CROSSVILLE —
The record-breaking trend started in January continued in March when both months recorded record temperatures with March setting an all-time high.
January started the trend with the seventh warmest January on record, followed by the sixth warmest February. March took the number one spot this year with an incredible 11 degrees above normal. No March even comes close, according to records that go back in East Tennessee to just after the Civil War.
The cause of the warm weather was an unusually long-lasting high pressure over the Southeast that pushed the jet stream north, all the way to Canada, at times. This blocked any possibility of colder air dropping down onto the Plateau from the north.
Now that April has arrived, the weather patterns are much more normal, with occasional frost the first half of the month. We went from March 10 to April 6 with no frost.
Rainfall for 2012 is right where it should be with just over 15 inches. Good to see that something is normal.
We will continue to be in our tornado season through the end of May. We have had eight tornado days in Cumberland County since 2002, with five of those coming in April. Are tornadoes becoming more frequent here? There were only eight tornado days from 1965 to 2002.
There is now what is being called "Dixie Alley" that covers Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. With the latest Doppler Radar, we can track tornadoes more accurately than ever.
On Feb. 29, we saw the tornado touch down near Smithville, then it was aloft as it moved over Monterey and Mayland, touching down again in north Cumberland County. With the new technology, we will be able to see the debris if a tornado is on the ground. This will greatly increase accuracy of tornado warnings, in many cases.
There are signs of the upper air patterns changing later in the year. If this continues, we will see a hot summer followed by an early fall. I will update you each month as we monitor the latest data.
Area News
County has warmest March on record
Tornadoes are coming more frequently
- Area News
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Indictments handed down in Selby slaying
One Crossville area man was indicted for the beating death of a local woman, while an acquaintance of the suspect was indicted for being an accessory to the crime, according to court records.
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County discusses non-profit funding contracts
The Cumberland County Budget Committee reviewed contract agreements for funding of local non-profit agencies Tuesday evening and approved several.
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Suit seeks to force sewer connection
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has filed a lawsuit against the owner of an apartment complex in Lake Tansi Village alleging failure of a subsurface sewage disposal system and seeking to force connection of the apartments to the available Tansi Sewer Utility District sewer service.
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Titans Caravan rolls into town
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Special meeting on decorum set after contentious council meeting
A special called meeting of the Crossville City Council has been called for Friday at 1 p.m. by Councilmen Jesse Kerley and Pete Souza in order to revisit two items from the council's regular May meeting earlier this week.
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Breen, Korth, Kilgore were the big winners in fourth Tennessee State Senior Men’s Open
Nashville professional Bill Breen, Cookeville amateur Paul Korth and amateur Ron Kilgore came away with the top prizes from the fourth Tennessee State Senior Open played Monday and Tuesday at Stonehenge Golf Club in Fairfield Glade.
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Kington and Simmons earn trip to state championships
On May 14, the Lady Panthers and Panthers of Stone Memorial High School returned to CAK to compete in sectional track action verses some the best competition in A-AA.
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Supreme Court ruling affects DUI case here
A man facing a fourth offense drunk driving charge is benefiting from a recent Supreme Court ruling that bans the forced taking of blood to measure the blood alcohol content in cases designated by state law.
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Statement in shooting death attacked
Motions in the shooting death of a Daysville community man one year ago included a motion to suppress a statement given to investigators by the suspect in the case.
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Judge's daughter working for DA questioned
An assistant public defender failed in his attempt to have a Criminal Court judge removed from cases he was representing because the judge's daughter works for the district attorney's office.
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Indictments handed down in Selby slaying
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