It’s that time of year again.  Daylight Saving Time officially ends tonight.  Don’t forget to set  your clocks back one hour before you go to bed.  I love gaining an hour of sleep, but I’m not the biggest fan of very short days.  Check out this link below for the reasons why we observe DST and its history.  Also notice that not everyone observes DST.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time

Rain and thunderstorms are on the radar to our West.  Virtually all of the computer models keep the bulk of the energy away from us.  While computer models are not perfect and always correct, I’m trusting them this time around.  It is a trend that needs to be watched however.  These showers will reach the area Tuesday.  Prepare for a wet day with highs in the middle 60s.  More rain will move toward the area later in the week as our weather pattern remains fairly progressive.  Click on the link below for the position of our latest cold front.

http://www.intellicast.com/National/Surface/Current.aspx

WHOA! Overnight lows in Tupelo and in Jakson (TN) dipped into the 30s.

The good news is that sunshine and southeasterly winds will drive temps back close to the 70-degree mark for just about everyone.

Even Monday will be warm, but the possibility of p.m. rain looms and could last into part of Tuesday.

We will keep you posted.

NOAA: Global Surface Temperature Was Second Warmest for September

The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the second warmest September on record, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Based on records going back to 1880, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

NCDC scientists also reported that the average land surface temperature for September was the second warmest on record, behind 2005. Additionally, the global ocean surface temperature was tied for the fifth warmest on record for September.

Global Temperature Highlights

• The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 1.12 degrees F above the 20th century average of 59.0 degrees F. Separately the global land surface temperature was 1.75 degrees F above the 20th century average of 53.6 degrees F.
• Warmer-than-average temperatures engulfed most of the world’s land areas during the month. The greatest warmth occurred across Canada and the northern and western contiguous United States. Warmer-than-normal conditions also prevailed across Europe, most of Asia and Australia.
• The worldwide ocean temperature tied with 2004 as the fifth warmest September on record, 0.90 degree F above the 20th century average of 61.1 degrees F. The near-Antarctic southern ocean and the Gulf of Alaska featured notable cooler-than-average temperatures.

Other Highlights

• Arctic sea ice covered an average 2.1 million square miles in September – the third lowest for any September since records began in 1979. The coverage was 23.8 percent below the 1979-2000 average, and the 13^th consecutive September with below-average Arctic sea ice extent.
• Antarctic sea ice extent in September was 2.2 percent above the 1979-2000 average. This was the third largest September extent on record, behind 2006 and 2007. 
• Typhoon Ketsana became 2009’s second-deadliest tropical cyclone so far, claiming nearly 500 lives across the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The storm struck the Philippines on September 26, leaving 80 percent of Manila submerged.

Scientists, researchers, and leaders in government and industry use NCDC’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world’s climate. The data have a wide range of practical uses, from helping farmers know what and when to plant, to guiding resource managers with critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the oceans to surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov

On the Web:

NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov

We’ve had cloudy skies this morning, and we’re tracking showers coming in from eastern Arkansas.  The key is the series of upper-level disturbances that will move through the region, providing multiple chances for rain between now and Thursday.

The weekend does look pretty nice, though.  Temps will take about an eight to 10 degree drop by Friday and it looks like the weekend will be just swell!

Don’t forget to check our radar before heading out from home/the office.

The September 2009 average temperature for the contiguous United States was above the long-term average, according to NOAA’s monthly State of the Climate report issued today. Based on records going back to 1895, the monthly National Climatic Data Center analysis is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides.

The average September temperature of 66.4 degrees F was 1.0 degree F above the 20^th Century average.  Precipitation across the contiguous United States in September averaged 2.48 inches, exactly the 1901-2000 average.

U.S. Temperature Highlights

• Below-normal temperatures across parts of the south and Northeast were offset by record high values in the West and above normal temperatures in the Northwest and northern tier states resulting in a higher average temperature for the contiguous United States.
• Both California and Nevada experienced their warmest September of the 115-year record. Additionally California, Nevada, Montana and North Dakota posted their third warmest, Idaho its fourth warmest, Utah fifth warmest, Minnesota sixth warmest, and Oregon registered its eighth warmest.
• On a regional level, the West experienced its warmest September on record. The Northwest and West North Central experienced their sixth and eleventh warmest such periods. Below-normal temperatures were recorded in the South and Northeast.

U.S. Precipitation Highlights

• While precipitation equaled the long-term average for the contiguous U.S., regional amounts varied widely. The South experienced its sixth-wettest September, which was countered by the sixth-driest period around the Great Lakes and upper Midwest region.
• Arkansas registered its second wettest September, Tennessee its fifth, with Mississippi and Alabama posting their sixth wettest on record. Despite notable and flood-producing rains in northern Georgia, drier conditions near the coast kept the state’s overall average out of the top ten.
• Maine and Wisconsin each experienced their fourth driest September and both New Hampshire and Michigan had their seventh driest such periods.
• By the end of September, moderate-to-exceptional drought covered 15 percent of the contiguous United States, based on the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought intensified in the Upper Midwest and eastern Carolinas, while remaining entrenched in much of the West. Drought conditions remain severe in south Texas, despite some improvement.

Other Highlights

• During September, 5,535 fires burned approximately 378,523 acres — both were below the 2000-2009 average for the month. The acreage burned by wildfires was roughly half of the 2000-2009 average. For the January-September period, 70,217 fires were reported, which is slightly above the 10-year average, while acreage burned is slightly less than average.

 NCDC’s preliminary reports, which assess the current state of the climate, are released soon after the end of each month. These analyses are based on preliminary data, which are subject to revision.  Additional quality control is applied to the data when late reports are received several weeks after the end of the month and as increased scientific methods improve NCDC’s processing algorithms.

Scientists, researchers, and leaders in government and industry use NCDC’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world’s climate. The data have a wide range of practical uses, from helping farmers know what to plant, to guiding resource managers with critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets.

Monday was cool with a few sprinkles.  I was looking for something to do, so I thought I’d catch a sneak peek of the new exhibit.  Here are a couple pics from the new Teton Trek portion of the Memphis Zoo.

Wolves at the Teton Trek exhibit.

A look over the bear exhibit at the Memphis Zoo's Teton Trek.

If you haven’t been yet, it’s a fantastic addition to the zoo.  It’s adjacent to the Northwest Passage (where the polar bears hang out) and will feature grizzly bears, elk, and an up close and personal view of grey wolves.  The picture above doesn’t do justice to the expanse the wolves are afforded.  Here’s the large area they get…

The grey wolves' exhibit.

On to today’s weather.  A cold front is making a beeline for the area, and it looks like rain and thundershowers will be a part of our afternoon and evening.  We’re closely tracking its progress on STORM TRACK DOPPLER 5.  Southerly winds will bump temps into the mid 70s.

Rain continues to develop in Texas along a stalled out frontal boundary.  This front will slowly edge North and likely bring rain to the Mid-South on Sunday.  It looks like the best chances for heavier rain will reside in North Mississippi.  Lower chances exist in the Missouri Bootheel and Northwest Tennessee.  Memphis is right in the middle, and should at least see a few showers, especially in the PM hours.  The rain should hold temperatures down tomorrow, and we may actually stay shy of the 70 degree mark.  For a look at the latest radar image, click the link below.

http://www.wmctv.com/Global/link.asp?L=367912