12/08/2009-12/09/2009 Winter Storm

[Jason Fideler]

I think this is my first time posting. I am in West Bend, WI (Southeast/SouthCentral)and we have about 8 inches so far. Started snowing at about 6 PM. East Winds have been gusting 18 to 25 since about 7PM. We are catching the far edge of the dry slot but there is much more precip on the way.

There are Widespread power outages and braches and trees down at this point. Very heavy wet snow coming down here.

 

[MClarkson]

Expecting 99% rain here, just north of New York City, but it has started off with the largest snowflakes I have ever seen. Many are larger than the diameter of a golf ball, a few perhaps approaching the diameter of a baseball.

 

[Andrew Pritchard]

Not overly worried about the blowing snow prospects for northern IL tomorrow, though I hope I'm wrong. Most of the snow we saw today was from convective bands with temperatures very near 32F, so it was mostly large heavy wet snow flakes. The snow we've got on the ground is optimal for snowmen, but it ain't going to be blowing around any time soon. Hopefully we can get a nice dry layer on the back end overnight and generate some white out conditions tomorrow.

The heavy wetness of this snow likely cut down on our overall tallies as far as snow totals. As far as radar returns / liquid amounts I'm willing to bet N. IL and S. WI had much higher amounts but these heart attack snows don't mount up in the accumulation department as the drier stuff people saw to the west with this system. Some of those bands were pushing 55 DBZ over northern IL during the evening.

 

[Dean Baron]

Very fine, powdery snow here in the Twin Cities. Winds aren't helping out with measuring so its nearly impossible to get an accurate measurement so I won't even try. Guesstimating about 4 inches so far, MPX thinking about 9" by afternoon. Heavier band of snow finally developing to my southeast and moving northwest. Blizzard warnings a county to my south, should see periodic blizzard conditions here in New Brighton.

 

[Chris Allington]

Storm total probably around 11 inches here near my house in Omaha, drifts of 2-3 feet and I'm sure much worse outside the city. Try to get some stills in the morning...

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

I'm worried about the wind event here. NAM and GFS have backed off on winds north of the MI border, partly because the low won't be as deep as expected. With a weaker / slightly further south track, the best CAA is also south of us.

If we miss out on the wind event tomorrow (and by "event" I mean gusts AOA 60mph)... I won't be happy. Having an "epic" low traverse your state - within 100 miles of you - and you see a dusting and some drizzle... Now that's just disappointing.

That is because you need to get mobile! Countless storms over the years have brushed by the Lansing area with hardly more than drizzle which motivated me to rather than get disappointed..I would get even!

Thundersnow now here in the Gaylord area at 6:30AM..a couple of close lightning strikes...near whiteout conditions next to my lake. I continue to be impressed with the lake effect parameters behind the storm and the models have locked on a cyclonically curve WNW wind behind the storm which should create a bull's eye of snow tonight/tomorrow in the local vicinity.

 

[Chris Carter]

Blizzard warnings cancelled over eastern nebraska, not too surprised by this as i woke up this morning and saw nearly clear visibilities. Winds have slackened off a bit, much earlier than previously thought.

 

[John Vandehei]

It's been rather boring here in Lower Michigan; just gusty winds last night and about an inch of snow. Most of the snow has melted, as we're in the warm sector. Looks like the fun will be tonight. NWS GRR talks about a good lake effect snow band developing between I-96 and I-94. Haven't seen this morning's runs, but a look at the 00Z WRF hints that some of the heavy snow could drift south of I-94, which would make things interest at my location.

 

[josh_4184]

It's been rather boring here in Lower Michigan; just gusty winds last night and about an inch of snow. Most of the snow has melted, as we're in the warm sector. Looks like the fun will be tonight. NWS GRR talks about a good lake effect snow band developing between I-96 and I-94. Haven't seen this morning's runs, but a look at the 00Z WRF hints that some of the heavy snow could drift south of I-94, which would make things interest at my location.

I hope that is true, I live right on the i94 corridor, would love to see some good snow. Normally the lake effect doesn't quite reach us so far inland, but with the strength of this low pressure and the strong winds maybe some good bands will reach.

 

[John Vandehei]

I hope that is true, I live right on the i94 corridor, would love to see some good snow. Normally the lake effect doesn't quite reach us so far inland, but with the strength of this low pressure and the strong winds maybe some good bands will reach.

I was just looking at the 12Z NAM. The snow band is still there. What's surprising is that it depicts this band to extend from Lake Michigan all the way to the northern Detroit Metro area overnight. Typically, lake effect doesn't get much further east than Lansing, and usually stays further west than that. Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids are typically more favored. Even if this band verifies, I'm sure the heavier snow will stay west of I-69. In my neck of the woods (I-94 corridor between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek), it wouldn't surprise me to see about six inches by tomorrow if this band sets up as advertised.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

I received 10-12" where I live, and just to my west they received 18" plus (south central Wisconsin). I did a time-lapse last evening as the snow began to pile up taking stills every 15 minutes over a 4 hour period.



For reference, the wreath in the following picture is 16" tall...

 

[Mike Kovalchick]

My barometer is down to 969 mb! True-it hasn't be calibrated in awhile but I've never seen it that low before. The winds are now nearly calm..but still out of the NE as the low is very close. Picked up a quick 9" this morning with some thunder..round 2 of the storm..lake effect..should hit this evening.

 

[josh_4184]

I was just looking at the 12Z NAM. The snow band is still there. What's surprising is that it depicts this band to extend from Lake Michigan all the way to the northern Detroit Metro area overnight. Typically, lake effect doesn't get much further east than Lansing, and usually stays further west than that. Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids are typically more favored. Even if this band verifies, I'm sure the heavier snow will stay west of I-69. In my neck of the woods (I-94 corridor between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek), it wouldn't surprise me to see about six inches by tomorrow if this band sets up as advertised.

Hey John, Do you have a link to that paticualr model you are using?

 

[Kevin Walters]

13-14 inches of snow with a measured 51mph wind gust here at the house at 9AM. Visibility near zero at times. Drift in drive way is at least six feet, lots of work ahead for me to dig out our cars!

 

[josh_4184]

My barometer is down to 969 mb! True-it hasn't be calibrated in awhile but I've never seen it that low before. The winds are now nearly calm..but still out of the NE as the low is very close. Picked up a quick 9" this morning with some thunder..round 2 of the storm..lake effect..should hit this evening.

Wow, 969 MBs, that is impresive, if this w as a tropical system that would be a pretty decent hurricane!