After a week in the deep freeze, it looks our temperatures over the weekend will climbing nicely into the 30 degree range by Sunday.  The downside to that is instead of light snow Sunday, we’re expecting something that may be a bit more treacherous.  A storm system from the southwest will spread a wintry mixture of precipitation across the area during the day Sunday through early Sunday night, possibly coating the landscape with ice and perhaps a little light snow.  Right now it looks like things will get going in the mid morning hours with some freezing rain or sleet in the area and in the afternoon and evening there may be more of a mixed bag of precipitation types.  The National Weather Service may end up issuing some advisories for this event, so stay tuned for more on this as we go through the weekend.

Posted under winter weather

It is getting to be that time of the year again.  The temperatures are dropping and the water on the smaller bodies will start to freeze and thaw until we settle into Winter and then basically everything freezes.  My daily forecast ritual, as with many meteorologists, is to look at the visible satellite to determine where, if any the clouds are.  On Monday (11/26) afternoon I noticed something.  Visible satellite works basically just how its name suggests.  It needs daylight in order to work, so at night, this type of satellite imagery becomes useless.  There are other different types of satellite imagery that pick up the slack when it’s dark, but that’s a story for another day.  Anyway, the visible satellite works by picking up on the light that is reflected back to the satellite from the Earth’s surface.  Objects on the Earth’s surface reflect light differently. The ground reflects light differently than clouds and that is how we can determine the difference between the clouds and the ground.  There are also different types of clouds; some thick, some thin.  The thick ones don’t let a lot of sunlight through.  Those are your big thunderstorm clouds and therefore reflect most of the sunlight back to the the satellite and will appear a brighter white on the satellite image.  Now that you are a little familiar with how visible satellite works, I can get on with the moral of the story.  On a clear day with visible satellite imagery, you can see the ground and some of its features such as large bodies of water and mountains.  In the winter time you can see the snow from a satellite picture.  Skiers, snow boarders, and people driving through the fresh snow know how highly reflective and bright the snow can big on a sunny day.  Ice has this same property on lakes, and there is a huge difference how frozen lakes compare to ones that still have water.  The image below is a visible satellite image taken on Monday, November 26th.  It lays out what are clouds, what is snow, and what is the ground.  It is a lot easier to tell what is what when this image is looping since the clouds move and the ground doesn’t, but trust me on this.

 

 

Notice the difference in color between the Red Lakes and Mille Lacs Lake.  Mille Lacs Lake is darker since water is less reflective than ice.  The Upper and Lower Red Lakes appear a frosty bright white on the satellite picture.  The reason for the color difference is that the northern lakes have ice on them while the southern lakes don’t.  It has been much colder in the northern part of Minnesota.  Even with ice being on the lakes, it is still not thick enough to walk on, especially considering we will be warming up over the next week or so.

Posted under Cold, just cool, weather

We’re definitely in the midst of a typical November-like weather pattern and still experiencing late fall temperatures as we move into the second week of the month, but this seems the appropriate time to talk about winter weather preparedness.  This week is Winter Weather Awareness week for our region as we at least start to think about the colder, icier, sloppier conditions that are eventually on their way in the coming season.  Below is this year’s information on the subject of winter from the National Weather Service in La Crosse.  Incidentally, if you’re wondering about winter weather in our current forecast picture, there is one storm system we’ll be watching closely over the upcoming weekend that is expected to bring rain, and possibly later, some snow to the region, especially to the eastern part of the local area.  Right now it’s a little too early to make any bold predictions, but we’ll just say right now that there is at least a small chance that a few of us my see at least a little snow or some snowflakes mixed with rain early next week on the back side of the system, so we’ll watching and waiting.

NWS Winter Weather Information / Terms

It is important that you learn and understand the definitions of different winter related headlines. Here are the main products used by the NWS to keep people informed.

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.

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Winter Storm Climatology

On average our area experiences 2 to 3 winter storms a season and 1 “true” blizzard every 3 years. Parts of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa experience more blizzards on average than areas along the Mississippi River and western Wisconsin because of the terrain. Be aware that conditions can change drastically across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota compared to areas east of there.

Click here for more information about Wisconsin hazardous winter weather.

Here is a table showing the number of winter related warnings the La Crosse NWS office has issued for the past several seasons:

Season	# of Warnings
1998-99	55
1999-00	61
2000-01	185
2001-02	69
2002-03	73
2003-04	90
2004-05	105
2005-06	92
2006-07	169
2007-08	210
2008-09	142
2009-10	91
2010-11	138
2011-12	6 (new record!)

What is the prediction for this winter? Click here to check out our 2012-2013 Winter Outlook page.

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Wind Chill Index

The “Wind Chill” Index is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined. The La Crosse National Weather Service issues Wind Chill Advisories when they reach -20 F, and Wind Chill Warnings when they drop to -35 F or lower. Exposure to cold, biting air for long periods of time is dangerous.

For more information on the Wind Chill Index, click here.

In late 2001 the NWS started using a new wind chill index. This new index was designed to calculate a more accurate reading of how the cold air feels on human skin. This new index was based on wind speeds at human face level, an updated heat transfer theory which factors in heat loss from the body to its surroundings during cold windy days, and a consistent standard for skin tissue resistance. The main goal of the change was to use modern science in revising the index so that it more accurately represents the impact on humans.

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Frostbite / Hypothermia

Watch for signs of frostbite or hypothermia when outdoors during extreme cold weather.

Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims. A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. In fact, research (P.Tikuisis, 2004) has shown that uncovered fingers can freeze up to 8 times faster than a human cheek, and the nose can freeze 3 times faster. This illustrates the importance of keeping fingers and parts of your face (ear lobes, nose) well covered in extreme cold weather.

Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 95 deg F. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.

If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person’s trunk first. Use your own body heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure. Put the person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.

Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.

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Winter Weather Preparedness

Proper winter weather awareness includes preparation. Here are some things that can help you.

When Outdoors:

• Check temperatures and wind chill indicies first.
• Dress warmly, with several layers. Dress for the worst just in case.
• Use a warm coat, gloves or mittens, a hat, and water-resistant boots.
• Cover exposed skin as much as possible.
• Watch for frostbite on finger tips, ear lobes, the nose, or toes.
• Avoid over-exertion. The cold already puts a strain on the body and heart.

At Home or Work – make sure you have:

• Extra flashlights and batteries
• A battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or AM/FM portable radio
• Extra food and water (2-3 day supply)
• Extra medicine and baby items
• First Aid supplies
• Emergency Heating source**
• Carbon Monoxide Detector

** If you use an emergency heating source, be alert for deadly carbon monoxide gases and never place it near another object that may catch on fire. Many house fires during the winter are caused by incorrect use of a space heater. Keep the space heater at least 36 inches away from other objects and turn it off if you leave the room.

On the farm:

• Move animals to a sheltered area.
• Supply extra food for animals.
• Have a fresh water supply (most animal deaths during the winter are from dehydration).

At School:

• Have an action plan.
• Monitor weather conditions closely.
• Use NOAA Weather Radio to get hourly wind chill values.
• School days may need to be delayed, cancelled, or shortened.

When Traveling:

• Winterize your vehicle. Check the battery.
• Check the forecast and road conditions ahead of time.
• Consider adjusting your route to avoid poor driving conditions.
• Carry a cellular phone for use during emergencies.
• Keep the gas tank near full.
• Coordinate with others your destination and times of travel.
• Yield to snowplows. The snow cloud they produce can lower visibilities to near zero. Stay back – Stay Alive!
• Have a survival kitin your car:
  • Extra blankets or sleeping bag
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • First Aid kit with pockey knife
  • Booster cables
  • A rope
  • A small shovel
  • A bag of sand or cat litter for traction
  • Plastic bags (for sanitation)
  • Extra gloves, hat, and socks
  • Non-perishable food items and bottled water
  • Road maps (for alternative routes)
• If you do get stuck:
  • Stay with your car. Do not try to walk to safety.
  • Start the car for about 10 minutes every hour for heat.
  • Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
  • Tie a bright colored (red or orange) cloth to the antenna.
  • Turn the dome light when running the engine.
  • If you must venture away from the car, use a life-line or rope.
• Be careful of Dense Fog. Delay your travel if needed.
  • Do not drive into a dense fog bank. Others may be stopped.
  • In October 2002, a pile-up on Interstate 43 in eastern Wisconsin killed 10 people (see image) during dense fog.
  • In January 2008, another series of accidents in southern Wisconsin led to some fatalities due to dense fog.

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NOAA Weather Radio

Staying informed of hazardous winter weather is a good way to prepare or avoid dangerous situations, especially if you have travel plans. NOAA Weather Radio is an excellent source of weather information directly from the National Weather Service.

Every school should have and monitor a NOAA Weather Radio!

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day – 7 days a week. At the touch of a button you can hear the:

• Regional weather summary
• Current weather conditions, including hourly wind chill values
• The 7-day forecast
• Radar summaries and short term forecasts
• Any watches, warnings, or advisories in effect
• Hazardous Weather Outlooks (top and bottom of the hour)
• Other pertinent weather information as needed

To visit our main NOAA Weather Radio page, click here.

The National Weather Service in La Crosse currently operates 10 transmitters.

Current transmitters:

City	ID	Frequency
Rochester, MN	WXK41	162.475 MHz
La Crosse, WI Winona, MN	WXJ86 KGG95	162.550 MHz 162.425 MHz
Black River Falls, WI	WNG564	162.500 MHz
Prairie du Chien, WI Richland Center, WI	WWG86 WWG89	162.500 MHz 162.450 MHz
St.Ansgar, IA Decorah, IA	KXI68 KXI60	162.450 MHz 162.525 MHz
Withee, WI	KZZ77	162.425 MHz
Ridgeville/Tomah, WI	KE2XKP	162.525 MHz

Posted under winter weather

Here’s the latest on the potent winter storm that is expected to reach our area for tomorrow and Wednesday:

While there are several things that may change in the next day or so, possibly resulting in an altogether different outcome in our local weather, the current forecast outlook for the next major storm system in our region is looking a little warmer and wetter for us.  The latest forecast data suggests that the storm system moving in for tomorrow and hanging around for most of Wednesday will take a fairly northerly track, keeping us in the “warm sector” where rain, sleet, and freezing rain will be the primary concerns while the heavy snow potential will be confined to weather and northwestern Minnesota and for the eastern Dakotas.  Incidentally, some locations in that part of the region will deal with blizzard conditions tomorrow afternoon through early Wednesday as winds will then be reaching 40 miles per hour at times.

 

Right now, we’re expecting light snow or a mixture of freezing rain and snow to develop in the mid morning hours across the area tomorrow, making for a slippery Tuesday.  Snowfall amounts will be generally light tomorrow with little accumulation if any expected.  The freezing rain concerns will last through the afternoon and into the evening when warmer air aloft will allow for soaking cold rains to spread across the area, making it feel more like April than the last full night of February.  The rain is expected to transition to a wintry mixture or some light, wet snow for Wednesday morning and early afternoon on the back side of the storm system, possibly adding up to an inch or so of accumulation before things dry out Wednesday evening.  The greatest threat for extensive icing in this upcoming storm will be through Tuesday and into Tuesday evening when not only will things be hazardous on the roads, but power outages will be possible.  Overall snowfall totals locally, meanwhile, look to be in more of one to three inch range on theMinnesotaside of the border if in fact snow develops long enough for accumulations to occur.  The Twin Cities will likely see slightly higher amounts of snow, depending on the exact storm track and may end up with as much as six inches and as little as a couple of inches.

 

 

Posted under winter weather

Updated freezing rain/sleet/ice reports from the Feb 20-21 storm.

FROM THE NWS LA CROSSE
TIME	PRECIPITATION	CITY	LAT/LONG
DATE	AMOUNT	COUNTY/STATE	REPORT FROM
0456 AM	FREEZING RAIN	WEST UNION	42.96N 91.81W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	FAYETTE            IA	LAW ENFORCEMENT
	NUMEROUS ROADS HAD THIN LAYER OF ICE ALREADY
0600 AM	FREEZING RAIN	CLAYTON CENTER	42.88N 91.32W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	CLAYTON            IA	LAW ENFORCEMENT
	LIGHT ICING REPORT	ALONG HIGHWAY 13.
	ICING ON OBJECTS STARTED OVER PAST TWO HOURS.
0640 AM	FREEZING RAIN	OSAGE	43.28N 92.81W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	MITCHELL           IA	EMERGENCY MNGR
	LIGHT GLAZE IS BEGINNING TO BE SEEN ON EXPOSED SURFACES
0650 AM	FREEZING RAIN	CUBA CITY	42.60N 90.43W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	GRANT              WI	PUBLIC
	FREEZING RAIN BEGINNING TO CREATE SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS
0700 AM	FREEZING RAIN	1 NW CLERMONT	43.01N 91.67W
2/20/2011	E0.10 INCH	FAYETTE            IA	PUBLIC
	PUBLIC ESTIMATES A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION
0700 AM	FREEZING RAIN	OSAGE	43.28N 92.81W
2/20/2011	E0.25 INCH	MITCHELL           IA	EMERGENCY MNGR
	EMERGENCY MANAGER ESTIMATES A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE
	ACCUMULATION ON TREES
0700 AM	FREEZING RAIN	NEW HAMPTON	43.06N 92.31W
2/20/2011	E0.25 INCH	CHICKASAW          IA	PUBLIC
	PUBLIC OBSERVED A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET
0705 AM	FREEZING RAIN	CRESCO	43.37N 92.12W
2/20/2011	E0.25 INCH	HOWARD             IA	LAW ENFORCEMENT
	LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTIMATES A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE
	ACCUMULATION IN THE CITY OF CRESCO
0715 AM	FREEZING RAIN	1 E OELWEIN	42.68N 91.89W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	FAYETTE            IA	CO-OP OBSERVER
	1/16TH OF AN INCH OF GLAZE ON EXPOSED SURFACES
0715 AM	FREEZING RAIN	6 E MONONA	43.05N 91.27W
2/20/2011	E0.25 INCH	CLAYTON            IA	PUBLIC
	PUBLIC ESTIMATES A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION
0730 AM	FREEZING RAIN	PLATTEVILLE	42.74N 90.48W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	GRANT              WI	PUBLIC
	LIGHT RAIN BEGINNING TO CREATE GLAZE ON EXPOSED SURFACES
0745 AM	FREEZING RAIN	DE SOTO	43.43N 91.20W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	VERNON             WI	PUBLIC
	RAIN AND SLEET CREATING A LIGHT COATING OF GLAZE ON
	EXPOSED SURFACES
0800 AM	FREEZING RAIN	DECORAH	43.31N 91.79W
2/20/2011	E0.25 INCH	WINNESHIEK         IA	LAW ENFORCEMENT
	LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTIMATES A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE
	ACCUMULATION ON TREES
0810 AM	FREEZING RAIN	CALMAR	43.18N 91.87W
2/20/2011	E0.00 INCH	WINNESHIEK         IA	CO-OP OBSERVER
	FREEZING RAIN WITH THUNDER CREATING GLAZE BETWEEN AN
	1/8TH OF AN INCH AND 1/4 OF AN INCH
0900 AM	FREEZING RAIN	LANCASTER	42.85N 90.71W
2/20/2011	E0.13 INCH	GRANT              WI	LAW ENFORCEMENT
	LAW ENFORCEMENT ESTIMATES AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH OF ICE
	ACCUMULATION.
1217 PM	FREEZING RAIN	4 SE LANSING	43.32N 91.17W
2/20/2011	E0.10 INCH	ALLAMAKEE          IA	CO-OP OBSERVER
	COOPERATIVE OBSERVER OBSERVED A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND
	SLEET.
1217 PM	FREEZING RAIN	8 NW WAUKON	43.35N 91.59W
2/20/2011	E0.20 INCH	ALLAMAKEE          IA	PUBLIC
	PUBLIC OBSERVED A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET
0500 PM	SLEET	2 S HOLMEN	43.93N 91.26W
2/20/2011	E0.50 INCH	LA CROSSE          WI	NWS EMPLOYEE
	NWS EMPLOYEE ESTIMATED 1/4TH TO 1/2 INCH OF SLEET
0800 PM	SLEET	4 NNW LA CROSSE	43.88N 91.26W
2/20/2011	M0.30 INCH	LA CROSSE          WI	NWS EMPLOYEE
	NWS EMPLOYEE MEASURED A THIRD OF AN INCH OF SLEET
0930 PM	SNOW	2 S HOLMEN	43.93N 91.26W
2/20/2011	M7.8 INCH	LA CROSSE          WI	NWS EMPLOYEE
	LAST INCH WAS MIXED WITH SLEET
0338 AM	SNOW	8 W MEDFORD	45.14N 90.51W
2/21/2011	E12.0 INCH	TAYLOR             WI	LAW ENFORCEMENT
	BLOWING SNOW AS WELL

Here’s a look at the 2 day snowfall totals in southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and southwestern Wisconsin:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE	LA CROSSE	WI
1148 AM CST TUE FEB 22 2011
REPORTED 2 DAY SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM AROUND THE AREA
LOCATION	SNOWFALL	TIME		LAT/	LON
IOWA
…ALLAMAKEE COUNTY…
LANSING 4SE	2.2	700	AM	43.32N	91.16W
WAUKON 8NW	1	728	AM	43.34N	91.60W
…CHICKASAW COUNTY…
IONIA	2.5	700	AM	43.03N	92.50W
…CLAYTON COUNTY…
EDGEWOOD	2.5	700	AM	42.65N	91.40W
VOLGA	1.3	700	AM	42.81N	91.52W
ELKADER 6SSW	0.9	700	AM	42.79N	91.45W
…FAYETTE COUNTY…
FAYETTE	3.6	700	AM	42.83N	91.80W
…FLOYD COUNTY…
CHARLES CITY	3.2	700	AM	43.05N	92.67W
…HOWARD COUNTY…
ELMA	1.6	700	AM	43.24N	92.43W
CRESCO 1 NE	0.8	700	AM	43.38N	92.10W
…MITCHELL COUNTY…
OSAGE	3.1	700	AM	43.28N	92.80W
ST ANSGAR	1.6	700	AM	43.38N	92.92W
MINNESOTA
…FILLMORE COUNTY…
LANESBORO	5	700	AM	43.72N	91.97W
SPRING VALLEY 3E	4.6	700	AM	43.68N	92.33W
PRESTON	4.2	700	AM	43.67N	92.08W
…HOUSTON COUNTY…
CALEDONIA 6S	4.5	815	AM	43.58N	91.50W
…MOWER COUNTY…
AUSTIN	4.2	700	AM	43.67N	92.97W
…OLMSTED COUNTY…
BYRON	8.7	700	AM	44.04N	92.64W
ELGIN 2SSW	7.1	700	AM	44.10N	92.27W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE	6	700	AM	43.93N	92.48W
…WABASHA COUNTY…
THEILMAN	10.8	700	AM	44.29N	92.19W
LAKE CITY	10	700	AM	44.45N	92.28W
WABASHA	6	700	AM	44.38N	92.03W
…WINONA COUNTY…
WINONA DAM 5A	9	700	AM	44.09N	91.67W
ALTURA 5W	7.9	700	AM	44.06N	92.04W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7	7	700	AM	43.87N	91.31W
WISCONSIN
…ADAMS COUNTY…
FRIENDSHIP	9.3	700	AM	43.98N	89.83W
…BUFFALO COUNTY…
ALMA	8	700	AM	44.33N	91.93W
…CLARK COUNTY…
ROCK DAM	12	700	AM	44.73N	90.84W
OWEN	11.9	700	AM	44.95N	90.53W
NEILLSVILLE 3SW	8	700	AM	44.53N	90.64W
…CRAWFORD COUNTY…
LYNXVILLE	1.5	700	AM	43.22N	91.10W
SOLDIERS GROVE	1.3	700	AM	43.40N	90.78W
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN	0.6	700	AM	43.03N	91.15W
…GRANT COUNTY…
CUBA CITY	0.7	700	AM	42.63N	90.46W
…JACKSON COUNTY…
TAYLOR	8.5	700	AM	44.32N	91.12W
BLACK RIVER FALLS	7.6	700	AM	44.28N	90.85W
…LA CROSSE COUNTY…
HOLMEN 2S	9.8	700	AM	43.93N	91.25W
WEST SALEM	9	700	AM	43.90N	91.09W
HOLLAND	8.7	700	AM	43.97N	91.29W
LA CROSSE	8.1	700	AM	43.87N	91.27W
LA CROSSE AIRPORT	7.7	700	AM	43.88N	91.26W
…MONROE COUNTY…
WARRENS 5WSW	11.8	700	AM	44.10N	90.59W
SPARTA	7.1	700	AM	43.93N	90.82W
…RICHLAND COUNTY…
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW	4.5	700	AM	43.36N	90.42W
…TAYLOR COUNTY…
MEDFORD	9.5	700	AM	45.12N	90.37W
…TREMPEALEAU COUNTY…
OSSEO	11.1	700	AM	44.58N	91.22W
WHITEHALL	8	700	AM	44.37N	91.32W
ETTRICK	7.5	700	AM	44.11N	91.22W
TREMPEALEAU	7.3	700	AM	44.00N	91.44W
…VERNON COUNTY…
ONTARIO	8.2	700	AM	43.71N	90.59W
WESTBY 3ENE	7	700	AM	43.67N	90.84W
STODDARD 5NNE	6.6	700	AM	43.72N	91.17W
LA FARGE	5.3	700	AM	43.57N	90.64W
DE SOTO 1SE	5.1	700	AM	43.41N	91.19W
VIROQUA	4	700	AM	43.54N	90.87W

Posted under snowfall amounts

After a fairly long stretch of spring-like days, we’ve fallen back to more winter-like weather for our Friday with typical February temperatures and wind chills in our area.  The cold front that swept through the region yesterday afternoon scoured out our clouds and fog, but in its wake we have some raw and gusty west winds pulling in this more seasonable air mass today.  With bright blue skies overhead, we’ll likely manage to climb back into the 30s for highs today, but that’s a far cry from the 40s and 50s we enjoyed on Thursday, especially when you factor in those wind chills.  Because of those brisk winds, it’ll feel like the teens and 20s and sometimes even worse when those 30 or 40 mile per hour gusts kick in.  Look for those winds to remain rather blustery through late afternoon when the cold front moves farther away to the east and we lose some of our daytime heating. 

 

We’ll stick with the cooler, more seasonable temperatures for the weekend with dry weather Friday and Saturday before a potent storm system from the west spreads a wintry mixture across the area late Saturday evening, possibly beginning a stretch of 36 hours or so of messy weather in our region.  There will be a chance for freezing rain, sleet, and snow Saturday night with snow and a little freezing rain possible Sunday.  At this time, we’re still trying to determine how warm temperatures will be aloft so we know what type of precipitation types will be occurring and also monitoring the track of the storm, so it’s a little early to say how much snow and ice we’ll be getting from this upcoming storm.  Stay tuned!

Posted under winter weather

We’re continuing to watch a big storm that will be affecting our area this weekend. This system has been an honest nightmare to forecast – with inconsistencies in the model track being the biggest headache. With a waffling storm track, keep in mind that these totals below have a very good chance of changing. Overall, it appears snowfall totals of 4-8″ will be possible, with lesser totals to the south, and higher amounts to the north.  From the cities into western Wisconsin, a band of 12+” is possible.

Being brutally honest – we have low confidence with totals for this storm with all of the difficulties with forecasting it. More so, with above-freezing temperatures in northern Iowa, most of this could start as rain before it changes over to snow, which would put a HUGE dent in snowfall totals. This all depends on the exact track the storm will take.

What we do know for a fact – there will be travel difficulties tonight and Saturday across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. There will be blowing snow with near-blizzard conditions on Saturday/Saturday night.

The Winter Storm Watch (blue counties) and Blizzard Watch (green counties) will be changed to an advisory or warnings of some nature later on, depending on how the storm plays out. Stay tuned.

Here are the basics:

What to expect – Minnesota

Tonight: Precip to start late this evening: freezing rain/sleet/mushy snow. Some icing may occur. Snow by tomorrow morning: 1-3″.
Saturday: Snow, blowing snow, low visibilities. Another 4-7″ possible.
Saturday night: Snow tapering off, blowing snow, low visibilities. Storm totals: 5-10″.
Sunday: Bitterly cold, blowing snow.

What to expect – Iowa

Tonight: Precip to start late this evening: rain/freezing rain/sleet/mushy snow. Some icing may occur. Snow by tomorrow morning: 1-2″.
Saturday: Snow, blowing snow, low visibilities. Another 2-3″ possible.
Saturday night: Snow tapering off, blowing snow, low visibilities. Storm totals: 3-5″.
Sunday: Bitterly cold, blowing snow.

More data will come in later today, and we’ll keep you updated. Stay tuned and bear with us during the weekend……

Posted under winter, winter weather

Almost our entire area is under a Winter Weather Advisory today as sleet and freezing rain are falling from a large swath of precipitation that is slowly edging its way to the north and east across the Upper Mississippi Valley.  It’s definitely going to be a bit difficult to get around through the rest of today and this evening as a thin layer of ice is starting to develop on untreated streets and sidewalks.  There will eventually be a trasition to light snow, but at this time, little if any accumulation is expected in our local area.  Most of the snow accumulation will be north of the Twin Cities in northern Minnesota and in far northern Wisconsin.  The precipitation is expected to taper off near midnight with just a spot of two of freezing drizzle possible during the overnight period, possibly making things a little crusty for early tomorrow.  Thankfully, Thanksgiving itself will be dry with a little sun, but cold, brisk west winds will keep wind chills slightly below zero all day long.

 Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

Posted under Holidays

Earlier this month we blogged about a gigantic hailstone that fell in Vivian, South Dakota, and that it may have been the largest ever measured in world history.  Well, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has confirmed that it is indeed a record breaker!  Here’s the article:

South Dakota Storm Produces Record Hailstone
 
NOAA’s National Climate Extremes Committee, responsible for validating national weather records, has declared a hailstone found last week in Vivian, S.D., to be the largest in diameter and heaviest ever recovered in the United States.
 
Found after a July 23, 2010, severe thunderstorm by Vivian resident Les Scott, the hailstone is 8.0 inches in diameter and weighs 1.9375 pounds (1 pound, 15 ounces) with a circumference of 18.62 inches.
These measurements displace the previous hailstone record for weight, previously 1.67 pounds for a stone in Coffeyville, Kan., in 1970. They also surpass the record for diameter, which was 7 inches for a hailstone found in Aurora, Neb., in 2003. The Aurora hailstone still holds the record for circumference of 18.75 inches.
 
 “I’m just glad nobody got hurt and hope the town will recover soon,” Scott said.
 
David Hintz, warning coordination meteorologist at NOAA’s Aberdeen weather forecast office said a local power outage likely led to the hailstone melting some before it could be measured. “Mr. Scott told me the area was littered with large hailstones and the largest had a greater diameter when he first found it. He immediately stored it and several others in his freezer, but a power outage caused some melting.”
After getting Hintz’ notice of a possible record hailstone, personnel at National Weather Service Central Region headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., requested activation of the National Climatic Extremes Committee to examine and judge Scott’s hailstone. Personnel from the Aberdeen office traveled to Vivian to measure and weigh the hailstone, and then turned their findings over to the three-person committee. After a thorough review of the facts, committee members certified its record-breaking status.
 
Information about the National Climatic Extremes Committee and existing weather records may be found at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/ncec.
 
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.

Posted under hail

Things aren’t looking too impressive with our precipitation, but we’ll still watch for some overnight. Some counties have been dropped from advisories. Randy’ll have more on the NewsCenter at 5 and 6…and of course at 10.

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Most of the crummy precipitation is falling in central Iowa right now, but we’ll watch that line progress ever so slowly northward during the afternoon hours. Nearly our entire area is under either a Freezing Rain Advisory or Winter Weather Advisory through tonight and into Thursday. Central and southern Iowa is currently getting smacked by ice with many locations reporting at least a quarter to half inch accumulation (by the way – that’s a lot).

It appears most of northern Iowa will start to see this get underway during the early afternoon. Most of southern Minnesota will see it later this afternoon and into the early evening starting (later the further north you head).

Rundown: Brown counties = Winter Weather Advisory (for sleet, snow, freezing rain)
Light purple counties = Freezing Rain Advisory (for freezing rain)
Dark purple counties = Ice Storm Warning (for significant icing)

Stay tuned.

Posted under winter weather