Today's weather and "Blizzard" defined

Good morning Augusta.

This morning it is partly cloudy, then clear. High of 9F with a windchill as low as -13F. Breezy. Winds from the NW at 15 to 20 mph.

Tonight it will be clear in the evening, then partly cloudy. Low of -11F. Winds from the WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

The readings from my own weather instruments are:

The humidity is 59% with a dew point of -7.9ºF, Temperature is 3.2ºF and a wind chill of -9.0ºF

Our wind direction is West Southwest between 6.3 MPH and  8.3 MPH. 

The Barometric pressure is 29.87 HPA 1011.5 and rising with a weather graphic indicating clouds. 

The UV rating is 0 out of 16, Sunrise is at 6:41 a.m. sunset is 5:04 PM and Moon Rise is 1:45 a.m. and the moon phase is in its last quarter. 

For the pilots out there Raw Metar is:

METAR KAUG 131153Z AUTO 31009G18KT 10SM CLR M16/M23 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP096 T11611233 11150 21172 53

Visibility is 10.0 miles/16.1 Kilometers with clear conditions so far.

We have had no additional snow in the past 24 hours.Since we’re under a blizzard watch for the day, I thought a brief trip to weather.com to get the definition of blizzard conditions for us would be in order. Remember folks, this is from the “experts” so read carefully.

Blizzards

Blizzards are characterized by low temperatures (usually below 20°F) and accompanied by winds that are at least 35 mph or greater, there must also be sufficient falling and/or blowing snow in the air that will frequently reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less for a duration of at least 3 hours.

A severe blizzard is considered to have temperatures near or below 10°F, winds exceeding 45 mph, and visibility reduced by snow to near zero.

Blizzard conditions often develop on the northwest side of an intense storm system The difference between the lower pressure in the storm and the higher pressure to the west creates a tight pressure gradient, which in turn results in very strong winds.

These winds combine with snow and blowing snow to produce extreme conditions. Storm systems powerful enough to cause blizzards usually form when the jet stream dips far to the south, allowing cold air from the north to clash with warm air from the south.

With the colder and drier polar air comes atmospheric temperatures cold enough for the development of snow, sleet, or freezing rain.

The Dakotas and parts of Minnesota were pounded by a succession of blizzards in the winter of 1996-1997. With few trees or other obstructions to reduce wind and blowing snow, this part of the country is particularly vulnerable to blizzards.

A continuation of the broad central plains that run from the Gulf of Mexico into Canada, this area often experiences severe blizzard conditions, with wind chills of 40°F below or more and whiteout conditions.

Another scenario occurs when a cold core low over the Hudson Bay area is displaced southward over southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes, and New England. As rapidly moving short waves, or areas of upward vertical motion and energy, move around the low, they collide with warmer air coming north from the Gulf of Mexico. This produces strong surface winds, lots of cold air advection, and extensive wintry precipitation.

In the southern central Great Plains, rapidly intensifying low pressure systems moving out of the Rocky Mountains can cause heavy snows and strong winds to the north, while to the south and east are thunderstorms and rain.

When cold, moist air from the Pacific Ocean makes it over the Rockies and into the Plains and warmer, moist air moves north from the Gulf of Mexico, all that is needed is a cold closed low aloft and a strong polar jet for potential blizzard conditions that may extend from the panhandle of Texas to the Great Lakes.