Sunday, February 01, 2004

posted by: copernicus on 2/01/2004 04:37:00 AM
Here is an example of the wonderful world of meteorology. The weather forecast for Kansas City on Sunday, according to local news sources:

1. "On Saturday the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill predicted 4 inches of snow..."
2. "...the weather service had projected around 10 inches of snow accumulation..."
3. "...more favorable for freezing rain and sleet than snow...”
4. "It looks like most of the precipitation Sunday will be light..."
5. "Forecasters had thought the warm air moving in with the low-pressure system would create heavy snow in Kansas City as it encountered the cold air from Canada. Instead, that warm air will turn the snow to rain."
6. "Once snowflakes encounter warm air at about 3,000 feet, they melt and become raindrops,” Koch said. “As those raindrops come in contact with subfreezing roads, trees and power lines, they will become ice.”
7. "...computer models still predicted heavy snowfall — as much as 10 to 12 inches."
8. "“I'd say 6 to 10 (inches).”
9. “I'd say 2 to 4 inches Sunday (beginning in the afternoon) and another 2 to 4 inches overnight, with possibly another dusting Monday morning.”

I think I'll get out my shorts just to be safe.