Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake

Nearly 60 percent of Sierra Nevada covered with snow; 100 times greater for the same date in 2014

Guy Kovner
The Press Democrat
Wed, 11 Nov 2015 15:25 UTC
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© National Weather ServiceLeft, snow depth on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 and right, snow depth on the same in 2014. More snow is expected on Sunday.
Snow may have returned to vast portions of the Sierra Nevada, but a Bay Area meteorologist says it's far too soon for drought-weary Californians to start celebrating.

Cheers erupted on social media Wednesday when the National Weather Service posted a colorful map that showed 58.7 percent of the Sierra is now covered by snow, compared to 0.6 percent on the same day a year ago. A month ago, there was no measurable snow coverage in the Sierra.

The current snow coverage, however, is more of a thin sheet than a fluffy blanket. The average snow depth along the Golden State's mountain spine was just over 4 inches, noted Jan Null, a former National Weather Service forecaster. Maximum snow depth was almost 25 inches.
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Snowflake

Massive snowfall ranging 6-18 inches hits Reno, Nevada

Marcella Corona
Reno Gazette-Journal
Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:25 UTC
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© Jason BeanFallen leaves are seen in Plumas Park after a storm blanketed the Reno area with snow on Nov. 10, 2015.
Here's what we know now:

* ​Snowfall ranged from 6 to about 18 inches. The deepest Reno-area snow fell in Stead, Panther Valley and Cold Springs.

* 13 Washoe schools are closed, mostly due to heat and power outages. Other were delayed 2 hours.

* Truckee Meadow Community College was delayed till 10 a.m.

* There will be no delays at UNR.

* Many slide-offs were reported on area roads, and injury crashes were reported on eastbound Interstate 80 on Sparks Boulevard and on northbound Pyramid Highway. Another accident was reported on southbound Interstate 580 near South Virginia Street.

* More than 36,700 NV Energy customers were without power as of 9:30 a.m.

* The snow is forecast to clear the area by Tuesday afternoon.

* Temperatures are expected to dip down to the 20s or lower.

* Chains and snow tires are required on many Tahoe-area roads, most notably:

- North U.S. 395

Comment: According to U.S. climate data, average annual snowfall for Reno is 22 inches. The city has received 80% of its annual snow fall in in one storm.

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Snowflake Cold

White-out, blizzard conditions to unfold from eastern Colorado to southeastern Wyoming

Brett Rathburn
Accuweather
Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:21 UTC
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The combination of snow and strong winds will set the stage for white-out conditions from eastern Colorado to southeastern Wyoming for the Wednesday morning commute.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde, "A typical early season storm developing over the Rockies will strengthen rapidly as it moves into the Plains, bringing snow and a brief period of blizzard conditions." "Blowing and drifting snow will cause significant travel problems," AccuWeather Meteorologist Becky Elliott said.

Areas around Denver, Loveland and Fort Morgan, Colorado, and Cheyenne and La Grange, Wyoming, are among those at risk for several hours of blinding snow and dangerous travel on Wednesday with the worst conditions first thing in the morning.Blizzard conditions can also develop across portions of the Nebraska panhandle, including the cities of Scottsbluff and Sidney.
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Snow totals will generally be between 1 to 3 inches across the area into Wednesday morning. Much higher amounts will occur across the foothills and Colorado Rockies.The strong winds can knock down trees and power lines leading to power outages.Anyone traveling in this area, including Interstates 25, 70, 76 and 80 should leave earlier than normal to allow yourself extra time traveling on the slick roadways.

Comment: Winter is just getting started:

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Snowflake Cold

Blizzard, ice, fog and strong winds expected for most of Kazakhstan

Robert
Ice Age Now
Sun, 08 Nov 2015 02:22 UTC
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© newtimes.nz
In the North-Kazakhstan, Karaganda, East Kazakhstan oblasts forecasts call for blizzard, ice, fog, strong winds.

The Pavlodar region expects in some places snow storm, ice, strong winds. In Kostanai region is expected in some places snowstorm, fog. In Akmola region is expected in some places snow storm, strong winds. In Astana sometimes snow, drifting snow, ice. Wind gusts in the morning of 15-20 m / s. Temperature at night -8-10 ° C, afternoon -3-5 ° C.

Thanks to Argiris Diamantis for these links
"I love these pictures," says Argiris. "Snowstorms in almost the entire country, with a picture of small birds in a tree."
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Cloud Precipitation

Tennis ball-sized hailstones pummel Brisbane, Australia


RT
Sun, 08 Nov 2015 15:01 UTC
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© Louise Anica
A strong storm swept through Brisbane, Australia on Saturday, pummeling it with hail the size of tennis balls and prompting a barrage of posts on social media.

After some sun and heat, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that severe thunderstorms could hit Brisbane and nearby towns, urging local residents to move cars under cover and away from trees.

"Residents should bring loose outdoor items indoors and secure items, which can't be moved, such as swing sets and trampolines," it also recommended.

More than a thousand buildings were left without power in the nearby region of Somerset after a storm went through the area.



Comment: While Australia does experience a "season of storms," what does stand out here however is the huge size of the hail stones involved and not just there but also increasingly across the globe. See the following selection of such reports for the last two years -

Another violent hailstorm hits the Altai region, Russia

40-min hailstorm leaves a trail of destruction in Mathura, India

Hailstorm with golf ball sized hail causes injuries in Germany

Large hailstones fall in Oman

What's up with the weather? Huge hail stones damage multiple commercial planes

Rome to Milan plane encounters violent hailstorm, destroys its nose cone and shatters cockpit window

Golf ball-sized hail hits Las Cruces, New Mexico

Large hailstones kill horses, birds and ravage cotton crops in northern New South Wales, Australia

Giant hailstones fall in Queensland, Australia

Hailstorm with golf ball sized hail causes injuries in Germany

Flash flood hits Menorca and egg-sized hailstones strike Aragon, Spain

Fist-sized hailstones cause injuries and damage cars in Naples, Italy

Large hail stones reported as thunderstorm hits Malta

Huge hailstones batter New South Wales coast, Australia

Giant hailstorms and heavy rain kill at least 16 people in China

Baseball-sized hail strikes Nebraska during storm

Huge hail pelts Paris as severe thunderstorms erupt in Western Europe

Germany hailstorm: Wassel hit by giant hailstones

Nine people killed as freak hailstorm rains massive boulders down on Indian villages

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Snowflake

Early snow blankets northern regions of China


news.asiaone.com
Sat, 07 Nov 2015 16:03 UTC
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© China Daily/ANNLocal residents go out in the snow in Beijing’s Xicheng district on Friday. Snow fell unexpectedly early in Beijing and other cities in northern China on Friday, causing traffic problems for millions of people and prompting the capital to provide heating for residential complexes ahead of schedule.
An unexpectedly early snow fell on Beijing and other cities in North China on Friday, causing traffic dilemmas for millions of people, and prompting the capital to start providing heating for residential complexes ahead of schedule.

According to the National Meteorological Center, the snowfall hit areas in Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong provinces, and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The snow will continue until Sunday in most of the region.

The snowfall is the earliest in Beijing since a blizzard hit the capital on Nov 2, 2009. Meteorological experts said the snow will be helpful for growing wheat in North China and warned that residents should be careful to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning as the heating starts to work.

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Ice Cube

Global Cooling: Decade long ice age forecast as sun 'hibernates'

Jon Austin
Daily Express, UK
Sat, 07 Nov 2015 13:48 UTC
Image
© Getty
Scientists claim we are in for a decade-long freeze as the sun slows down solar activity by up to 60 per cent.

A team of European researchers have unveiled a scientific model showing that the Earth is likely to experience a "mini ice age" from 2030 to 2040 as a result of decreased solar activity.

Their findings will infuriate environmental campaigners who argue by 2030 we could be facing increased sea levels and flooding due to glacial melt at the poles.

However, at the National Astronomy Meeting in Wales, Northumbria University professor Valentina Zharkova said fluctuations an 11-year cycle of solar activity the sun goes through would be responsible for a freeze, the like of which has not been experienced since the 1600s.

From 1645 to 1715 global temperatures dropped due to low solar activity so much that the planet experienced a 70-year ice age known as Maunder Minimum which saw the River Thames in London completely frozen.
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Snowflake

Record-setting snow falls in Flagstaff, Arizona

Jennifer Thomas
KPHO
Thu, 05 Nov 2015 17:10 UTC
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© KPHO
Record-setting snow in the high country on Wednesday has made the roads slick, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT is warning drivers to watch for icy roads in northern Arizona. There have been a few reports of vehicles going off the sides of roads.

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 in Williams were closed for a short time Thursday morning to remove ice from a bridge at milepost 162. ADOT officials said Interstate 17 just south of Flagstaff is clear of snow, but drivers should expect a slick road surface. Temperatures in Flagstaff were in the 20s Thursday morning and it's expected to be in the teens Friday morning.

An overnight freeze warning is in effect for elevations between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. Schools in the Flagstaff Unified School District were on a two-hour delay Thursday. Flagstaff received nearly 9 inches of snow on Wednesday and more than 2 feet of snow fell at Arizona Snowbowl. Another round of snow could come next week. Snowbowl hopes to open Nov. 20.

Motorists heading up to the area should be sure to have blankets, warm clothes and a full tank of gas.
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Ice Cube

Number of August snow patches soars in Scotland

Iain Cameron
theiaincameron.tumblr.com
Fri, 06 Nov 2015 12:10 UTC
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A cold summer in Scotland has led to this incredible natural phenomena with remaining ice and snow forming a network of icy tunnels and caves clinging to the edge of mountains
At long last I have the complete figures in from the August 2015 snow survey that was conducted on the 21st and 22nd of that month. There were a couple of discrepancies up until recently, but I have now ironed these out.

The total number of patches counted across Scotland was 678 (see table below). This is way more than double the amount for 2014, and hundreds more than any year since the survey was started in 2008.

Totals since 2008

2008 - 34

2009 - 35

2010 - 34

2011 - 36

2012 - 72

2013 - 81

2014 - 281

2015 - 678
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Snowflake Cold

Ushuaia in Argentina covered by snow in the middle of Spring - Second weather anomaly in 48 hours


Strange Sounds
Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:33 UTC
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© Twitter
In Ushuaia it is Spring.

But the southernmost city in the world and the southern part of Tierra del Fuego is hit since two days by strong winds, low temperatures and snowfall. Very anomalous for November, isn't it?

The city of Ushuaia turned completely white on November 2, 2015.

The very unusual snow for November was accompanied by low temperatures down to zero Celsius and strong wind gusts varying in intensity.

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© Twitter
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