GOES-10 Science Test
Weather Synopsis - 29 March/12UTC - 30 March/12UTC 1998

Synoptic Situation:

An amplified and progressive upper air pattern continued during this period, with a closed upper low over the southwestern U.S. and a broad ridge aloft over the southeastern portion of the country. Vigorous shortwave energy moved northeastward from the southern Rockies and central Plains toward the Great Lakes region, associated with an advancing 150 knot upper jet streak.

At the surface, a broad area of low pressure was moving northeastward from eastern Colorado into the central Plains, as a cold front trailed southward into New Mexico; a warm front stretched northeastward across Nebraska into Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. A surface dryline was in place from central Nebraska and Kansas into Texas.

Weather Conditions:

Several tornadoes were reported across southern Minnesota into central Wisconsin - 1 fatality was reported with the St. Peter, Minnesota tornado. Large hail also accompanied these convective systems (hailstone diameters up to 4.5 inches in Minnesota, and 4.0 inches in Wisconsin), along with wind damage (81 mph in Tomahawk, Wisconsin). Heavy rains (0.75 to 1.0 inch) resulted from training cells of elevated convection over the eastern Dakotas, northern Minnesota, and northern Wisconsin.

Late evening convection developed along the dryline across Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Small hail was reported from these storms (up to 1.25 inches in diameter in Kansas, 1.00 inches in Nebraska and Oklahoma, 0.88 inches in Texas)

Snow fell across parts of the western Dakotas and surrounding portions of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. Snow was also reported over much of the southern and central Rockies -- Flagstaff, Arizona received 12.8 inches, a record for the date.

Record high temperatures across the eastern U.S. included 86 at Washington D.C. (Dulles), 84 at Jackson, Kentucky, and 77 at both Atlantic City, New Jersey and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Rain showers were reported across southern California and Arizona. It was unseasonably cool along the West Coast, with freeze warnings being issued for parts of Oregon and northern California.