None Event - Severe Weather Threat

It could have been worse this past Thursday Midday thru Friday Morning in Georgia and Alabama 1/26-1/27/2012.

I may be guilty of an overly aggressive posture dealing with this recent threat but, if I hadn't and things went the way it was forecast, many might not have taken necessary precautions. I'll file this as a learning experience.

I knew as local meteorologist said, most severe storms would be along the gulf coast. What we didn't know was the amount of severe weather, if any, would impact the local area. As it turns out, no severe weather threatened the local area. The saving grace was atmospheric stabilization to our west. Had this not happened, it could have been as predicted locally.

There was severe weather to our west and south. It just didn't make it here.

I'm glad that severe weather was nil in the area. It could have been worse and, according to the Government meteorologist, it was supposed to be. I think they should release more frequent forecast and updates to the public during an ongoing possible severe weather event [ maybe they do and I haven't found it ]. It would save a lot of confusion and worry; after all, local mets dont break in unless severe weather is imminent to update a person. Maybe I was gun shy after having severe weather hit the local area with less mention of severe potential from the government pro's. Either way, glad I was wrong.

Not sure what this is about; see Update 2 - Severe Weather Threat Thursday / Friday - Georgia / Alabama 1/26-1/27/2012 and Severe Weather Threat Thursday / Friday - Georgia / Alabama 1/26-1/27/2012

Update 2 - Severe Weather Threat Thursday / Friday - Georgia / Alabama 1/26-1/27/2012

Storm Prediction Center RAISES SEVERE PROBABILITIES ACROSS THE BOARD Georgia,Alabama Severe Threat

Update #2 - 8:45 AM EST 1/26/12

Slight Risk area now covers much of the Southeast.

Tornado Probability : The local area is now at a 5% risk of a Tornado from 2% earlier [Scroll down for previous graphic in Update #1]

Wind Probability : The local area remains at a 15% risk of Damaging Winds with the 30% Risk [not instated earlier] now at the Alabama Georgia State line.

Hail Probability : Hail coverage area extended, still to our west. Local area still excluded.

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Update #1 - 5:15 AM EST 1/26/12

Threat remains for Damaging Straigtline Winds and isolated Tornadoes in the local area, East Central Alabama, West Central Georgia.

The Storm Prediction Center continues with the Slight Risk for strong thunderstorms across the area. There is also an area in South Alabama encroaching on central Alabama for the greatest threat for Tornadoes with a 5% probability extending south and west covering the Florida Panhandle and Southeast Mississippi. A 2% probability of a Tornado covers the remainder of our area extending over most of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida Panhandle and Southwest South Carolina.

As mentioned, the biggest threat will be from Damaging Straightline Winds occurring with the Squall Line as it pushes east. All of the Columbus local area and Phenix City area is now included in a 15% probability of seeing these damaging winds. The 15% also covers most of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle. At this time the threat of Hail is 5% and is contained to our West covering Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle.

From the Storm Prediction Center:

LATEST THINKING IS RENEWED FRONTAL CONVECTION IN THE FORM OF A SQUALL LINE WILL EVOLVE OVER MS/SERN LA BEFORE PROPAGATING DOWNSTREAM ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE GULF STATES AHEAD OF PROGRESSIVE COLD FRONT. STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR CERTAINLY SUPPORTS DAMAGING WINDS AND PERHAPS EVEN TORNADOES WITH DISCRETE SUPERCELLS. OTHERWISE...AIRMASS IS NOT EXPECTED TO DESTABILIZE APPRECIABLY ACROSS THE CAROLINAS DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS SHOULD LIMIT THE SEVERE THREAT TO PERHAPS PORTIONS OF ERN GA/SC DUE TO A DECAYING SQUALL LINE.

From The National Weather Service Peachtree City Georgia

An area of low pressure will move across the Tennessee Valley on Thursday with a trailing cold front approaching the Gulf Coast states. Ahead of this front...abundant moisture will allow for the development of Showers and Scattered Thunderstorms across the forecast area Thursday Afternoon into Friday Morning. Isolated strong to severe storms will accompany this activity overnight with Damaging Winds and Isolated Tornadoes being the primary concerns. With 1 to 3 inch rainfall totals expected in already saturated areas...the flash flooding potential over North Georgia will also need to be monitored closely. Please reference the Flash Flood Watch for more information on potential flooding.

And from the National Weather Service Birmingham, AL

The severe threat will shift into east Alabama Thursday evening. The greatest threat area for severe will be south of I-20 and east of I-65. The severe threat should be over by midnight.

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Original Post - 5:53 PM EST 1/25/2012

I'm not going to downplay the storm system heading our direction. I will also try not to overstate the severity. I am not trying to scare anyone. I just want you to be aware of the possibility of severe weather.

The biggest threat will be damaging Straightline Winds from a Squall line that is expected to form. Within this line, there is the possibility of Isolated Tornadoes.

With that, here is the latest statement from the National Weather Service Peachtree City, GA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEACHTREE CITY GA
255 PM EST WED JAN 25 2012

MAJOR CONCERNS WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL BE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY...AND POSSIBLE FLOODING AS A RESULT OF THE HIGHLY MOIST ENVIRONMENT AND ASSOCIATED HEAVY RAINFALL. MODELED INSTABILITIES PEAK ACROSS THE CWA 00Z THURSDAY THROUGH 15Z FRIDAY...WITH ML CAPE GENERALLY IN THE 200-300 J/KG RANGE. DECENT SHEAR ACCOMPANIES THESE INSTABILITIES...WITH 0-1KM SHEAR IN THE 25-35KT RANGE AS THE MAIN LINE PUSHES INTO THE STATE...AND INCREASES TO 40-45KTS ACROSS THE CSG AND MCN AREAS BY 06-12Z FRIDAY. JUST BEHIND THESE MAXIMA...MODELED 0-6KM BULK SHEAR APPROACHES 65-75 KTS. AS A RESULT...CAN EXPECT TO SEE LOCALLY DAMAGING WINDS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING AS THE AIR MASS DESTABILIZES AHEAD OF THE MAIN LINE OF CONVECTION. SPC ALREADY HAS MAINLY WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA OUTLOOKED FOR A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE STORMS. WITH THIS STRONG EVENT EVOLVING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREPARE NOW. DO NOT LET THESE STORMS CATCH YOU OFF GUARD.

And the latest graphics from the National Weather Service Birmingham, AL

See Previous post Severe Weather Threat Thursday / Friday - Georgia / Alabama 1/26-1/27/2012 for more information. Contains lead up info.

Severe Weather Threat Thursday / Friday - Georgia / Alabama 1/26-1/27/2012

Another heads up to the potential Severe Weather heading our way. I mentioned this threat as early as Saturday 1/21/2012 on Facebook and Twitter; since, I have mentioned the threat daily.

As with any mention of severe weather, no one knows to pin point accuracy where it might occur, until it does. The latest information and statements released give us a general idea of where and what to expect. It is up to you, the reader, to take every measure possible to keep yourself safe.

What to expect: Strong to severe storms, Possible damaging winds, Heavy rain with possible flooding, Possible hail, and possible Tornadoes. The system heading our direction is already responsible for this in Texas.

The timing on this system appears to be mainly late tomorrow night through early Friday morning.

I will monitor and continue to keep you updated through My Facebook Page: Cataula GA Weather Alerts And My Twitter Stream @CataulaGaALERTS: All warnings for the local area are posted automatically on this account within seconds of the time they are issued.

Here's the latest from the Storm Prediction Center. Our area is in a Slight Risk for severe weather. This area has shifted since the last release. It is now farther east and north. It may be extended even farther east and north with the next release.

Severe Probability Risk: Our area is now in a 15% risk. This has been updated, as we were in the 5% risk area yesterday. I am hopeful upon the next release the percentage does not increase.

Here is what they said in their most recent statement....

CENTRAL AND NERN GULF COAST REGION...

GIVEN THE CONTINUED SLOWER EWD PROGRESSION OF THE TX UPPER LOW/ TROUGH INTO THE LOWER MS VALLEY EARLY IN THE PERIOD...THE DAY 2 SLIGHT RISK HAS BEEN EXPANDED A LITTLE WWD INTO MORE OF ERN LA TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS FACTOR. THIS CHANGE WILL ALSO SUPPORT ANY ONGOING STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS AT 12Z THURSDAY ACROSS THE LOWER MS VALLEY WITHIN A MOISTENING/DESTABILIZING BOUNDARY LAYER. THE SLIGHT RISK AREA HAS ALSO BEEN EXPANDED EWD INTO WRN GA AND THE REST OF THE FL PANHANDLE. ALTHOUGH SOME TIMING ISSUES EXIST WITH THE EWD PROGRESSION OF THE TX LOW...THESE DIFFERENCES ARE NOT GREAT ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE THE ERN EXTENSION OF THE SLIGHT RISK FOR THURSDAY NIGHT/EARLY FRIDAY...WHICH NOW INCLUDES THE ATLANTA AND TALLAHASSEE METRO AREAS.

MOIST ONSHORE FLOW WILL BE UNDERWAY ACROSS THE GULF COAST REGION AHEAD OF A SURFACE LOW INITIALLY CROSSING LA. WIDESPREAD CLOUDS/ PRECIPITATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO WEAK/MOIST-ADIABATIC MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES NEAR AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT...LIMITING INSTABILITY ACROSS THE WARM SECTOR THROUGH THE PERIOD. STILL...WITH A FAIRLY STRONG UPPER SYSTEM ADVANCING EWD AND ACCOMPANYING SHEAR PROFILES SUPPORTIVE OF ORGANIZED/ROTATING STORMS PER 30-40 KT SSWLY LLJ VEERING TO 50-70 KT SWLY MIDLEVEL WINDS...THREATS FOR LOCALLY DAMAGING WINDS AND A FEW ISOLATED TORNADOES REMAIN EVIDENT. THESE THREATS WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AS THE DOWNSTREAM AIR MASS DESTABILIZES AHEAD OF THE EWD MOVING QLCS.


Here are the most recent statements released by various National Weather Service offices covering our area, to include Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

National Weather Service Peachtree City, GA
SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOOD POTENTIAL ARE SIGNIFICANT AND WORTHY OF ATTENTION. NAM MUCAPE VALUES EXCEEDING 500 J/KG AT 18Z IN NW GEORGIA WITH PLENTY OF SHEAR AND MOISTURE TO WORK WITH...EVENT
EVOLVING SOUTH THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

ALTHOUGH SPC KEEPS OUR AREA OUT OF THE DAY 2 SLIGHT RISK...THE THREAT OF TORNADOES...STRONG WINDS...AND FLASH FLOODING FROM HEAVY RAIN ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT WITH THIS EVENT IN AND AROUND METRO ATLANTA AND POINTS SOUTH. ENVIRONMENT IS VERY FAVORABLE TO REPEAT OUR PATTERN FOR QLCS ACTIVITY...WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE POTENT AT PRODUCING TORNADOES IN NORTH AND CENTRAL GEORGIA.

You may have noticed the mention of the SPC in the above statement. We are NOW in the SLIGHT RISK coverage area.


National Weather Service Birmingham, AL
BEST CHANCES FOR SEVERE THURSDAY WILL BE AFTERNOON/EVENING ACROSS MAINLY SOUTHERN 1/3 COUNTIES.


National Weather Service Mobile/Pensacola
THERE HAS BEEN CONTINUED CONCERN ON THE CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY NIGHT. AS THE UPPER SYSTEM MOVES TOWARDS THE AREA THURSDAY...THE INCREASING INFLUENCE OF THE LOW/MID LVL JETS COMING INTO PLAY BEGINNING LATE MORNING THURSDAY OVER THE WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE FA...AND WITH THE SLOW EASTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SYSTEM...EXITS EAST OF THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT. CAPES IN THE 500-1000J/KG RANGE ARE INDICATED BY THE GUIDANCE THURSDAY INTO THURSDAY EVENING...WITH HELICITIES TOPPING OUT AROUND 300 M^2/2^2. HAVE WITH THE ENTIRE AREA UNDER A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE WEATHER FOR THE PERIOD...WITH DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREATS.


National Weather Service Tallahassee, FL
There is a potential for severe weather Thursday evening through mid-morning Friday as the aforementioned low advances towards, and eventually passes just northwest of our local area.
Strong upper level winds and marginal instability will combine to produce a threat for damaging winds and the possibility of an isolated tornado in any severe storms that may develop.


With all that, please take this threat seriously. Every Weather Service in Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida including the Storm Prediction Center has mentioned Strong to severe storms, Possible damaging winds and Possible Tornadoes.

For weather geeks ....

Video - Chilton County Alabama Tornado Damage 1/23/2012

Uploaded by abc3340 on Jan 23, 2012
From AirLink 33/40 over Maplesville

Video - Jefferson County Alabama Tornado Damage 1/23/2012

Uploaded by abc3340 on Jan 23, 2012
From AirLink 33/40 over Center Point and Clay

January 23 2012 Alabama Tornado Radar images....

Thanks to Meteorologist Matthew East News 14 Carolina for posting these Radar Captures on his blog of the tornadic supercell that impacted Jefferson county, Center Point, Maplesville, and Clanton areas in Alabama. You can check them out here Damage was reported in Jefferson County communities of Oak Grove, Pinson, Center Point and Trussville.

In the coming days, I'll have some RADAR Captures posted I took as the storms pushed closer to my area in Georgia.

Diane Sawyer - Alabama Tornadoes "Struck Without Warning"

As I was preparing this a tweet came across the board from James Spann @spann : So, I hear ABC has noticed us. I am expecting a phone call. Very encouraged. Stay tuned...

Main Stream Media stepped in it again.

This time it was Diane Sawyer's coverage of the Severe weather outbreak in Alabama on January 23 2012. I know she is just a face but, she should have some kind of input into what she reads off the teleprompter. Maybe she is like many, to busy to get the facts. Still, doesn't she have people to get the facts ? The answer is YES !!

This morning I listened in on the Rick & Bubba show as Meteorologist James Spann - ABC 33/40 TV kept his cool, while explaining the facts. James mentioned that this storm system was forecast well in advance. I know this to be true, as I even mentioned it on this blog as early as Sunday, January 22, 2012 after looking at the data provided form various sources. I also mentioned it again Monday Morning at 3:08 AM as storms were bearing down on Alabama [ see included Radar Capture at previous link ].

'Without Warning'; I think not !

During the show this morning, James mentioned that someone from ABC contacted the National Weather Service to ask about the facts behind the Warning System. Basically what was said, There was no less than 30 minutes advanced warning and up to 1 hour before the Tornadoes hit the areas affected in Alabama on January 23 2012. Diane Sawyer - Alabama Tornadoes "Struck Without Warning" ???

Here is the section of the ABC broadcast Monday Evening 1/23/2012 that opened this can of worms...

Diane Sawyer Gets It WRONG

No warning? Get a clue..




If that wasn't bad enough, ABC World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer also spewed forth more misinformation. I picked up this little tidbit, which few know of at this time via emergencyemail.org

This evening, January 23, 2012, ABC mistakenly reported that individuals can sign up for weather alerts through FEMA.

We've seen a lot of interest from the public following that report and we wanted to correct that point:

FEMA does not send out alerts as this is a local responsibility.

See also Alabama Tornadoes "Struck Without Warning..." - 'Mainstream Media' Proves Yet Again That They're A Chicken Nugget Shy of a Happy Meal...

Severe Weather Threat Monday 1/23/2012

Threat for severe weather in the local area still remains. [ 3:08 AM 1/23/2012 ]

At this time, severe threat for the local area is somewhat lower thanks to CAD Cold Air Damming [WEDGE] from the Northeast. However, we are still on the warm side of the Wedge with temps in the low 60's and dew points also in the low 60's. Areas to our north and east, temps and dew points are much lower.

Storms out to our west have weakened over the past couple of hours. Still .. they are producing Tornadoes indicated by Radar, and severe thunderstorms in North and Central western Alabama.

Radar 307 AM EST Jan 23 2012....

While the situation is improving somewhat, it remains to be seen as the front closes in on the local area if it will continue. I will continue to monitor the situation and post any updates concerning severe weather on Facebook and Twitter....

*My Facebook Page Cataula GA Weather Alerts: LIKE IT to receive the Alerts. All warnings for the local area and then some are posted there automatically. You can subscribe via SMS if you like (text message to your phone) by clicking the link on the left side column at the bottom titled 'Get Updates via SMS.

*My Twitter Stream @CataulaGaALERTS on Twitter: All warnings for the local area are posted automatically on this account within seconds of the time they are issued.

Previous Post - Georgia Severe Weather Threat - Sunday 1/22 Monday 1/23

Georgia Severe Weather Threat - Sunday 1/22 Monday 1/23

First and most important - This is NOTHING like April 27 for our area. That was a generational outbreak.

Severe Weather Threat - Sunday 1/22 Monday 1/23

Timing - For our area in West Central Georgia and East Central Alabama, [ROUND #1] it looks like the weather will begin to become problematic this afternoon from 3-4 PM onward . [ROUND #2] The worst of the weather looks like it will be coming through in the early hours on Monday anywhere from 3 Am through mid morning 10 Am or so. This may and could all change as the system and day progresses. Please stay weather aware.

I do not expect storms around the local area to be as numerous as those on Saturday. I think most of the really bad stuff will stay to our north. I mentioned this yesterday on Facebook. However, should we experience a severe storm, it will likely have the same ingredients as those of Saturday. That being Strong winds, Hail, Frequent Lightning, Heavy Rain and yes, the threat of a Tornado.

When dealing with potent systems like we experienced many times including Saturday, it is really hard to pinpoint exactly what will happen, when and where. The general rule is be prepared when the mention of severe weather is forecast in and around your area. With that being said, here is what the Storm Prediction Center is showing for our area in the coming hours.


First the General Categorical Outlook. This is telling us what kind of threat the storms are and will pose. As you can see in this image the local area is not far from the Slight risk area outlined in Yellow. Remember this will shift east as time goes by. This does not mean the storm will be as strong when they get to a particular location. On the other hand it also does not show us that the storms will loose any strength as well. It gives us a general idea of what to expect in an overall picture.

Next is the Tornado Outlook. This is where the biggest threat is of Tornadoes occurring in the General area from above. As you can see, the local area is again not that far from the Green shaded area, which represents a 2% chance of a Tornado occurring in that general area. With that in mind, there is a low risk of Tornadoes in our area. That does not mean one could not be spawned just as the storms on Saturday did. We were outside the 2% area Saturday as well.

Probability of a tornado within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of EF2 - EF5 tornadoes within 25 miles of a point.

Next in line is the Wind Outlook. This represents were you might expect strong to damaging winds to occur in a general area. Here we see the local area is well within the 5% area and just outside the 15% area. From this we can tell from what we have looked at thus far, Wind will be a larger threat than tornadoes in our area, produced from within a stronger thunderstorm should one occur in the approaching system.

Probability of damaging thunderstorm winds or wind gusts of 50 knots or higher within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of wind gusts 65 knots or greater within 25 miles of a point.

Finally we look at the potential for large Hail in the given general area form above. As we can see from this image, we are well outside the threat area. This does not mean the possibility doesn't exist of hail occurring from one of the stronger thunderstorms embedded within the approaching system, just as mentioned above with wind.

Probability of one inch diameter hail or larger within 25 miles of a point.
Hatched Area: 10% or greater probability of two inch diameter hail or larger within 25 miles of a point.

With all that said .. the biggest threat we face is possible damaging winds. Cant rule out hail or even an isolated Tornado though.


When the weather turns severe you need some way of getting Warnings when issued. A NOAA Weather Radio properly programmed is likely the best choice. Here are some alternatives.

*My Facebook Page Cataula GA Weather Alerts: LIKE IT to receive the Alerts. All warnings for the local area and then some are posted there automatically. You can subscribe via SMS if you like (text message to your phone) by clicking the link on the left side column at the bottom titled 'Get Updates via SMS.

*My Twitter Stream @CataulaGaALERTS on Twitter: All warnings for the local area are posted automatically on this account within seconds of the time they are issued.

*iMap WeatherRadio App: This is available now for iPhone only, but an Android version will be released soon. The GPS chip in your phone knows where you are, and if you are in a polygon warning, you get it. If you are not in the polygon, you won’t be alarmed. Also, you can program fixed locations.

Georgia Severe Weather Saturday, January 21, 2012

A recap of severe weather on Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Georgia

We experienced everything you would expect from a spring time severe weather outbreak, of course we are barely midway through the winter season.

The storm system that moved through the area brought with it Tornadoes, Strong winds, Hail, Frequent Lightning, and Flooding to may areas of the state. Hail was reported the size of Golf balls in many areas including the local area. Here at the homestead I received and reported pea to dime size hail and winds estimated at 40 MPH. I picked up about 0.75 inches of rain in under 30 minutes, with a storm total of 1.47 inches. There was also wind damage in the local area with reports of trees being down. Across the north, central and southern areas of the state, many radar indicated tornadoes were warned, including here in Harris county where I reside. At this time none of these radar indicated tornadoes have been confirmed, although I expect at least 2 possibly to be, One in the Coweta County area and another South of Perry Georgia.

Here's a map showing Tornado Warnings [RED], Severe Thunderstorm Warnings [YELLOW] and Flash Flood Warnings [Green] in Georgia beginning on Saturday January 21 2012 at 12:00 AM EST and ending Sunday morning January 22 at 12:00 AM EST.

Purple with white dots [HAIL REPORT]
Orange with Green [Thunderstorm Wind Damage]
Green with Wavy lines [Flash Flood]
Orange with word 'WIND' [Non Thunderstorm Wind Damage]
Red with White Cloud [ Funnel Cloud Reported]

I'll post an update as information becomes available.

Lightning Video

Short video I took from my back porch the morning of January 11 2012 around 6 AM EST. The frontal passage that brought thunderstorms to the Cataula area was responsible for tornadoes in Texas on January 9 and North Carolina on January 12.

Rain, Lightning and Thunder - video length about 3 minutes

Alabama Hail January 7 2012 - Pictures

Strong storms rolled through parts of Northern Alabama on January 7 2012 dropping heavy amounts of hail. Enough hail to cover the ground making it look like a January snow. All images courtesy James Spann

Hail covering the ground in the Dallas-Selfville community of southern Blount County northeast of Birmingham 01-07-2012

Hail from the stronger storms over North Alabama 01-07-2012

Hail covering Alabama Highway 79 in north Jefferson County near Trafford 01-07-2012

Roads are hail covered in Cleveland Alabama Blount County 01-07-2012

Radar Screen Shot 2012-01-07 at 356 PM CST

Georgia Drought Update - January 5 2012

It's been one month since my last Georgia Drought report in which I said

"Not much change since my last update November 13 2011. While this is the case, drought conditions continue to lesson in Georgia. The biggest reason for this is the cooler weather and shorter days."

While this is true for the most part during winter months, don't let it fool you.

Case and point ... Since my last report, drought conditions have once again intensified in Georgia, although not as severe as they could be if this were summer. The only area that continues to see relief from drought in Georgia are areas in the north. Much of the rest of the state has seen conditions worsen, most now still in an Extreme drought. This is not how many of us wanted to start the new year.

Here's a graphic showing the intensification of drought in Georgia via the U.S. Drought Monitor, from November 2011 to January 3 2012.

Here's a graphic showing the departure from normal precipitation for 2011 via AHPS Precipitation Analysis

Here are rainfall deficits for the last 365 days from select areas in Georgia via NWS Peachtree City, GA

DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL THROUGH 01/04/2012:

ATLANTA HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AP: -11.41
ATHENS BEN EPPS AP: -10.15
COLUMBUS METRO AP: -8.39
MACON MIDDLE GA REGIONAL AP: -13.17

Here's a graphic showing additional precipitation needed to bring conditions back to near normal. For the local area, we still need anywhere from 6 to 9 inches of rainfall, as shown above we are down 8.39 inches. Areas to our south need 9 to 12 inches. Graphic via Climate Prediction Center

During winter months my updates are not as frequent, as drought conditions whether good or bad occur at a slower rate. I'll have another update in February.

A couple things to check on your Car for Winter driving

Antifreeze

Make sure your antifreeze is still able to protect your radiator and engine from freezing. A few dollars now will save thousands later. To self check you will need a hydrometer [antifreeze/coolant tester] to check the concentration of ethylene glycol antifreeze in the coolant, or a refractometer if you use propylene glycol antifreeze/coolant. A refractometer works with either type of antifreeze. A 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water for adequate freezing, boiling and corrosion protection is a must for long engine life. A 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol antifreeze should protect down to a temperature of -34°F, and a 50/50 mix of propylene glycol antifreeze down to -26°F.

Tire pressure

You also need to check your 'tire pressure'. You should check your tire pressure once a month regardless of the season. During cooler / colder months of the year, air pressure will drop. This will cause excessive wear and heating of the tire due to more rubber being in contact with the road surface. This also leads to premature blow outs which may cause you to loose control when driving at higher speeds. The same is true during summer / warmer months of the year. During warmer months, air will expand causing the tire to become over-inflated. As you drive the pressure will build to more than the tire is rated and to handle. Proper tire inflation is a must for safe driving. It also saves you money buy using less gas, and your tires will last longer.

I hope these tips will help you and your car!