Thursday, February 25, 2016

That is a vortex that moved across the USA occupying the entire western hemisphere over the Atlantic Ocean.

February 25, 2016
1630.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

I used to call vortexes like this a 'vortex maximum.' But, those were not as large as this one. It reaches down to the equator adn there is ever indication it reaches into the southern hemisphere.

February 25, 2016
By AP

There has been more wacky winter weather (click here) with a rare February thunderstorm warning in Maine. Officials say strong gusts knocked out power for more than 16,000 homes and businesses.
Flashes of lightning and powerful thunderclaps swept across the state Thursday morning.
The thunderstorm warnings were the first issued in February by the National Weather Service in Gray in 19 years and the first issued by the Caribou office since it was created in 17 years ago.
The state's major electric utilities, Central Maine Power and Emera Maine, each reported that more than 8,000 customers were in the dark late Thursday morning.
Warm temperatures followed the severe weather. The temperature climbed to 53 degrees Thursday in Portland, breaking the old record of 71 set in 1985.... 

This was the vortex a yesterday evening. The vortex reached across thousands of miles into Guatemala. When I looked at Guatemala the nearest city to the turbulence was Puerto Barrios and there was severe weather while the rest of Guatemala was mostly unremarkable.

24 February 2016
2130.19z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East satellite