Powerful Storm Crossing U.S. This Week

Jerry is both worried and excited by this week's developments:

The shortwave (characterized as "tremendous" in the forecast discussion!) that's coming onshore in California looks like it will develop into a huge snowstorm in our area.

The 500-mb runs look very ominous.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
453 AM EST SUN JAN 30 2011

...POTENT WINTER STORM TO AFFECT THE REGION...

.A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PUSH INTO THE OHIO VALLEY ON TUESDAY...AND SUPPORT DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE AREA. SNOW WILL DEVELOP ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON...EXPANDING IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY TUESDAY EVENING. SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...ENDING BY WEDNESDAY EVENING. SNOW MAY MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN SOUTH OF ROUTE 24...WITH SOME ICING POSSIBLE. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF UP TO 18 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS SYSTEM...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS OF OVER 20 INCHES NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS...WOULD SUPPORT WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...WITH DRIFTS POTENTIALLY REACHING SEVERAL FEET IN SOME LOCATIONS. TRAVEL WILL LIKELY BE DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE IN MANY AREAS...WITH ROAD CLOSURES POSSIBLE. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY REGRADING THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM...AS CURRENT FORECAST SNOW AMOUNTS AND STORM IMPACTS COULD CERTAINLY CHANGE. PERSONS IN THE AREA SHOULD PREPARE FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STORM. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION...ESPECIALLY PERSONS PLANNING TRAVEL IN THE REGION.

Looks like classic trouble!

I was surprised by the strength of the storm as it came into CA. I didn’t expect much rain, so, warnings aside, I proceeded to do some painting outside early Saturday afternoon. Substantial rain overnight washed off a substantial amount of the paint I had applied, which will require a do-over.

I notice that it’s going to get freakin’ cold in NM (or freakin’ cold, relatively speaking, for the SW). It’s almost like it’s winter, or something….