Unseasonably Mild

We were thinking this winter season was going to be a mild one...but not this mild.  As we end the first month of 2012 we have temperatures pushing toward 70 degrees...70 degrees! 

                                     

Of course this warmth can be explained. Generally speaking, we have a zonal flow above us and a persistent southerly wind that's holding temperatures in the 60s.  The cold, arctic air remains bottled up in Canada and Alaska. 

I'm not complaining, but some cold weather fans aren't too happy these days.  Well to those people I'd say cheer up because these mild stretches never last too long during this time of year.

                                 (GFS model showing storms moving in by early Saturday morning)

As we approach Super Bowl weekend we'll see a storm system develop in the Rockies and slide into the Central Plains.  By Saturday morning, a fairly strong cold front will rush through the state causing for widespread rain and thunderstorms.  There is even a hint that these storms could be a little strong.  I wouldn't worry too much about tornadoes but it's something we'll focus on as the day approaches.

                    (Hardly any instability on Saturday morning which suggests a lack of severe weather)

Early next week looks more like winter.  Highs will be in the 40s and 50s plus we'll see sunny intervals.  Sorry, snow lovers. There are no signs of snow for the coming weeks.
 

 

Sunday January 22nd Tornadoes

The National Weather Service in Little Rock is still in the process of surveying storm

damage from last week's tornadoes. The purple lines on the graphics below represent approximate 

paths of the tornadoes.

Here are the results so far:

1. TORNADO #1
    STARTING POINT...3.0 MILES WSW OF THORNTON
    ENDING POINT...4.9 MILES SW OF RISON
    PATH LENGTH...19.2 MILES
    RATING...EF2...WINDS OF 111-135 MPH
    COUNTIES AFFECTED...CALHOUN...DALLAS...CLEVELAND
    REMARKS...

    IN CALHOUN COUNTY...DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY LIMITED TO TIMBER.

    IN DALLAS COUNTY...THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO HOUSES
    NORTHWEST OF FORDYCE...THE COUNTRY CLUB...AND A SET OF
    TRANSMISSION TOWERS.

    IN CLEVELAND COUNTY...THERE WAS MOSTLY DAMAGE TO TIMBER.
    HOWEVER...A CHURCH BUILT IN 1852 IN NORTH KINGSLAND WAS
    DESTROYED.

2. TORNADO #2
    STARTING POINT...SWEDEN /JEFFERSON COUNTY/
    ENDING POINT...3.45 MILES NE OF LODGE CORNER
    PATH LENGTH...16.9 MILES
    RATING...EF2...WINDS OF 111-135 MPH
    COUNTIES AFFECTED...JEFFERSON...ARKANSAS
    REMARKS...

    IN JEFFERSON COUNTY...NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN. GRAIN
    BINS WERE DESTROYED...AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO METAL BUILDINGS
    AND OVERTURNED FARM MACHINERY.

    IN ARKANSAS COUNTY...NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN...AND TWO
    MOBILE HOMES WERE DAMAGED.

3. TORNADO #3
    STARTING POINT...5.5 MILES WNW OF DEWITT
    ENDING POINT...NEAR CROCKETTS BLUFF
    PATH LENGTH...14.4 MILES
    RATING...EF2...WINDS OF 111-135 MPH
    COUNTIES AFFECTED...ARKANSAS

    FOUR STEEL TRANSMISSION TOWERS WERE BLOWN DOWN...AND THERE WAS
    DAMAGE TO A FEW FARM OUTBUILDINGS. NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN
    DOWN...AND A TRAVEL TRAILER WAS BLOWN OVER. AN ELEVATOR WAS
    BLOWN OFF OF GRAIN BINS.

4. TORNADO #4
    STARTING POINT...8.2 MILES S OF DEWITT
    ENDING POINT...3 MILES SE OF DEWITT
    PATH LENGTH...9.4 MILES
    RATING...EF1...WIND OF 86-110 MPH
    COUNTY AFFECTED...ARKANSAS

    TREES...POWER LINES AND POWER POLES WERE BLOWN DOWN. SEVERAL
    CARPORTS AND SHEDS WERE BLOWN AWAY. A LARGE LIMB FELL ON THE CAB
    OF A PICKUP TRUCK. A HOUSE HAD THE WINDOWS BLOWN OUT AND PIECES
    OF WOOD WEDGED INTO THE SIDING. A MOBILE HOME WAS ROLLED OVER
    AND DESTROYED...WITH ITS CONTENTS BLOWN INTO A NEARBY FIELD. A
    METAL BUILDING WAS DESTROYED...AND THE WALL OF ANOTHER ONE WAS
    PUSHED IN. THE ROOF WAS BLOWN OFF OF A TRACTOR SHED.

5. TORNADO #5
    STARTING POINT...4 MILES S OF RAGTOWN
    ENDING POINT...3.2 MILES E OF RAGTOWN /WFO LZK CWA/
    PATH LENGTH...5.8 MILES
    RATING...EF1...WIND OF 86-110 MPH
    COUNTY AFFECTED...MONROE

    TREES AND POWER POLES WERE BLOWN DOWN. AN IRRIGATION PIVOT WAS
    FLIPPED OVER. A LARGE STORAGE SHED WAS TOSSED OVER A FARM
    BUILDING.

    THE SURVEY TEAM NOTED THAT THIS TORNADO CONTINUED TO TRACK INTO
    PHILLIPS COUNTY AR...WHICH IS COVERED BY THE NWS OFFICE IN
    MEMPHIS TN. THAT PORTION OF THE TORNADO TRACK WILL BE SURVEYED BY
    THE MEMPHIS OFFICE IN THE COMING DAYS.

Rainy Wednesday and Thursday

Showers will continue throughout the day and into tonight and early Thursday. The heaviest rains will continue mainly for West Central and Northwest Arkansas, where some spots have received over 3 inches of rain since Tuesday night. Additional rainfall will bring storm totals to over an inch across much of Central Arkansas, with over 4 possible in some spots across Western and Northwest Arkansas. The below map shows a computer model projection of total rainfall through 6 PM Thursday.

Severe weather will not be a factor today or tonight with low pressure moving South of the State through Northern Louisiana. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted a SLIGHT risk area for much of Louisiana, and including only very extreme Southeast Arkansas.

Forecast for Jan 22-23 Severe Weather Outbreak Timeline

A major outbreak of severe weather the night of January 22nd into the morning of January 23rd spawned numerous tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and hail. The storms damaged numerous homes across the South, and 2 people in Alabama were killed. The severe weather setup was identified days in advance, with forecasts becoming more urgent and specific leading up to the event. Below is a timeline of the forecasts, watches and warnings indicating dangerous weather was on the way, but according the lead story on ABC News Monday evening, the following events might as well have never happened. Here is a clip from ABC world news, in which the story says the tornadoes were a "surprise" and struck with "no warning"

Here is what actually happened:

1:30 PM Friday January 20th - The Storm Prediction Center in Norman Oklahoma issues an updated severe weather outlook for Sunday into Sunday night. A large portion of the South is upgraded to a SLIGHT risk for severe storms. Meteorologists, some of which of have already been discussing the possibility for severe weather a couple days prior, communicate the possibility of strong storms. 

11:30 AM Saturday January 21st - The Storm Prediction Center indicates the possibility of a large scale severe weather outbreak with the likelihood of tornadoes, some of which could be strong. The percentage chance of severe weather within 25 miles of a given point is increased to 30% within the red area. The black outline indicates an enhanced threat of significant severe weather, including EF2+ intensity tornadoes. Local TV meteorologists actively discuss the possibility of a tornado outbreak in this region on TV, radio and Internet. Storm spotters plan to activate for Sunday evening into Monday morning.

11:58 PM Saturday January 21st - The Storm Prediction Center upgrades parts of the Mid-South to a MODERATE risk, highlighting a higher confidence in a severe weather scenario.

Parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee are included in a significant risk area for tornadoes. The red area below indicates a 15% chance of a tornado within 25 miles of a given point. The black outline covering much of that same area indicates an enhanced threat of strong tornadoes (EF2+)

Local TV stations, Emergency management officials, and storm spotters plan for an active evening with a potential tornado outbreak.

3:58 AM Sunday January 22nd - Storm Prediction Center issues a public outlook communicating threat of a major severe weather outbreak including the possibility of tornadoes. Here is an excerpt from the bulletin:

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE
   DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES...WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS...AND HAIL OVER
   PARTS OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI...LOWER OHIO...AND TENNESSEE VALLEYS
   LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY MONDAY.
   
   THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE
   
          NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA
          EASTERN AND SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
          SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
          SOUTHERN INDIANA
          WESTERN AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY
          SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI
          NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI
          WESTERN AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE

10:28 AM Sunday January 22nd - The Storm Prediction Center updates the severe weather outlook and expands the enhanced tornado risk to include more of Arkansas and Northern Alabama

5:20 PM Sunday January 22nd - A Tornado Watch is issued for parts of Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi. This is designated as a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado watch with a 90% of 2 or more tornadoes within the watch area and a 60% of at least 1 EF2+ tornado. Local TV stations put a crawl over programming to let viewers know about the watch. Watch information is also distributed via media web sites, radio and social media including Facebook and Twitter. Storm spotters are active and positioning themselves ahead of the storms.

6:35 PM Sunday - National Weather Service Little Rock issues first of 12 tornado warnings. Local TV Stations begin on air coverage. Warning information is also distributed via NOAA Weather Radio, internet, mobile phone text alerts and social media. Storm spotters intercept storms reporting back information to the NWS and local media

7:03 PM Sunday - NWS Little Rock issues tornado warning that includes Fordyce, AR indicating a possible tornado. Below is the warning text.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LITTLE ROCK HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN OUACHITA COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN DALLAS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...
  SOUTHWESTERN CLEVELAND COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS...
  NORTHERN CALHOUN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 730 PM CST

* AT 659 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO.  THIS SEVERE
  STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF HIGHLAND INDSTRL PK...OR 12
  MILES NORTHEAST OF CAMDEN. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS SEVERE STORM
  MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH. IN ADDITION TO THE TORNADO...THIS STORM
  IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE DAMAGING HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE.

* LOCATIONS IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM INCLUDE...
  FORDYCE...            TRI COUNTY LAKE...    TIPTON...
  THORNTON...           HARLOW...             ELLISVILLE...
  BEARDEN...            RAMSEY...             NEW EDINBURG...
  MILLVILLE...          IVAN...               HOPEVILLE...
  HOLLY SPRINGS...      HARMONY GROVE...      EAGLE MILLS...
  CHAMBERSVILLE...      AMY...                VELIE...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW. MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS

7:26 PM Sunday  FIRST verified tornado report of the night. Tornado reported near Fordyce, AR with homes damaged. NO INJURIES reported. Tornado later rated as EF2

7:30 PM Sunday. Tornado Watch issued for parts of MO, KY, IL and IN. SPC indicates 70% of at least 10 severe wind events, with a 50% of winds exceeding hurricane force in at least one instance.

8:11 PM Sunday - National Weather Service in Memphis issues first of 13 tornado warnings

10:37 PM Sunday - National Weather Service in Paducah issues first of 3 tornado warnings. This is in addition to 17 severe thunderstorm warnings mainly for damaging straight line winds. 

11:00 PM Sunday - Storm Prediction Center issues a Tornado Watch covering large areas of Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama, including the Birmingham area through 6 AM Monday morning

11:54 PM Sunday - NWS Jackson issues first of 9 tornado warnings

Approx 12 AM Monday January 23rd - Birmingham TV stations begin special coverage of storms approaching

2:09 AM Monday - NWS Birmingham issues first of 16 tornado warnings

2:31 AM Monday - NWS Birmingham issues Tornado Warning including Tuscaloosa County

2:40 AM Monday - FIRST tornado report in Alabama from Tuscaloosa County

3:02 AM Monday - NWS Birmingham issues 3rd tornado warning, this one including Jefferson County in Alabama. This warning is communicated on TV, radio, Internet and NOAA weather radio. Note the warning includes the community of Oak Grove, which is later hit by a tornado.

* AT 257 AM CST...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAS TRACKING A
  CONFIRMED TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...OR
  11 MILES NORTH OF HOLT. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING
  EAST AT 45 MPH. SEVERAL REPORTS OF DAMAGE HAVE BEEN
REPORTED...THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION!

 * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  FAIRFIELD...BIRMINGHAM...BANKHEAD LOCK AND DAM...BULL CITY...OAK
  GROVE...SYLVAN SPRINGS...WEST JEFFERSON...QUINTON...MAYTOWN AND
  MULGA.

3:26 AM Monday - Community of Oak Grove hit by tornado, where 1 person is killed

3:32 AM Monday - NWS Birmingham issues 6th tornado warning for storm with possible tornado and history of producing damage on the West of Birmingham. This is the same storm that produced the tornado in Oak Grove. The warning includes the Birmingham area and the communities of Fultondale, Clay, Trussville and Center Point through 4:30 AM

* AT 326 AM CST...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PUBLIC HAVE REPORTED
DAMAGE FROM A POSSIBLE TORNADO. THIS THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR
OAK GROVE...OR 9 MILES NORTHWEST OF HUEYTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  BIRMINGHAM...FULTONDALE...GARDENDALE...IRONDALE...
  PINSON-CLAY-CHALKVILLE...LEEDS...TRUSSVILLE...MOODY...SPRINGVILLE
  AND ODENVILLE.

THIS INCLUDES...
INTERSTATE 65 EXIT NUMBERS 260 THROUGH 275...
INTERSTATE 459 EXIT NUMBERS 27 THROUGH 33...
US 78 EXIT NUMBER 91...
INTERSTATE 20 EXIT NUMBERS 120 THROUGH 156...
INTERSTATE 59 EXIT NUMBERS 130 THROUGH 156...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE AND CONFIRM AT NIGHT. TAKE COVER NOW.

3:54 AM Monday - Tornado reported near Fultondale, Al

4:10 AM Monday - EF3 Tornado hits Clay and Center Point Alabama- NEARLY 40 MINUTES AFTER WARNING IS ISSUED

4:15 AM Monday - NWS Birmingham issues TORNADO EMERGENCY after confirmed report of large tornado

* AT 412 AM CST...STORM SPOTTERS AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
  WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO NEAR CLAY...
  OR NEAR TRUSSVILLE. DOPPLER RADAR SHOWED THIS TORNADO MOVING
  NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

  THIS IS A TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR CLAY...SPRINGVILLE...ARGO...TAKE
COVER NOW.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  SPRINGVILLE...ODENVILLE...MARKTON...RAINBOW CITY...GADSDEN...
  JACKSONVILLE...HOKES BLUFF...MARGARET...BRANCHVILLE AND ASHVILLE.

4 AM - 7 AM Monday -  Tornado reports continue across Alabama

7:42 AM Monday - NWS Birmingham issues last of 16 tornado warnings for the night.

Personally, I would like to thank The Storm Prediction Center, the employees of the local National Weather Service offices, broadcast meteorologists, storm spotters, bloggers and all the support staff across the Southeast and Mid-South regions for their work and dedication leading up to and throughout the event. I am 100 percent convinced that based on all the damage that occurred, the timely warnings and information available to the public prevented numerous injuries and saved lives. I believe at least one national media outlet needs to give credit where credit is due, and apologize to all those it belittled.

Sunday Severe Weather Threat

It certainly doesn't feel like a day with the potential for strong storms with cool temperatures, drizzle and fog, but conditions are coming together for a severe threat for parts of Arkansas. A warm front is quickly advancing into Central Arkansas bringing warm moist Gulf air in advance of an approaching cold front. As this cold front along with a strong upper air disturbance begins to interact with the warmer air, thunderstorms will develop across Central Arkansas. Below is the severe threat from the Storm Prediction Center for tonight. The moderate area represents a considerable threat for severe weather, including damaging winds, hail, and possible tornadoes. This area is mainly East of Pine Bluff, Lonoke, and Searcy. The slight risk area in yellow represents a lower risk category, but some strong storms are still possible.

Below is the time table from our high resolution model showing storm development. Showers will become more widespread after 5 PM, with some storms developing over Central Arkansas by around 7PM

 Storms will quickly intensify during the evening hours as the move East toward Eastern Arkansas

 Storms will shift into Eastern Arkansas by 10 PM with the severe threat ending across Central Arkansas

Storms will push East across the Mississippi River by Midnight with a significant severe threat continuing into Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky

Sunday Cold Front...Severe Potential

SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE:

The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded parts of Eastern Arkansas to a MODERATE risk. A cold front will approach Central Arkansas late this afternoon and early this evening with showers and some thunderstorms developing just ahead of the front. Storms will develop in the 5pm to 7pm time frame. These storms will quickly intensify and some will likely become severe as they move East late in the evening. Strong damaging winds, hail, and the threat of a tornado will exist with the storms. The greatest risk for severe weather for Eastern sections of the State will be from 7PM to 10PM, after which the severe threat will shift mainly East of the Mississippi River. Now is the time to plan for the possibility for severe weather, especially in the area in the Moderate Risk area.

Parts of the region will likely face the first potential widespread severe weather outbreak of the season late Sunday into Monday morning. A fast moving cold front will quickly move into Arkansas Sunday afternoon. Warmer temperatures and Gulf Moisture will surge Northward ahead of the front, however, there will be very limited time for the warm moist air to reach Central Arkansas before the front sweeps through. Storms will continue to increase ahead of the front as it moves East across the Mississippi River with possible widespread severe weather. Below is the outlook for severe weather from the Storm Prediction Center Sunday into Sunday Night.

The cold front will approach Central Arkansas late Sunday afternoon with scattered showers developing along and ahead of the front. The marginal return of warm, unstable air will hinder storm development through the early evening hours. Below is our computer forecast for 6 PM on Sunday showing the cold front approaching the Little Rock area with showers and possibly a few developing thunderstorms.

The front will quickly race through Central Arkansas toward the Mississippi River later in the evening. As warm, humid air is transported North by a strong low level jet stream, storms will quickly intensify.

The cold front will also be accompanied by a fairly strong upper level disturbance, which will aid to increase wind shear over the mid-Mississippi Valley region. Combined with the strong low level jet and increasingly warm and moisture rich air at the surface, this will lead to a substantial tornado threat including the risk for strong tornadoes (EF2+ Intensity) The shaded area below shows the greatest risk for severe weather, including tornadoes for Sunday night and Monday morning

Notice this includes parts of Eastern Arkansas, however the front should completely clear the State by 10 PM, which will end the severe threat for Arkansas. Parts of Northern Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama could face a very damaging wind and tornado outbreak overnight Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center may upgrade parts of the shaded blue area into a moderate risk.

Big Temperaure Contrast, Foggy Night

A front stalled across Central Arkansas Friday created a huge temperature contrast with warm Spring like temperatures over the Southern half of the State, with cold January temperatures across the North. Highs reached the 70s as far North as Arkadelphia and Pine Bluff, while temperatures North of Little Rock stayed in the 40s. These are high temperatures for Friday as of 7 PM

Dense fog developed on the North side of the front during the evening hours, with visibilities dropping down below one eighth of a mile visibility at times. Below are visibilities across Central Arkansas as of 730 PM.

 

 The National Weather Service in Little Rock has issued a Dense Fog Advisory until Midnight Saturday morning for parts of Central and North Central Arkansas. As the front begins to push South late tonight, visibilities will be begin to improve

 As the frontal boundary slides South early Saturday, cooler temperatures will return to the Southern half of the State by sunrise Saturday. Clouds will diminish late Saturday with some sunshine by the afternoon.

O Winter, Where Art Thou?

                                                  (Today's high temperatures across Arkansas)

We're heading into the latter half of January and many of us are still saying "where is winter?".  I mean when you look back on the last months, we've had our moments of cold weather.  We just went through a brief cold spell last week and have another blast of cold air ready to come in by this Wednesday...but these bursts of the winter chill are very short lived.

So what gives?  Well, the reason lies in our upper air flow and the La Nina influence.  Generally speaking, our upper air flow has not been favorable for the cold weather.  If you want to know more about this subject just check out some of our older posts on the blog.

Overall this January will probably go down as a mild one but were not done with the month just yet.  So are there hints that the weather will make a turn for the colder stuff?

                                              (Climate Prediction Center shows the rest of January being very mild)


At this point, I'd have to say NO to that question.  In fact, we're expected to stay above normal for the second half of the month.  The Climate Prediction Center or CPC seems to be on board with this idea and the Arctic Oscillation is suggesting the same outcome.

Overall we may not deal with the big winter chill during January but the season is not over yet.  We still have to get through February - typically the snowiest month of the year.

Arctic Air Heading This Way

                             (24 hour temperature change across the nation. Notice the cold outbreak in the Dakotas)

When you think about it, this winter in Arkansas has been fairly mild.  In fact, in this January we've gone through several stretches where temperatures have been above 60 degrees.  Well, this whole mild feeling is about to come to abrupt end real soon.

A strong arctic high pressure system is moving in from the northern suburbs of Canada and setting up shop in the middle of the country.  Just out ahead of the high pressure system is the cold front that will alter our weather pattern for the next few days.

Initially as the cold front sweeps through late this evening there will be a brief period of snow that will fall in Missouri and the northern tip of Arkansas.  Accumulations at this hour look extremely low and on the range of an inch or less.

 

         (FOX 16 Snowfall model shows barely less than inch of snow in Northern Arkansas early Thursday morning.)

                                               (High resolution model showing sustained winds at 20mph tomorrow)

Once the front sweeps through late tonight and the arctic air floods the state tomorrow morning, our temperatures are going to nose dive.  What makes this cold punch unique from the other ones we've experience this winter season are the winds.  Unlike the last cold plunges, we've hardly felt a single gust outside when we've dropped down to freezing, but now with this pressure setup were looking at wind gusts approaching 30-35 mph tomorrow.  When you factor the wind and temperatures on Thursday, were looking at it feeling like the 20's outside...all day long.

Needless to say, were about to go through a cold patch real soon.  Even though that doesn't sound too pleasing, our weather will improve as we approach the upcoming weekend.  Thanks to a southwest wind and a fair amount of sunshine ahead were looking at a nice rebound by time we reach Saturday.