It was a below average year for global tropical cyclone activity, and the destructive power of these storms was close to the lowest levels observed since since reliable records began in the early 1980s. However, the the total number of global deaths from tropical cyclones was the highest since 1991, thanks to the estimated 140,000 people killed in Myanmar from Tropical Cyclone Nargis. The total number of storms world-wide was 90, slightly lower that the average from
Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, January 09, 2009. Several systems will cause active weather across Europe on Friday.
In the north, a trough of low pressure will produce significant shower activity and strong winds as it pushes through Scandinavia and into the Baltic countries. The system will produce a mixture of rain and snow showers across areas of Norway, Sweden, and Finland in the morning. Strong northwest winds will accompany these showers and will assist in pushing the system over the Baltic Countries by the afternoon. Upon reaching the Baltic countries, the trough will blanket northeastern Europe and western Russia with a swath of snow showers for the remainder of the day. There will be little change in temperatures across northern Europe and western Russia on Friday. Oslo and Stockholm will remain in the mid-30s(F)/lower 0s(C), while Moscow see temperatures in the lower 10s(F)/lower -10s(C).
Meanwhile, central Europe and the British Isles should expect mostly dry conditions on Friday due to a dominating area of high pressure. This ridge will become stretched across the British Isles and much of Central America as it builds throughout the day. Temperatures across these regions will be slightly cooler on Friday. London and Paris should expect temperatures in the lower 30s(F)/0s(C).
To the South, countries along the Mediterranean will continue to see clusters of scattered shower activity on Friday. A system moving through the Mediterranean Sea will trigger a light to moderate mix of rain, freezing rain, and snow showers across southern Europe. The heaviest shower activity will occur across southern Italy and the Adriatic Sea. Temperatures across southern Europe will remain fairly mild on Friday. Barcelona will see temperatures in the upper 40s(F)/upper 0s(C), while Rome will rise into the lower 50s(F)/lower 10s(C).
Four years ago today, Rapid City, S.D. reported a record afternoon high of 76 degrees. What is even more interesting is that Miami, FL reported an afternoon high of only 61 degrees for the same day. Talk about an upside down weather day!