SNOWING NOW IN MERIDIAN MS!!!

[OtherHD]

I'd like to believe you Valkhorn. After all, what's worse? Having snow or not having snow?

[Lindaloo]

I'd like to believe you Valkhorn. After all, what's worse? Having snow or not having snow?

I would like to have some snow.

[GalvestonDuck]

Forgive me, but it's "classically."

[southerngale]

I would like to have some snow too!

[Lindaloo]

Wow what a world. The only person who actually lives in the area isnt even believed...

No one else in this forum lives in that town. And yet, people stupifyingly don't believe me.

What a world.

Meridian is a big city. Is it not possible that there could have been some places in Meridian that did see some snow? You keep telling us stupifying people in this forum that there was no snow, but you offer us no proof either way. Would it be possible for you to share some facts to back you up?

[Johnny]

Here is my 2 cents.
I live outside of Conroe. Early one morning two years ago my father in law called me up and said there were flakes falling in the city of Conroe early that morning. My dad happened to be in town and called me up and said the same thing. These were the only two people I heard it from. There were no radio or T.V. reports, just from my father in law and my old man. No word of mouth either. Wheather Valkhorn wants to admit it or not, there could of been some flakes in Meridian and he didn't hear about it. I don't care if he lives there and I don't. In no way does that prove his case. I don't know why he thinks it does? Here is a simple question for you Valkhorn.

Do you think their is any way possible that some flakes could of fell in Meridian and you didn't hear about it? Yes or No?

[Valkhorn]

Meridian isn't a big city there...

Anyways for me I don't really care - snow or no snow. All I care about is the truth.

The truth isn't what you want it to be, it simply is what is.

[will]

Meridian isn't a big city there...

Anyways for me I don't really care - snow or no snow. All I care about is the truth.

The truth isn't what you want it to be, it simply is what is.

You're being illogical. Yeah, none of us live there...but nothing we're asserting would make that necessary. All we're doing is saying that there were several reports of snowfall around central MS, followed by even more reports to your south, east and north. I don't care if you didn't see it, you weren't standing outside the entire night in order to verify any of it. The fact of the matter is there was ample precip returns on the radar, the temperature was sufficient, there was snow reported virtually everywhere around you and the only evidence in opposition is that you looked outside a couple times and saw nothing. Not good enough...YOUR TOWN GOT SNOW.
I have no idea why this is such a big deal to you...you're being terribly anal.
Personally, I'm more willing to believe the combined evidence that you got snow, the evidence I listed above, vs your one sole report that there was no snow the couple of minutes that you looked outside.
It's as simple as that to me and everyone else. Why can't you see this?

[PTrackerLA]

Meridian isn't a big city there...

Anyways for me I don't really care - snow or no snow. All I care about is the truth.

The truth isn't what you want it to be, it simply is what is.

You're being illogical. Yeah, none of us live there...but nothing we're asserting would make that necessary. All we're doing is saying that there were several reports of snowfall around central MS, followed by even more reports to your south, east and north. I don't care if you didn't see it, you weren't standing outside the entire night in order to verify any of it. The fact of the matter is there was ample precip returns on the radar, the temperature was sufficient, there was snow reported virtually everywhere around you and the only evidence in opposition is that you looked outside a couple times and saw nothing. Not good enough...YOUR TOWN GOT SNOW.
I have no idea why this is such a big deal to you...you're being terribly anal.
Personally, I'm more willing to believe the combined evidence that you got snow, the evidence I listed above, vs your one sole report that there was no snow the couple of minutes that you looked outside.
It's as simple as that to me and everyone else. Why can't you see this?

I couldn't have said it any better myself!

[senorpepr]

A couple of flakes is NOT "Light Snow". Those are flurries.

With all do respect, I must correct you here. In an official observation, there is no term for flurries. Flurries is considered light snow. As for the Meridian ob... it said light snow showers (-SHSN). A light snow shower is any snow event falling at an unconstant intensity (thus showers) that do not decrase visibility to or less than a 1/2 mile.

Now I cannot say if it did snowed or not. It was an automated sensor. I don't know if there was an actual person "baby-sitting" the ASOS. This occurs at most airports. Although the observation says it's automated, there is a person at stand-by making sure the ASOS doesn't error. However, I will say if the meteorological conditions are met and the sensors do read snow... flurries or not... it will encode light snow showers.

Bottom line here is that I'm saying a couple of flakes, according to the METAR code -- which drive these observations, is light snow or light snow showers... not flurries.

[senorpepr]

To piggy-back on my last reply...

You can look at Air Force Manual 15-111 (AFMAN 15-111) which utilizes the Federal Meteorological Handbook #1 (FMH-1) and the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Aviation Routine Weather Reports (FM-15 METAR) and Aviation Selected Special Weather Reports (FM-16 SPECI) by going to the following website...

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/15/afman15-111/afman15-111.pdf

[senorpepr]

Not to beat this in anymore, but I wanted to get a little bit more information on the subject. I did a lot of research on the specific observation and the observation site. If I'm not mistaken, the observation that started this whole conversation is the 06/0053Z ob from Meridian/Key Field, Mississippi.

The raw METAR ob was...

Code: Select all

KMEI 060053Z 36012KT 9SM OVC016 03/01 A3029 RMK AO2 SNB27E44 SLP258 P0000 T00280006=

If you break this down, the observation says:

Code: Select all

Meridian/Key MS
06 January 2004 0053Z

Winds: N @ 14MPH
Visibility: 9SM
Weather: None
Sky Condition: Overcast @ 1600ft
Temperature: 37F
Dewpoint: 33F
Pressure: 30.29"

Remarks:
Station Type: Automated w/ human observer at stand-by
Snow Began: 06/0027Z
Snow Ended: 06/0044Z
Sea Level Pressure: 1025.8mb
Precip: None

Before I go any further, I will say that KNMM (Meridian Naval Air Station/Mc Cain Field) did not report any snow, whatsoever. It should also be noted that KMEI is located on the SW side of Meridian whereas KNMM is well to the NE of Meridian.

(KMEI site location: http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen?lon=-88.7516666666667&lat=32.3333333333333&mark=-88.7516666666667,32.3333333333333,bigdot,MEI)

(KNMM site location: http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen?lon=-88.555&lat=32.5516666666667&mark=-88.555,32.5516666666667,bigdot,NMM)

Now... after doing more research on KMEI, I found out that KMEI has automated sensors, thus the AO2 in the observation. However, during the time of 6:00am to 10:00pm, a NWS-certified weather observer is on station to ensure properly encoded observations are sent. Simply, his/her job is to catch the errors the automated sensor will produce. He/She will also manually encode items such as precip if the sensor cannot pick it up, for example in this observation: SNB27E44. What this tells me is the observer saw a few snow flakes (flurries) that did not warrent a SPECI (special) observation. Nonetheless, it did "flurry" for 17 minutes.

Finally, the National Weather Service in Jackson does acknowledge the snow report out of Meridian. However, the total snowfall total is unclear because at 2353Z, when the ASOS (automated observing station) calculates the precip data, it was skewed by the rainshowers and thunderstorms that occured during the early morning hours. However, my guess would be a trace. With the temperatures at what they were, a few little flakes fell and melted on contact. Bottom line.

Now going back to the observation hours, the times when the observer is "at work" the ob will have a AO2 remark, but no AUTO remark, such as:

Code: Select all

KMEI 080353Z 27004KT 10SM OVC080 01/M06 A3048 RMK AO2 SLP325 T00061061;

However, when the normal duty day ends, the AUTO remark is added between the time and wind reports, such as:

Code: Select all

KMEI 080753Z AUTO 15004KT 10SM OVC060 02/M10 A3041 RMK AO2 SLP299 T00221100;

I welcome any comments on this information. Like I said before, I'm not trying to beat this into the ground. That has already been done. What I'm trying to do is research this event more for the educational purposes of not only myself, but others.

[KatDaddy]

It can be in the 40s and snow in the South. Houston experienced its last snowfall in Feb of 94 or 95. When it started the temps were in the low to mid 40s. It snowed for several hours and brought the temps down to near freezing. Since it had been warm the snow melted on contact. It all depends on the depth of the cold in the atmosphere. So yes it can sleet and snow with surface temps in the 40s

[senorpepr]

Yes, I remember a couple of winters in Germany where it would be snowing and the temperature was in the low 40s. It all goes back to the depth of the cold air within the atmosphere.

[vbhoutex]

MIke, thanks for the research and the education on obs. Good work!!! And now the issue is FINALLY SETTLED!!!!

[wrkh99]

So we can move on now ?

[senorpepr]

I think so.... I hope so....