Friday, November 18, 2011

Weather It Is (Sleigh Bells Are Ringing)

Good Friday Morning, Erev Shabbat:

Cold air continues to stream southward and this general weather pattern will continue for the next few days.  This cold air is helping to strengthen and build-up a "real" winter storm -- one that lasts more than a few hours -- actually a few days. Rain will be widespread form the north into the Arava.

Looking ahead to next week.  Our weather depends on the possible phasing of the northern Jet-Stream with the more sub-tropical Jet-Stream over our area.  Very, very cold air is forecast to plunge southward during mid-week.  If a weak storm moving across the Mediterranean is able to couple with this cold air, there will be another major winter storm.

Stay tuned -- Shabbat Shalom.

Barry Lynn

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Weather It Is (Winter on the way)

Good Saturday evening:

After an absolutely beautiful Shabbat (Saturday), which was really part of a string of beautiful days, winter is on the way.  It's actually on the way quite a bit earlier than last year, when winter finally came in a ferocious windy storm that blew tiles off roofs, as well as helping to spread the largest and deadliest fire in Israel history. That storm actually ended with a bit of snow in the center and more in the north, but this one will probably be just plain rain everywhere.  Still, it looks to be quite a bit of rain, so now is the time to unfurl the umbrella and check children's boots -- as a rainy day is almost as fun as a snowy day -- if you have a good rain coat and waterproof boots.

Barry Lynn

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Weather It Is (Winter on the way)

As we take a look at our forecast maps, we get a strong indication that winter is on the way, and even looking forward the weather maps looks more and more like winter.

Of course, the pages of the calender are turning and we should be headed towards winter.  Yet, I can remember many a past winter season where winter just didn't seem to come.  What was winter seems to come less frequently, even though severe weather seems to occur more often -- consistent with global climate change predictions.

A fairly strong winter storm should approach tomorrow and spread rain tomorrow from the north to the center (by sometime tomorrow night).  It looks like to be our first general and real winter rain, so it's a good idea to seal up any holes or leaks that might be leftover from last winter or summer months.

Of course, some people's leaks are really holes -- holes from missiles fired from Gaza.  My guess is that certain European countries must sell rain or water damage insurance, since they keep telling us that we should open up the sea-border so the Gazans can import larger and more powerful missiles.

I find it odd that the missiles have stopped while we contemplated a ground assault (through the mud, apparently).  But, like the upcoming storms and rains, the calm will end for this reason or that, and then we'll contemplate again (and the Europeans will say: don't build houses -- build missiles instead.

Barry Lynn