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  • January 14, 2011 | 1:14 PM ET

    Quiet forecast...for now! And what is a mudslide exactly?

    Good morning everyone!  Happy Friday.  I am so ready to start my weekend.   This week was a busy one!

    Thankfully in weather news, we’re pretty quiet, although I’m already getting many questions about a new storm that could affect the Northeast early next week!   So far, it doesn’t look like we’re going to have a big event as temperatures should be warming up a little bit, and instead of a lot of snow – we could just have some nuisance rain/wintry mix. 

    Now, if you live in the Northwest, I’m sure you’re ready for some calmer weather as it has been very active across that region, and this weekend is no exception.   Rain and snow will then move in across the Rockies and Plains.  Across Southern California, wind advisories are up as breezy conditions will  kick up tonight and tomorrow. 

    Light snow is falling across the Plains, the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley as a quick system pushes through. Chilly but dry over the South for the most part.  Some showers will move in across the Gulf States and Lower Mississippi Valley this weekend.  And it looks like a slow, but steady warm up across the South which I’m sure they’re ready for!

    Now I have to admit, I feel somewhat guilty complaining about our weather when folks across globe are dealing with life changing floods!  You’ve seen the footage across Australia where the rains keep coming:

    And now Brazil is reporting hundreds of people are dead from flooding and massive mudslides.  One resident described the disaster as “a tsunami that fell from the sky”

    The hardest hit area is the city of Teresopolis with heavy rains beginning a few weeks ago, and more rain is expected for the next week.   The pictures are devastating:

    (Pictures courtesy of AP)

    So a couple of people have asked me what exactly causes a “mudslide” or “debris flow”.  Basically (without trying to sound too much like a textbook) a mudslide or landslide  is the  movement or displacement of rocks, soil, water, and/or vegetation  downhill.

    Whether it’s a mudslide or landslide depends on the amount of water that’s involved.   Landslides are “drier” and obviously don’t have as much water content.   These are also classified by the speed at which they move downhill. 

    Mudslides have much more water involved than landslides, and  generally have fewer large rocks and trees than landslides.   Looking at a mudslide,  it appears to have the consistancy of ”cake batter”.  Mudslides can also move pretty fast due to the high water content from heavy rain or even rapid snow-melt.   We worry about mudslides a lot in California after heavy rains during their “wet” season.

    Ok, it’s lunchtime, and my little internal weather intern is clearly hungry (ok, maybe I’m using him as an excuse for wanting to eat several hamburgers!  LOL!)  Have a great weekend everyone!

    JD

    Janice Dean
    Meteorologist

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Joni

Happy Monday All ~ A cloudy cool week. Maybe a lite drizzle/snow, or what our forecaster calls, Snizzle! but nothing like last week. Just got an email from my dear friend in South Australia. She said the floods in Queensland are just terrible, as we all have seen She praised the govt in Queensland how they are rallied to aid in the communities hit by flood. There is now flooding in Vicoria (south Aust. state, where I used to live) and the death toll continues. Prayers for those folks!

January 17, 2011 at 8:47 am
(1 Reply)

Margie Gacki

Hey PJ, I was thinking about you as I watched the Jets game--way to go Jets! However, next week I'll have to cheer for my Steelers! I'm glad the Jets played great today, especially since the Patriots beat them so badly the last time they played. Hey to everyone else out there. Have a great evening, all! Margie

January 16, 2011 at 9:09 pm
(1 Reply)

pjman

Yes My Jets won. Pittsburgh Next week. Yes on the way to the big game. Hope all had a good evening. I did. PJ

January 16, 2011 at 9:04 pm

A.J. De Young

Morning all, Don, I heard that also, just as I was getting out of the car at church, what a wonderful legacy of a jewel of a little girl...Christina's purpose was fulfilled on earth....Joni, its getting worse instead of better, ohhh brrrrr, Hi Margie, David good to hear from you again, hope you all have a great day I am babysitting my Grand dog Samster. AJ

January 16, 2011 at 2:13 pm

David (USAF WX)

Hey Janice, Its been a long time since I have posted on your blog. Just wanted to let you know it is currently -15F here in Anchorage. Also on wednesday here at Elmendorf we had 53kts of wind. Our tower reported 80kts. Pretty crazy. Anyway...you are looking great. Allison is doing wonderful. She is in gymnastics and loves it. Take care.

January 16, 2011 at 1:18 pm
(1 Reply)

Margie Gacki

Hey Don, I didn't hear that about Christina. What a beautiful thing for her parents to do. That whole story is so heartbreaking but at least something good came out of it. Hey Joni, it's been windy in Cumberland, too. I heard the wind rattling things around last night. It looks like the 44 degrees we had yesterday will be the last time we see 40's for at least the next week. Forecast is for 30's all week & 20's for Friday (with a low of 7--brrr!) Spring can't get here fast enough for me! Margie

January 16, 2011 at 12:10 pm

DoninRichmond

It's 46 here now, nice change. Isn't it wonderful that Christina Green's parents donated her organs to a child in Boston. Her legacy will live on.

January 16, 2011 at 11:45 am

Joni

Happy Sunday All ~ very windy overnight in the mtns, 27 this morning. Our local forecast changed this week to flurries and cold temps! maybe some freezing rain. Today we should have a little warm and melt down. The driveway is still pretty snowpacked! Great Steelers game last night! Hi AJ!! Have a good day everyone.....

January 16, 2011 at 9:17 am

pjman

Hi all the concert was great. It is 48 right now. I hope the Jets win tomorrow. I cant believe the games today. What I saw of them. Hope all have a great Sunday and stay warm. PJ

January 16, 2011 at 2:07 am

Joni

Good Evening all.. hit the wrong key earlier...whoops! Like Margie we are having a heatwave! 42 degrees...break out the lawn chairs and BBQ. I was using the snowblower W/O gloves woo wee! I know AJ, sounds crazy! We are back to sub zero temps on Friday! Hope everyone is doing fine! Happy Saturday!

January 15, 2011 at 8:16 pm
(1 Reply)

A.J. De Young

Hi Folks, thought I would just chirp in today, oh dear Margie, if 44 is your heat wave, I am almost ashamed to tell you what our temp and weather is like today and that is why we pay for living in Southern Ca. dearly, there is no place I don't think anywhere with the weather like we have from Oceanside to San Diego Ca...and I am on a hill with always a seabreeze, it really doesn't get any better, so if you all are looking for a better place weatherwise, you are here...hope all our well xo AJ

January 15, 2011 at 6:40 pm

Margie Gacki

Hey folks, glad to see there's a little action on the blog today. We're having a heat wave here in Cumberland--it's up to 44! It's cloudy & a little breezy so it doesn't feel like 44 but it's a whole lot better than 24! I finally got my outdoor nativity taken down this afternoon. I was waiting for some better weather. There's a chance of snow/rain showers today so we'll see what happens. Have a great weekend, everyone! Margie

January 15, 2011 at 3:49 pm

pjman

Hey BG in Tx I was born in NY and Lived in NJ & NY till I moved to TX in Aug. I will take Texas weather any day. Last year every time it snowed it was 2 feet. I guess everyone wants what they cant have when it comes to weather. It is 47 and cloudy right now. Hubby and I are going to see Al Jarreau tonight I cant wait. Hope all have a great weekend. PJ

January 15, 2011 at 1:58 pm

BGinTX.

Good morning everyone. 47 degrees and small drizzle. Margie, I'm a born Texan and never liked hot weather.Hardly get snow or ice down here. I was in Washington,DC. in '89 and they had to clear the runways so we could land.It was fun to clear the windshield and driveway so we could drive out the next morning.Did'nt take winter clothing,so had to go to the store and buy some.Only there for a week,but if you live there everyday,It can get tiresome.Out of room,By all.BG.

January 15, 2011 at 12:08 pm

Margie Gacki

Hey folks, it was chilly & windy in Cumberland today. I think it only got up to around 33. We haven't seen 40 degrees since the 4th so hopefully some warmer weather will come eventually! At least the snow has stayed away for the most part. By this time last year we were buried under lots of snow so I'd rather have the cold than snow! I hope everyone has a great weekend! Margie

January 14, 2011 at 7:08 pm

Tn~Deb

Hey gang, Well the melting process has begun. We've had a high of 36 today, so it's been drip drip drip from my roof, super long drippy icicles too. It will probably take a few days for the snow to go though. Then I think more is on the way. JD, hope you found something yummy to eat for the two of you. Have a great Friday evening. Deb

January 14, 2011 at 6:15 pm

BGinTX.

Good afternoon Janice. We understand you have to eat for two and keep you two happy and healthy.Hope to see you at your regular time next week.However, you look bright and cheerful no matter what time of day or night it is. Have a cozy and restful weekend.Hello to everyone else out there. 42 degees and drizzly.Hoping for good rain tomorrow. Being paged, gotta go.Talk to you later.BG.

January 14, 2011 at 4:42 pm

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  • Cold fronts, snowstorms, hurricanes, and sunshine. Fox News Channel meteorologist Janice Dean blogs about it all here. You can also follow Janice on Twitter.

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