Sunday was a cloudy, cold, snowless day that saw the snowpack reduce a bit under the still surprisingly powerful sun’s rays under the cloudy skies. Sunday temperatures dropped very early in the AM into the upper mid 20s, then rising into the low 30s by sunrise, and peaking out in the upper 30s by mid-afternoon. Dew points were in the 20s all day. The Sunday minimum temperature from the VP2 (27.6°) was recorded at 0141 while the maximum temperature (37.8°) was recorded at 1413. Dew point temps ranged from 27° at 0000 down to 23° at 1534. Relative humidity values were still quite high at the beginning of the day in the very early AM, but started to fall off by mid afternoon (95% – 57%). Barometric values rose some from yesterday, ranging from a low of 29.88″ at 0006 up to 30.10″ at 1043.

Remember now you can get the VP2 data on Weatherlink. You can access the data through http://www.weatherlink.com/user/walrusman444.

I am also now on weather underground. My ID is KMDROCKV200 and my station is called “Gardens of Traville.” Data is online, normally just about in real-time. I contribute daily to cocorahs as Rockville 2.8 WNW, Station ID MD-MG-115. Please take note that Weather Underground does not report snow data, and reflects what is recorded automatically through the tipping bucket VP2 gauge. With above freezing temperatures on Sunday, the snow started to melt in the tipping bucket gauges at my station and Lakewood.

I consulted a bit more about the snow and Sunday football action with Ray and Marty during the evening and also studied the SNOTel record of the Nicks Valley Station high above Thompson Pass at 4200′. I wanted to check out further what I read about this station actually being the official source of the Thompson Pass snowfalls this past week, as also recommended by noted Alaska climate expert with the NWS, Rick Thoman.

Monday morning found us still cloudy in the early AM, but clearing skies in the late AM, with the strong sun melting most of the remaining snow. Temps have already risen into the low 40s after a low in the low mid 30s in very early AM. Highs later today should reach the mid 40s under mostly sunny skies with lows in the mid 30s. Tuesday should be partly cloudy and mild early with temps reaching the mid 40s once again, but with a 20 POP (isolated) chance for a snow shower or some other form of precipitation in the afternoon as a strong cold front sweeps through by evening. Temps will drop significantly at that time, into the upper teens overnight. Wednesday looks sunny and cold, with highs around 30° and lows in the low 20s. Thursday should moderate some under partly cloudy skies with highs in the upper mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s. Friday should have cloudy skies but with similar temps to Thursday.

On the Channel 4 weather website at 1153 radar is showing continued snow shower activity in the Great Lakes region over parts of MI, OH, and western NY. There were thundersnow lake effect snow squalls in the Buffalo area, and the Bills’ football game was significantly affected by the blinding heavy snow. Really cool to watch!

As of 1153, the data from the VP2 (coming from the ground radiation shield about 4 feet off the ground just under and out from the balcony) and the Lakewood WXBug station are as follows :

Station Relative Location Temp RH  DP   BP     Wind    High/Low temp today
VP2            Ground        41.8   58  28 30.09F    NA  37.8/27.6 (Low since midnight 33.5 @ 0329)

There was no more water that melted in the cocorahs gauge. The VP2 tipping bucket rain gauge under my balcony started to melt its Saturday catch (0.08″). So far on Monday an additional 0.02″ has melted through.

December precipitation is 0.40″ through midnight obs Sunday.

December snowfall is now 2.0″. The seasonal snowfall total is also now 2.0″.

Year-to-date precipitation total is 38.91″

WX Bug Lakewood 4500 ft, 42 49 25 30.06F W 7 G WNW 14
                            140° from station                    38/27

The Lakewood rain gauge recorded 0.08″ of melted snow through midnight on Sunday. Mechanisms are the same as with my VP2 gauge, as an additional 0.02″ has been recorded so far today (Monday). They are now reporting 0.47″ of precipitation falling up to this point in December, and a grand total of 39.81″ of rain for the year-to-date value.

Temp from the VP2 at 2400 was 33.9 RH 74% BP 30.07S DP 26.6. Cloudy and dry in the air but still a bit icy in spots at midnight.

Good morning from the sunny and drying out with an unfortunately rapidly melting off of the beautiful cover of snow on the ground from Saturday from the Snowywalrus not so early on this Monday morning.