Updraft: February 18, 2008 Archive

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Winter chill rules

Posted at 8:59 AM on February 18, 2008 by Craig Edwards

A record daily snowfall of 5.5 inches accumulated on February 17th, Sunday at Des Moines. New snowfall totals of between 6 to 10 inches occurred from southwest to central Wisconsin. In Madison, they added another 3 and a half inches of snow to the already record winter total, now surpassing 83 inches.
Sunday's snowfall

Portions of southern Wisconsin were drenched with a cold rain. Record daily precipitation amounts of over an inch were achieved at Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay. Cold air will lock all this moisture in place until a thaw occurs on the weekend. This promises to be a very precarious flood season from Wisconsin to the Ohio Valley.

While portions of Alaska enjoy readings in the 20s and 30s today and Tuesday, the upper Midwest will have to deal with temperatures some 20 degrees below normal. A recovery to normal temperatures commences on Thursday.

Tornadoes churned through Alabama, Florida and Georgia yesterday. Despite more than 30 twisters, there have been no reported fatalities.

Severe weather reports

Bundle up. Wind chill readings will once again be bitterly cold throughout the day.