Weather by the Numbers 11/22/10

* 1 tornado (at least) touched down near Rockford, Ill., this afternoon. On the ground for quite some time and lots of damage reported.

* 300 (or more) the estimated number of motor vehicle accidents in Minnesota over the weekend from widespread freezing rain which glazed over streets and highways. (This proves, once again, that driving on ice is a real hazard regardless if you live in the South or Far North)

* 75 injuries reported because of the accidents.

* 83 is the expected high in Orlando Tuesday as we look for a contrast to so much bitter cold over the northern USA.

* 37 inches of snow now on the ground at Breckenridge, Colo. Lots of snow in the West lately. There is also 37 inches on the ground at Brighton, Utah.

* 30 inches on the ground on Wolfe Crees Pass, Colo., where I feared for my life late one night trying to drive over the pass during a blizzard.

* ! degree (yes only one) was the temperature on Berthoud Pass, Colo., this afternoon with visibility only 1/2 mile in snow and winds gusting to 49 mph. Wind chill, 25 below zero.

* 31% of the Lower 48 States has a snow cover this morning. That is amazing for so early in the season. One month ago today, only 2/10th of one percent had snow on the ground.

* 234 inches is the snow depth on Hurricane, Ridge, Wash., at an elevation of 5.384 feet. This is one of those automated snow measuring stations called SNOTEL. Noone lives there but cities in the west depend greatly on winter snow pack for their water supply when melting occurs.

* 254 is how many counties make up the state of Texas. (not exactly weather stuff)

* 3 is how many counties in Delaware (quite a contrast!) Did you know that Florida and Alabama has the same number of counties? (67)

* 74 degrees was the SST (sea surface temperature) 74 land miles south of Dauphin Island this afternoon. In some areas, the water temperature is in the upper 60s. This fits well with the winding down of hurricane season. Tropical storms and hurricanes thrive on 85-degree water and even warmer.

* 8 more days until hurricane season officially ends on November 30.

Category: Hodgepodge