Cloudy and damp morning

Good Monday morning Augusta -

It is cloudy with areas of fog in the area this morning with highs in the 50's. We will have variable winds. There is a 20% chance of rain today.

Tonight it will be mostly cloudy with areas of fog moving in. Temps will drop to the 30's.

The readings outside right now are:

a relative humidity of 95% with a Dew Point of 45.5ºF.

The temperature is 46.6ºF, with a low wind chill.

The wind velocity is presently between 1.7 mph and 7.0 mph out of the South southwest. The airport in Augusta has recorded a 16 mph wind gust this morning.

Our Barometric pressure is 29.92 and rising.

Yesterday we did not have any measurable precipitation

Visibility is 1.2 miles, is overcast, and the ceiling is down to 200 feet.

Below are 3 bits of winter weather information that may answer questions that you have always wondered about.

*How do blizzards form?

A blizzard is a long-lasting snowstorm with very strong winds and intense snowfall. You need three things to have a blizzard; cold air at the surface, lots of moisture, and lift. Warm air must rise over cold air.

Blizzards can strand cars on highways for hours or even days. When you are traveling during the winter months, be sure to have an emergency car kit in the vehicle with you.

*Why is snow white?

Bright snow blinds us with its gleaming white color because it reflects beams of white light. Instead of absorbing light, snow's complex structure prevents the light from shining through its lattice formation. A beam of white sunlight entering a snow bank is so quickly scattered by a zillion ice crystals and air pockets that most of the light comes bouncing right back out of the snow bank. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed equally over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance. So while many natural objects get their blue, red, and yellow colors from absorbing light, snow is stuck with its white color because it reflects light.

*What are snowflakes?

Snowflakes are made of ice crystals. Each snowflake is six-sided and made of as many as 200 ice crystals. Snowflakes form in clouds where the temperature is below freezing. The ice crystals form around tiny bits of dirt that has been carried up into the atmosphere by the wind. As the snow crystals grow, they become heavier and fall toward the ground.