This week’s big Pacific storm is now bringing gales widely across the Ohio Valley, Northeast and Great Lakes but it’s heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevada has helped bring the earliest open to California ski resorts since 2002. Thank El Nino!

The very storm is now lifting north, northeast into northern Quebec.

This AM’s temps.

Like winter in Canada, like summer in South Florida and Caribbean.

Wind is the big story in the Midwest and Northeast today.

Sizable snow totals weren’t just confined to the Western Ranges but the Plains and Upper Midwest too.

The recent series of storms pushing across California has led to an above normal snow pack for the first time in a few years and the earliest open to a ski season for the Golden State since 2002.

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See article

Early-season storm makes small dent in California’s drought outlook

The same system which brought heavy snows further east, severe weather on the Southern Plains is now bringing quite the wind storm.

Because of the bathtub effect of the Great Lakes when strong winds blow along the surface, we saw an impressive seiche on Lake Erie yesterday with drop a 6ft drop in water level on the west side but a rise of 7ft on the east side of the lake which caused flooding for Buffalo, NY.

View from west shore of Lake Erie.

East shore at Buffalo.

The strongest wind gusts Thursday were reported at Dunkirk Lighthouse on Lake Erie with 66 mph, 50 mph gusts were clocked in Chicago and Detroit.

GFS 10m winds late Friday afternoon.

As well as strong which causing lake coastal flooding and minor damage, lake-effect snow showers as cold is also playing a big factor on this Friday afternoon.

Mid PM temps.

The chill has come late to the Midwest this year.

While wintry up in the North, it’s still looking and feeling like summer in the South today.

Next week is looking equally as interesting. More tomorrow.

See today’s video for the discussion.

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