Any weather experts here?

[DLnyc]

Looks like a serious storm gathering over South Dakota.

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/GSSLOOPS/ecwv.html (dial-up warning: takes a couple of minutes to load)

If the pattern of the last two weeks continues, my guess is it will bring more hail and tornados to MO, IL, IN, . . .

Also, fairly rough storm raging in norther AL, GA:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/last3hours.html

Anybody know how common it is to have this pattern of recurring storm systems this time of year?

[Jara sang]

1. I'm not.

But I'm willing to give it a shot. Your answer is "very".;)

[W_HAMILTON]

2. I'm surprised this hasn't been a bigger story...

I don't live in your area (I live in SC), but we've had some AWFUL storms pass here the past few weeks. Two weeks in a row, we had super strong storms with hail; I've lived here my entire life, and I can never remember having any storms with hail, much less two major ones in two weeks.

There's no doubt the weather seems like it has been getting progressively worse. I can't remember a time where we have had so many bad storms at all, much less in what's usually a ho-hum April.

[bloom]

5. I think it has been more intense than usual this year as well. nt

[Roland99]

3. Looks like a face with those two lows spinning around.

[nickinSTL]

4. you might try the Weather Group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=328

[Sequoia]

7. I had no idea...the weather group!!

I was accidently sent an instructors weather text book a few weeks back. Happy me!

[DLnyc]

9. Thanks. I just posted a similar question there.

at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=328x547

Didn't notice this forum before. Thanks for pointing it out.

[karlrschneider]

6. Not a professional meteorologist but commercial pilot 40 years

it isn't really unusual for this season.

[CabalPowered]

8. Take a look at Shoshone Falls, the West's Niagra

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2006/04/19/news_topstory/news_topstory.1.txt

Lived here 30+ years and have never seen these types of flows. We've been getting storms that are much stronger than any other recent spring. Some of it is el nina but previous el nina cycles haven't been this warm. We had a strong thunderstorm with snow on Mother's Day(!) Up north, there is no doubt that the Wood River in Sun Valley will flood in about a month. The resort says we'll be skiing until June. The rich of the rich have HUGE homes built right down to the edge of the river. They will all be under flood waters. Even further north in Stanley, the snowpacks are well above 200% of normal. The cabin near Stanley that we visit year round is usually accessible by plowed road during the winter. This year we have to snowshoe in and take the snowcat back out to the highway to get our gear and groceries. On our last visit we spent nearly a week clearing the roof as a warm spell followed by an intense cold spell created a 2' block of ice. Nearly all the home in these areas have what they call "truss sag" from the snow and ice loads.

As Dylan put it.. "You don't need a weatherman to tell ya which way the wind blows"