The Calm Before the Storm

Accuweather warns us that Another significant storm is set to develop over the Plains during the next couple of days and move eastward. This system will begin to build Thursday, then strengthen Friday and Saturday while heading for the mid-Atlantic. Ample Gulf moisture and a deep low pressure system will combine to create violent, severe storms along the low's track.



This will coincide with The Weather Alternative's long-range forecast for March 14-16: Another potentially active period over the Mississippi Valley and eastward. Severe thunderstorms are possible.

The Weather Alternative also carries a long-range weather forecast for this weekend for out West.

March 15-19

This will be an active period for the West Coast. Mercury and Venus will perfect their oppositions to Saturn. All of these are located along the California coast and promise a parade of storms over the area between these dates.

The Accuweather map above shows a storm that will produce rain and mountain snow showers this weekend, although they are unaware that the oppositions from Mercury and Venus to Saturn are behind the storm.

The Weather Alternative forecast for March 11-13 called for Windy conditions or storms packing dangerous winds are indicated over the Mississippi Valley area.

So far this forecast period, which ends tomorrow, has not shown much in the way of winds. There have been a few reports, however, from Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. The National Weather Service reported today that:

SHREVEPORT LA 521 AM CDT WED MAR 12 2008

ON THURSDAY AS THE SURFACE HIGH IN THE GULF MOVES EAST AND A SURFACE LOW TAKES SHAPE OVER THE PAN HANDLES OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL BE TIGHTENING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA ON THURSDAY AS WE WILL BE BETWEEN THE LOW TO THE NORTHWEST AND HIGH OFF TO THE EAST. EXPECT SURFACE WINDS TO INCREASING FROM THE SOUTH AND APPROACHING LAKE WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA INTO THE MID DAY HOURS AND INTO THE AFTERNOON.

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS AS WELL AS MUCH OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

BREEZY ...BUT CONTINUED WARM TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE RULE TODAY AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN LOW PRESSURE TO THE NORTH AND HIGH PRESSURE TO THE SOUTH.

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

MODERATELY GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK FOR RAPIDLY SPREADING GRASS FIRES..

March Forecasts

Introduction to the Weather Alternative

How Long-Range Forecasts Are Made

I Would Like To Buy A Hamburger- Inspector Clouseau