Wacky weather everywhere…including Baghdad!
G’morning!
Happy Friday everyone! Boy am I glad this week is over. It’s been one of the busiest weeks in the weather center that I can remember in terms of severe weather – and especially for this time of year! The NWS is reporting 21 tornadoes from yesterday across the Mississippi Valley into the southeast, and of course we had 40 tornados earlier in the week from the Upper Midwest into the Central Plains.
Thankfully it looks like the threat is letting up as the cold front moves eastward. There’s still the potential for isolated severe weather over the Mid Atlantic with strong winds, hail and heavy rain. Further north, a wintry mix of snow, sleet and or freezing rain will make driving treacherous. The center of low pressure will bring some snow and breezy conditions across the great lakes.
And as I mentioned earlier, we’re still keeping a close eye on a possible coastal storm that could bring some interesting weather to the northeast by the end of the weekend! Depending on the track this baby takes could mean either a whole lot of rain or a whopper snow storm.
And finally, BIG news out of Iraq. My good buddy David MacDougall emailed me early this morning to report on this pretty cool story: SNOW IN BAGHDAD!
Proof: An Iraqi couple enjoys a snow battle in a garden in Sulaimaniyah (courtesy of AFP, look above!)
Here’s the Story:
BAGHDAD (AFP) — Light snow fell in Baghdad early on Friday in what weather officials said was the first time in about a 100 years.Rare snowfalls were also recorded in the west and centre of Iraq, plunging temperatures to zero degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and even colder, an official said.The snow in Baghdad, which melted as it hit the ground, began falling before dawn and continued until after 9 am, residents said.”Snow has fallen in Baghdad for the first time in about a century as a result of two air flows meeting,” said a statement by the meteorology department.”The first one was cold and dry and the second one was warm and humid. They met above Iraq.”The director of the meteorology department, Dawood Shakir, told AFP that climate change was possibly to blame for the unusual event.”It’s very rare,” he said. “Baghdad has never seen snow falling in living memory.
“These snowfalls are linked to the climate change that is happening everywhere. We are finding some places in the world which are warm and are supposed to be cold.”
Snow was also reported in the mountainous Kurdish north of the country, where falls are common.
Here’s some video I found:
http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=74226
Isn’t that cool? Ok, I think I’m going to get another cup of coffee…and did I mention how happy I am it’s Friday?
It’s Friday Dance time! haha!
This is all part of Al Gore’s global warming. Last winter his global warming broke three of my insulated water pipes!
Hi Janice…why not try jdtheweathermachine.com?
Good suggestion Natalie. It seems like too much work though! I’ll just stick to this blog site!
Thats cool on the snow thing. I emailed my brother in law who is stationed north of Bagdad in Balad flying F-16’s if he had a snow ball fight. I am sure hes way to busy, but just wishful thinking that he would have some down time……
Say hello to your brother in law for all of us Andy! I hope he got to see a little big of the snow! Amazing!
That is really awesome!!!! Snow in Baghdad. When I was in Kirkuk last year we had some days in Feb in the 30’s and a chance of snow. It did snow there in Jan last year but melted fairly quickly. That picture is in Suli. That city is located about 50 to 60 miles west of Kirkuk in the western mountains. They get snow fairly often.
Clinate Change…not likely. People are so egocentric.
David, I knew you would enjoy the snow story! And yeah, bringing in climate change in this case makes me just (yawn)…
Janice – can you do that “happy dance” again. hehe… great job reporting the weather, got hit with some needed rain here in South Carolina this morning. Have a great weekend
Glad you got some good rain Jeff! And I’ll bust out the happy dance a little more in the future!
Nice plug of your blog
I second Natalie’s “JDtheWeatherMachine.com” idea 
I like Natalie’s suggestion…jdweathermachine!
Hey Dawn and Gene,
I think I’m just going to be happy with this little blog, and leave it at that!
Janice – saw you had your groooove on today – your a great part of a fun morning team. This is about web site domain names: I too saw that “weathermachine.com” is “gone” – back in ‘99. But someone may have already grabbed “my” and “your” as well – likely this a.m. – may have been your quick Fox guys.
BUT – I am happy to report that I own “www.deantheweathermachine.com” and “deansweathermachine.com” and am interested in a REASONABLE exchange for fair compensation for creativity.
Seeing your “logo” in the bar at the top of this page, I’m sure that the business office at Fox would love to purchase this GREAT name for you!!!
Good luck with getting them revved up and my email address enclosed above should provide them with a track back for any discussion!
Keep dancin’, Dean!!
Thanks for your offer Richard. I think I’ll just keep it simple, and be happy with my little blog for now. I let you know if I get a little more adventureous in the future!
Amazing…Snow in Bagdad…..Wacking indeed !
Janice I hope you and yours have a GREAT weekend…You certainly have earned it and your paycheck this week…..
JD, Great work this week. Enjoy your Friday !! RP
Thanks Dawn and Ryan! Have a great weekend!
Dear Janice,
You Rock! You are the first meteorologist that I have seen on TV that can dance! I guess forecasting requires some “footwork” at times. Congratulations on your title and degree! Did you always work in weather? Or is this a career change? I am working on a masters in marketing, changing a career from nursing to business. (Burnout) I am also a single mom with a teenager, so pray!!
Anyway, just a note to let you know that you are hiliarious(sp?) and my family loves to watch you.
Cindy and daughter Carrie
P.S. Could you send the snow from this weekends nor’easter back down to DC. We are zip for good snowstorms, and I loooovve snow!
Hey Cindy and Carrie!
Glad you like the moves. There’s plenty more where that came from! And yes, I started doing weather a little late in my career, but managed to get through all the courses to be able to figure out what I’m pointing at! Good for you going back to school and changing careers! That take guts! Thank you for your kindness, and for visiting the Machine! Hope you come back…and we’ll see what happens with that storm…might be more rain than snow in your area…;) have a great weekend!
Janice,
Palm trees and snow…who would have ever thunk it..lol..
You just keep on dancing…the tgif…
Get some well deserved R&R over the weekend…
debbie in tennessee
Thanks Deb!! You too!
Hi Janice! My twin!
Hey Ms Dean,
I never did see the Christmas party or New Years party pics??? Hmmmm…
Really do enjoy the dancin’…
All the best,
Michael/Atlanta
Michal, There’s always a good reason to break out a dance party! No need for a holiday!
Happy friday to you Janice, missed your dancin antics !, have a great and safe weekend , lots of love Richard and karen !
Snow in Baghdad, very cool. We had snow in Mosul last year, but as everyone else says. It melted very quickly. Actualy in the northern routes of Iraq near the Turkish border the mountains can get pretty nasty. But Baghdad, very cool! The change in weather is a reminder of home and I am sure they are enjoying it. Well that is those who don’t actualy have to walk around in it. Then it might be a pain in the, well you know. LOL
Jerry
Jerry,
The pics I saw looked like everyone was enjoying the snowflakes! Almost like being a little kid again!
Hey Janice! I saw your blog for the first time sometime last week, and may I say what an awesome blog it is! Keep up the great work with it! For the longest time it seems, I have had an interest in the weather. Up until a couple of years ago, we lived in Raleigh, NC, but we now live in the Southwest Virginia mountains, in the relatively small town of Bluefield. We received plenty of rainfall overnight here, but no severe weather, thankfully. It’s terrible to hear about the damage that these strong weather systems can leave behind. But what you see more often that not in their wake are towns and cities who come together and do everything they can to rebuild and get things back to normal. It shows just how warm and kind so many people are in this country, and how they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get those affected back on their feet.
I believe I read someone mention the website reportercaps here. If you ever visit there, my name is “ARF”. I post many screen caps each day, and I have recently started my own board, and you can find that link by clicking on my name above my post. If you ever get a chance, check both places out, as I’m sure you’ll love them! And just in case you’re wondering, I’m a HUGE Courtney Friel fan, and I heard her say recently that she might start her own bog on foxnews.com, which I would love, of course. Congrats on the success of your blog, and I’ll definitely continue checking it out everyday!
Hey Justin!
Thanks for your great insight. It’s true what you say about people getting together to help out in the worst of times, and southerners are known for their hospitality and goodwill. I will take a peak at your website you mentioned. Courtney is a great gal. She’s as sweet off air as she is on air! I will ask about a possible Courtney blog too! Have a great weekend.
Hi Janice, We got some snow early this morning, but it didn’t stick, and we are about 125 miles north of Baghdad, near Tikrit. Of course I slept through it! Just like last week. We had some stick, but I only saw photos of it. You miss a lot working nights, but that includes a lot of things you don’t mind missing.
We have been told that is actually a drier winter than normal. That is good, because rain turns the talc like powder dust into peanut butter like mud. Oh, it is C-C-COLD here at night! Coffee is always on and hot cocoa is nearby.
I will be glad to get back home so I can see the Weather Machine! Here, on AFN (Armed Forces Network) they show FOX as well as some other inferior news channels, I guess to be “Fair and Balanced”. (go fiqure!) Anyway, the times I get to see FOX, you are not on, and when those “other” networks are on, I see their weather girls. I call them “Janice Dean Wannabes”.
I know there at home it is TGIF. Here at Camp Speicher it is DRMWDII. (Dosen’t Really Matter What Day It Is.)
Have a great weekend and stay warm!
Thomas
P.S. I wish I could send you a drink from here. We havea Green Beans Coffee Shop that has a hot Spiced Chai Latte. It is wonderful!!
Hey Thomas! Yummy Chai Latte! Especially on a cold day…I’m sorry you missed the snow! It looked like everyone was having fun while it lasted. Glad you’re safe..keep up the good work and think warm thoughts!
Hey Thomas,
I was in Kirkuk just last year and they have a Green Beans…the Mocha Frappe is what I got mostly every day.
I had a chance to got to FOB Bernstein by way of FOB McHenry and refueled at Speicher, so I have ‘boots on the ground’ there., albeit only a few mins.
I worked swings and yeah I agree, it doesn’t really matter what day it is. We had a cookout every Friday to just remind us it was Friday.
Take care, keep your head down.
I’m going to have to check out this green beans place. You guys have to stop with the fancy hot drinks! I’m dying here! Must go get chocolate mocha chai frappe caramel coated chocolate whipped cream beverage now.
You dancing every Friday,…. look for ratings boost!
don’t know about ratings, but I certainly like the dancing part!
Janice
As Thomas and David have eluded to the Green Bean coffe shops aere all over Iraq and a welcome reststop with a wonderful assortment of beverages. The Spiced Chai Latte is an excellent choice. Most of your viewers have no idea what winter in the desert is like. I can attest to the mud it doesn’t take much moisture to produce the peanut butter effect.
Thomas, I will repaet David’s request, Keep your head down. I was just north of you on Key West and in Mosul. Enjoy the cold. The summer is coming sooner than you think.
Jerry
Yes, Jerry I need a Green Bean fix right now!
A freebie for you: http://www.deanthedancinmachine.com
Guess with oncoming weather it really is NOT “TGIF” for you. Good luck.
Thank Rick..I’m heading home to rest up for maybe an active Sunday/Monday! Have a great weekend!
Are you running on auto-pilot yet Janice?
Getting thunderstorms here now….
I live in Atlanta and it felt like spring today! I’ve been used to the unusually warm weather the past few months that I don’t even think about wearing a jacket when I go outside anymore. I actually miss the cold, though. I guess I just want winter to actually feel like winter!
Great blog. Keep it up!
Hello from Alaska. It sure is nice to see your weather forecasts/reports include the “Last Frontier”. We’re being a little sarcastic, of course. Just because we live outside the contiguous states doesn’t mean we don’t exist. And all weather in Alaska is NOT the same. The interior (Anchorage, Fairbanks, etc.) receives different weather than here in the southeast, Juneau. It would be nice to see your weather screen go just a little further north than Washington. Hawaiians may like to see their state featured once in a while, too. Since a lot of the weather in the western states originates from up here, you think you would show the storm systems off the coast a little more. We hate it when people assume that “Alaska just snows a lot and is cold.” So far this year, Minnesota and quite a few other states have had colder and snowier weather than we have. Nevada even has more snow than we have. We love to watch Fox news, but to really see the weather picture, we have to go to “The Weather Channel.” You need to “expand your horizons”. Other than that, you are doing a wonderful job and we enjoy watching you, because you are so spontaneous, we never know what you’re going to do or say next! Keep up the good work!
Jerry, We do convoy escort between Speicher and Q-WEST, or KEY WEST as it is called, daily. I got several people confussed by referring to Camp Speicher by it’s original name, Al Sahara Airbase, on the planning boards. I was told not to do that anymore.
Sorry Janice and all, I know that is inside talk.
Hey Jerry,
Never made to Q West but did use there weather observation abunch during thunderstorm season.
Hey Left Out,
I was up there in AK for 3 1/2 years and can relate to feeling left out. But I think that is was makes Alaska so great is the isolation. I loved felling like we weren’t apart of the CONUS. Yeah and it is true that the Aleutian Low is where a lot of the weather systems that affect the US originates from but people on the East Coast and in the Southeast or in Texas don’t really care about that. They only care about what they will have to wear tomorrow. I know the weather differences between Fairbanks, Anchorage and Sitka and even Cape Romanzof or Bethel and Adak or Shemya.
My advice to you is to keep watching Janice not only because she is awesomely hot, but she is a great weather forecaster and also keep watching Jackie on KTUU. She does fairly well.
This has long been a complaint of ours. The weather in Idaho is rarely given. Today, Feb . 22 it has been snowing all day. Yesterday in Wells, NV there was a 6.3 earthquake–never mentioned on Fox News. In fact, the whole west coast is largely ignored except for San Francisco and Los Angeles. There are millions of viewers out here who would appreciate an acknowledgement of our weather conditions.