Wave Clouds Above The High Knob Landform

January 13, 2014 at 1:46 PM

Powell River Basin of High Knob Landform

Development of Incredible Afternoon Waves 

Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

The High Knob Landform

Photographer Harold Jerrell was in the right place, at the right time, to capture absolutely incredible wave clouds during early afternoon hours of January 13, 2014.

SW winds began roaring across upper elevations between sunset and Midnight of January 12, with subsequent downward mixing into the lower terrain around and after sunrise January 13.

ROARing gusts into the Clintwood-Pound area
were coincident with an extensive power outage
caused by winds blowing a tree UP HILL.

An example of mountain waves breaking
on SW air flow ( as documented before ).

January 13, 2014 at 1:38 PM

Adjacent to Cumberland Mountain

Awesome Stacked Lenticular Waves

Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

Mountain waves were present all day long amid the High Knob Landform - Black Mountain corridor on this SW air flow, with visual enhancement of these waves as an apparent disturbance in the wind field propagated northeast along the Appalachians ahead of another batch of chilly rain.

January 13, 2014 at 1:41 PM

High Knob Landform of Upper Tennessee River Basin

Dramatic Waves Amid Airflow-Terrain Interaction

Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

( I also saw waves above Clintwood but they looked nothing like these where low-level terrain interaction was an apparent shaping factor in the High Knob Landform, with formation & reformation noted on visible imagery over the High Knob Massif area ).

January 13, 2014 at 1:41 PM
A Mass Of Flowing Waves Above The Terrain

Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

The atmosphere is a vast fluid such that all aspects of daily weather, as well as longer-term climate, take on wave forms.  Daily changes in temperature, humidity, and wind speed being simple examples of parameters whose changes in space and time trace out waves ( * ).

*When these changes are graphically
plotted the results produce waves.

The nonlinear nature of waves amid the fluid atmosphere and their relationship with the surrounding environment, and each other, is a major reason weather prediction is so difficult.  Especially long-term prediction of future climates!

January 13, 2014
Lee County, Virginia
Upper Tennessee River Basin
Wave Clouds Above The High Knob Landform

Photograph by Harold L. Jerrell - © All Rights Reserved.

If climate models predicting the future are to be trusted with respect to weather conditions 30, 50, or 100 years from now then they should be able to run backwards in time, taking current states of the climatic system as their initial conditions, and reproduce the climate already observed during 1984, 1964, and 1914.  If this can not be reasonably accomplished, should great confidence be placed upon the prediction of climate conditions in 
the year 2044, 2064, and 2114?

Questions & thoughts to be considered on a night ( January 14 ) when high resolution forecast models struggle to predict weather conditions to be experienced within the next 12-24 hours!


NASA Visible Images
At Time of Wave Clouds

In this case these waves were much more 

dramatic looking from below verses above!

NASA Visible Image At 1:15 PM January 13, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 1:32 PM January 13, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 1:45 PM January 13, 2014

Counties Overlay For Reference

NASA Visible Image At 1:45 PM January 13, 2014

January 13, 2014
ECMWF Model Analysis
850 MB Wind Field At 7:00 AM

A low-level jet of strong winds moving northeast along the western flank of the Appalachians aided development of mountain wave clouds during the day, with enhancement in early afternoon as the roaring SW to SSW jet core passed.

January 13, 2014
ECMWF Model Analysis
850 MB Wind Field At 7:00 PM

Breaking Mountain Waves
Strong S-SSE Wind Gusts
January 10-11, 2014

Although not visible, but heard and felt, strong wind gusts were reported during evening hours of January 10 into the overnight of January 11 along the southeastern side of Powell Valley of the 
High Knob Massif in Wise County, Virginia.

January 10, 2014 at 7:00 PM
NAM Model Sounding Analysis Above Wise

Wind gusts of 40-50 mph were measured lee of Clinch Mountain, from Southwest Virginia Community College to Tazewell, Va., as mountain wave breaking zones were activated across
the famed Mountain Empire.

January 10, 2014
ECMWF Model Analysis
850 MB Wind Field At 7:00 PM

While not a classic setting, with a relatively weak stable layer aloft and marginal SSE-SSW wind trajectories, parameters were good enough to stimulate occasional wave breaking and strong gusts as a powerful low-level jet core passed west of the Appalachians to drive a positive mountain torque ( *mountain torque is positive when surface pressures at eastern slopes of the mountains are higher than on western slopes ).

Lee Cyclogenesis
Regional Mountain Torque Estimates Over Rockies

January 10, 2014 at 7 PM
ECMWF Model Analysis
850 MB Temperatures ( Colors )
Surface Pressure Pattern ( Black Isobars )

*A classic formulation of Mountain Torque can be found in Physics of Climate, by José P. Peixoto & Abraham H. Oort, where the summation ( Peast-Pwest ) is used to define mountain torque.
The only way this can be positive is if pressure on the eastern slopes is greater than on the western or windward slopes
( with respect to the Northern Hemisphere ).


NW Flow Mountain Waves
January 18, 2014

Nice mountain waves developed during morning hours of January 18 with visible imagery showing waves rippling downstream from the High Knob Massif to join the Holston-Iron Mountain wave generating zone in northeastern Tennessee.

NASA Visible Image At 8:45 AM January 18, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM January 18, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:15 AM January 18, 2014

Counties Overlay For Reference
NASA Visible Image At 9:15 AM January 18, 2014

This section is under construction.  Check back for updates.

Wet Winter Pattern of 2013-14

January 4, 2014

Photograph View Number 2

Upper Falls of Little Stony Creek Gorge

Majestic Beauty Of Winter In High Knob Massif

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

The High Knob Landform

The winter pattern of 2013-14 has been wet since 
a White Thanksgiving was produced by a major storm system at the end of November 2013.

White Thanksgiving Closes November 2013

City of Norton Water Plant
Days With Measurable Precipitation
Official 8" Diameter NWS Rain Gauge
Hand-Measured Daily at 9:00 AM
Elevation 2342 feet

11-26-2013  0.41"
11-27-2013  1.59"
11-28-2013  0.08"

12-06-2013  0.73"
12-07-2013  1.16"
12-08-2013  0.43"
12-09-2013  1.79"
12-10-2013  0.38"

12-15-2013  0.68"

12-18-2013  0.10"

12-22-2013  1.36"
12-23-2013  0.53"

12-25-2013  0.02"

12-29-2013  1.45"
12-30-2013  0.22"

01-02-2014  0.07"
01-03-2014  0.31"

01-06-2014  0.70"
01-07-2014  0.01"

01-10-2014  0.12"
01-11-2014  0.87"
01-12-2014  0.36"

01-14-2014  0.42"
01-15-2014  0.05"

Total: 13.84"
( November 26, 2013-January 15, 2014 )

Mean Per Week: 1.90"
( During a 7.3 Week Period )

December 2013: 8.85"

January 1-15, 2014: 2.91"

A total of 13.84" of precip have been measured in the official NWS rain gauge at the City of Norton WP since the Thanksgiving Holiday 
( 51 day period or 7.3 weeks ).

January 3, 2014
High Knob Massif
Fluffy Snow Upon Buds & Branches

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

A missing ingredient amid all this precipitation, even in the High Knob Massif where more than 15.00" fell since Thanksgiving, has been SNOW.

January 3, 2014
Near Sunset In High Knob Massif
Majestic Rime Coated Mountain Forest

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Snowfall totals of 25-30" were observed at 
highest elevations in the High Knob Massif during 
the October 23, 2013 to January 7, 2014 period.

January 3, 2014 at 9:20 AM
High Chaparral of High Knob Massif
Time For Another Bird Feeder Fill Up

Photograph by Darlene Fields - © All Rights Reserved.

At least, given such significant precipitation amounts and intervals of intense cold the snow to rain ratio ( and I'm not talking snow density ) has been MUCH below average for this snowy massif.

For example, of the 13.84" of total precipitation measured in the City of Norton since November 26, less than 10% of it has been in the form of snow ( i.e., less than 10% of this 13.84" of water came from snow with only around 12" measured at Norton WP ).

January 3, 2014
High Knob Massif
Where's The Snow Says The Sprout

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

A sprout like that should be buried in snow by this time, given so much precipitation, but not during Winter 2013-14 when SW Upper Air Flow has ruled the bulk of precipitation events. 

November 26, 2013 to January 10, 2014
500 MB Vector Wind Composite Anomaly

Colder, Snowier Pattern Returns

Taking One At A Time ( January 15-25 Period )

Teleconnection Trends

Updated January 15, 2014

A significant shift from a prolonged -PNA into a potentially prolonged +PNA oscillation signals a major change from recent weeks and sets the stage for longer lasting coldness and multiple snow chances more typical of winter in the Appalachians.
( Until the February pattern can be better resolved )

Note that a -PNA has dominated the Autumn-Early Winter of 2013-14 ( analysis graph above ), with the last significant upward spike of short duration coinciding with the Thanksgiving 2013 winter storm that dropped 5-8" upon the City of Norton-High Knob Massif area.

The previous significant +PNA period, centered around October 25 in 2013, being associated with the first round of accumulating snow of this season in the 
High Knob Massif ( 1-3" snow depths ).

While model snow emphasis shifted from the January 15 system to that of January 17-18, as regards being most significant, snow showers and locally intense, hit-miss squalls remain likely across the mountains during January 15. 

Case in point, The Little Snowman of High Chaparral.

( 1.0" of depth at 3300 feet )
January 15, 2014 at 10:53 AM
High Chaparral Community of High Knob Massif
The Little Snowman Of The High Chaparral

Photograph by Darlene Fields - © All Rights Reserved.

A general 0.5" to 1.0" of snow accumulated
across the area during the AM of January 15.


New Trends Toward Possible Major to Moderate
Stratospheric Warming Event
Of The Displacement Vortex Type
  ( Current Timing - Late January or Early February )

Up to now a 2 wave attack has been the dominant one upon the Polar Vortex ( Wave 2 it is called ) which initially worked to trigger the first two arctic blasts of early January 2014 ( the second one, of course, being the barbaric blast ) by squeezing, or compressing, the vortex such that blobs of bitter air were pushed southward into the USA against an otherwise unfavorable pattern for severe cold ( the blasts were progressive & relatively short-lived ). 

This continued Wave 2 action has now split the vortex 
( partially split ) into two pieces through the depth of the stratosphere between 100 MB & 1 MB, but without having a major disruption to its core ( no major stratospheric warming event or wind reversal has even come close to occurring amid the 60 degrees North and 10 MB sector, but the vortex has been weakening as illustrated by temp rises observed above the North Pole at 30 MB ).

12z January 11, 2014

Polar Vortex Near Bottom of Stratosphere

12z January 11, 2014

Polar Vortex Near Top of Stratosphere

Although temperatures have warmed dramatically at the top of the stratosphere, with a positive temp gradient recently observed between 60 degrees and 90 degrees North latitude, another downward trend in the Mean Temperature above the North Pole at 30 MB reflects the potent strength of this Vortex.

A decrease in zonal mean zonal wind speed also indicates vortex weakening; however, in both cases of core temperature & current westerly wind speed this Polar Vortex remains stronger than climatology despite Wave 2 action beating on it like a drum!

This is where a forecast Wave 1 ramp up during the next 5-10+ days enters the picture via what appears to be a tropospheric coupling between Aleutian Low pressure and Siberian High pressure.

Wave 1 At 12z January 19, 2014
European Model Wave 1 Forecast Day 7

If this occurs as currently forecast it will represent a major hemispheric change from mean conditions observed during Autumn 2013-early Winter 2014.

Note that the Autumn of 2013, from September-October through November, was dominated by a weaker than average Siberian High ( more blue color, or low pressure, where red color or high pressure should have been ) and a weaker than average Aleutian Low ( the Aleutian Low being essentially non-existent in the anomaly mean from late October through much of December ).

Northern Hemisphere
October 25 to December 25, 2013
500 MB Geopotential Height Composite Anomalies

Strong positive height anomalies dominated the Northern Pacific, in place of an Aleutian Low, during the October 25-December 25 period 
( generating Wave 2 forcing but little Wave 1 ).

While there are wave and ozone induced warming events amid the stratosphere at various times during any given winter season, here the focus is upon the type of high amplitude wave induced warming that can breach the surf zone of the Polar Vortex and do major structural damage to its core via changes in both internal temp and vector winds ( changes in speed + direction ).

This section is under construction.  Check back for updates.

Arctic Cold Waves of Early January 2014

January 4, 2014

Upper Falls of Little Stony Creek Gorge

Majestic Beauty Of Winter In High Knob Massif

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

The High Knob Landform

When winter arrives the High Knob Massif can 
be simply wicked, but there is no denying the awesome majesty that also comes with this 
season of snow, ice, water, and wind!

January 4, 2014
Upper Tennessee River Basin
Tumbling Whitewater of Little Stony Gorge

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Rod Addington Photography

A wet winter has whitewater tumbling and lakes overflowing across this great massif rising between the ecologically rich Powell & Clinch rivers of the Upper Tennessee River Basin.

January 4, 2014

Water Elevation 2734 feet
Northern Scott County, Virginia

Bark Camp Lake of High Knob Massif

Bitter Morn In High Valley of Bark Camp Lake

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

While flowing water is already being transformed into solid forms, the coldest air mass in at least two decades will soon freeze all but the most swift of tumbling steep creeks. 

January 4, 2014
High Knob Massif
The Battle Begins Between Liquid & SOLID

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Air has already been so cold, and will become MUCH colder, that any place water slows it will be claimed in coming days by icy forms which often defy mere description. 

January 4, 2014
Remnant Massif of High Knob Landform
A Limb Allows Water To Be Claimed By ICE

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

A majestic struggle Royale!

January 4, 2014
High Knob Massif
The Hand Of OLE MAN Winter At Work

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Unique details captured via the lens of a gifted 
photographer named Roddy Addington.

January 4, 2013
High Knob Massif
Wondrous Crystal Growth With Ice & Water

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Wonders Never Cease To Amaze!

January 4, 2014
High Knob Massif
Amazing Crystal Growth On Icicle

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Winter wonderland conditions, featuring snow 
and rime, have blanketed upper elevations in the High Knob Massif during much of the time since Christmas Eve Day, with notable exception of the post-Christmas Day rainstorm. 

January 3, 2014
Upper Elevations of High Knob Massif
Significant Snow & Rime Along State Route 619

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

The BEAUTY has been Stunning!

January 3, 2014
Amid The High Knob High Country
Majestic Rime Coated Trees & Snow Near Sunset

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

MIN temperatures during this first Arctic Blast dipped to around -1 degree below zero at the summit level of the High Knob Massif into morning hours of January 3.

The first light rays upon this pristine, arctic snow
were simply spectacular on Eagle Knob as they
finally broke through mountain wave clouds.

January 3, 2014 at 9:18 AM
Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif
First Rays of Light Through Mountain Waves

Photograph by Steve Blankenbecler - © All Rights Reserved.

Wind chill factors during this first arctic blast dipped to -10 to -15 degrees below zero in Wise, with chill values of -20 to -30+ below ( Fahrenheit ) being common above 3000 feet in the High Knob Massif.

Other Observed Minimums
( January 3-4, 2013 )

Black Mountain ARC
1 degree

Nora 4 SSE
5 degrees

City of Norton AWS
6 degrees

Clintwood 1 W
7 degrees

Some of the most intense snow fell along the Arctic Front, with visibility dropping to less than 0.2 mile in Wise between 8:00 & 9:00 PM on January 2.

January 2, 2013 at 8:53 PM
University of Virginia's College In Wise
Heavy Snow With Arctic Cold Front In Wise

Courtesy of Alex Edwards & Computer-Math Department

A general 3-6" of snow accumulated across the High Knob Massif from the base at the City of Norton WP to High Chaparral and High Knob during this first arctic blast.

January 3, 2014 at 1:17 PM
Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif
Winter Wonderland Conditions Atop Eagle Knob

Photograph by Steve Blankenbecler - © All Rights Reserved.

January 3 was a bitter day both before 
and after mountain wave clouds cleared.

Elevation 2141 feet
City of Norton AWS for January 3, 2014

Morning of January 3, 2013
Long Ridge of Tennessee Valley Divide
The Cold Northwest Wind & Mountain Waves

Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.

Wayne Riner Photograph Thoughts...
The very cold northwest wind blows the brown grass.  Bitter temps have frozen the ponds and 
tells us of days to come.

Elevation 2650 feet
January 3, 2014 ( 7 AM to 11:30 PM )
Nora 4 SSE Automated Weather Station

Courtesy of Wayne & Genevie Riner

Morning of January 3, 2014
Long Ridge of Tennessee Valley Divide
Waiting For Warmer Days In The Highlands

Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.

Wayne Riner Photograph Thoughts...
During the summer, chickadees had made a home for their new family.  Now it seems so long ago.

Late Afternoon of January 3, 2014
Looking West Toward Black Mountain
In The High Cumberlands of Wise County, Virginia

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Evening temperatures dropped back into single digits amid snow covered mountain valleys while exposed mid-upper elevation ridges saw a small warming ( but with increasing winds and wind chills that negated the temperature rise ).



( January 3, 2013 )
NASA Visible Imagery
Mountain Waves, Snowstreaks,
and Snow Shadows

Time Series Of Images

Click consecutively in picture viewer for motion

NASA Visible Image At 8:15 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 8:15 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 8:32 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 8:45 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:15 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:32 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:45 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 10:15 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 10:45 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 11:02 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 11:02 AM January 3, 2014

Counties Overlay For Reference
NASA Visible Image At 11:02 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 11:15 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 11:32 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 11:45 AM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 12:02 PM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 12:02 PM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 12:15 PM January 3, 2014

Counties Overlay For Reference
NASA Visible Image At 12:15 PM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 12:32 PM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 12:45 PM January 3, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 12:45 PM January 3, 2014

Inside The Snow Shadow
Examples From Inside The Red Zone Above

January 3, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Cumberland Square Park In Bristol, Virginia

January 3, 2014 at 1:27 PM
Bristol Motor Speedway ( Bristol, Tennessee )

January 3, 2014 at 1:27 PM
State of Franklin In Johnson City, Tennessee

January 3, 2014 at 1:28 PM
Rogersville ES In Rogersville, Tennessee

January 6-8, 2014
Arctic Blast Number 2
Barbaric Cold

January 5, 2014
Before The Barbaric Blast
Mountain Waves Above The High Cumberlands

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

Photographer Roddy Addington captured dramatic mountain wave clouds above the great Cumberland Mountain Overthrust Block near sunset January 5, foreshadowing dramatic weather changes to come!

January 5, 2014
Birch Knob of Pine Mountain
Mountain Waves Accentuate Gorgeous Sunset

Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.

The coldest air mass since the mid-1990's brought rain, ROARing wind, a flash freeze, snow, rime, and purely barbaric wind chill factors that included up to 18 or more consecutive hours of sub-zero temperatures at mid-upper elevations.

Temperatures in the City of Norton plunged from 43 degrees at Midnight January 6 down to the Golden Goose Egg, of 0 degrees, 
by 4:30 PM in the afternoon.

Elevation 2141 feet
City of Norton AWS for January 6, 2014

This marked the start of 18 consecutive hours with Sub-Zero temperatures, finally featuring a "balmy" afternoon MAX on January 7 of 7.6 ( 8 ) degrees!

Elevation 2141 feet
City of Norton AWS for January 7, 2014

Temperatures actually "warmed" to 9 degrees during the middle overnight period of January 8 before dropping to 3 degrees by sunrise in the City of Norton.

More sheltered mountain valleys, with respect to SW winds,

again fell to 0 degrees and below ( e.g., Tacoma-Coeburn Valley and Clintwood 1 W ).

Elevation 2141 feet
City of Norton AWS for January 8, 2014

Elevation 2141 feet
( Midnight to 1:00 PM )
City of Norton AWS for January 9, 2014

Temperatures in the City of Norton remained at freezing or below for 81 consecutive hours between 1:30 AM January 6 and 10:30 AM January 9.

Air Temperatures ( Not Wind Chills )
Minimum Temperatures
Morning of January 7, 2013
( All In Fahrenheit Degrees Below Zero )

-18 degrees
High Knob Massif
( summit level temperature )

-17 degrees
Black Mountain ARC
( summit level temperature )

-13 degrees
Robinson Knob of High Knob Massif
( Robinson Knob Community )

-13 degrees
Flatwoods Mountain, Ky
( Kentucky MesoNet Site )

-10 degrees
Town of Wise
( U.S. Forest Service RAWS )

-10 degrees
Nora 4 SSE
( Long Ridge of Sandy Ridge )

-9 to -10 degrees
City of Norton

-6 degrees
Clintwood 1 W

-6 degrees
Jonesville
( WJNV-FM AWS )

-3 degrees
St. Paul
( St. Paul AWS )

Getting to the heart of this barbaric air mass was rather dramatic with evening rain January 5 giving way to ROARING gusts of tree limb breaking wind just after Midnight, into January 6, as the first cold front reached the mountains.

Wind gusts from around 30 mph to 50+ mph were reported
across the region as this initial cold front pushed into the
western Appalachians.

Rain turned to snow around 12:28 AM January 6 on Eagle Knob of the High Knob Massif with a rapid drop in snow levels down to Clintwood 1 W 
by 1:40 AM ( a vertical drop of 2629 feet in the snow level in just over 1 hour ).

Much like during the first arctic blast, of January 2-3, a period of system snow gave way to a brief lull in activity in advance of the Arctic Front and heavier upslope snowfall.

January 6, 2014
Nora 4 SSE On Long Ridge ( Midnight to Noon )

Courtesy of Wayne & Genevie Riner

Wind chill factors in gusts began going sub-zero along mid-upper elevation mountain ridges before sunrise January 6, with passage of the Arctic Cold Front during the 5:00 AM to 6:00 AM period.

A little low-level cold air banking against the northwestern side of Pine Mountain, behind the Arctic Front, gave way to accelerated afternoon drops in both air temperatures and wind chill factors into the frigid realm.

Elevation 2650 feet
January 6, 2014 at 2:14 PM
-18 degrees Below Zero Wind Chill
Snow & Blowing Snow On Long Ridge

Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.

The air temperature reached 0 degrees 
at the elevation of Long Ridge by 4:00 PM.

January 6, 2014
Nora 4 SSE On Long Ridge ( Noon to 11:30 PM )

Courtesy of Wayne & Genevie Riner

The air temperature remained at or below
0 degrees for 19-20 consecutive hours.

January 7, 2014
Nora 4 SSE On Long Ridge ( Midnight to 1 PM )

Courtesy of Wayne & Genevie Riner

Long Ridge of Sandy Ridge
January 6, 2013 at 4:42 PM
-1 Below Zero With -25 Below Wind Chill
Bitter Cold Air & Winds Engulf The Highlands

Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.

Lowest observed wind chill factors reached 
between -30 and -40 degrees below zero 
( Fahrenheit ) within the 2600 to 2800 foot elevation zone of Long Ridge and Flatwoods Mountain, Ky., ( Pikeville 13S Mesonet adjacent to
Pine Mountain at 2774 feet elevation ).

January 3, 2014
Rime Capped Crestlines
Grindstone Ridge Dome of High Knob Massif

Photograph Courtesy of Rose Estep & WCYB Archive

Upper Elevations, above 3000 feet elevation, had wind chill factors estimated as low as -50+ degrees below zero ( via observed winds on Eagle Knob of the High Knob Massif ).

January 3, 2014 at 1:17 PM
Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif
Winter Wonderland Conditions Atop Eagle Knob

Photograph by Steve Blankenbecler - © All Rights Reserved.

Snow & riming were so similar during these two arctic events atop the High Knob Massif that side by side images, taken at about the same time on each day, are hard to tell apart.

January 7, 2014 at 1:15 PM
Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif
Winter Wonderland Conditions Atop Eagle Knob

Photograph by Steve Blankenbecler - © All Rights Reserved.

Each event produced around 6" of snow at the summit level, with variable ground depths amid blowing and drifting in many places.


( January 7, 2013 )
NASA Visible Imagery

Time Series Of Images

Click consecutively in picture viewer for motion

NASA Visible Image At 9:02 AM January 7, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:15 AM January 7, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:30 AM January 7, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 9:45 AM January 7, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 10:15 AM January 7, 2014

Counties Overlay For Reference
NASA Visible Image At 10:15 AM January 7, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 10:59 AM January 7, 2014

NASA Visible Image At 11:15 AM January 7, 2014

Counties Overlay For Reference
NASA Visible Image At 11:15 AM January 7, 2014

Although portions of the Great Valley did get 0.5" to 1" of snow during this event, it was again short-lived in the Tri-Cities with another large contrast between windward and leeward locations
across the mountains.

January 7, 2014 at 1:23 PM
On The Windward Side Of The Mountains
University of Virginia's College In Wise

Courtesy of Alex Edwards & Computer-Math Department

Views From The Lee Side
( Also Similar to January 3, 2014 )

January 7, 2014 at 1:25 PM
Cumberland Square Park In Bristol, Virginia

January 7, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Bristol Motor Speedway ( Bristol, Tennessee )

January 7, 2014 at 1:26 PM
State of Franklin In Johnson City, Tennessee

January 7, 2014 at 1:27 PM
Rogersville ES In Rogersville, Tennessee

Climate Statistics
New Year Opens Bitter
( Climate Numbers for January 1-9, 2014 )

January 7, 2014
Wise County Side of Black Mountain
Snow & Ice Covered State Route 160

Photograph Courtesy of John Varner
( East Stone Gap VDOT )

( Lower Elevations of Russell Fork Basin )
Clintwood 1 W - Elevation 1560 feet
Average Daily MAX: 33.3 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 7.4 degrees
January 1-9 MEAN: 20.4 degrees
Highest Temperature: 49 degrees
Lowest Temperature: -6 degrees
Total Jan 1-9 Precipitation: 0.59"
Total January 1-9 Snowfall: 5.8"
Snow Depth Days of 1" or More: 7

( Northern Base of High Knob Massif )
City of Norton - Elevation 2141 feet
Average Daily MAX: 30.3 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 5.6 degrees
January 1-9 MEAN: 18.0 degrees
Highest Temperature: 47 degrees
Lowest Temperature: -7 to -10 degrees
Consecutive Hours Below Zero: 18
Consecutive Hours Below 32: 81
Total Jan 1-9 Precipitation: 1.09"
Total January 1-9 Snowfall: 5.3"
Snow Depth Days of 1" or More: 7 

( Along the Tennessee Valley Divide )
Nora 4 SSE - Elevation 2650 feet
Average Daily MAX: 32.0 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 10.3 degrees
January 1-9 MEAN: 21.2 degrees
Highest Temperature: 47 degrees
Lowest Temperature: -10 degrees
Consecutive Hours Below Zero: 20
Consecutive Hours Below 32: 75
Total Jan 1-9 Precipitation: 0.68"
Total January 1-9 Snowfall: 4.4"
Snow Depth Days of 1" or More: 6

While highest elevations were coldest during the advection periods of the arctic blasts ( when cold air was being transported into the mountains ), coldest mean conditions have been in mid-upper elevation mountain valleys and places with northern exposures and snow cover.

The City of Norton Water Plant exemplified this with a Mean Daily MAX during January 1-9 of 28.8 degrees [ when calculating the MEAN temperature through the first 12 days of January there is only a 0.6 degree Fahrenheit difference between Norton WP & Norton AWS, with Norton WP cooler by day and Norton AWS cooler by night ( as has always been observed in the mean )].