The headlines have all switched as we look ahead to Christmas. A lot of the country is going to see temperatures that are much warmer than normal, which is an about face after a particularly brisk beginning to the month. Our forecast in Hot Springs called for temperatures that were below freezing on Sunday and Monday morning. Fortunately, with the clear skies in the afternoon, temperatures were able to bounce back, and highs were warmer than the forecasts called for, even if they weren’t “warm” per se. Clime came away with the top forecast. Actuals: Last Sunday, High 42, Low 22 Last Monday, High 47, Low 20
Let’s head west! Our drive is a little bit longer than the previous one, with this one coverinf three time zones, 4 days and 2,088 miles. We will be able to enjoy the luxuries of highway travel throughout much of the journey, which will afford a pace of 65.25mph, and 522 miles a day. Will we finally see some warm weather?
DAY ONE (Thursday)
Hot Springs, Arkansas
With high pressure beginning to drift out of hte central US, the cold air is alleviating. This, unfrotunately, also means that access to the Gulf is opening again, and some surface moisture is expected to get into the western parts of Arkansas, particularly the valleys, in the morning. This may manifest as a bit of light rain between Hot Springs and the Oklahoma border, but more likely, it will be seen as fog and low clouds. Low pressure is emerging in the northern Plains by tomorrow, and a cold front is going to emerge along our route. No concerns for developing showers or storms, but behind it, there will be a brisk northwest wind. Clear skies are expected after Henryetta, and winds should start to taper off around El Reno. The day will end in Groom, Texas, which is just east of Amarillo.
DAY TWO (Friday) Another wave is going to ripple through the Rockies into the High Plains. What will this mean for us? Not much, save for more blustery winds between Amarillo and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. We will enjoy a bit more tranquil conditions though the high terrain of western New Mexico, and make it to the Painted Desert National Park in Arizona.
DAY THREE (Saturday) The weather is really going ot be churning in the northwestern US, however there isn’t a whole lot to tlk about in the southwest. It won’t be hot in the desert, as we may be accustomed to thinking, which is good news, because our day will end at Edwards Air Force Base.
DAY FOUR (Sunday) It’s probably the best to take highway 99 north through California on a Sunday, right? Or is most of the traffic hanging out on 5? Or does anyone even drive in the Central Valley? Nevertheless, we will be doing it on Sunday, as another system moves into the Pacific Northwest. In the Valley, we will see a smattering of light rain, while the hills and mountains east of us will contend with some significant snow fall, once again. The rain for us will come into the picture around Kingsburg, and in points northward. Sad to say, it may be a bit drizzly in northern California by the time we arrive in Redding on Sunday afternoon.
It’s a short trip today, but really, a four hour trip between a couple of towns that avoids much population anywhere along the way is pretty exciting. This means that we haven’t really been able to talk about a trip through places like Paris, Texas, or Broken Bow, Oklahoma or De Queen, Arkansas. not that the post will include them after this, but still! It’s a 239 mile journey that will last just shy of 4 1/2 hours, covering only 54.5. At that pace, maybe we will lament driving through Paris, Broken Bow and De Queen.
Sherman, Texas
If you have been following along here at Victoria-Weather, or if you have been outside east of the Rockies lately, you know that it is pretty chilly. A warm up is coming, however, as high pressure that has been keeping it so cold is shuffling eastward. This won’t disrupt the day at all, as it often can when one air mass leaves town. The tail of the surface high is sinking into hte northern Gulf, which will prevent moisture from infiltrating our route. It should be a fine day for driving, in about perfect conditions for keeping the windows rolled up, but without needing the heat or AC.
There are only two more shopping weekends before Christmas (including this one) so I recommend you get out there ASAP!
At 1153AM, CT, Hot Springs was reporting a temperature of 47 degrees with overcast skies. A trough is sinking from the north, with a band of snow scooting through Iowa and Missouri, with a blob of clouds pressing south into Arkansas. The clouds are layered at the lower levels, and aren’t likely to scatter out through the day today. Tomorrow will be a very cold day for western Arkansas as cold air continues to cycle into the area. Relief will be on the way during the work week, with a thermal ridge starting to build back in late on Monday. Tomorrow – Sunny and cold, High 37, Low 23 Monday – A hair warmer in the afternoon, High 46, Low 17
TWC: Tomorrow – Sunny. Turning colder. High 34, Low 26 Monday – A mainly sunny sky. High 43, Low 20
AW: Tomorrow – Colder with plenty of sun High 38, Low 25 Monday – Not as cold with plenty of sun High 45, Low 20
NWS: Tomorrow – Sunny, High 26, Low 24 Monday – Sunny, High 41, Low 18
WB: Tomorrow – Sunny. Much cooler High 34, Low 30 Monday – Sunny. Not as coo High 40, Low 20
WN: Tomorrow – Mostly sunny, High 31, Low 24 Monday – Mostly sunny, High 41, Low 18
CLI: Tomorrow – Sunny, High 40, Low 22 Monday – Sunny, High 45, Low 18
“Hot” Springs, am I right? There was a much greater diversity to the spread of forecast temperatures from model to model today for a clear sky forecast than what I like to see. The clouds are low enough that they aren’t really showing up on the satellite.
