1000 x 90

Warmest Prolonged Temperatures Since the 1930s; Snow on the Way? ‘Frankenstorm’ Looms in the Caribbean

By Paul T. Choate

Hurricane Sandy, dubbed “Frankenstorm” by some government forecasters, is expected to impact the East Coast next week and bring an unusual mix of hurricane conditions and a winter storm. Screenshot from ABC News Videos.

Oct. 25, 2012. With the thermometers in Boone hitting the 70-degree mark every day since Monday and Ray’s Weather Center forecasting 72 degrees for a high today, High Country residents are taking notice of the very unseasonably warm weather. 

In fact, according to Ray’s Weather, one would have to dig back into the record books to the 1930s to find prolonged temperatures this high for this time of year in the area. 

However, the temperatures are about to take a dramatic swing in the other direction. Both Ray’s Weather and The Weather Channel are actually forecasting sub-freezing temperatures and possibly even snow by this coming Monday, Oct. 29. 

Saturday will be the last fairly warm day, and Sunday temperatures are not projected to get above 46 degrees. By Monday, Ray’s Weather is forecasting 39 as the high and 30 as the low. They also broke out their famous “Snowman-O-Mometer” this week in preparation for the upcoming weather shift.

“The shock of such a big change and the wind will make it feel even colder. Snow flurries will be possible from Sunday night on; thus, the first appearance of the Snowman-O-Mometer this season,” states the Ray’s Weather forecast. 

The Weather Channel is also calling for some possible snow showers in their 10 day forecast. On Monday and Tuesday, The Weather Channel says the temperatures will not get above 35 degrees with 29 for a low on both days and a 30 percent chance of rain/snow showers on Tuesday. 

As residents may recall, last year the temperatures dipped down into the 30-degree range during the final week of October also after lows had mostly stayed in the 40s and 50s prior to that. The coldest temperature in Boone all month for October 2011 came on Oct. 30 when the thermometers read 30.7 degrees. 

If the wild weather shift isn’t enough, according to the Associated Press, government forecasters say a big storm that they’ve dubbed “Frankenstorm” is likely to blast most of the East Coast next week. The storm is reported to be an unusual mix of a hurricane and a winter storm.

According to the report, “Forecasters on Thursday said there’s a 90 percent chance that the East will get steady gale-force winds, flooding, heavy rain and maybe snow starting Sunday and stretching past Wednesday.”

AP reports indicate that the storm is a combination of Hurricane Sandy, now in the Caribbean, an early winter storm in the West and a blast of arctic air from the North. These three systems are predicted to collide in sort of a “perfect storm” and park over the country’s East Coast, with effects reaching as far inland as Ohio.

So, High Country residents, put away those T-shirts and shorts this weekend. It’s time to break out the winter parkas and maybe even buckle down for a “Frankenstorm” snowicane in the coming days.

To read Ray’s Weather Center’s full forecast, visit raysweather.com.

NOAA Forecast Cone for Hurricane Sandy