Our Thanksgiving storm system looks to be on track......rain Wednesday from New Orleans to Nashville to Cincinnati to Buffalo with the eastern edge reaching Atlanta....a narrow band of moderate snow on the backside from Northern Missouri across Southeast Iowa, Western Illinois into Wisconsin. The associated front reaches the First Coast Thanksgiving Day with rain spreading from west to east. Temperatures will still be mild but rain should begin by late morning from Waycross to Lake City then to the I-95 corridor & metro Jax in the afternoon & Palatka, St. Augustine by late afternoon. While there might be a few rumbles of thunder, I do not expect much in the way of thunderstorms nor much in the way of heavy rainfall amounts. But plan on some rain for the holiday.
Friday will be breezy & much cooler but the next storm will be quick to move in & looks to be stronger than the Thanksgiving Day storm. Saturday will be a raw, damp day with showers developing in advance of the return of the T'giving Day front but this time as a warm front. It looks like the front will move north of the region Sunday allowing for much warmer temps. again & probably not a lot of rain on Sunday itself except for some morning showers near & north of I-10 & possibly just an isolated afternoon shower or thundershower. Then another cold front moves in late Sunday night-Monday with a round of showers & thunderstorms. Depending on how thing evolve, we could see some strong storms Mon.
Below is the national radar courtesy NOAA. All the weather "action" will be in the Central & Eastern U.S. this week while the west will be quiet.
This press release today from the Florida Highway Patrol:
Tallahassee – Lt. Colonel John Czernis, interim director for the Florida Highway Patrol, announced today the kick-off of FHP’s statewide enforcement efforts in advance of the heavily traveled Thanksgiving holiday weekend. "To ensure the safest possible driving environment for the people of Florida, each of our ten troops has developed a comprehensive traffic law enforcement plan that addresses impaired driving, safety belt use and child restraint violations, aggressive driving, speeding, and other hazardous moving violations," said Lt. Colonel Czernis. "Greater compliance to traffic laws would go a long way towards curbing the number of traffic related deaths in our state," added Czernis.
The Florida Highway Patrol reminds all motorists that traffic will increase significantly along Florida's roadways during the upcoming 120-hour Thanksgiving holiday weekend, beginning at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, November 21, continuing through midnight Sunday, November 25, 2007. In an effort to increase the Patrol's presence on Florida roadways, office operations for all sworn personnel have been canceled effective at the close of the workday on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. All FHP sworn personnel normally assigned to administrative duties will be reassigned to patrol duties on high volume roadways throughout the five-day holiday period. "The increased presence of our troopers during holiday periods is of immeasurable benefit to the motoring public," stated Lt. Colonel Czernis.
FHP troopers, however, need the public's help to reduce fatalities and personal injury collisions. The FHP cautions motorists not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol and not to drive tired or drowsy (fatigued). It is important that motorists take responsibility for their own driving actions and obey all traffic laws. FHP troopers will be out in force watching for those drivers who choose to break the law by driving in ways that endanger themselves and others.
Notably, during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday period, 48 persons were killed in 45 crashes: 11 (58%) of the 19 drivers and passengers who were killed in vehicles equipped with safety belts were not using them; also, 20 (42%) of the deaths were alcohol-related.
The Florida Highway Patrol would like to remind everyone to Move Over when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle making use of any visual signals is parked or a wrecker displaying amber rotating or flashing lights is performing a recovery or loading on the roadside. Motorists are also urged to contact the FHP or local law enforcement officials when reporting an impaired, aggressive, or dangerous driver. To reach the Florida Highway Patrol, simply dial *FHP (*347) from a cellular phone. Callers can remain anonymous. Motorists who experience car trouble on the highway or otherwise need assistance from the FHP are also encouraged to use *FHP.
Airport delays are already scattered throughout the Eastern U.S. & will only get worse Wed. The map below is courtesy USA Today:
For more airport info....go to the Air Traffic Control Command Center courtesy the FAA.
