December 21, 2006 Forecast Results

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Some History of Astro-Meteorology

Included in my December 15th post was the following forecast:

If we zero in on the blue line running approximately over 113 west longitude through the Great Basin area , we should be able to time a couple of weather patterns that will develop there this winter. The blue line represents the planet Uranus. On the very day of the winter solstice, Mars will form a 90 degree angle to Uranus. The atmosphere should respond with an energetic winter storm over this area. Wind is usually a salient feature with this planetary combination. We usually give a day or so on either side of the exact date.

Looking a day or so before the 21st, we find the following Accuweather report on the 19th:

Potent Winter Storm Taking Shape (State College, PA) - A powerful storm will slowly emerge out of the Desert Southwest through Wednesday (20th), with heavy blowing snow over the eastern Rockies today and treacherous ice coating the southern Plains...The radar from Amarillo, Tex., indicates freezing rain is falling this morning as the potent storm spins over Arizona.

Dec 20th- Accuweather

Before emerging out of the Rockies, the storm on Tuesday (19th) brought a variety of precipitation to the Four Corners region and southern Plains. Snow fell in Las Vegas, Nev., and schools were closed in Albuquerque, NM.

Dec 20th- The Weather Channel

In the Pacific Northwest, another storm system is coming ashore today bring valley rain/mountain snow and wind to the Cascades today through Thursday (21st).

This second system will dive southeastward over the next several days bringing more wide spread wind/mountain snow/valley rain in the Northwest on Thursday, the Intermountain West by Friday, and to the Four Corners and southern Rockies by Saturday.

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Wind advisories are in effect over the forecast area. Below are a few examples.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV

320 PM PST THU DEC 21 2006

...SYNOPSIS... A FAST MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE STATE TONIGHT AND FRIDAY BRINGING THE POTENTIAL OF RAIN AND SNOW TO PORTIONS OF THE REGION.

WINDS BEHIND THIS SYSTEM ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE FRIDAY NIGHT WITH MANY AREAS EXPERIENCING WINDY CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

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NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT

844 PM MST THU DEC 21 2006

FRIDAY EVENING WILL BRING A WINDY PERIOD TO SOUTHWEST UTAH…

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NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA

351 PM PST THU DEC 21 2006

...HIGH WIND WATCHES CONTINUE FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA...