Updraft: March 9, 2011 Archive

Snow fades today, 47 by Friday?

Posted at 8:32 AM on March 9, 2011 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)
Filed under: Winter storms, Winter/spring 2011

Our Wednesday snow system is behaving about as expected so far. Snow will gradually taper off in the metro today, but linger into this evening in SE MN & Wisconsin.

Twin Cities NWS:

-Latest individual snowfall reports here.
-Latest snowfall summaries here.

La Crosse NWS: (Wisconsin & southeast Minnesota)

-Latest individual snowfall reports here.
-Latest snowfall summaries here.

Here are some snowfall totals so far as of this morning.

Twin Cities area:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

0824 AM SNOW BURNSVILLE 44.76N 93.28W
03/09/2011 M1.7 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM SNOW 2 W PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.47W
03/09/2011 M1.5 INCH SCOTT MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0755 AM SNOW HAMBURG 44.73N 93.96W
03/09/2011 M1.2 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0742 AM SNOW INVER GROVE HEIGHTS 44.83N 93.06W
03/09/2011 M1.4 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0717 AM SNOW BLOOMINGTON 44.83N 93.32W
03/09/2011 M1.2 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

As expected, snowfall totals are heavier in southern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

0700 AM SNOW SW ELLENDALE 43.87N 93.30W
03/09/2011 M4.0 INCH STEELE MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM SNOW FAIRMONT 43.64N 94.46W
03/09/2011 M3.0 INCH MARTIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0643 AM SNOW OSAGE 43.29N 92.81W
03/09/2011 M4.0 INCH MITCHELL IA PUBLIC

0711 AM SNOW CALEDONIA 43.63N 91.50W
03/09/2011 M4.0 INCH HOUSTON MN PUBLIC

0711 AM SNOW AUSTIN KAAL TV 43.68N 92.95W
03/09/2011 M3.1 INCH MOWER MN PUBLIC

0700 AM SNOW ROCHESTER AP 2NE 43.93N 92.48W
03/09/2011 M2.6 INCH OLMSTED MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM SNOW LA CROSSE WFO 43.82N 91.19W
03/09/2011 M5.2 INCH LA CROSSE WI CO-OP OBSERVER

Radar trends show snow gradually tapering as drier air works in behind the low pressure system as it moves east today. Expect light snow to gradually fade as we head through the afternoon.

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop

Warm up on the way!

The upper air pattern is changing for the milder. Fast moving systems now spinning off the Pacific Ocean will sail though the Upper Midwest over the next week. That means the systems will pull up warmer (did I just actually type the word "warmer?!") air ahead of them as they move in...and cooler air behind.

The first such system is headed this way Friday. Look for a sunny and milder day Thursday as high pressure builds in, then southerly winds will kick in Friday and draw milder air north into Minnesota.

If we get enough sun...and it looks like we will, temperatures could soar into the mid-upper 40s Friday!

Cooler air and some snow may greet us on the system's back side Saturday, but the warm up will really get going next week.

I expect a few days in the 40s and a shot at 50s next week. It looks like we will really start melting some serious snow around here in the next 7 to 10 days.

Get ready for a taste of spring!

PH

(1 Comments)

Metro: 7th snowiest winter... 48 degrees by Friday?

Posted at 5:02 PM on March 9, 2011 by Paul Huttner (1 Comments)
Filed under: Winter/spring 2011

We're #7!...We're #7!

Wednesday's bout of light snow has boosted the Twin Cities season snowfall one rung on the all time snowiest winter ladder. Our 79.7" season snowfall (1" today) now puts the metro at 7th place for the snowiest winters on record, according to the Twin Cities NWS. Here are the numbers.

Top 10 snowiest winters. (Click to enlarge)

Any shot at the top 5?

As you can see from the graphic above, the Twin Cities needs another 1.7" to move into sole possession of 6th place.

A fast moving clipper like system will pull up some warmer air Friday, then a cold front crashes through behind the system Friday night into Saturday morning. This should bring a shot of snow along, but totals look to be generally light, maybe another inch or two.

It will take another 4.4" to move into a 5th place tie. While that is certainly doable (and even likely?) before the snow season ends, I don't see any snow on the way yet that would push us into the top 5. (Sigh of relief here)

Spring fever ahead?

There may be an outbreak of spring fever in Minnesota Friday.

Milder air will begin to make regular incursions into Minnesota in the next week. I expect several days in the 40s with sunshine, southerly breezes and melting snow.

Days in the 40s more common in the next week! (Click to enlarge)

The overall weather scenario is evolving into what meteorologists sometimes call a "push-pull" weather pattern. It might be better to call it a "pull-push" pattern...here's why.

-A fast moving zonal (west to east) jet stream brings low pressure systems through the Upper Midwest in rapid succession...every 2-3 days.

-As the lows approach, southerly winds ahead of the system "pull" milder air into Minnesota. (Friday!)

-Behind the system, northwest winds fronts "push" colder air (and maybe snow) southward from Canada. (Saturday)

The result is wide swings in temperatures from day to day, with one day feeling like spring and the next a wintery rerun.

Welcome to March in Minnesota.

Here's the (mostly) milder outlook for the next week for the Metro and Greater Minnesota.

Thursday: Bright sun returns! High in the upper 30s to near 40. Light west winds.

Friday: Sunny, breezy and milder with highs near 48! South winds 10-22mph.

Friday night/Saturday: Blustery and colder. Shot of snow may bring 1" to 2" in most areas. High Saturday near 34, but feeling cooler with brisk NW winds.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and cool but with lighter winds. High near 33. Light snow late SW MN.

Monday: Mostly sunny & milder High near 41.

Tuesday: Sunny & milder. High 46.

Wednesday: Windy. Chance of rain showers. (Snow north) High low 40s.

On a limb: Much warmer weekend of March 19th-20th? Highs well into the 50s??

PH

(1 Comments)