A rather low-impact weather day is forecast for most of the country today. The storm system that brought blizzard conditions to the Plains has weakened and is rapidly moving through the eastern half of the country bringing areas of rain to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, western Alaska has been experiencing blizzard conditions as a storm churns in the Bering Sea, but conditions will steadily improve today.

The same storm system that brought blizzard conditions to portions of the Central Plains will weaken while moving into the eastern U.S. this evening. The strong winds and heavy snow will gradually diminish, but showers and strong thunderstorms will continue to move across the southeastern U.S. tonight. Rain may be moderate to heavy at times. In the meantime, temperatures should be cold enough to support light snow in the higher elevations of the central Appalachians tonight and Sunday.

Widespread moderate to heavy rain is possible this afternoon across the Lower Mississippi River Valley as a cold front tracks across the region. The combination of abundant moisture and slow-moving precipitation will lead to rainfall amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible. The heavy rainfall over already saturated soils may contribute to flash flooding. Remember: Turn Around Don't Drown.

Very heavy snow will continue through Saturday afternoon across the Central Plains. The greatest accumulations of 1 to 2 feet will be found from northeast Colorado into southern Nebraska and northwest Kansas. Relatively lighter snowfall amounts will fall over central Kansas and western Iowa. Northerly winds of 15-25 mph with gust over 40 mph will create blizzard conditions over portions of northeast Colorado into southwest Nebraska. Travel will be impossible and extremely dangerous in this region.

Heavy snow is possible today across parts of the central Plains and central High Plains, with 1 to 2 feet of snow expected in the Denver area. Blizzard Warnings are in effect for the central High Plains. Meanwhile, severe weather is possible across parts of the Southern Plains today.

Blizzard Warnings are in effect for northeast Colorado, northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska as a winter storm continues to strengthen. Snow will rapidly develop across the Plains later tonight and become widespread on Friday. This storm will be slow moving, so a prolonged period of moderate to heavy snow will persist into early Saturday morning. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour coupled with wind gusts up to 50 mph will create blizzard and life-threatening weather conditions across the region.

What will become a large storm system over the central and southern Rockies is currently organizing out west and will bring heavy snow with strong winds, severe weather and heavy rain to parts of the central U.S. over the next couple of days.

A Pacific system is forecast to bring a significant winter storm to the central Rockies and adjacent Great Plains from Thursday through Saturday. Heavy snowfall (locally in excess of one foot) is possible across eastern Colorado, southeast Wyoming, northwest Kansas, and Nebraska. Strong winds will accompany the snow, leading to reduced visibilities under one half mile at times. Near blizzard and impossible travel conditions may develop across the region. Be prepared before the storm arrives.

Unsettled conditions are expected across portions of northern New England today, with wintry precipitation occurring to the north of a warm front. Snow and freezing rain will end in northern Maine this evening. Meanwhile, early February warmth is in store for much of the eastern third of the U.S., with temperatures as much as 15-25 degrees above normal for some locations.

Heavy snow will continue in the high terrain of northwest Washington as a cold front sweeps across the region. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 20 inches are expected in the northern Cascades above 3,000 feet by Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, 6 to 11 inches are possible in the Olympics. Winter weather will make travel difficult in the passes at times. Meanwhile, rain is expected in the lower elevations, including the Seattle and Olympia metro areas.

Heavy snow is forecast tonight for northern Maine, where a Winter Storm Watch is in effect. A total of 8 to 10 inches of snow is forecast. To the south a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected, with all rain over the rest of New England. The storm is expected to depart Wednesday evening.

A strong area of high pressure to the northeast of the Hawaiian Islands is bringing windy conditions and high surf to the islands. Waves reaching up to 35 feet in height are possible in some areas. Wave activity will peak overnight tonight, and then subside over the next couple of days. The public is being urged to stay away from the shoreline until the dangerous conditions have ended.

Scattered snow showers with minor additional accumulations will quickly depart the Northeast this morning as an upper level disturbance moves over the region, while in the Great Lakes mostly light snow will track from west to east ahead of a warm front today. Otherwise, a relatively quiet pattern is in place across much of the U.S., with no major storms to speak of through mid-week.

High Wind Warnings are in effect for portions of northwestern Montana through at least tonight. Sustained wind speeds of 35 to 45 mph, with gusts as high as 75mph, are likely. In the higher terrain of the northern Rockies, wind gusts may reach 95 mph.

While much of the country enjoys warm and tranquil weather, bitterly cold temperatures settled into northern Alaska bringing dangerous wind chill values of 50 to 75 degrees below zero. Meanwhile, strong Santa Ana winds continued over southern California although not as strong as Friday. Strong winds were also common over portions of Montana and Wyoming where High Wind Watches and Warnings were posted. High pressure and pleasant weather remained the main focus from the Great Lakes to the East Coast.

A strong Santa Ana wind event is expected across southern California through Saturday afternoon. The strongest winds will occur across the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties with wind gusts between 60 and 70 MPH. Winds across Southern California are expected to peak Saturday morning. Low relative humidity, combined with the strong gusty winds, will lead to hazardous fire weather conditions. High Wind Warnings and Red Flag Warnings are in effect.

Wild fire concerns are high in southern California where strong Santa Ana winds are expected over the next couple of days. Beginning Friday morning, these winds have the potential to knock down trees and power lines, rapidly spread fires, and create hazardous driving conditions. Wind gusts could easily reach 60 mph Friday night into Saturday.

The system that brought severe weather to the deep south earlier this week is now shifting to the east. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Watches are in effect for portions of the southeastern U.S. tonight.

Damaging wind and tornadoes, along with flash flooding impacted the southern Great Plains and lower Mississippi Valley today and is expected to continue to move across the Deep South tomorrow.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms today from Eastern Texas into parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Flooding will be a concern in the Pacific Northwest over the next couple of days as more rain and snow impact the area. Strong winds will also accompany this system, which is expected to move through the northwest Wednesday into Thursday. Strong winds may make driving hazardous for high profile vehicles. Blowing and drifting snow in the higher elevations will also result in treacherous travel conditions.

A large geomagnetic storm (a type of solar storm) — the largest such storm since October 2003 — is currently underway. The storm remains at S3 (strong) levels but has dropped below its peak and will continue to slowly decrease throughout the day. Impacts so far include some airlines avoiding polar routes and reports of flights at high latitudes flying at lower than usual altitudes.

Several damage surveys were completed today in the wake of a tornado outbreak in Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama last night. Most of the damage surveyed so far has been rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, indicating considerable damage with wind speeds reaching between 111 and 135 mph. However, the tornado that passed through Clay, Alabama, which is just north of Birmingham has been rated an EF-3. This tornado produced significant damage and was capable of wind speeds between 136 and 165 mph. National Weather Service officials will continue to conduct damage surveys throughout the affected region tomorrow. This wintertime outbreak shows it is important to be prepared for tornado safety at all times of the year. Are you ready

Geomagnetic storms (a type of solar storm) occur when a mass of energy is ejected from the sun and hits earth’s magnetic field. These storms are rated from G1 to G5 with G5 being the strongest. Tomorrow’s storm is forecast to reach G2 in strength with isolated G3 strength in the higher latitudes. A G3 storm could potentially cause some disruptions to the power grid, however, information about this well forecast event has been disseminated to power companies, which are able to reroute the grids to accommodate any energy surges that may occur as a result of a solar storm.

The NWS Storm Prediction Center is forecasting the development of tornadoes, widespread damaging winds and hail over parts of the Mississippi Valley, Lower Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley through early Monday. Eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi and western Tennessee could potentially see strong tornadoes. The storms will be especially dangerous since they will occur after dark.

Quelle: NOAA

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of central and eastern Oklahoma southward through much of central Texas.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms late today and tonight across parts of the southern High Plains into the central Plains. Yesterday, over 40 reports of severe weather were received including one tornado near Marvell (Phillips County), Arkansas. Wind and hail reports were primarily from northern Mississippi, Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from South Carolina to the Delmarva. Yesterday, two tornadoes were reported, one in Mississippi and one in Louisiana.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across much of the Gulf States. Yesterday, over 60 reports of severe weather were reported including five tornadoes in Texas and two tornadoes in Louisiana. One injury was reported near Hineston, Louisiana from a tree falling on a vehicle by the Rapides Parish Sheriff.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of central and east Texas, Louisiana, and far southwest Mississippi.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from parts of west-central Texas to the middle Texas Coast. Yesterday, two tornadoes were reported in Alabama. Near Clanton (Chilton County), a tornado destroyed a radio studio and toppled a 302 foot transmission tower. One person was injured by a tornado near Greenville (Butler County), Alabama.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of northern Georgia and eastern and central Alabama. Yesterday, over 170 reports of severe weather were received including 21 tornadoes from Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. Numerous reports of trees down and buildings damaged from high winds were reported from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee and northern Mississippi. Severe weather is also possible across parts of the lower to middle Mississippi Valley and the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. A regional severe weather event is likely to occur across parts of the lower to middle Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee Valley Sunday evening. Yesterday, over 40 reports of severe weather were received from Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina. Near Altman (Screven County), Georgia, one person was injured when they became trapped after a tree fell on a mobile home.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today over parts of the deep South and Southeast.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across portions of Mississippi and Alabama.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from southeastern Arkansas and eastern Louisiana into Mississippi, Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle. Yesterday, law enforcement witnessed the touch down of a tornado near the Mall of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas. Windows were blown out of vehicles in the parking lot and the roof of the mall was damaged.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from southeastern Georgia, through portions of the Carolinas into southestern Virginia.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of the lower Mississippi Valley and deep south. Yesterday, a possible tornado was reported in Alabama with no injuries or significant damage reported. Numerous reports of wind damage were received across parts of Connecticut and Rhode Island where trees and power lines were reported down.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across central and east Texas.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from central northeastern Texas into far southeastern Oklahoma.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today over the lower Mississippi Valley.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from the Gulf coastal states northeastward into the Tennessee and lower Ohio Valleys.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across Texas and southern Oklahoma eastward into central Arkansas.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon into early tonight across north central and northeastern Texas into central Arkansas.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of the Gulf Coast States and into the Lower Mid-Atlantic. Yesterday, seven reports of severe weather were received including four tornadoes with two each in Louisiana and Mississippi.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across southeast Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Yesterday over 80 reports of severe weather were received including one tornado in Mahomet (Champaign County), Illinois which damaged a house and downed several trees. Wind and hail reports were primarily over the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Mississippi Valley and across parts of of southern Texas.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across the Lower Mississippi Valley, east Texas, and eastern Oklahoma.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today across across the Southern and Central Plains.

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today from central Oklahoma into north central Texas.

Quelle: NOAA

The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year: 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5 winds of 111 mph or higher).Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

With a total of 19 named storms, 12 hurricanes and five major hurricanes, the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the busiest on record - as NOAA forecasters had predicted. Fortunately, nearly all of those storms avoided the U.S. coastline

The Atlantic Basin remains on track for an active hurricane season, according to the scheduled seasonal outlook update issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. With the season’s peak just around the corner – late August through October – the need for preparedness plans is essential.

History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. Hurricane Preparedness Week during 2010 will be held May 23rd through May 29th.

A non-tropical low pressure system centered about 500 miles south-southwest of Bermuda is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean along with gale-force winds. This low is expected to move slowly toward the north-northwest and has some potential to gradually acquire subtropical or tropical characteristics during the next couple of days. There is a medium chance, 30 percent, of this system becoming a subtropical or tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended Monday, marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Niño.

NOAA forecasters say a near-normal Atlantic hurricane season is most likely this year. However, as with any season, the need to prepare for the possibility of a storm striking near you is essential. Forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance of having nine to 14 named storms, of which four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).

Today marks the first day of the eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season, which will run until November 30. Long-term annual averages in this area are 15 Tropical Storms and 9 Hurricanes.

NOAA hurricane experts will visit five East Coast cities aboard a NOAA hurricane hunter aircraft to raise awareness about storm threats and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan. The five-day tour begins May 4 with visits to Newington, N.H., Farmingdale, N.Y., Raleigh, N.C., Wilmington, N.C., and Key West, Fla. The public and media are invited to tour the aircraft and speak with the team.

A well-defined extratropical low pressure system centered about 225 miles southeast of the South Carolina-North Carolina border is moving west-northwestward at 5 to 10 MPH. Showers and thunderstorms are gradually becoming better organized and this system could develop into a subtropical or tropical cyclone before the system moves inland along the along the southeastern U.S. coast on Friday. Regardless of whether or not this system becomes a subtropical or tropical cyclone, strong winds, coastal flooding, high surf, and dangerous rip currents will continue along portions of the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. coastal regions during the next couple of days.

NOAA aircraft are conducting aerial damage survey flights along the Texas coast after Hurricane Ike made landfall. The imagery was acquired by the National Geodetic Survey Remote Sensing Division to support NOAA's national security and emergency response requirements. In addition, it will be used for ongoing research efforts for testing and developing standards for airborne digital imagery.

The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center has issued the last advisory on the remnant low that was Ike.

Web Widgets are small pieces of code that can be embedded and used on any other Web page. The widgets allow you to track active Tropical Storms and Hurricanes from your Web page, with content provided by NOAA. The widgets will update as NOAA updates information.

In the August update to the Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has increased the likelihood of an above-normal hurricane season and has raised the total number of named storms and hurricanes that may form.

Satellite imagery and surface observations indicate that a low pressure area has formed in the northern Gulf of Mexico about 150 miles south of Pensacola Florida. Environmental conditions are marginally favorable for additional development and a tropical depression could form during the next day or so as the system moves towards the west. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the area this afternoon. Interests in the northwestern Gulf Of Mexico should monitor the progress of this system.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center today announced that projected climate conditions point to a near normal or above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this year. Hurricane season officially begins in the Atlantic on June 1.

A team of scientists have found that the economic damages from hurricanes have increased in the U.S. over time due to greater population, infrastructure, and wealth on the U.S. coastlines, and not to any spike in the number or intensity of hurricanes.

Quelle: NOAA