Weather Banter

I was very humbled this past week with the impending, and now current, major winter storm.  Many people in my everyday encounters asked why I did not opine or blog about the storm.  "Smitty, which model you buying?"...or "Smitty, is it really going to snow a foot?"  I know many folks love to talk about the weather; however, I was truly honored by how many truly wanted to know my opinion.  I honestly felt that there is so much weather information out there that I was essentially piling on or being a "5th wheel".  But many of you have recently reaffirmed the fact that you enjoy these efforts and actually put a grain of faith in the prognostications.  I'm telling you, my inside informant has far more experience than I!

Not only my contacts with my buddy above, but when you see the birds in our area take down a black-oil sunflower seed feeder in less than 2 hours, well you know something is a-brewin'!  I never really gave much credibility to the wooly-bear caterpillar in terms of their long range prognostication capabilities, but many of my acquaintances swear by these critters!

So as I sit here with 8" of fresh white cold powder and visibilities reduced to about 0.25 mile in heavy snow, I just wanted to give a huge thanks to all of you who read this, talk weather, love the natural dynamics of this world and appreciate what goes into trying to figure out future weather events.  In fact, over the years, my favorite economist has actually become quite informed about the workings of the atmosphere and in particular numerical guidance!  He's a true testament to the fact that one's interests in any topic will carry the day!  We banter from time to time with the use of social media!

He was referring to the GFS (America's global numerical model) insisting this would be a light to at best moderate event as compared to the Euro which since Sunday had a major hit in PA!  And his interpretation of the modeling was actually quite insightful.  Now if he could only interpret the macro global economic conditions with as much zest and zeal so I can choose my investments with rock-solid confidence!

I often peruse the maps, charts, discussions, models, numerical guidance, etc while engaging in my early morning cardio routine.  So to pass the time, I will post some of these maps on Twitter and from time to time I do get some responses...

So please, if you'd like and have a Twitter account, follow @SmittysSynopsis.  It's not all weather related, but I'd say 90% of the time it is.  The other 10% you'll have to put up with my music quirkiness, my political "ponderances", and my commentary on athletics.  But usually, I will post sensible maps that are designed to explain the sensible weather.  Like this...the NWS forecast for snowfall through Friday morning...

Or this, the Euro's placement of the cyclone off the Mid-Atlantic coast this afternoon...

Or this, the Hi-Resolution NAM's call on total snowfall by the end of this event...

And even this...the likely welcomed but albeit brief thaw arriving later next week!  Note the warmth all around central PA and the cold holding over the bulletproof snow pack here in central PA!  Also note the anomalous cold lurking to the NW!  

In closing, I truly do appreciate y'all asking, touting, inquiring, bantering, questioning, harassing, or whatevering me about this wonderful world of weather!  And I'll try to inform and educate about all things weather-wise and even some things other-wise.  In addition, I'll also leave y'all with some of my favorite visualizations such as this...

Or my favorite tunes...like this...

So enjoy your snow day...and thanks for reading!

Smitty

AA:  Heavy snow today (10-16") will mix with sleet at times...followed by a brief warm up later next week!  Looking forward to March 9!