Updraft: January 10, 2008 Archive

No Two Alike

Posted at 7:01 AM on January 10, 2008 by Paul Huttner

Winter weather systems are like snowflakes. No two are alike.

Yes there are Panhandle Hookers, Gulf Storms, and Alberta Clippers, but like people each one is different. Then there are the systems like today. They're not strong enough to have names. These non-descript "open wave" systems slide through with barely enough to shovel away from you sidewalk or driveway.

Each winter weather system can have different characteristics. Surface and upper air pressure patterns, moisture availability, temperature profiles, and low pressure tracks. The same storm track may produce much different snow amounts depending on the other factors.

Today's weather system is what we call an "inverted trough." On the weather map below, you can see the surface low down near Kansas City, which will track east to Detroit. The dashed line extending north into Minnesota is the focus for mainly light snow.

Surface map today

Inverted troughs tend to produce less snow than the wrapped up, wound up "closed lows" that can dump a foot on our area. Bottom line, snow plow drivers will be on the edge of the 3" criteria many use to plow today. Many will be on the low edge. You may have to dicker with them if the come and plow and try to send you a bill!

PH

Skunked!

Posted at 2:45 PM on January 10, 2008 by Paul Huttner

A fading weather system sent a few flurries flying in the metro today, but that's about it. We got skunked here as the models (and the meteorologists) overestimated the intensity and organization of the storm passing to our south.

West of the metro, they got snow. Here is a look at snow amounts for areas west of the Cities. They did get the 1 to nearly 3 inches forecast. There is also snow up north, but here in the metro just expect a few flurries the rest of tonight.

Good news for your commute home today.

PH