Wild Spring Ahead with Tornadoes, Late-Season Snow

State College, Pa. -- 16 February 2011 -- AccuWeather reports while the weather has finally calmed down across much of the eastern two-thirds of the country this week, a look at the longer range suggests that many residents may be in for a wild spring.

Wintry events that last into April across the northern tier of the nation and an above-normal severe weather season farther south are some of the main highlights in AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi's outlook for the next few months.

To sum it up, Bastardi said, "This spring should be a wilder one than last year."

Winter May Keep Delivering Punches into April

For the late-season wintry events and cold shots, Bastardi and other AccuWeather.com long-range forecasters are pointing to areas north of Interstate 70 from the Plains into the East and north of I-40 in the West.

The West is shifting into a much colder, stormier weather pattern, which is expected to persist into March.

Occasionally, that cold air in the West will break out farther east across the country with areas north of I-70 being the main targets. The air may be cold enough to allow wintry precipitation to fall, if the timing is right, into April.

For residents in the East who experienced a remarkably warm March and April last year, this will be a major change this spring.

On a positive note, for people who are sick of winter, it appears that the persistence of colder-than-normal conditions across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation since December is over.

Even the areas north of I-70, where opportunities for cold shots will be highest through April, will experience a bigger variation in temperatures with more frequent warm-ups between the cold spells.

In fact, AccuWeather.com Long Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok says that more warm than cold is expected in the Northeast as temperatures alternate back and forth into early March.

It's from late March into early April that AccuWeather.com long-range forecasters are concerned about a two- to three-week period of colder-than-normal conditions from the Plains into the East.

Active Severe Weather Season Predicted

The other major concern in the longer range is the potential for the severe weather season this spring to be more active than normal. This means there could be more severe thunderstorms and tornadoes than average.

It's the contrast between the colder air that will occasionally be invading the northern tier of the nation and the warm air expected to be dominant in the South that has AccuWeather.com long-range forecasters concerned.

Where the warmer air to the south clashes with the colder air to the north is the zone where severe weather will be focused.

According to Bastardi, this zone will most likely span from the southern Plains (east of I-35 and I-45) into the Southeast and Ohio Valley.

Severe weather season usually starts ramping up across the Gulf Coast states late February into March and shifts northward across the Plains and East in the months that follow through summer.

The peak in tornado season typically doesn't happen until April or May for much of the Plains, Midwest and Southeast.

Some AccuWeather.com meteorologists have also pointed out that the severe weather season may get off to a late start this year, due to the fact that sea surface temperatures across the Gulf of Mexico are below normal.

Winter is Generally Over for the South

Above-normal warmth has replaced the extreme cold that gripped the South a good part of December and January.

Overall, AccuWeather.com long-range forecasters think temperatures will average out above normal in the coming months across the region. Pastelok said, "The one key [with the long-range forecast] is the South, where I think the extremes of cold are gone."

However, Bastardi is still warning that the threat of one more prolonged period of cold late in the season is a concern into April.

He says this may be a "mini version" of the extreme cold that gripped Texas the first two weeks of February.

If you have questions or want to speak to a meteorologist, contact:
 By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

Michigan Revises Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine to Protect Great Lakes Islands

New map available at www.michigan.gov/eab

LANSING -The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has revised its Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine to protect Great Lakes islands and to adjust Quarantine Level boundaries in several counties in the Upper Peninsula (UP) - effective immediately. A new map is available atwww.michigan.gov/eab.

“The Keweenaw County quarantine was revised to reflect the confirmation of an EAB infestation. This is the county’s first identification of EAB,” said Gina Davis, acting director of MDA’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “The quarantine revisions are being made following survey work conducted by MDA, conservation districts, and Michigan Technological University in 2010.”

Some of the revisions include: Keweenaw County, in its entirety, is now designated as a Level II area; and the townships of Ensign, Masonville and Bay De Noc are now designated as part of the Level II area in Delta County.  The townships of Hiawatha and Manistique, as well as the City ofManistique, are now designated as part of the Level II area in Schoolcraft County. 

The U.P. counties currently under quarantine are Alger, Chippewa, Delta, Houghton, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, and Schoolcraft. The Lower Peninsula continues to be quarantined in its entirety and is designated as Quarantine Level I area.

In addition to the quarantine Level boundary changes, the revised quarantine impacts a number of islands in the Great Lakes. It is now prohibited to move hardwood firewood, and the other articles regulated by the quarantine, from anywhere in Michigan to the following areas without a compliance agreement.

1.  Beaver Island Archipelago (including North Fox Island and South Fox 

     Island) in Lake Michigan

2.  Big Charity Island and Little Charity Island in Saginaw Bay/Lake Huron

3.  Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior

4.  North Manitou Island and South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan, which are 

     part of the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.

"Although, travelers are able to freely move firewood throughout the Lower Peninsula, and some areas of the UP, we are urging them not to do so as there are other invasive insects besides emerald ash borer - such as Gypsy Moth, Asian Longhorned Beetle and Sirex Woodwasp - that can hitch a ride on it," said Davis. "Please continue to only use local sources of firewood, burn all you buy, and don't take any unused firewood back home or to the next location."

MDA continues to ask hunters and other travelers not to move firewood to help prevent the artificial spread of the emerald ash borer. Campers and hunters should purchase firewood locally when visiting state parks, recreation areas and state forest campgrounds as it is a violation of state land use rules to bring ash firewood onto state forests, state parks, recreation areas, and state forest campgrounds.

The ban on moving hardwood firewood north across the Mackinac Bridge remains in effect and quarantine violators can still face fines and penalties. Additionally, MDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Station at the Mackinac Bridge remains in place to prevent hardwood firewood and other regulated material from entering the UP.
  
EAB is an exotic insect native to Asia that attacks ash trees. In its larval stage, EAB
feeds undetected under the bark of ash trees, disrupting water and nutrient flow -
ultimately killing the trees in three to four years. First discovered in 2002, the borer is
responsible for the death or damage of approximately 35 million ash trees in the
Lower Peninsula.

Additional information about EAB, quarantine details, and a map of the quarantine boundaries are available at www.michigan.gov/eab orwww.emeraldashborer.info 

The Genesis Code Announces Theaters for 2/18 Opening

“The Christian film of the year” to play in eleven theaters across six states
After a series of sold-out previews across the country, The Genesis Code is opening nationwide in its initial limited release on February 18.  The film will debut in eleven theaters spread across six states in the following locations:

-AMC Highlands Ranch; Denver, CO 

-Carmike Wynnsong; Des Moines, IA

-Peoria AMC; Peoria, IL

-Peoria Goodrich; Peoria, IL

-AMC Newport on the Levee; Newport, KY (Cincinatti, OH)            

-AMC Great Lakes; Auburn Hills, MI

-AMC Alpine; Grand Rapids, MI

-Goodrich; Holland, MI

-AMC Livonia; Livonia, MI  

-AMC Forum; Sterling Heights, MI

-AMC Dutch Square Columbia, SC

“We’ve gotten an incredible response from audiences in our early previews, and we are eagerly anticipating how the film’s unique message will resonate in these new cities,” said Reverend Jerry Zandstra, one of the stars of the movie. “We can’t wait to bring The Genesis Code to theaters across America.”
The Genesis Code follows a young college student, Kerry Wells, whose desire to be a paleontologist is jeopardized by faculty prejudice against her because of her Christian faith.  She sets out to show how Genesis and her science textbook reinforce each other’s claims, and her remarkable journey will change the lives of everyone around her.
For more info on The Genesis Code, visit: http://thegenesiscodemovie.com/