Click image for latest animation
UPDATE: For a high resolution still image of this “beautiful” storm click this link: pacific_nhemi_01-04-08_1430utc.jpg
The Friday storm moving into California is one of the strongest I’ve seen in about five years. The record rainfall for today in Chico, CA was 2.66 inches in 2002. The important thing to remember is this: Weather events like this are not individually attributable to climate change. We’ve had stronger storms before, and this one is about an 9.0 on a winter storm scale of 1-10. That makes this the strongest storm since a 9.0 December 16, 2002 and only the 12th storm of 9.0 or greater since 1950. See the BASI archive http://ggweather.com/basi_archive.htm (h/t Jan Null)
Wind gusts so far have hit 66 mph according to Chico Airport, and 82 mph at Redding. Stronger wind gusts were in mountain passes. Note that hurricane force winds are categorized as being in sustained winds in excess of 74 mph.
To track this storm in real time, see my website at www.KPAY.com and click on the weather link for live doppler radar.
If you want a desktop doppler weather radar application, see my www.stormpredator.com website and download a copy.
This storm will be abating by about 5PM today.
WIND GUSTS REPORTED OVER INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH 10
AM…
SITE WIND GUST TIME
SUGARLOAF RAWS………………78 MPH…………..651 AM
PIKE COUNTY LOOKOUT RAWS……..67 MPH…………..710 AM
SACRAMENTO INT`L AIRPORT……..66 MPH…………..753 AM
MARYSVILLE………………….61 MPH…………..802 AM
SACRAMENTO EXEC AIRPORT………69 MPH…………..825 AM
BLUE CANYON…………………65 MPH…………..828 AM
BEALE AFB…………………..69 MPH…………..828 AM
ELK GROVE…………………..71 MPH…………..838 AM
SUISUN CITY…………………60 MPH…………..838 AM
STOCKTON……………………60 MPH…………..838 AM
REDDING…………………….82 MPH…………..849 AM
CHICO………………………66 MPH…………..855 AM
EAGLE PEAK RAWS……………..65 MPH…………..915 AM
LYONS VALLEY RAWS……………73 MPH…………..917 AM
Again, no love for the rest of the west coast? We’re getting whacked up in Seattle too…
If the weatherfolks in Portland are correct, you’ll break that 2002 record: I saw predictions of 3-4″ from southern Oregon into northern California.
We have a nice sun break right now in Aloha, but the word is to hunker down later.
Does it sound weird to say “God, that thing is beautiful!!!”
We haven’t been hit yet in Fresno, but it should start raining here any time. This si said to be one of the strongest storms to hit the San Joaqin Valley in years. I’ll let you know when I hear someone blame it on Global Warming, (switching channel to CNN) which should happen in 5… 4… 3… 2…
It _is_ a pretty picture, as long as it is there and I am here.
Wonder what its eastward track will look like.
I didn’t notice it until I looked at the big picture (no pun, no fowl) http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/pacific_nhemi_01-04-08_1430utc.jpg
but there appears to be a pretty classic (if smaller) “comma” over the Great Plains.
We really escaped it here in LA. It rained a bit, but not as much as was forecast, and mostly at night.