What Phil really meant:
Six more weeks of NCAA basketball!
Six more weeks of NCAA basketball!
6:00 PM EST Sunday 2/6/2011
If today's weather outside the final matchup on the gridiron in Dallas could be used as a predictor, then the odds may be favoring the Packers. By tonights 6:30 PM EST (5:30 PM Central) kickoff at Cowboys Stadium, conditions outside will resemble what you might expect for Green Bay or Pittsburgh than "former" sunny Dallas. For those driving to the stadium, leave early and bring patience.
This graphic from the Dallas-Fort Worth NWS office shows a cold front will bring early warmth to a rapid end by tonight, with rain and snow mixed before the game has ended. If this "icebowl" is any indication of the future, it would be more accurate if Punxsutawney Phil had predicted six more weeks of basketball.
WHAT LIES AHEAD? The cold front to cross Texas and the southern Plains today could be the final insult of February in areas which are already snow-bound and unaccustomed to it. Snow and sleet are predicted for Central Texas, snow for Little Rock, and single digit temps for the Mid-West. Thousands remain either without power, plowed in or both, at unusual locales like Tulsa or Chicago. Climate indicators our team monitors suggest the next southern storm may do just that...stay south. However there is also the possibility this system turns up the Eastern seaboard by Thursday, in a similar manner to the January 21-22, 1987 storm. Old time powderhounds surely remember that one. Details on the different scenarios is being posted in the Winter Stormcast Zone.
WHY DO WE REMEMBER THAT ONE?
Historical note: Ever wonder how "Foot's Forecast" came into existence? Enjoy this overview of three true forecast stories (posted February 1, 2009) which led to development of a little-known website from the southeast corner of Baltimore County, MD.
FOR SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS Similar to how sports enthusiasts live and die by the stats of their team, Our forecasters also use indicators and performance stats to predict the expected "performance" of an upcoming weather pattern. For any football/weather aficinadoes among our readers, intercept this fun challenge:
1. Determine the "home latitude" of previous Super Bowl winning teams.
2. Compare the winning team with the February weather pattern of that year, to determine if there is a "non-scientific" correlation between latitude of Super Bowl winners and weather.
THE QUESTION Is there a correlation between the latitude of the winning team and the weather of the month to follow? Is it possible that the higher the latitude of the team, the more snowy and cold was the month which followed? Post your findings in the comments before kickoff tonight. The most thorough analysis (10 or more team examples) receives a specialized snowfall prediction of the Thursday-Friday event for their backyard from the team!
(Advisors Mr. Foot and Mr. Lear)
THE QUESTION Is there a correlation between the latitude of the winning team and the weather of the month to follow? Is it possible that the higher the latitude of the team, the more snowy and cold was the month which followed? Post your findings in the comments before kickoff tonight. The most thorough analysis (10 or more team examples) receives a specialized snowfall prediction of the Thursday-Friday event for their backyard from the team!
(Advisors Mr. Foot and Mr. Lear)
21 comments:
GO PACK!!!!!!
That is EXACTLY what I think I might do... PACK for ORLANDO! <snickering>
oohh.. and yes, GO PACK GO!!!!</snickering>
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/
This is a good one to watch too!!
about Phil...I don't really think he opens his eyes when he is yanked out of the comfort of his sleepy zone :)
too funny.
when are you scheduled to leave?
Feeling lousy today; I think I have the creeping stomach crud. I hope I feel better by game time; definitely want to cheer for the Packers.
On another note, Thursday into Friday is beginning to look like a little more than potential. Hopefully potential comes in with less inchs than some are thinking so I can get out on my Friday flight.
15th!!
Hope you feel better!!!
What time do you fly out? BWI?
<span>Feel better...and I hope your flight gets out...but a few inches before that would be lovely, wouldn't it??? Faith in the flakes...even if they change the forecasts 15 times before then...it doesn't hurt to hope! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! O:-) </span>
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Pat hope you feel better. Tis only Sunday and thursday is....counting today 5 days away. Recon flights for the Pacific someone posted on another wx page....I think there must be dead zones for data. Maybe some of the Foots gang will lead the charge for better weather data "collectors", invent them even!!!!!!! And we can say we knew them way back when :)
I fly out at 1:15 pm on Friday
It sounds like once we get through Friday the weather will improve somewhat. Hopefully your flight south will get out without a hitch. 8-) 8-)
PACK!!!!!!
Back atchu! Looking like 75+ degrees as of now... I DO LOVE SNOW... but this is a nice lil treat.. then I would welcome a PDIII Storm!
:)
No one should issue a forecast past 48 hours this year with any degree of authority. The models cannot handle the interaction of the northern and southern jet, as well as the numerous interactions, speed, and progression of multiple vorts in the flow. My whole outlook is to take things 2 days at a time. Our best snow threat looks to be Tuesday at the moment. The Thursday threat seems to have evaporated. Nothing is showing a major snow for Thursday, and there is no reason to expect one. There is however energy heading in our direction and what we should focus upon is how that energy evolves, as well as the interaction amoung the many players on the weather field. Forecasts for 1993 SUPERSTORM are pure hype. If we are lucky we might squeeze out some type of snow event by the end of the week. Our best chance might be Tuesday in the 5 day outlook. It will be warm to start and that will be the challenge with the rain to snow event. Beyond that we get cold, but will we have ANY snow? Time will tell. Regardless, no blockbuster storms appear likely.
BP, Hope you feel better!
Right now, if you believe ALL OPERATIONAL MODELS we get nothing Thursday. Euro sheers the energy out to sea, and no one north of North Carolina sees anything whatsoever. The storm is crushed by the northern branch. The end of the week may feature cold and partly sunny skies.
Great synopsis Andy. I'll be watching Tuesday carefully, doesn't look like much but this year, all bets are on. Thursday being cold is ok with me, even a little snow will work, just not "the storm of the century", again.
Thanks everyone for the get well's. I am feeling a little better. This is one nasty stomach virus.
<span>So you say 'no one should issue a forecast past 48 hours this year with any degree of authority', yet you do exactly that by saying there is no chance whatsoever of a storm here on Thursday. What gives?
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Well, even if we get no snow, I'm happy because the Packers beat the Steelers and that's all I needed! :-D
I am saying anything can happen in the world of weather. There is NO DATA whatsoever that shows ANY snow potential in this region for Thursday. We continue to look at the data carefully to see if there are any changess that could point to a snow threat. There have been a few changes lately, but the changes have been to strengthen the northern jet and continue to diminish a storm idea that was already on life support. The trends are in the wrong direction if you want snow like I do. All I can do is report the information to you, and give you my opinion for what it is worth. I can't will it to snow, because if I could you would never be able to leave your home and be forced to eat pets for food, and burn furnature for heat due to 100 foot snow drifts! Cheers to the next snow storm, whenever it may come, but Thursday is highly unlikely to be that day.
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