In a great read from Climate Central, Brian Kahn talks about how the moderately inactive 2013 tornado season and the – what seems to be – quiet start to the 2014 season are no reason to let your guard down.

So far this season there have only been 49 tornadoes reported. By this time last year the United States was already topping the 130 mark for total tornadoes.in 2012, the US was around 160 total tornadoes at this time.

But, as Brian points out, the drought might be playing a big role in the lower numbers.

Read More: Where are the Tornadoes? Slow Start, but No Guarantees

NOAA releases spring forecast

NOAA released the spring outlook for the United States and in the limbo of a not-quite-an-El-Nino-or-La-Nina year it is as “keeping with the same pace” as ever. The forecast calls for above average temperatures to continue across parts of the southwest and below average temperatures to continue across parts of the upper midwest. The precipitation forecast isn’t what a lot… Read more →

SPC MD 201

MD 0201 CONCERNING HEAVY SNOW FOR PARTS OF CNTRL MAINE AND CNTRL NH MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0201 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1046 PM CDT WED MAR 19 2014 AREAS AFFECTED…PARTS OF CNTRL MAINE AND CNTRL NH CONCERNING…HEAVY SNOW VALID 200346Z – 200745Z SUMMARY…SNOWFALL RATES AROUND 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE LATE THIS EVENING AND INTO THE OVERNIGHT /04-08Z/…. Read more →

NOAA released its global analysis for February 2014 this morning. Interesting to see it in graphical form (below).

The most interesting coincidence is that the sea ice extent at the north and south pole are the fourth-lowest and fourth-highest, respectively, on record. Another highlight was that the combined average global temperature, at 0.41°C (0.74°F) above the 20th century average, was the 21st-highest February average on record. It tied with 2001.

Take a look: NCDC February Analysis

NOAA global analysis graphic // Courtesy: NOAA

SPC MD 200

MD 0200 CONCERNING HEAVY SNOW FOR N CENTRAL NEB TO E CENTRAL SD AND CENTRAL MN MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0200 NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 1010 AM CDT TUE MAR 18 2014 AREAS AFFECTED…N CENTRAL NEB TO E CENTRAL SD AND CENTRAL MN CONCERNING…HEAVY SNOW VALID 181510Z – 181915Z SUMMARY…A NARROW SNOW BAND WILL BE MAINTAINED AND ONLY DRIFT N-NW… Read more →