THE ARBOR DOCTOR

Winter Weather Advisory issued for New Year’s Eve for freezing drizzle and black ice.  Click here for details.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for the Cincinnati metro area with snowfall forecasts increased to 2 to 4 inches by late Saturday evening.  Details click here.

Dear friends:

I am finding myself getting annoyed that nearly every company and advertiser feels obligated to purge “Merry Christmas” from their vocabularies, as if it’s going to offend someone.

Jesus came to this world as a little baby not to condemn the world but to bring love and salvation to a dying world which was desperate.  Wow!  That sounds a lot like today, doesn’t it?  It’s not that my faith is so small or my God is so small that He depends on people saying “Merry Christmas”.  God is not that small and, prayerfully, my faith is not that small.

I guess what bugs me is how we are such wimps.  I think of the lone man who stood up in front of the tanks on Tienanmen Square.  I think of the countless soldiers who have given their lives for our freedoms, including a Cincinnati Police officer who died this week while serving in Iraq.  I think of the founders of this country who stood up against British tyranny, yet we cower at the thought that someone may be offended by a greeting which recognizes God’s love at Christmas.  To me, that is sad.

So, as owner of Arbor Doctor, I send you my wish for a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.  Not because I want to offend anyone, but because God loves you.  He does.  And he came to show it 2,000 years ago on Christmas.

God bless you,

Ron Rothhaas

Snow will develop Friday night and Saturday with an inch or two expected in metro Cincinnati.  Click here for details.

While 1 to 2 inches with temperatures near freezing will not be crippling, and salt will be effective, this type of system will almost certainly cause some travel headaches.  Also, be aware that a major winter storm will be burying the Appalachians and east coast this weekend so travel in that direction is ill advised.  Click here for details.  Another weak system could produce some light snow here Sunday night into Monday morning.

Another winter storm is forecast to develop by Christmas Eve.  Details are still sketchy at this time, but the system will cause major snow somewhere, so stay tuned.  Cincinnati could get heavy snow, but models say we could also get rain or a messy mix.  It’s just too early to tell, but if you have travel plans be aware that this storm looks to be expansive.

It’s looking cold for the balance of 2009.  Temperatures are expected to be cold, possibly below freezing most days, through the end of the year, with the exception of this Thursday and Friday.  Typical of an El Nino pattern, generally dry conditions are also expected.  However, minor disturbances will pass by giving us occasional snow or flurry chances.  The first of these will be Saturday.  This system will produce a dusting to an inch.  As always, any given disturbance could intensify and give us several inches, or temporarily pull in warm air and rain, but for now it looks cold and dry.  A white Christmas?  It’s certainly possible in a pattern such as this.

For tips on inspecting your home for damage after the recent windstorm, and heading off future damage, see this article from my friend Don Kennedy and Handyman Matters (click here).  Remember, too, that tree growth regulators can be utilized to slow tree growth near structures or in areas with limited space.  Click here to read more about tree growth regulators and how they can be used.  Call us about tree growth regulators today!

A high wind warning has been issued for the Cincinnati area for Wednesday and Wednesday night.  Details here. 

This wind event will likely see the strongest long duration winds since the remnants of Ike in September 2008.  While the winds this time will not be that strong, and there are no leaves on the trees to create such dramatic “sail” affects, winds gusting near 60 mph will almost certainly cause some damage.  There are still a number of damaged, cracked, decayed, and broken trees around which have not been taken care of.  Additionally, the ailing economy has caused some to put such tree work on the back burner.

The wind is being generated by what is likely to be the strongest winter storm in decades which will cause a crippling blizzard in the plains.  All of Iowa is under a blizzard warning with 8 to 16 inches of snow expected and drifts forecast of 8 to 15 feet (NWS Des Moines click here)!  Winter storm and blizzard conditions will stretch from California and Arizona to the Great Lakes.  For details on the storm, click here.

To summarize:

• High winds will almost cetainly lead to damage and power outages Wednesday and Wednesday night.
• Tree damage is likely, especially in trees already compromised by past storms or decay.
• This will be a rather long duration event, lasting 18 to 24 hours.
• Temperatures will drop below freezing before the winds subside.

One bright spot:  Very little rain has fallen in Cincinnati since November 1.  I found very dry soils during a job Tuesday.  This storm is forecast to generate an inch of  much needed rain in the Cincinnati metro area.

Summary from the National Weather Service:  Click here.

Were the good ole’ days really snowier than today?  For one perspective, click here.

…HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT…
Potentially damaging winds are possible Wednesday as an intense low pressure system passes to our north.  Winds may gust over 50 mph, high enough to cause damage and power outages.  Temperatures will plummet behind the front with highs Thursday only in the mid-20s.  There is a chance of snow for Saturday and Saturday night.  Right now, that snow appears to be light.

…HIGH WIND WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT…

SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 30 TO 40 MPH THROUGH THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING BEFORE DIMINISHING TO 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH OVERNIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A HIGH WIND WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA.

A quick moving but ill-timed weather system is causing havoc with Monday morning rush hour.  Snowfall will be under an inch and will melt off as temperatures rise to 40 today. 

A larger weather system will bring mainly rain late Tuesday into Wednesday, then much colder air for late week with a slight chance of snow.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
405 AM EST MON DEC 7 2009

…SLIPPERY COMMUTE POSSIBLE AS SNOW MOVES IN…

AN AREA OF LIGHT SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA THIS MORNING…HITTING MOST LOCATIONS DURING THE PEAK COMMUTING TIME OF 5 AM TO 9 AM. WHILE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN LESS THAN AN INCH…PAVEMENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING WILL ALLOW AT LEAST SOME OF THE SNOW TO STICK TO ROAD SURFACES…WHICH WILL CREATE SLIPPERY TRAVEL. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE FIRST BOUT OF WINTER TRAVEL CONDITIONS FOR MANY RESIDENTS SO FAR THIS SEASON…AND EXTRA CAUTION IS ADVISED. IN ADDITION…VISIBILITIES IN FALLING SNOW MAY DROP BELOW A MILE BRIEFLY THIS MORNING. TRAVEL CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE RAPIDLY TOWARD MID TO LATE MORNING AS TEMPERATURES WARM INTO THE 30S AND THE LIGHT SNOW DIMINISHES AND SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA.