Midwest Snow Event by Late-Week

Snow will develop by Wednesday across the northern Plains and fill in towards the Midwest by Thursday. Several inches of snow are possible throughout North Dakota and parts of the Upper Midwest. There will be 3 pieces of energy that produce snowfall over the next several days. If they would have all phased together at the same time, which does tend to happen this time of year, heavy snowfall would then have been likely, yet this is what we are left with. The heaviest snow will be over northern North Dakota and Northeast Wisconsin into Michigan.

Midwest Weather Winter Storm Update

Quick winter storm update tonight, with models coming into better agreement confidence is starting to rise. The forecast from Saturday still looks generally on track, with just a few subtle changes. The track wobbles are noted in the graphic to the left. It still appears a weak system will kick off light snow across the far northern Plains Wednesday into Thursday, with a general 3-6" of snow likely here by Thursday morning. Then, by Late Thursday morning a cyclone across Nebraska will develop and push towards Chicago. As this occurs, moisture will  be brought to the northwest and snow will increase in coverage and intensity to the left hand side of the low. It is a classic track for heavy snow across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Some light snow should develop Thursday morning in the Central Plains, with 2-5" likely here. The snow will ramp up as the low develops and should become moderate to heavy by Thursday afternoon and evening. The darker shade of blue has the best chances for 6"+ of snow, as it looks like a band of 5-10" is possible across this area, with lesser amounts outside of this zone. There are still some questions with the systems; such as whether thunderstorms in the south will rob any of the moisture and just how deep the low can get before moving into Canada. As always, being still 3+ days out there will likely be a couple tweaks in the exact track of the low, which will have impacts on who sees the most snow. A more detailed snow map will be issued by tomorrow evening as things become even more clear. As per usual, more weather updates will be posted on Twitter and Facebook!

Pre-Christmas Winter Storm Possible across Midwest

It's that time of year, the time when just about everyone wouldn't mind to see the white stuff falling from the sky. Well, Mother Nature may come through with accumulating snows in the days leading up to the holiday. Models have been showing a favorable pattern for days, and are becoming more clear with a couple storm systems ejecting from the Rocky Mountains December 20th-22nd. With a substantial trough in place, the cold air supply with be sufficient to support snow through much of the Midwest.

Our first peice of energy will slide out of Montana December 20th and bring warmer air north towards North Dakota and Minnesota. As this warm air is bought over the top of stubborn cold air at the surface, precipitation will emerge once it reaches saturation. Widespread light snow should develop across much of the northern Plains with a few inches of snow likely across much of the region, and isolated locations of more snow eare possible. The main surface low will weaken and transfer towards eastern Colorado the coming days.

When this energy digs south into the Central Plains by the 21st, a developing surface low pressure system will strengthen as it pushes northeast towards the Upper Great Lakes. As the low deepens, upward motion will be induced on the northwest side of the cyclone, and with cold air in place a large area of snow should develop Dec 21st-22nd. The long duration event and effective dynamics in play, heavy snow is possible somewhere from Iowa to Wisconsin and into Michigan. Being still ~5 days out, some details are uncertain, but looks like a good shot for a solid White Christmas across much of the Midwest. We won't touch on exact amounts quite yet, just being too early at this point, but there is a chance of an area picking up 6"+ as we head into Christmas. Be sure to keep it here to Midwest Weather for details and snow forecasts as we get closer to the event. You can always follow on Twitter and like on Facebook for even more updates.

5pm Monday: Click Here for an update

Quick Hitting Snowfall Wednesday

An area of low pressure will dive into the northern Plains overnight and quickly develop through the morning on Wednesday. A narrow band of moderate snow is expected to set-up to the northeast of the track, across the Upper Great Lakes. Models are coming together in placing this band from northeast Wisconsin into Lower Michigan. It will be one of those cases where some may see nearly nothing and 50 miles north they see 6" of snow. The snow is expected to be of the light a fluffy variety, so it will quickly pile up Wednesday. The narrow band of snow should produce a general 4-7" of snow, with 7"+ expected in western Lower Michigan where some lake enhancement is expected by tomorrow. Total snow forecast is attached above, along with one model's take on the what the radar may look like tomorrow, attached below. Winds during the snowfall should be rather light, but as the low pressure system pulls away Wednesday evening, winds will shift to the north and increase with time during the evening and early part of the overnight. Gusts of 25-30 mph are then possible, which could act to blow the light and fluffy snow around through Thursday morning. Be sure to 'like' us on Facebook and follow on Twitter for more weather updates!

2017-2018 Midwest Weather Winter Forecast

After a cool start to a November that produced a couple rounds of light snow across the Upper Midwest, the latter half of the month has been well above normal across the Midwest. With the warm weather taking hold, people are asking, "What does it mean for the winter?" While there is little correlation to how the weather in November determines the rest of the season, yet there are methods meteorologists can use to gather insight on what to expected through March. With meteorological winter starting tomorrow (December 1st), it is finally time to unveil the official Midwest Weather winter outlook for the 2017-2018 season.

2016-2017 Winter Recap:

To jive your memory, let's take a look at last winter. It featured a neutral ENSO to near-weak La Nina, meaning the ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean were near normal or slightly below normal. When neither a La Nina or El Nino develops, other climatic processes carry more weight and will have more of an impact on the weather across the United States. Above is a look at temperatures and rain/snow amounts compared to average. According to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, the Midwest saw temperatures run a few degrees above normal, with precipitation dependent on two storm tracks that brought above normal rain/snow amounts from Iowa into parts of Wisconsin, and kept other parts of the region below average. The winter forecast posted Last Year, panned out fairly well. With the 'increased risk for larger storms' in the upper midwest, 'below average snow' in the Mid-Mississippi River Valley, along with 'increased lake effect' the forecast generally held up. The temperatures ended up warmer due to a very warm second half of February, with record highs ruled the land.

Now let's take a look at what to expect for this upcoming winter. Using current conditions of the oceans and atmosphere can work to forecast upcoming winter conditions. Four climate processes will be examined to determine what are called analog years, or years that are most similar to this upcoming winter. The status of ENSO, PDO, QBO, and AMO will be studied and compiled to develop our winter forecast!

ENSO (La Nina/El Nino):

Climate models and trends are suggesting that a La Nina is in the process of developing for this winter. Typically when the index is more negative than -0.5, a La Nina is then classified. While we are expecting a cooler than normal equatorial Pacific, it will not be extensively cool. Model consensus is expecting the status of ENSO to run about -0.8 through much of the winter. Below is a higher time step resolution, with the current value measured at near -0.8, yet will fluctuate day to day.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO):

The PDO is another dynamic ocean pattern on a longer time scale than ENSO. Typically it can change from phase to phase over the course of a decade or longer. The PDO has been in the warm phase over the past several years, yet there are signs it may lean to the cool side this winter or hover around neutral. The latest observed value was -0.62, down from values near 0 earlier in the Fall. 

A visual representation of the PDO flipping to the cold phase is above, current sea surface temperatures, via tropical tidbits. Notice the blob of warmer than average SSTs in the Northern Pacific, with pockets of cooler than average SSTs in the vicinity of the Gulf of Alaska. Its subtle, but does match the cold phase of the PDO in the image above better than the warm phase. In our analogs, we will use a slightly negative PDO value throughout the winter.

The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO):

The AMO is a similar process in the North Atlantic, yet on longer time scales. It has been in the warm phase for a couple decades now, and is expected to continue through winter. We will use positive values for collection of analog years.

Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO): 

The QBO is a oscillation in the wind direction within 15 degrees of the equator. It tends to have a periodicity of nearly 2 years and is currently settling into a negative phase.

Above is a look at the variation of the QBO, notice the flip to negative just this Fall, with the trend of more negative values to continue based on history. For our analogs, we will use increasingly negative QBO values through the winter months.

Developing Analog Years:

We will then use each of the four climate values as predictors, normalized to equal magnitude. 

ENSO: Slightly Negative (Double weighted)
PDO: Slightly Negative
AMO: Positive
QBO: Negative

A database was set up with each index from every month back to 1950. Below are the expected values for December through February, with the months/years in the past that are closest fit.

Below is a look at expected values for ENSO/PDO/QBO/AMO and the closest corresponding years:

 Here is a look at how these years were compared to average in temperatures and precipitation:

 Below is a look at expected values for ENSO/PDO/QBO/AMO and the closest corresponding years:

Here is a look at how these years were compared to average in temperatures and precipitation:

Below is a look at expected values for ENSO/PDO/QBO/AMO and the closest corresponding years:

 Here is a look at how these years were compared to average in temperatures and precipitation:

In both December and February the top 3 years were used. In January the top 5 years were used due to the large differences in a cold 1963 and warmer other similar years. In February the top 3 years were used, with more weight given to 2012 since it was much closer to expected conditions than the next closest year.

So What does this all mean for the Midwest?

Based on the analog years, the winter of 2017-2018 looks to start with a cool December, trend to a warmer than average January and possibly head back to a near or slightly below normal February. The highest confidence in the forecast is during December and February. January is a little more tricky since the top year (1963) was a cold month for the entire country, yet the rest of the analog months came back as warm. A breakdown in the polar vortex could send cold air spewing south (like it did in January of 1963), but it could easily end up in Europe or Asia. While January looks to either go very cool or warm, odds suggest the warm scenario will pan out with 4 of 5 analog years fitting this idea.

Official forecast below!

Thanks for reading! Be sure to follow on Twitter and 'like' on Facebook for updates through the winter. Feel free to send any questions, twitter will be the best place for 
this. 

The First Snow of the Season

After temperatures reached the 70s and 80s for many across the Upper Midwest last Friday, the first snowfall of the year is starting to take shape tonight. Winter is definitely showing itself much earlier than recent seasons, with largely warm October/Novembers the past several years.

A strong clipper system will slide south from Canada tonight, bringing just enough cold air to support snow across much of Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Most of the snow will pile up west of I-35, with a few inches are expected. Snow will still fall in parts further east, but will struggle to accumulate, with temperature above freezing and ground temperatures in the lower 50s. Below is one model's rendition of how this system may pan out over the next 48 hours. Notice the heavier band work through the Minneapolis metro during the afternoon on Friday, some moderate to briefly heavy snow is possible for a period.

Welcome to the start of winter! Look for this blog to become more active over the next 4-6 months. There are some hints of a larger system during the second week of November, so stay tuned to Midwest Weather on Facebook and on Twitter for continued updates.

Winter's Last Stand?

After a warm February, a warm March, April looks to wrap up with a shot for snow across parts of the Upper Midwest. High pressure to the north will usher in cool and dry air from the Canada, This feature will set up an ideal thermo environment for Mid-Spring snow around these parts. Coupled with a strong area of low pressure coming in from the south and west, confidence is increasing that someone will see several inches of snow Sunday or Monday. A safe bet for 6"+ of snow will be across Colorado into western Nebraska. The storm will then push north and east towards Wisconsin. As it takes this path, more cold air will be brought down from Canada, allowing for the likelihood of more snow in northern Minnesota. What happens in between is the question, but there certainly is a chance of at least a few inches of snow. Nonetheless, temperatures look to stay on the cool side through early May. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Temperatures look to rebound by May 5th in the Plains, May 6th in the Upper Midwest, and May 7th in the Great Lakes.

Significant Winter Storm Expected Friday

After a stretch of 5-8 days of well above normal temperatures and widespread record highs, confidence is increasing in a large winter storm come Friday. Computer models have latched on to this idea for several days and the question of "If" is becoming more of a "Where and When." Being 5 days out the exact location and amounts are unclear, but it is starting to look like an axis from northern Iowa through northern Wisconsin has the best shot for 6"+ of snow.

An upper level trough is expected to swing into the northern Plains late week, allowing for the ushering in of colder air from the north. The anticipated storm system will track along this boundary of cold to warmer air, taking it into the Midwest by Friday. Furthermore, a deepening of the low pressure and a high pressure to the north and west will act to increase winds on the back side of the system Friday night into Saturday. It is not impossible for some locations to reach blizzard criteria Friday night. Lots to work out in the next few days, feel free to follow on Twitter and 'like' on Facebook for more frequent updates.

We are also likely headed into a more active wintry pattern, with a couple chances for larger winter storms through early March, stay tuned!

Here is one model's take on the coming storm. Powered by Pivotal Weather.

Large Winter Storm to Unleash Bitter Cold

It has been a relatively quiet and tranquil weather pattern across the Midwest lately, with the exception of a few snow makers. The atmosphere is becoming prime to support a larger winter storm with a benchmark track of widespread 6"+ snowfall. Computer models are now coming into agreement of the idea that an area of low pressure will emerge from the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday and press east or northeast through Wednesday. Right now it is way too early to discuss who sees the accumulating snow. Some models take the low through Chicago and some take it through Minneapolis. The impact on where the snow will fall, based on the track, is profound. Expect snow to pile up 50-100 miles northwest to the track of low pressure. Computer model ensembles are further northwest, but the trend had been further southeast. There is a lot to work out over the next several days, but one thing is becoming more clear...the potential for a long swath of 6"+ of snow is increasingly likely. Nevertheless, it does appear that cold air will filter down behind this system, with below normal temperatures for the entire Midwest by mid-next week.

Accumulating Snow Expected To Develop Tonight

Light to moderate snow is expected to develop over the northern Plains later tonight into Tuesday. The snow will linger into Wednesday for parts of the Upper Midwest. This system will deepen tonight, then weaken as it passes to the east over the next couple days. Consequently, the heaviest snowfall will stay in western sections of the region, across South Dakota, but a solid 3-7" of snow will set up east towards Wisconsin. Total snow of 4-5" amounts will be common, but a narrow band of up to 7-8" will fall where the more persistent snow bands line up. Questions still arrive in how much rain and sleet will mix in across southeastern Wisconsin, with a lot of snow coming during the day for much of Wisconsin, snow accumulation on pavements will be somewhat limited, as grassy surfaces will pick up more snow. Below is the total snowfall you can expect over the next couple day, with slightly less on roadways for those that see more snow during the day, as temperatures will hover around freezing. Be sure to follow on Twitter and Facebook for more weather tidbits and updates. 

Accumulating Snow Returns To Midwest Early Week

An area of low pressure will emerge from the Rocky Mountains into Colorado Monday and move through the Midwest during the first half of the work week. Limited upper level dynamics will keep from a widespread 6"+ snow these tracks often seem to lay down as the low pressure will hold its strength or weaken a touch as it pushes east through Tuesday and Wednesday. The heaviest snows look to occur in South Dakota, trickling off to a few inches further east across the Great Lakes. A more detailed snow map will be released tomorrow morning/afternoon.