It's been quite a while since I've posted! This past semester was CRAZY busy but it is over now and I am getting back into the swing of things. This post is primarily to serve the Band, Cheerleaders, and fans who are traveling down to St. Petersburg, Florida to cheer on the NC State football team against UCF in the Bitcoin Bowl. First is a brief analysis of the United States and generally what is happening from sea to shining sea. Below that is daily forecast analysis for St. Petersburg, and after that I have summed up a bit of a packing list.
United States
We have kind of an eclectic weather combination between the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean right now. Currently we have a blizzard warning in Nebraska, a tornado warning in Alabama, and gale warnings and freezing rain advisories in Maine. As a result of the trough moving through the Southeastern United States, we are experiencing frigid temperatures in the northern midwest, yet the jet stream has not yet crossed over the Appalachian Mountains yet (laterally...I do realize that the jet stream is at about 9-10 km in altitude which is far higher than any of the mountains in the Appalachian range). With this being the case, everything east of the Appalachian Mountains is still receiving warm Gulf air and our temperatures for the next couple of days here in Raleigh will be in the 60's! This reminds me of 9 years ago when my brother, cousins, and I were able to use our new roller blades on Christmas day because the high was in the low 60's and skies were sunny. The temperatures in the NE US are cooling off as they "move" to an upstream location west of the ridge, but an arctic cold air blast has not yet hit.
(Below is the advisory map from an hour and a half later than the image above.
This is so you can see how the system is moving across the US.)
Christmas Eve - Travel Day
Trip Beginning - Well, let's just say this is going to be a good day for travel. We have a strong trough moving through the region, and if you thought we got a lot of rain yesterday here in the Triangle, well, we did, but we're going to get even more tomorrow. The low in Raleigh tomorrow morning is going to be right around 55 and it will be raining... not exactly the best weather for loading buses, but once on the highway it'll be great weather for settling in for the long haul. When we actually leave at 10:00, the temperatures will be about 60 here in Raleigh.
 |
| Because I love The Lord of the Rings |
Lunch Time! - When we stop in Florence, SC for lunch, the temperature will be sitting right on that 70 mark locally, and it will be raining at a rate of about 0.25in/hr. Bring your rain boots, umbrella, and light rain jacket for this stop.
Dinner - When we make the stop in Jacksonville, FL for dinner, the temperature will be in the low 70's, and guess what... it's going to be raining at a rate of about 0.20in/hr. Still very good traveling weather (for those who don't have to drive at least).
Arrival in St. Petersburg - We should be arriving at our hotel by around 11:00, just in time to settle in to our rooms before Santa comes and fills all of our stockings above the fireplaces we just left from our homes in NC. It's alright though, because spending Christmas with the band/cheerleading family is still going to be a lot of fun! Oh yeah, weather is important for this time too. Well, when Santa makes his way to the hotel, his reindeer and sleigh will not be landing on a soft blanket of snow. Instead sparks will fly and be extinguished when he lands on black top with 0.5" of rain and a temperature in the upper 60's. I hope everyone in the band has been good little girls and boys this year!
Christmas Day - Merry Christmas!
This is probably going to be the strangest and most different Christmas Day any of us will ever experience. Fortunately I will still be spending it with immediate family because my younger brother is also in the band. In St. Petersburg, FL, the low temperature will be around 60 and although most of the clouds will be sticking around overnight, the rain will have already stopped. For our rehearsal this day the temperature will be in the low-mid 60's with variable winds primarily from the North and Northeast. The high for Christmas Day will be in the mid-upper 60's and the cloud cover will be decreasing throughout the day. The Pep Rally and Battle of the Bands should both be very enjoyable for viewers and performers as the temperature will not be too hot and a nice broken layer of clouds will be overhead. It will be humid though, but that's Florida weather for you. The low that night for our Christmas dinner will be around 60 and a cool northerly breeze will be blowing, so it may not be a bad idea to grab a light jacket on your way to dinner.
Game Day - Go Pack!
 |
| Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida |
should be in the mid-upper 60's with steady decreasing temperatures and increasing cloud cover through the night. It won't be cold enough to wear long sleeves under the uniform and it probably won't rain at all today.
Travel Day - Hopefully with another W!
Temperatures this morning in St. Petersburg will be in the low 60's. At lunch we should see temperatures in the low-mid 60's. For the dinner stop, temperatures will be in the mid 50's. When we drop off our friends in Fayetteville, temperatures will be in the low 50's. When we return to Price Music Center, the temperature will be around 50 or maybe even in the upper 40's.
Quick Check Packing List
In packing, make sure you have
- Band shirt, Band shorts, white gloves, black socks, music, and all pieces of your uniform/instrument
- Shorts and t-shirts (maybe even tank tops...Sun's out, guns out)
- Pair of pants/jeans for cooler temps at night
- Rain gear (umbrella especially)
- Comfortable clothes for travel
This is going to be an awesome trip! I'm so glad that I get to go with some awesome people! Let's go Wolfpack! Let's go make a Statement and claim Florida!
Images from http://www.weather.gov/, http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2013/11/08/keep-calm-and-eat/, http://paonthefly.com/tropicana-field-football,
