A derecho is a large wind storm that moves in long, straight lines instead of in a circle, like hurricanes and tornadoes do.   The winds can be more powerful than a hurricane and can go on for dozens or hundreds of miles.

The actual derecho won’t hit us.  It will break apart over Lake Michigan.  But pieces of it will head toward us.  When those pieces of cold, fast air hit the lazy, humid air that is sitting on top of us they will explode into a thunderstorm, or lines of thunderstorms.

There will be scattered storms throughout the morning.  The real strong ones will start late afternoon and early evening.

Expect strong winds and a chance of VERY strong winds, as well a chance of hail.  There is small chance of a tornado.  In our area there probably won’t be an actual funnel cloud, but probably tornado a warning.

If you have outside plans late this afternoon, or early this evening, consider changing them.  If you are attending the Manchester Fair tonight, be prepared to leave early and get to your car if things start to get dicey.

weather for the week of 1/12/14

It’s been going back and forth between snow and rain for a few days and it will continue to do so through tomorrow.  It may be icy out there, with possible .

After that it’s going to dip cold, and it’s going to stay that way all week.  Lows will get into the single digits at the end of the week.

There will be some snow accumulation, but only a couple of inches at most.  Standard week of winter weather.

for the National Weather Service forecast for our area.  This is a very “scientific” forecast.  There are A LOT of meteorological terms, and honestly I can’t keep up with all of them.  But if you Google a few, you’ll start to get a good understanding of some of the physics underneath our weather.  Tough reading, but totally worth it.

How Cold It Will Be On Christmas Eve Night

Most of what you want, not much of what you don’t.

It will snow a little today and tomorrow, but less than an inch. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after will be free from snow or ice and easy to travel.

It will be very cold on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Tuesday night will feel below zero with the wind chill.

Easy traveling, attractive amounts of snow, cold weather forcing you indoors – Merry Christmas.