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Hawaii and Guam Concerns; Severe Weather for the Plains; Heavy Snow for Sierra-Nevada

Heavy rainfall capable of causing flash flooding will continue to impact Hawaii through Monday. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible in parts of Texas and the southern Plains and the Upper Great Lakes. Heavy mountain snow continues in California's Sierra Nevada and rain with gusty winds to lower elevations. Super Typhoon Sinlaku will impact the Marianas through midweek. Read More >

Overview

On Jan 3rd, 2019, a compact but vigorous southern stream closed low moved across west Texas and slowed down as it approached the Red River Valley. This allowed plentiful moisture and lift to wrap around the system as it strengthened. Cold air on the backside of the low interacted with increasing moisture to produce a persistent band of snow across the far eastern Texas Panhandle. The heavier snow (6 to 8 inches) fell from Higgins to Canadian to Wheeler to near and west of Wellington. However, areas along and west of Borger to Amarillo stayed high and dry with just a few mid level clouds.

 

Fig 1: Mid-level water vapor imagery from GOES 16 shows the low pressure system as it moves east along the Red River Valley.

 

Fig 2: GOES 16 CIRA Geocolor reveals snow over the eastern Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma as the sun rises on Jan 4th.

 

 

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