A Frenetic February Forecast As We Become Nature's Prey

Richard Beedle has sent me a wonderful collection of American Eagles spotted around the Lafayette area. We will use many of these outstanding pictures to tell our weather story on the blog for much of this week. Thanks Richard and all our great bloggers for making it another fun week on the blog. I have so much to post I need more than 24 hours in a day! Let's start with this one since the eagle is feeding on the ground despite the blowing snow. Expect plenty of blowing snow back in the forecast through Wednesday morning. The East-West roads will be especially challenging with a north-northwest wind gusting at times to 30 mph this afternoon.


What a difference a couple of days really make. This weekend we had high temperatures on Sunday in the lower 40s and it was like a walk in the park. Your can see how Michael Wiltgen spent his Super Sunday. He lounged outside on his snow couch and didn't even need the heavy coat. Snow couches are in that is for sure this winter. This is the second snow couch picture sent in during the last few days. I have never seen or heard of these before last week. You even see the snow entertainment center which is also a first for me. Today Michael will need plenty of layers on his snow couches with wind chills falling to near zero. Paul Ely sent in this picture of that may hold the title of Lafayette's biggest snowman. His kids were finally able to get outside and spend some quality time in the snow. This snowman is quite impressive and it looks like he would be a great addition to the Purdue basketball team

!

The amazing part is this gigantic snowman may be all gone by late weekend with not just 40s but 50s back in the forecast. We are talking about our warmest weather in over 5 weeks on the way. Is this a sign of things to come. I think so. Let's take a look at what you can expect in February. Diana Marion sent in this snow angel picture and nature will certainly be devilish at times.

I see at least one more big snowstorm but it may be after some significant flooding. We have a snow pack holding about 1 to 2 inches of water and the next two weeks are forecast to bring us at least 1 to 2 inches of rainfall. We will have to watch the rivers carefully. Areas of most concern right now would be farther south in Central and Southern Indiana where they had the heavier snowfall and precipitation last week. Thunderstorms also become more prevalent here in Indiana. Remember severe weather can occur in any month of the year here at home. Temperatures will be all over the place. It will feel like Texas one day and Alaska the next. This week's seven day forecast is a perfect example of what you can expect. Our weather team has a forecast low of one below zero by mid-week and a highs in the 50s this weekend. It is a pattern you will want to monitor carefully that is for sure. This blog will be hopping and I look forward to all your reports and pictures to go along with your Live Doppler 18. It is a team effort and together we can all make a difference. Here is my temperature forecast for February and you can see the reason why it will be so volatile.


The colder than average temperatures will be across the northeast with warmer than average temperatures from Florida and the Deep South up and into the plains. More importantly here at home we will be near normal or in the main battle zone. The main jet stream will be forced unusually far to the south due to a blocking high pressure building in Canada and Greenland. The unusually high pressure to our north will naturally lower pressures to the South or in our neighborhood so nature can seek that balance. You add in a jet stream and the rest is history. We have a stormy month ahead. You will have to keep your sense of humor and I have just the thing for you.

COLD IS A RELATIVE THING. .

65 above zero:
Floridians turn on the heat.
People in Indiana plant gardens.

60 above zero:
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Indiana sunbathe.

50 above zero:
Italian & English cars won't start.
People in Indiana drive with the windows down..

40 above zero:
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats.
People in Indiana throw on a flannel shirt.

35 above zero:
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Indiana have the last cookout before it gets cold.

20 above Zero
People in Miami all die.
Hoosiers close the windows.

Zero:
Texans fly away to Mexico .
People in Indiana get out their winter coats.

10 below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Indiana are selling cookies door to door.

20 below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air.
People in Indiana let the dogs sleep indoors.

30 below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Hoosiers get upset because they can't start the snow-mobile.

40 below zero :
ALL atomic motion stops .
People in Indiana start saying...'Cold enough fer ya?'

50 below zero:
---- freezes over.
Indiana public schools will open 2 hours late

Thank you Mary Anne and Teri for sending this in and I am sure it will keep us all smiling. I will have more on soaring temperatures tonight and here on the blog to help keep everybody warm. We just have to get through two more frigid days before things start feeling much better. Hang in there and be safe on the area roads.