Why the Southeast Drought?

As brought out in other posts, long-range weather forecasts are based on the planetary positions that occur at the times of the beginning of each season i.e. the equinoxes and solstices.


Each planet has been observed to govern a specific weather principle such as heat, moisture, cold, dryness etc.


The planet Mars has long been observed to coincide with intense heat waves and droughts with accompanying regional fire hazards.


Since the US Southeast has been experiencing drought conditions over the last few months we might expect that the influence of Mars is at work in that area of the country.

On May 22nd, Accuweather posted the map at right showing where drought and dry conditions were prevailing over the Southeast.

When compared with the Spring season's astro map (at left), we see the position of Mars on May 22nd falls exactly across the very area. (other planetary lines have been removed for ease of viewing)

Mars is on the move, however, and will be over the New England area by June 5th taking it's influence with it and being replaced by the planet Mercury (not shown).

Of course, drought conditions began much earlier than May, but these can be also traced to the influence of Mars over the eastern US in the astro map for the previous winter.

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May 27-29, 2007 Forecast Results

The Weather Alternative's long-range forecast for
May 27-29, 2007 was posted on April 19th. The forecast stated:

A storm system forming over the Mississippi Valley will intensify over the Northeast. One possible scenario calls for a strong surface low to crank up over the area ushering in gusty winds and rain as the system moves over the Northeast towards New England and Nova Scotia.

The above weather map, courtesy of Accuweather, shows their forecast for May 27th with strong storms over the Northeast. Following is their report. (Bold is mine)


Strong Storms Shift East Updated: Saturday, May 26, 2007 Accuweather
1:54 PM
Thunderstorms this week have been focused upon the
nation's midsection, but Sunday (27th) will see an eastward
shift in the thunderstorm breeding ground. Low pressure
tracking east of the northern Great Lakes will tap
warmth and moisture flowing northeastwards to spark an
outbreak of thunderstorms from western and northern Ohio
eastward to northern Pennsylvania, much of New York and
westernmost New England. There will be strong, gusty,
drenching storms in and near this corridor. What is
more, a few severe thunderstorms having high winds and
hail may erupt, mostly in the afternoon and into the
evening.

On another note, check out Lynn Hayes' blog Astrodynamics for some excellent insights.

Interesting quote:

One of the greatest diseases of the modern age is alienation, the feeling that life is meaningless and that we have no connection with anyone or anything else.
Rob Hand

So true! On the positive side, from my experience, God is the only One Who can give meaning to the Universe, purpose to the planets, love to your heart, peace to your mind, health to your body, rest to your spirit, and happiness to your life!

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Spring Out West Final Results

On March 20th of this year, The Weather Alternative issued a series of long-range weather forecasts entitled Spring Out West consisting of four forecasts. The forecasts were based on the position of the planet Mercury at the time of the Spring Equinox. As stated in that post, "the official start of each season provides information on the weather patterns that will affect a given area. This information enables astro-meteorologists to make long-range weather predictions weeks, months, and years in advance."

The planet Mercury is equated with windy and cooler conditions. As each forecast period arrives, I post the results of those forecasts using information from the National Weather Service, The Weather Channel, and Accuweather. Following is an overview of the accuracy of those forecasts, but first, here are the results of the last forecast for May 22-24, 2007.

The last forecast called for unsettled and windy conditions over the western States. (Bold is mine)

May 21- The Weather Channel

West
Scattered showers, isolated thunderstorms and high mountain snows will dominate areas from the Great Basin eastward tomorrow(22nd)...Busy winds will whip over the higher elevations of the Southwest.

May 21- National Weather Service

PENDLETON OR

A STRONG SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT COUPLED WITH A NORTHWESTERLY LOW LEVEL JET ABOVE THE SURFACE WILL LEAD TO STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS TODAY.

...STRONG PACIFIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO BRING STRONG WINDS TO EAST IDAHO TODAY...

May 23- National Weather Service

LAS VEGAS NV

GUSTY NORTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TODAY OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE CWA WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY.

LOS ANGELES CA

STRONG OFFSHORE GRADIENT TRENDS THIS MORNING BROUGHT NORTHEAST WINDS TO THE VTU/LA COUNTY MOUNTAINS,ANTELOPE VALLEY, AND SANTA CLARITA VALLEY TODAY.

May 24- National Weather Service

A CANADIAN WEATHER DISTURBANCE WILL ENTER WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN IDAHO TODAY. SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL IMPACT THE MOUNTAINS...AND LOCALLY BREEZY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OFTHE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

The first forecast in the series was for April 8-10 calling for windy conditions. These arrived on schedule as posted in the Forecasts Results.

The second forecast for April 12-14 called for a southerly airflow with the likelihood of precipitation. These conditions were also verified. (See Forecast Results)

The May 11-13 forecast called for stormy and windy conditions for the West Coast States. These were also verified in the Forecast Results.

All in all the long-range forecast series seems to back the aforementioned astrological belief regarding the planet Mercury's influence on weather systems.

In closing, here's a quote from Johannes Kepler the 17th century astronomer and astrologer, who not only discovered the planetary laws of motion but was also an astro-meteorologist.



The diversity of the phenomena of nature is so great, and the treasures hidden in the heavens so rich, precisely in order that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment.

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May 19-23, 2007 Forecast Results

The Weather Alternative post on April 19th presented two weather scenarios for May 19-23, 2007. One scenario called for an early tropical system to affect the Gulf Coast around Louisiana and Mississippi. The other made note of a possible severe weather system over the Rockies with the likelihood of strong storms over the Colorado-New Mexico area that would transit eastward and strengthen over Louisiana and Mississippi.

This second scenario is the one that has been developing over the country's midsection.

On May 21st, Accuweather reported the following over the Rockies:

The clash of warm moist air flowing north from of the Gulf of Mexico with incoming cool dry air ahead of a cold front moving through the northern High Plains and central Rockies will lead to the eruption of the intense thunderstorms. The strongest storms will be capable of
producing damaging winds gusts in excess of 60 mph, large hail and isolated tornadoes. With an abundance of moisture in the atmosphere, any of the thunderstorms could also deliver a drenching downpour.

The severe weather system did not just strengthen over the Louisiana-Mississippi area as anticipated in the long-range forecast, but it strengthened over a large portion of the U.S. midsection. However, in and near the forecast area severe weather did occur as shown in the
folowing report and graphic from Accuweather:

Arklatex Flooding ConcernsUpdated: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 8:12 AM

The northern Plains will not be the only part of the nation to be threatened by flooding today. Rich moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will combine with a disturbance in the upper atmosphere to spread drenching thunderstorms across the Arklatex. The heavy bursts of rain will have difficulty seeping into the ground, with flooding as the result, especially in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

As of tonight the storm system continues to threaten the U.S. midsection with tornadoes and severe storms:

Tornadoes and Severe Storms Updated: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 5:14 PM

A big thunderstorm outbreak over the midsection of the nation will bring the threat of tornadoes along with other severe weather right into Wednesday night.

The National Weather Service also reported a low-pressure system over Louisiana today:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

NEW ORLEANS LA610 AM CDT WED MAY 23 2007

DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHTAN UPPER LOW OVER THE AREA TODAY WILL PROVIDE A BETTERPROBABILITY OF THUNDERSTORMS. SOME OF THESE MAY BECOME STRONG WITHGUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAINFALL.

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May 11-13, 2007 Forecast Results

The Weather Alternative forecast for May 11-13, 2007 was posted on March 20, 2007. The forecast called for stormy and windy conditions to affect the West Coast States.

The Weather Channel described the storminess during this period as follows: Widely scattered afternoon thundershowers are expected each afternoon through the weekend in the interior Northwest and Rockies. Coverage of thundershowers should increase with each passing day, as upper-level energy from the Pacific Ocean rotates into the Northwest Saturday (12th) & Sunday (13th).

Windy conditions developed over the area as well.

CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PENDLETON OR
545 AM PDT FRI MAY 11 2007

ON SATURDAY... A SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL RESULT IN BREEZY WINDS ACROSS THE BASIN AND WINDY (LOCALLY VERY WINDY) CONDITIONS IN THE KITTITAS VALLEY AND THE EASTERN COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE.

May 12- The Weather Channel
Breezy to windy conditions may also develop across parts of the West, especially the interior mountains, in response to the cold front moving in across the north.

May 12- Accuweather
Gusty winds off the coast of Southern California have been fueling a wildfire on Catalina Island. According to Associated Press, the fire that began Thursday afternoon has grown to 4,000 acres, feeding on the dry brush on the island. (See foto above)

RED FLAG WARNINGNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
FLAGSTAFF AZ524 AM MST SAT MAY 12 2007

STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA TODAY AHEAD OF A PACIFIC TROUGH OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST. BY THIS AFTERNOON... EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST OF 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 40 MPH.

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May 8-10, 2007 Forecast Results

The Weather Alternative forecast for May 8-10, 2007 issued on April 19th called for severe weather potential over the Northeast and New England as well as the Rockies due to low pressure systems. (Bold is mine)

Northeast and New England

May 10-Accuweather.com

After days of sunshine and warm temperatures, the Northeast is bracing for the potential of severe thunderstorms developing this evening. The clash of cooler air moving into the region and warm moist air already in place has sparked the development of thunderstorm cells over Pennsylvania and western New York.

Isolated damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats of the thunderstorms as they move east into New England this evening. The Severe Weather Center lists the storm-related Watches and Warnings in effect from central Pennsylvania across upstate New York into northern Vermont.

Earlier today, strong winds downed power lines in Willseyville, N.Y., while hail was reported in Oneida County in upstate New York. Overnight, cooler air will stabilize the atmosphere and diminish the intensity of the storms.

The Rocky Mountains

The National Weather Service reported the following:

315 PM CDT TUE MAY 8 2007

...HEAVY RAIN WILL CONTINUE ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY...

.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM OVER THE ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO BORDER THIS AFTERNOON... AND A STATIONARY FRONT ACROSS THE PERMIAN BASIN AND LOWER TRANS PECOS... WILL COMBINE TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE STORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. THESE STORMS WHEN COMBINED WITH HEAVY RAIN OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS HAS CREATED THE POTENTIAL FOR A PROLONGED FLASH FLOODING EVENT.

May 10- The Weather Channel

Deep low pressure aloft over the Rockies that had taken its time moving east this week, inflicting day after day of severe weather and inundating rain over the Plains has been replaced by a drier, upper-level ridge of high pressure.

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April 28-30, 2007 Forecast Results

The Weather Alternative Forecast for April 28-30, 2007 (posted April 7) called for an intense cold front and high velocity winds over the Rockies and Front Range.

Windy conditions were experienced in some locations as shown below, but the whole area experienced much warmer conditions in direct opposition to the expected cold front. It seems that the present weather pattern developing over the West is more in line with what I expected for the April 28-30 time period.

411 AM CDT SAT APR 28 2007 /311 AM MDT SAT APR 28 2007/
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTHDAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.


...BREEZY WESTERLY WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED AS ALOW PRESSURE SYSTEM SLIDES ACROSS THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER.

Slow Storm Aims for TexasUpdated: Saturday, April 28, 2007 4:04 PM
A slow storm wending its way northeast from the Sea of Cortez will have a significant impact starting Sunday upon upcoming weather over Texas and neighboring states. This sluggish storm will tap into warmth and moisture wafting in from the western Gulf of Mexico, thereby triggering outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms. Sunday, the area for showers and thunderstorms will reach from the West Texas Panhandle into the Permian basin while also spanning much of New Mexico. A few strong and even severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail will erupt here.

954 AM MDT SUN APR 29 2007
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE.

RECORD WARM TEMPERATURES ARE STILL EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS THE NEBRASKA PANHANDLE WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. THE WARM READINGS WILL COMBINE WITH LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES OF 10 TO15 PERCENT AND WEST WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH THIS AFTERNOON TO CREATE FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

928 AM MDT SUN APR 29 2007 /828 AM PDT SUN APR 29 2007/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO...NORTHWEST MONTANA AND WEST CENTRAL MONTANA.


A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE AREA TODAY...PRODUCING SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AS IT PASSES. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS WEATHER SYSTEM...

446 AM PDT SUN APR 29 2007
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST OREGON AS WELL AS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON.

A DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TODAY. THISSYSTEM WILL BRING BREEZY TO LOCALLY WINDY CONDITIONS WITH SLIGHTLYCOOLER TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION.



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