THE STORM OF THE SEASON TO STRIKE WITH HEAVY SNOW SUNDAY

Alright folks, the winter storm of the year will be one to remember for many, over 100+ million people for that matter. The actual storm is starting to get its act together on the eastern range of the Rockies and it poised to cross the Midwest Sunday and eastern seaboard Monday.  It has plenty of strengthening to do in the next 24 hours, but all indications and dynamics suggest that the models are dead on with this system and its formation. With that is mind, confidence is substantial that a high impact, travel crippling winter storm will strike the most populous areas of the Midwest Super Bowl Sunday. Switching gears, it has been a topic in weather communication and in the weather community to not "hype" storms as many media outlets do, but this storm certainly deserves such praise. It is not often that we can say with near certainty that "numerous locations will see a foot of snow by Sunday evening," but that is the case. A wide band of over 6" will set up from Iowa all the way through the major metropolitan cities on the eastern seaboard. Amounts of 10",11", 12" will embed themselves within the band. The national media attention will certainly be focused on New York to Boston, but this looks to be a Chicago special here in the Midwest. It is storms like this and tracks like this where Chicago can capitalize on the heaviest snow amounts.

With counterclockwise winds around the center of the storm, Chicago will be in a position to see its snow enhanced by Lake Michigan moisture. As we posted on Our Facebook Page a couple days ago, the lake is only 21% frozen and is all open water off the shore of Chicago. With temperatures near 20 and water temps in the upper 30s, lapse rates will become unstable and convective thundersnow is possible in northeast Illinois.  There will be a long enough fetch across the open waters of Lake Michigan, as the winds shift to a more northeasterly direction as the low passes through central Indiana. The NWS is somewhat downplaying the lake enhancement, but amounts of 16"-20" are more than possible in isolated bands. Officially we are going to call for 10-16" in the Chicagoland, with higher amounts possible where banding sets up. This storm has a lot to offer and will be one of the major news stories as the clean up begins Monday, second to that of the Super Bowl! Be sure to take it easy Sunday, enjoy the game, and keep it here to Midwest Weather!

CROSS COUNTRY WINTER STORM SUPER BOWL WEEKEND

Over one third of the country will see accumulating snow with this system. The potential for a foot of snow is very high in areas where heavy snow bands set up. Our official snow forecast is mapped for you above, notice the wide area of over a half foot of snow, right through the populated areas of the Midwest.  Confidence is very high with the system, but the exact track and location of heaviest snow is still somewhat in question, but one thing is for sure, a lot of snow is on the way. The trend has been to shift the band north, but how far north? We will be watching as the latest data comes into our forecast center.  The system is now on shore and can now be sampled by the rich observation network over land. This will likely be the largest and highest impact winter storm of the season, just in time for Super Bowl weekend.

Let's dive into why we are so confident this storm will drop heavy snow to a wide area. The map attached is off the NCEP 12z GFS model, showing relative humidity, moisture for our purpose. This cyclone will emerge from the dessert southwest, but is tapping into Pacific moisture AND Gulf of Mexico moisture. Meanwhile, another shortwave system will dive south from Canada and merge over the central part of the country Sunday. With three distinct areas of moisture crashing together at the same time, it is no wonder why snow amounts could top a foot in many locations. With many systems, similar to this one, dry air to the north is usually fighting up against moisture air from the south, however with the secondary area of low pressure coming in from Canada, this will not be a problem this time around. We are very confident in the amounts forecasted above (could be even higher), but be sure to keep it here if anything changes, we will likely have small tweaks to the forecast as the latest data comes in. Be sure to 'like' our Facebook page for continued updates, there is a 'like box' on the right for your convenience.

The new models are in, Weekend Storm Confidence on the Rise

The latest models are in, from the morning data and radiosonde network, and heavy snow is looking very likely heading into the weekend! The American model has been showing such an event for the past couple days, while the European has latched on recently and is now showing the most snow! Our interpretations of the latest runs are attached here! Updates will follow heading into the weekend, this could be a significant widespread system!

Cross Country Accumulating Snow Event POSSIBLE this Weekend

It has been very quiet across the bulk of the Midwest the past couple weeks. This tranquility may change as we head into the weekend for some. An area of low pressure will emerge out from the Rockies Saturday and crawl through the middle of the country and up the east coast. With moisture to tap into from the Gulf of Mexico, this has the potential to drop 4"+ across parts of the shaded area on the map. The latest snow forecasts from the major models can always be found on our site, Click Here!



Let's dive into the models. Here is our interpretation of the latest GFS model.  Temperatures near the surface and aloft would allow for much of the precipitation to be mostly snow.  The GFS is pinning a very wide area of 2"+ of snow with a narrow band of 4-7" through central Missouri and the Ohio River Valley. The storm would then cruise up the eastern seaboard and dump more snow in the same areas that saw 3 FEET of snow (All the totals here!) The solution does coincide well with previous runs a couple days ago.

The NAM model is now on board with the GFS. It puts down similar amounts of snow but comes in even heavier, which is usually a rule of thumb with the NAM. It always overdoes snow totals 3+ days out from an event. Unfortunately, it only runs out to 84 hours, and it suspect to inaccuracies that far out anyways.

The model that forecasted the east coast storm first (Heard it hear first) the European is mapped for you. It shows the least amount of snow out of all the major models, but its track record of success cannot be ruled out. It only puts a narrow band of 2-4" down, and keeps locations that the GFS hammers completely dry. We will need to watch this system play out. It is still out over the Pacific Ocean, we will know so much more once this system crashes on shore later in the week and can become sample by the nation's weather network. The track and location of vorticity maxima will ultimately determine who sees the heaviest (if any) snow fall this time around. Either way, it will usher in colder weather next week.

MAJOR NOR'EASTER BLIZZARD POSSIBLE TUESDAY

Here is the latest European model take on the system. The GFS and NAM concentrate the heaviest snow from Boston to Maine, but the Euro has a historic event 3 days from now! While this part of the system will not impact the Midwest, the nation's travel system will ripple delays throughout. Be sure to share with your east coast friends!
This is part of the same energy that will bring a couple inches of snow to the Midwest Saturday night and Sunday.  The forecasted snow amounts are plotted for you below, this comes off the RUC model, which has had a good handle on the system as it developed in southern Canada before crossing into the United States early today. A general 1-3" will fall, with 4" in very isolated locations within the wide band of snow.

Accumulating Snow Sunday

The return of accumulating snow comes back Sunday.  A wide swath of 1-3" will fall Sunday, with the potential of a narrower band of 2-4", maybe 5" in the heaviest locations. Models are having problems pinning down where this may occur, so we have not included in our snow map. As the events draws closer, we will tweak and add details to the map on the left.  The latest trends have been pushing the accumulating snow further south. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the next couple days.

Saskatchewan Screamer to Impact the Midwest Sunday

Current indications are continuing to support an active "clipper-like" pattern to hold across the Midwest over the next week. A weak system will bring light snow showers to Minnesota and Wisconsin Friday into Saturday, but the heaver action comes in again for Sunday.  The above map shows two somewhat consistent models and their take on the snow maker for Sunday.  The trend has been to place the heaviest band of snow more northeast with every model run, something will will need to watch. The trends and data support around 0.3" of precipitation in the heaviest band, and lesser amounts away from the deformation zone.  With such a cold air mass in place, this could translate into a max of 5"/6" of light fluffy snow, with a 18:1 ratio. We are expecting a wide band of 1-3" of snow on Sunday, and the potential of 3-5" in a narrow band of winter weather advisory-like snow. Be sure to stay tune for the latest trends and an eventual snow map on this low pressure system.

Clipper #1, in a Series of Clipper System to Hit the Midwest

A series of quick hitting storm systems coming in from Canada will bring light snow to the Midwest over the next 10 days. The first system comes in tonight and drops around an inch of snow for central and east central Wisconsin.  System number two comes in a little stronger tomorrow for North Dakota and southern Minnesota. The pattern will set up as a northwest to southeast flow, with near average high temperatures across the Midwest. This will allow for more rounds of very light snow in the Midwest, nothing major, but slick road conditions will occur as the light and fluffy snow blankets the ground.

Snow and Dangerous Ice Accumulation Sunday Night

A storm system will bring a large area of precipitation Sunday night into Monday.  The largest concern will be accumulating ice across the Ohio River Valley. An ice storm warning has been issued for the Indianapolis Metro. Current indication are that 0.2"-0.3" of ice will accumulating on surfaces below freezing, including untreated roadways, in the outlined darker pink. This storm has the potential to bring widespread power outages and school cancellations. Outside of central Indiana, winter weather advisories have been issued for areas near or north of the Ohio River for a light glaze of ice.  Meanwhile areas further north will see accumulating snow on the order of a few inches, nothing these areas cannot handle, but it will still impact travel. Be sure to take it slow and monitor the forecast if you plan to travel over the next 12-24 hours in these areas.

Warm and January Thaw on the Way!

After a week of extreme cold and gusty winds associated with wind chill advisories and warnings for much of the week, the tide will turn in terms of temperature by late next week. The map on the left are the forecasted high temperatures for next Saturday using a model blend. Much of the Midwest will be above freezing by next weekend, and with the sun shinning over several days, those piles of snow and snow covered driveways will see some relief, along with your heating bill! The warmth looks to stick around through the following week.

On the right is the 6-10 day temperature outlook from the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center.  It clearly shows much of the country, with the Midwest at the epicenter, will be at or above normal high temperatures. The jet stream will push north and winds will shift to a more zonal direction. This west to east flow will create adiabatic warming over the Rocky Mountains. As the air is forced up over a mountain and then forced down, parcels of air will see an increase in pressure but maintain their thermodynamic properties and warm as they sink.  This warmth will manifest itself eastward, into the Midwest and much of the country by the weekend. Below is a map showing just how much above average will get to. Enjoy the warm up!

Accumulating Snow Thursday

A quick hitting clipper will drop several inches of snow across the Great Lakes. Temperatures and wind chills will continue to be in the dangerous category today. With the air being so cold, the snow that falls will be very light and fluffy, and will blow around through the evening and overnight. Travel will be affected in areas that see accumulating snow, as roads treated with salt, with not be affected.   A reinforcing shot of cold air will follow this system, before a warm up by next week.

Accumulating Snow to Return Saturday, in a couple rounds

Major snow droughts in December in areas such as Iowa and Wisconsin will see some relief this weekend. Several inches of snow will blanket areas of brown, barren land by Sunday morning. An area of low pressure currently dumping heavy amounts of snow in the higher elevations of Arizona will makes its trek northeastward over the next few days into parts of the Midwest. As the surface low pressure deepens over northern Illinois, a narrow band of nearly a half of a foot of snow will set up on the northwest side of the track. Currently, models are hinting that the band will set up from central Iowa through northern parts of Lower Michigan, where lake enhancement should provide an amplification in snow totals. Furthermore, eastern Wisconsin could see an inch or two more than surroundings areas as winds will be blowing westerly off the relatively warmer waters of Lake Michigan for a period of time.  This feature will create steep and unstable lapse rates, which may allow for some convection, or thunder in such areas, assuming the dynamics works out as modeled.

It appears there will be two rounds of precipitation that will affect the same areas, but are still associated with the same surface low pressure minimum.  Vorticity (on the right) is basically a measure of spin in the atmosphere, and the more of it, the more upward motion seen in an area, which will then increase the rate at which precipitation falls and accumulates. The first part of the system will move through Saturday morning, and could create some quick hitting snows, but much of this energy will be in the warm, or rainy part of the storm. The more prolonged area of vorticity, "2" will pass through Iowa and Wisconsin by Saturday and will bring with it the bulk of the snow during this time. The exact location of highest values of vorticity will determine who sees the heaviest snow. We will also need to watch where the rain/snow line and thunderstorms set up. The pivoting thunderstorms into cold air can be a tell tale sign off highest snow rates. The NAM model on the left is the northern-most solution, but it brings rain into southern Wisconsin, which will certainly dampen snow totals. The transition line from rain to snow looks to be a quick one, meaning ice accumulation does not look to be much of an issue as vertical profiles through the storm have minimal inversions to create ideal icing conditions.  Meanwhile, another weakening storm system will dump a quick hitting light fluffy snow near the Canada/US border.  This system will pull the stronger cyclone to the north. However, with temperatures so cold, the snow will pile up quickly, as reflected by our snow map below: