Today kicks off Winter Weather Awareness week in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The following information is being distributed, over the course of this week, by the National Weather Service.

Today’s nugget of information is the explanation of headlines used for winter weather events to keep people informed of pending or occurring winter storms.

Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO)

The Hazardous Weather Outlook includes any potential weather hazard out to seven (7) days. It is used for planning purposes and will include a short description of what the weather threat is, when it is expected, and how much it may impact the region. The HWO is issued daily around 5:00 AM, and updated during the day as needed. It is also broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio near the top and bottom of every hour.

Winter Storm Watch (WSW)

A Winter Storm Watch is issued when there is a potential for a winter storm to affect the region during the next 1 to 3 days. It does not always mean the area will be hit by a winter storm, but there is still some uncertainity of the exact path or timing of the event. This is a planning stage. Use this time to ensure you have supplies at home, like some extra food, medications, baby items, etc.. If travel is planned, check ahead and see if a different route or delaying your departure may make your trip safer. Be alert for changing weather conditions.

Winter Weather Advisory (WSW)

Advisories are issued for those winter weather events that are expected to be more of an inconvenience and should not become life-threatening if caution is exercised. These are often issued for 3 to 6 inches of snow, blowing and drifting snow, freezing drizzle, or a combination of these elements. It may be issued for less snow for early season events, when drivers may not be accustomed to slick roads.

Winter Storm Warning (WSW)

Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued when dangerous winter weather is expected, occurring, or imminent. The weather can become life-threatening. Criteria includes snowfalls of 6 inches or more in 12 hours, 8 inches in 24 hours, or lower amounts if accompanied by strong winds or a combination of dangerous winter elements. Avoid unnecessary travel.

Blizzard Warnings (BZW)

The most dangerous winter event is certainly the blizzard. Blizzard Warnings are issued when snow or blowing snow lowers visibilities to a 1/4 mile or less, wind gusts hit 35 mph or higher, and the storm lasts for 3 hours or more. Travel is dangerous and should be avoided if possible.

Ice Storm Warning (WSW)

Ice storm Warnings are issued when freezing rain will cause widespread glazing. A coating of ice is expected to reach 1/4 inch thick or more on objects and make travel nearly impossible. For lesser amounts of ice, usually a winter weather advisory would be used, but even a thin glaze of ice can make travel difficult. Avoid travel.

Wind Chill Warning (NPW)

Issued when wind chills of -35 F or lower are expected with wind speeds of 10 mph or more. A wind chill advisory is issued for values between -20 and -34 F. Dress warmly and cover as much exposed skin as possible.

Here is the source for the preceding information.

Posted under winter, winter weather

Our local climate guru at the NWS office in La Crosse, Jeff Boyne, summarized the outlook for the coming winter.

He summarizes the Climate Prediction Center outlook for the coming winter, but also brings in some excellent data correllations and introduces some “wild cards” that could work against the official CPC/NOAA outlook for our region.

If you are at all curious what the outlook is for the coming winter and want the opinion of a local expert, I highly recommend you check it out!

Posted under climate, winter

I so incredibly wish I were making this up, but I’m not. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect from Sunday night into Sunday afternoon for a good chunk of our area. This includes the Albert Lea, Fairmont, Clarion, Owatonna, Faribault, Cannon Falls areas, and points north and west (yes, the Twin Cities, too).

Light snow will spread into the area from west to east overnight, and is expected to continue to fall through the morning hours into the early afternoon. Temperatures will be cool enough for snow formation, but even in southern Minnesota, and northern Iowa, there’s enough warmer air hanging around nearby where we could easily see this morph into a rain/snow/slushy mix.

1-3″ of accumulating snow will be possible in the advisory area. But, here’s my digression about snowfalls this time of the year: 1) it won’t stick and 2) it will have a hard time sticking to the ground and especially well-traveled surfaces. Our ground is still way too warm to give any flakes that hit the ground a sufficient chances to stick around and pile up.

Now that you’re breathing calmly again, this is still our first bona fide snow threat for the season. Is it wacky? Yes, but not out of the question. Rochester typically sees its first snowfall of the year around the middle of the month. The earliest snowfall (Trace) fell back on September 14th in 1961. The earliest half inch fell October 1st in 1999. The earliest over 2″ whopper (3.9″) fell on October 6th in 1982.

Stay tuned to the NewsCenter tonight at 5 and also after the game. We’ll keep you updated on our Facebook page, too! Bottom line: don’t panic, but do expect to take some extra time driving around Monday.

Posted under KTTC, winter, winter weather

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for southern Minnesota and a good chunk of Iowa. For the latest counties and their headlines, check out our KTTC Weather Page if you haven’t already. With the uncertainties in storm track this far out, it doesn’t make too much sense for us to forecast snowfall total ranges, but it is looking that we’ll receive a band of 6″ of snow or more across the area. So, for those of you with weekend travel plans, you’re going to want to watch the forecast closely for the next few days.

From today’s perspective, Saturday will deliver rain and possibly a bit of snow, but accumulating snow looks to be getting underway Saturday night and lasting through Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service out of La Crosse has put together a great synopsis of big, April snow events. Check out some of our April snowfall statistics for Rochester here.

We’re also about to unleash a new feature to our website in time for this weekend’s storm. Precision Stormtracker, an interactive radar tool utilizing the power of Microsoft’s Virtual Earth will be available here at kttc.com. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

More to come!

Posted under winter, winter weather

6:00 p.m. update: So long, snow and ice! All warnings have been canceled. We are all advisory and warning-free. All together now: hooray!

4:00 p.m. update: All of the Winter Weather Advisories have been canceled. Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect, as of right now, until 7 p.m.. I wouldn’t be surprised to see those canceled earlier, too, as the precipitation is wrapping up fairly quickly.

2:30 p.m. update: Winter Weather Advisories are being chopped back, especially along and west of the I-35 area.

Still waiting for some snowfall totals; icing seems to be the bigger issue with this storm. Some spots have reported anywhere from a tenth to half an inch of ice. If you tuned in last night, we talked about the possibility of snowfall totals being less because of sleet or freezing rain mixing in. That has by far been the case with this storm.

2:00 p.m. update: Winter Storm Warnings have replaced some of the Winter Weather Advisories around the region. Snow, sleet, freezing rain and icing have been reported around the area.

This storm is wrapping up for folks furthest west; the eastern portion of the area (roughly from an I-35 line and east) will see precip for the rest of the afternoon.

I’m working on getting some snowfall/icing totals. More to come.

Posted under KTTC, winter, winter weather

9:00 a.m. Sunday update: Precipitation has begun to move into the region; light snow is falling for some of the western portion of the area, around Albert Lea and such. The Winter Weather Advisory stands; look for 3-5″ by the afternoon.

There’s still a good chance we’ll be seeing a mixed bag of precipitation, including sleet and some freezing rain. The longer that lasts, the less snowtotals  we’ll see. This will especially be true right along the MN/IA border and for north Iowa.

Be safe on those roads today!

9:00 p.m. update: Several counties in northeastern Iowa have been added to the Winter Weather Advisory. Of Note: I wouldn’t be surprised to see some locations upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning overnight. Some of the newest data coming in, combined with data throughout the day, suggests some spots could pick up over 6″. To be honest, it’s the ‘where’ that we don’t quite have pinned down yet, and is always the toughest to pin down. Stay tuned!

Earlier updates…A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the brown shaded counties from Sunday morning to Sunday PM. We’re looking at snow developing by Sunday morning, with the bulk of it falling during the morning hours (especially further west you are).

It’ll wrap up by the afternoon hours, but it’ll be a quick hit - we’re looking at the possibility of 3-5″ in the Advisory area. 1-3″ will be possible elsewhere. Considering we’re hovering near the freezing point, I’m a bit concerned about the amount of sleet that will be thrown in there, which could cut down our snow totals.

For folks further south - look for more of a goulash event. Sleet, some snow, maybe some showers/sprinkles. We’ll be keeping tabs on it. Regardless, tomorrow will be a bit of a mess. Stay tuned!

Posted under KTTC, winter, winter weather

It’s been a chilly kick-off to our March, but warmer temperatures are coming back by the middle to the end of this coming week.

Looking at the calendar and March climate data, we’re saying goodbye to winter this month and welcoming somewhat warmer days. The normal high on March 1st is 32° and rises to 47° by the 31st.

March is the 3rd snowiest month here in Rochester, MN with an average snowfall of 9″. The average amount of precipitation for March is 1.88″, more than double the average February amount of 0.75″. This past February ‘09 Rochester received 0.79″ of precipitation (8.0″ of snowfall), which is right on track for the month.

Posted under climate, winter, winter weather

The worst of this upcoming storm will be to our east, for our friends in Wisconsin, but that’s still not to say that we won’t be dealing with some headaches. After being fooled by 40s today, snow will fly tonight, colder air will be shoved in, and Wednesday will be much more January-like…and, hey, we’re talking about the first measurable snowfall in nearly a month.

Snow totals will be relatively light, about 1-2″ overnight. We could tack on an additional inch by Wednesday afternoon, but I’m not looking for anything major.

The bigger deal still looks like the cold air that will arrive behind this system, and we’ll drop to the teens by Wednesday afternoon. Blustery NW winds will cause some blowing snow, and low temperatures on Thursday morning will plummet to 0° (above zero…barely).

Randy’ll have the latest tonight on the NewsCenter at 5, 6, and 10…there’s still some wiggle room for this system…but that’s what it looks like right now.

Posted under KTTC, weather, winter, winter weather

In addition to Randy’s post from Sunday, the midweek forecast continues to struggle along. Models are trying to settle on a track for this storm we keep talking about, and it looks as if most of us will escape with just a glancing blow from this system. We could see some higher snowfall amounts add up in northeastern Iowa, but the heaviest snows look like they will be falling south and east of our area…into northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. I think the concern is still out there for a light mix to develop Tuesday late evening/night, before switching over to some light snow on Wednesday morning.

Everyone gets into much colder air behind this system, and then another chance for some snow showers & cold air as a good ‘ol Alberta Clipper moves through on Friday.

Posted under KTTC, weather, winter, winter weather

Not a bad weekend - trying to scour out those pesky, pesky clouds will be the main goal. A storm system will pass to our south today, but will knick the southern part of the area with some scattered snow showers. We’re talking a dusting, an inch - at most - in places such as Decorah, New Hampton, Clarion. A few flurries could fly elsewhere.

Bigger headaches - and higher snow amounts - will greet you if you’re planning on heading to central/southern Iowa, Nebraska, even Missouri and Illinois. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for western Iowa…but nowhere close to here at home.

Posted under KTTC, weather, winter, winter weather