Given the metrics of this system, I am unimpressed. The gulf is wide open, streaming warm moist air into the midwest. We should already be having a breakout of severe storms from the Gulf to Canada. This system looks more like a typical winter type storm, than something we should be seeing in April. With the location of the jet stream to the cold front, and given the nature of the air masses involved, I would expect to see a large amount of severe weather. Maybe it hasn't played out yet. But I would be expecting to AR and MO to be getting hit hard with severe weather. What's surprising to me is that it isn't already in play.
The other thing that I notice is the disorganization in this system. Once again, some are getting lots, some nothing. This is the kind of system that should have given a line from Fargo to the panhandles a fair amount of rain. Rememer what I said several years ago - and it still pertains. We are in a cycle that we need to get the rain in the spring in the Central US. KS, NE, MO, IA, S 1/2 of Il really are going to need these spring rains. When the panhandle regions show that the drought is subsiding, then so should the rest of the Central US.
My biggest concern remains the cold. It is unrelenting across Canada and the northern tier. I've talked about this one since Jan I think. This is going to be the major story of the year in my book. What Isc76cat said about our are is true. My water line down by my shed fially thawed out yesterday - it has never frozen up before. Still a fair amount of snow in shaded ditches and shaded North Slope areas. I suspect we still have a fair amount of frost in the ground here. Haven't taken a ground temp yet - no real reason to as I'm sure we're at the most in the low 40's. And like cat said - a week of crappy weather coming up. Looks like I will be using my Y memebership more this week...
Jen
