On Wednesday, the peak intensity of this storm is realized. A large mass of severe thunderstorms is projected across much of the Northern Gulf States with tornado risk from Louisiana to Alabama. Excessive rain and attendant flooding strike the entire Southeast U.S. centered on Alabama.

Due to lack of snow cover, the front end of meteorological winter was very warm. Mid-winter featured one cold outbreak, enough to make an otherwise warmer than normal January appear seasonably cold. The brief cold in January inspired a snow cover advance. However, once the end of meteorological winter arrives, milder winds erase U.S. snow cover causing another warm month in February.

In the AG Market Climate Impact Company Sunday Report, highlighted is the 24-hour rainfall totals on the East Coast of Australia. This is the last day of excessive rainfall causing life-threatening flooding particularly in the Sydney area. The latest GFS forecast indicates more heavy rain next week.

The European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has issued their once-per-month forecasts for the next 6 months. Glancing at the rainfall anomaly forecast in the North Atlantic tropics and subtropics for July through September helps to identify areas exposed to tropical cyclone risk.