Another Cold One

Even colder than yesterday morning in some locations, while other areas, mainly on the west side of the state were not quite as cold. There were some marked examples of a temperature inversion, also. See the notes at the end of this report. Here we go…

16 Hamilton (NWS coop observer)
18 Valley Head, Muscadine
19 Jasper, Sylacauga
20 Scrougeout, Ashland, Centreville, Gaylesville, Cullman Agricultural Station
21 Cottondale, Remlap, Owens Crossroads
22 Sycamore, Munford, Vigo, Livingston, Talladega, Ellisville, Hanceville, Russellville
23 Kimberly, Union Grove
24 Moody, Pinson, Decatur, Alexander City, Clanton, Wadley
25 Weaver, Anniston Airport, Scottsboro
26 Nocculala Falls, Vinemont, Concord/Hueytown, Alabaster/Navajo Pines, Troy, Tuscaloosa
27 SW Huntsville, Shelby County Airport, Huntsville Airport, Montgomery, Selma, Muscle Shoals
28 Hayden, Cullman Airport
29 Birmingham Airport
30 Auburn Evergreen
31 Jemison, Dothan
33 Clay
35 Mobile Regional Airport
36 Mount Cheaha (Skycam)

TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS
They can drive us semi-crazy when they occur. Often, we try to sorta split the difference. Last night, for example, we had forecast 26 for Birmingham. It only got down to 29 at the airport but 24 in Pinson. At Clay, 33/40 Skywatcher had only 33. His station is just off Deerfoot Parkway in higher terrain. Clay was 9 degrees warmer than Pinson only several air miles away.

Another example. Did not even get down to freezing atop Alabama’s highest point with a low of 36 atop Mt. Cheaha. But not far away, and down in the valley, it was 22 in Munford with a very heavy frost and 18 at Muscadine. (14 and 18 degrees difference!)

USA EXTREMES
69 yesterday at Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Harlingen, Texas
19 below zero this morning at Whitefield, New Hampshire and 36 below at Bettles and Nuiqsut, Alaska.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTANS + WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
6 above zero atop Mt. Leconte with 3 inches of snow still on the ground
19 in Gatlinburg
18 Cades Cove
8 above Beech Mountain, N.C., 3 inches of snow
8 Banner Elk, N.C.
7 Mt. Mitchell, N.C.

THE HEAVILY SNOW COVERED NORTHEAST
12 below zero Saranac Lake, N.Y.
2 below Caribou, Maine with 22 inches of snow on the ground
14 below Mount Washington, N.H., with 12 inches of snow

CHECKING ON MOUNT WASHINGTON
Always interesting to check on that peak in New Hampshire, home of the world’s worst weather (at least where there are people and weather instruments.) At mid-day it was 3 above zero, visibility only 1/16th of a mile (zero for all practical purposes) Wind NW 66 mph in gusts, wind chill minus 27. Weather is a lot “calmer” that yesterday when gusts were over 100 most of the day.

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