Two strong Pacific storms will bring a big dent to the historic drought in California over the next 3 to 5 days. Storm 1 is now coming ashore while the second, stronger storm can be seen winding up on it’s heels (below visible satellite image).

The second is by far the strongest. COLD, cold, cold is the dominant word further east as has been the case throughout this winter season.

Here’s a look at the slow evening commute in San Francisco as the clouds hang low and the rain falls.

The latest surface chart off the ECMWF shows the moisture piling ashore over mainly central and northern California but later today that moisture will make it into the Southland.

Here’s comes storm No 2 into California! BIG rains reach LA and San Diego.

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Close-up of the Southwest

Check out the 72 hour QPF rain amounts!!

From NWS Los Angeles

HIGH SURF ANOTHER THREAT!

Of course this storm will bring coastal gales, widespread thundery downpours which will make for slick roadways following such dry conditions for so long. Flash flooding and mudslides will also occur given amount and intensity of rain pushing in. Also look for offshore funnels our waterspouts and quite possibly tornadoes onshore.

MAJOR Cold Further East…

While the CA rainstorm is making big news, so too is the brutal cold and boy, it is impressive given how late in the season it is. Saw a tweet a little earlier which stated that Intl Falls, MN has been below freezing an incredible 98% of the time this season.

Also it’s been the 2nd coldest winter on record for Duluth, MN, 4th coldest for Intl Falls, MN with an average of 3.9 and -2.4 respectively and that’s as of the 24th so these rankings could go higher given the intense cold to end the month.

Check out the ECMWF upper chart for Thursday. Just brutal!

Here’s tonight’s forecasted lows.

Tomorrow’s highs

Tomorrow night’s lows.

The brutal cold tightens it’s grip into the weekend and lasts throughout next week ith no let up in sight.

The CA storm crosses the country later Saturday and Sunday and by early next week, it’s all eyes on the heartland and East as all this energy and moisture collides with the next big arctic high diving out of Canada.

Here’s the surface charts through the weekend into early next week.

A major snowstorm looks likely early next week from the Mid-Mississippi Valley to southern New England including the Big Northeast cities.

ECMWF

GFS

Fact About the Duluth/Intl Falls Winter of 2013-14

Climate Facts About this Winter:

As of February 25th, 2014 the Duluth, MN Airport has dipped below the zero mark a record setting 62 times. The old record was 59 days with below zero readings set the winters of 1958-1959, 1916-1917 as well as the winter of 1874-1875. The International, MN Airport has dipped below zero 67 times. The record number of days with a temperature below zero at International Falls is 70 set in 1977-1978. Frost Depth at the Duluth Airport was 16″ with a snow depth of 29″ The water content of the snow is 5.1 inches February 11th marked the 23rd consecutive day with a temperature below zero at Duluth. This set a new record, breaking the previous streak of 22 days set in 1936 as well as 1963. The arctic cold has been persistent, but not record-setting. The Duluth Aiport has not set any daily records for cold temperatures this winter. Snowfall as of February 25th: Duluth MN (Aiport): 83.8″ & International Falls, MN: 74.7″ January of 2014 was The Coldest January in past 20 years December 2013 was in the Top 5 Snowiest Decembers on Reocrd Factoid: The winter of 1935-1936 was also very cold across the region. January 13th of 1936 holds a daily record low temperature at Duluth of an impressire readings of 35 F below zero. Duluth also saw a 22 day stretch of below zero readings from Jan 17th – Feb 7th in 1936. Interestingly, the summer that followed included multiple dates with temperatures soaring over 100 F at Duluth, MN. A temperature of 106 F, Duluth’s warmerst temperature ever recorded, was set on July 13th 1936.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tags: california flooding, california rain, california rainstorm, california storm, los angeles rain