:00 - 9:30pm.  Well, that development obviously continued on an upward trajectory, as our upper-level wave of dynamic energy met the surging moisture from the south -- coalescing into a very significant precipitation event for us.  That upper-level energy is actually stalling out just to our northwest, along the Pak/Kashmir border, and will continue to work on whatever moisture is still piled up here along the southwest-facing slopes of the mountains today.  Although the data is pointing to a gradual decrease in precipitation intensity by this afternoon and tonight, it looks like we will still have occasional periods of at least light to moderate rain and/or snow in the vicinity -- perhaps all the way into tomorrow (Sat).  We've already surpassed most of the computer model projections for rainfall amounts, but it could be that we have plenty more on the way.

The snow line: It's going to be another very close call.  The freezing level is expected to gradually lower by tonight at the latest, and it certainly looks like we could have a changeover to snow at least in the upper part of McLeod -- as long as there is still enough moisture around by the time the atmosphere cools to that point.  You veterans of this area know very well that the only thing to do is watch and wait...

CURRENT FORECAST info can be found on the tab above.