Midwest Weather & Golf

Highest Impact Winter Storm Thus Far in the Season

2018-12-23T08:41:00.001-08:00

Parts of the Midwest will be digging out from their largest snow storm since last year by the end of the week. A storm system is expected to develop in the southern Plains Wednesday and slide to the north and east through Thursday and Friday. Heavy snow will begin to breakout Wednesday night into Thursday morning as it overspreads the entire Upper Midwest through the day Thursday. A swath of 6"+ of snow is expected to fall to the northwest of the track by Friday, with rain further east.

With the storm system still 3-5 days out there are still more questions than answers at this point. As per usual, the exact track of the low pressure system will greatly determine who sees the heaviest snow and who sees mainly rain. In addition to the usual track error in the models, there are major differences in the temperature profiles of the atmosphere ahead of the system. While an area of high pressure is expected to develop north of the Dakotas, there just isn't the amount of cold air in place we would usually have at this time of year. The low will have to generate some of its own cold air through advection and latent heat release. The GFS and the EURO have varying opinions. The GFS for example has a much more saturated atmosphere ahead of the first batch of precipitation, which will impact temperatures as dry air and precipitation can act as a cooler process due to latent heat release. Whereas the EURO model has more dry air to help cool the column ahead of the heavier snows. Furthermore, the grid spacing on the EURO is smaller so will better resolve the cooling process over the GFS, so the cooler solution is currently favored. Below is a look at the GFS model, with the main EURO rain and snow line overlayed. The GFS has a much larger percentage of the storm as rain, while the EURO suggests more snow. Still a lot to work out with this one, so be sure to follow on Twitter and Facebook for continued updates. Can always check out the Computer Snow Output page as well.

Heavy Snows Return this Weekend for Some

2018-11-30T10:45:00.001-08:00

Another winter storm is poised to move towards the Midwest by the weekend. Rain will develop late Friday night across the Plains and begin to changeover to mainly snow through the day on Saturday. Snow will eventually spread north and east into the Upper Midwest late in the day Saturday. Some of the precipitation will begin as a light wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet, but will change over to all snow through a lifting mechanism that will act to cool the layer. The area of heaviest snow will be localized across Nebraska, with lesser amounts outward from there.

The lack of a large swath of heavier snow has to do with the life stage of the low pressure system. In many cases storms emerge from the Rockies and develop from that point forward. With similar systems across this part of the world, the life stage of strongest precipitation usually last 1-3 days. However, the weekend winter storm developed on the west coast and dumped heavy rain and snow across the Southwest Thursday. Being in its mature stage, the area of snow will quickly develop Saturday, then quickly fall apart Saturday into Sunday. It can also be seen in a 500mb chart below, where the closed upper low is a sign of future weakening, as the system become occluded. Nonetheless, a band of snow is expected to sit and pivot over Nebraska, where many will see over a foot of snow by Sunday. Areas further south across the Mid-Lower Mississippi River Valley will see severe weather Friday and Saturday, as the cold front provides a mechanism for lift in an unstable environment. Isolated tornadoes are possible, with an upper jet superimposed over the same locations, providing turning with height for tornadic thunderstorms. As always, be sure to follow on Twitter for more updates and weather content.

First Round of Heavy Snow for Many Sunday-Monday

2018-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

A storm system will emerge from the Rockies this afternoon and march towards the north and east through the overnight into Sunday. A very narrow strip of heavy snow will develop to the northwest of the low, as warm air is tossed over a warm front into colder air. The storm is expected to drop several inches of snow over a wide area, but a narrow area of only 15-30 miles will see amounts in excess of 6". Some spots could surprise with almost a foot of snow as bands park over the same area for a long period of time. It is difficult to see exactly where the heaviest snow will set-up, but chances favor somewhere between Milwaukee and Chicago into Michigan. Below is a computer simulation of what the radar may look like heading through Monday morning. As we march more into winter, be sure to keep it to Midwest Weather for updates throughout the winter. More weather content will be posted on our Facebook page and especially on Twitter.

Official Midwest Weather Winter Outlook 2018-2019

2018-11-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's about that time, when everyone is asking, what will the winter be like? Well, we have some of the answers you are looking for. The winter forecast is not as clear cut as some years in the past, but there are some trends out there that show clues into what the fine winter enthusiasts of this site should expect.

First, let's start with the process into how the outlook was constructed. We will use 4 major teleconnections that are useful to forecast the weather out several months to a year in the future. The most influential and most common lies in the level that ENSO is expected to be in. ENSO is essentially a measure of how warm the ocean temperatures are in the Central Pacific. If the specific region is warmer than normal it is classified as an El Nino, colder is classified as a La Nina, and near normal is in the neutral phase. The phase tends to flip from El Nino to La Nina every 8 month to over a year at times. For our purposes in the winter forecast, we are currently in the neutral phase and expected to trend towards an El Nino moving into winter. Consequently, we will only use years that followed the same trend.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is a similar measure or oscillation that goes from the warm to cold stage every 5-10+ years, and examines ocean temperatures in the northern Pacific. It is near neutral and is likely to hover around the neutral stage through the winter, we will give it 2x weight. The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is similar to the PDO, and should stay in the warm phase through 2019, as its period of change can be well over a decade. Since the AMO is a measure in the North Atlantic, we will use less of a weight, since it is downstream of the weather in the United States. Finally the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) is a regular variation in the wind direction near the equator located in the stratosphere and can influence the weather around the world. It is a wind that blows in the same direction for roughly 14 months then completely flips direction. Based on history, the QBO should eventually flip direction, which should occur sometime during the winter, so years with a flip from negative to positive during the winter will be used for the forecast.

Putting it all together, 5 similar years since 1950 were looked at then averaged against the values from the entire period. Essentially, the map above is what we may expect in terms of temperatures during the months of December through February this winter. Notice the colder air from the Plains down through the Southeast. Some warmer temperatures are housed in the Great Lakes, but overall cooler than normal temperatures are expected this winter across the Midwest.

Looking and precipitation now, we see an above normal signal across the Midwest, and a well above normal signal across the West Coast. Colder than normal and above normal precipitation will also favor above normal snowfall overall. However, notice there are some southwest to northeast strips of above/below normal areas east of the Rockies. It may signal the risk for larger storm systems, and more hit/miss events in aggregate through the winter season. At the end of the day, slightly above normal snowfall is favored, but as always it will come down to where each individual storm track goes. There will be an above normal amount of chances for snow this winter, so be sure to keep up to date with Midwest Weather through the winter, as the blog becomes much more active. You are also going to want to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow on Twitter for continued weather updates and conversation.

Accumulating Snow Returns Wednesday

2018-04-17T15:16:00.002-07:00

Winter is at it again, more snow on tap for the some of the same locations that saw over a foot of snow over the weekend. A quick hitting Alberta Clipper system will slide into the region Wednesday and spread a swath of moderate snow to the region. Snow rates of 1-2" are possible for a period during the day, which could be enough to pile up over 6" of snow in spots. Temperatures will return closer to normal by the weekend and near normal by next week, so the snow will be gone as quickly as it came.

April/Baseball Begin, with a Major Winter Storm Tuesday

2018-04-02T10:57:00.001-07:00

Say it ain't snow, the winter that keeps giving has another trick up its sleeve. For many in the Upper Midwest this winter has dragged on far too long. Even though the calendar may say April and baseball is underway, a major winter storm will drop a wide swath of around a half foot of snow by Tuesday night. Snow will begin to develop today, with the more moderate snow coming into the region as the low pressure begins to develop near Chicago. Much of the snow will fall during the day, so ongoing melting is expected with the strong April sun angle, which will hamper some of the accumulations of a heavy wet snow for most. Meanwhile, in the warm sector, an area of strong to severe thunderstorms will develop across the Ohio Valley down through the Lower Mississippi River Valley. Large hail, damaging winds, and a few isolated tornadoes are all threats Tuesday afternoon and evening. Below is one model's take on how the storm system will evolve into Tuesday, powered by Tropical Tidbits. After the low pressure slides east of the region, winds will kick to out of the northwest, with cold temperatures expected to hold right on through the weekend, with a couple additional chances for snow into the middle of the month. More weather info always on Twitter.

Heavy Snow Targets Plains and Upper Midwest

2018-01-20T12:13:00.002-08:00

The most significant threat of a winter storm for many across the Midwest is coming to fruition in the West and is poised to slide east through the day tomorrow. Computer models are coming together in agreement with the track and banding features expected to fall northwest of the low pressure system. A long yet narrow swath of 6"+ is expected to pile up, with an even more narrow band of 10"+. An isolated total of 15"+ is certainly possible, but too early to pin exactly where this may occur. Some indications suggest northeastern Nebraska has a good chance to see 15" with increased cold air and higher liquid to snow ratios expected here. Furthermore, anywhere along the narrow red strip may see a couple isolated totals in excess of 15", depending on where banding feature tend to stall out and pivot. The heaviest snow is expected to fall during the day on Monday. While, widespread blizzard conditions are not expected, gusty winds and blowing/drifting of snow will also occur due to the deepening area of low pressure. Now, with any weather forecast there is some inherent error in the exact track. Located below is a chart of 20+ model runs and what they suggest for snow totals in Minneapolis (left) and Green Bay (right). Still some spread, but overall not to bad for still being 36+ hours out. Based on the best science, the trends and snow ratios, the forecast above was reached. As always you can get further updates on Twitter and Facebook or find links on the right hand side of the page. Enjoy the snow, if you want it, and stay safe either way. If you care to check out some of the weather model snow outputs Click Here!

Odds Increasing for a Winter Storm Sunday-Monday

2018-01-16T16:32:00.003-08:00

With all the cold weather settling in the past month or so, people are asking, "where's the snow?" The big snows at least. Well, the next best chance will arrive Sunday into Monday. While it is not advantageous to post a winter weather forecast 5-6 days out, confidence is above average during this time frame. The edge of accurate winter storm evolution forecasts across the Midwest is usually around the 5 day time frame. However, the difference in this case is the method of storm development. Models have consistently shown a large price of energy coming on-shore the West Coast Friday and pushing due east through the weekend. As this energy emerges on the lee side or east side of the Rocky Mountains, significant cyclogenesis is expected. In many case, including this winter, there are multiple pieces of energy that the models need to resolve and issues in accuracy arise from sampling and future progression differences. Nevertheless, the expectation is that an area of low pressure will move from the Central Plains towards the Upper Midwest Sunday into Monday. Heavy snow is expected to fall to the northwest of the track, 6"+ of snow is possible, but it's simply too early to get more specific. Keeping in mind, we are still 5+ days out, there is some uncertainty in the exact track. Below is a look at the GEFS. It is a model that is ran 20+ different times at a lower resolution with slightly different inputs to quantify error. The individual red numbers are low pressure locatations and are where the storm may end up. Notice the spread is still from southeast MN to northern IL, with the reminder that the heavy snow will fall 50-200 miles northwest of the where the low tracks. Lots to work out over the next several days, so check back for updates when necessary. Be sure to follow on Twitter and 'like' on Facebook.

Frigid & Dry Conditions Persist into 2018

2018-01-01T19:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Weatherwise, 2018 looks to pick up right where 2017 ended, with a cold and dry pattern. When people claim they hate to see snow during the winter, but also hate the cold, be sure to remind them they do not always go hand in hand. Most of the moderate snow events across the Midwest occur with temperatures in the upper 20s to near 30. Prolonged dry periods, are often associated with arctic high pressure systems, which bring their arctic cold temperatures. Often during the winter, if the jet steam can dig south of the area and usher in cold temperatures from the north, the storm track will run well south of the Midwest and shut down large snow makers from developing. What's left in its wake is lake effect snows (which are significant in these outbreaks) and weak little disturbances that may put down an inch or two of fluffy snow from time to time. This recent cold spell is no exception. The pattern looks to hold through the first week of 2018, with the only snow across the region near the lakes. Below is expected precipitation through January 7th, showing only scattered snow showers from time to time across most of the Midwest, with lake effect snows dropping 12"+ as they tap into the relatively warm lake water and cold air above them. A pattern change is possible by the second week of the month, which should lend more snow chances, along with warmer temperatures!

Midwest Snow Event by Late-Week

2017-12-19T17:55:00.000-08:00

Snow will develop by Wednesday across the northern Plains and fill in towards the Midwest by Thursday. Several inches of snow are possible throughout North Dakota and parts of the Upper Midwest. There will be 3 pieces of energy that produce snowfall over the next several days. If they would have all phased together at the same time, which does tend to happen this time of year, heavy snowfall would then have been likely, yet this is what we are left with. The heaviest snow will be over northern North Dakota and Northeast Wisconsin into Michigan.

Midwest Weather Winter Storm Update

2017-12-18T16:02:00.002-08:00

Quick winter storm update tonight, with models coming into better agreement confidence is starting to rise. The forecast from Saturday still looks generally on track, with just a few subtle changes. The track wobbles are noted in the graphic to the left. It still appears a weak system will kick off light snow across the far northern Plains Wednesday into Thursday, with a general 3-6" of snow likely here by Thursday morning. Then, by Late Thursday morning a cyclone across Nebraska will develop and push towards Chicago. As this occurs, moisture will be brought to the northwest and snow will increase in coverage and intensity to the left hand side of the low. It is a classic track for heavy snow across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Some light snow should develop Thursday morning in the Central Plains, with 2-5" likely here. The snow will ramp up as the low develops and should become moderate to heavy by Thursday afternoon and evening. The darker shade of blue has the best chances for 6"+ of snow, as it looks like a band of 5-10" is possible across this area, with lesser amounts outside of this zone. There are still some questions with the systems; such as whether thunderstorms in the south will rob any of the moisture and just how deep the low can get before moving into Canada. As always, being still 3+ days out there will likely be a couple tweaks in the exact track of the low, which will have impacts on who sees the most snow. A more detailed snow map will be issued by tomorrow evening as things become even more clear. As per usual, more weather updates will be posted on Twitter and Facebook!

Pre-Christmas Winter Storm Possible across Midwest

2017-12-16T15:21:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year, the time when just about everyone wouldn't mind to see the white stuff falling from the sky. Well, Mother Nature may come through with accumulating snows in the days leading up to the holiday. Models have been showing a favorable pattern for days, and are becoming more clear with a couple storm systems ejecting from the Rocky Mountains December 20th-22nd. With a substantial trough in place, the cold air supply with be sufficient to support snow through much of the Midwest.

Our first peice of energy will slide out of Montana December 20th and bring warmer air north towards North Dakota and Minnesota. As this warm air is bought over the top of stubborn cold air at the surface, precipitation will emerge once it reaches saturation. Widespread light snow should develop across much of the northern Plains with a few inches of snow likely across much of the region, and isolated locations of more snow eare possible. The main surface low will weaken and transfer towards eastern Colorado the coming days.

When this energy digs south into the Central Plains by the 21st, a developing surface low pressure system will strengthen as it pushes northeast towards the Upper Great Lakes. As the low deepens, upward motion will be induced on the northwest side of the cyclone, and with cold air in place a large area of snow should develop Dec 21st-22nd. The long duration event and effective dynamics in play, heavy snow is possible somewhere from Iowa to Wisconsin and into Michigan. Being still ~5 days out, some details are uncertain, but looks like a good shot for a solid White Christmas across much of the Midwest. We won't touch on exact amounts quite yet, just being too early at this point, but there is a chance of an area picking up 6"+ as we head into Christmas. Be sure to keep it here to Midwest Weather for details and snow forecasts as we get closer to the event. You can always follow on Twitter and like on Facebook for even more updates.

5pm Monday: Click Here for an update

Quick Hitting Snowfall Wednesday

2017-12-12T14:52:00.001-08:00

An area of low pressure will dive into the northern Plains overnight and quickly develop through the morning on Wednesday. A narrow band of moderate snow is expected to set-up to the northeast of the track, across the Upper Great Lakes. Models are coming together in placing this band from northeast Wisconsin into Lower Michigan. It will be one of those cases where some may see nearly nothing and 50 miles north they see 6" of snow. The snow is expected to be of the light a fluffy variety, so it will quickly pile up Wednesday. The narrow band of snow should produce a general 4-7" of snow, with 7"+ expected in western Lower Michigan where some lake enhancement is expected by tomorrow. Total snow forecast is attached above, along with one model's take on the what the radar may look like tomorrow, attached below. Winds during the snowfall should be rather light, but as the low pressure system pulls away Wednesday evening, winds will shift to the north and increase with time during the evening and early part of the overnight. Gusts of 25-30 mph are then possible, which could act to blow the light and fluffy snow around through Thursday morning. Be sure to 'like' us on Facebook and follow on Twitter for more weather updates!

2017-2018 Midwest Weather Winter Forecast

2017-11-30T16:12:00.001-08:00

After a cool start to a November that produced a couple rounds of light snow across the Upper Midwest, the latter half of the month has been well above normal across the Midwest. With the warm weather taking hold, people are asking, "What does it mean for the winter?" While there is little correlation to how the weather in November determines the rest of the season, yet there are methods meteorologists can use to gather insight on what to expected through March. With meteorological winter starting tomorrow (December 1st), it is finally time to unveil the official Midwest Weather winter outlook for the 2017-2018 season.

2016-2017 Winter Recap:

To jive your memory, let's take a look at last winter. It featured a neutral ENSO to near-weak La Nina, meaning the ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean were near normal or slightly below normal. When neither a La Nina or El Nino develops, other climatic processes carry more weight and will have more of an impact on the weather across the United States. Above is a look at temperatures and rain/snow amounts compared to average. According to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, the Midwest saw temperatures run a few degrees above normal, with precipitation dependent on two storm tracks that brought above normal rain/snow amounts from Iowa into parts of Wisconsin, and kept other parts of the region below average. The winter forecast posted Last Year, panned out fairly well. With the 'increased risk for larger storms' in the upper midwest, 'below average snow' in the Mid-Mississippi River Valley, along with 'increased lake effect' the forecast generally held up. The temperatures ended up warmer due to a very warm second half of February, with record highs ruled the land.

Now let's take a look at what to expect for this upcoming winter. Using current conditions of the oceans and atmosphere can work to forecast upcoming winter conditions. Four climate processes will be examined to determine what are called analog years, or years that are most similar to this upcoming winter. The status of ENSO, PDO, QBO, and AMO will be studied and compiled to develop our winter forecast!

ENSO (La Nina/El Nino):

Climate models and trends are suggesting that a La Nina is in the process of developing for this winter. Typically when the index is more negative than -0.5, a La Nina is then classified. While we are expecting a cooler than normal equatorial Pacific, it will not be extensively cool. Model consensus is expecting the status of ENSO to run about -0.8 through much of the winter. Below is a higher time step resolution, with the current value measured at near -0.8, yet will fluctuate day to day.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO):

The PDO is another dynamic ocean pattern on a longer time scale than ENSO. Typically it can change from phase to phase over the course of a decade or longer. The PDO has been in the warm phase over the past several years, yet there are signs it may lean to the cool side this winter or hover around neutral. The latest observed value was -0.62, down from values near 0 earlier in the Fall.

A visual representation of the PDO flipping to the cold phase is above, current sea surface temperatures, via tropical tidbits. Notice the blob of warmer than average SSTs in the Northern Pacific, with pockets of cooler than average SSTs in the vicinity of the Gulf of Alaska. Its subtle, but does match the cold phase of the PDO in the image above better than the warm phase. In our analogs, we will use a slightly negative PDO value throughout the winter.

The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO):

The AMO is a similar process in the North Atlantic, yet on longer time scales. It has been in the warm phase for a couple decades now, and is expected to continue through winter. We will use positive values for collection of analog years.

Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO):

The QBO is a oscillation in the wind direction within 15 degrees of the equator. It tends to have a periodicity of nearly 2 years and is currently settling into a negative phase.

Above is a look at the variation of the QBO, notice the flip to negative just this Fall, with the trend of more negative values to continue based on history. For our analogs, we will use increasingly negative QBO values through the winter months.

Developing Analog Years:

We will then use each of the four climate values as predictors, normalized to equal magnitude.

ENSO: Slightly Negative (Double weighted)
PDO: Slightly Negative
AMO: Positive
QBO: Negative

A database was set up with each index from every month back to 1950. Below are the expected values for December through February, with the months/years in the past that are closest fit.

Below is a look at expected values for ENSO/PDO/QBO/AMO and the closest corresponding years:

Here is a look at how these years were compared to average in temperatures and precipitation:

Below is a look at expected values for ENSO/PDO/QBO/AMO and the closest corresponding years:

Here is a look at how these years were compared to average in temperatures and precipitation:

Below is a look at expected values for ENSO/PDO/QBO/AMO and the closest corresponding years:

Here is a look at how these years were compared to average in temperatures and precipitation:

In both December and February the top 3 years were used. In January the top 5 years were used due to the large differences in a cold 1963 and warmer other similar years. In February the top 3 years were used, with more weight given to 2012 since it was much closer to expected conditions than the next closest year.

So What does this all mean for the Midwest?

Based on the analog years, the winter of 2017-2018 looks to start with a cool December, trend to a warmer than average January and possibly head back to a near or slightly below normal February. The highest confidence in the forecast is during December and February. January is a little more tricky since the top year (1963) was a cold month for the entire country, yet the rest of the analog months came back as warm. A breakdown in the polar vortex could send cold air spewing south (like it did in January of 1963), but it could easily end up in Europe or Asia. While January looks to either go very cool or warm, odds suggest the warm scenario will pan out with 4 of 5 analog years fitting this idea.

Official forecast below!

Thanks for reading! Be sure to follow on Twitter and 'like' on Facebook for updates through the winter. Feel free to send any questions, twitter will be the best place for
this.

The First Snow of the Season

2017-10-26T18:55:00.005-07:00

After temperatures reached the 70s and 80s for many across the Upper Midwest last Friday, the first snowfall of the year is starting to take shape tonight. Winter is definitely showing itself much earlier than recent seasons, with largely warm October/Novembers the past several years.

A strong clipper system will slide south from Canada tonight, bringing just enough cold air to support snow across much of Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Most of the snow will pile up west of I-35, with a few inches are expected. Snow will still fall in parts further east, but will struggle to accumulate, with temperature above freezing and ground temperatures in the lower 50s. Below is one model's rendition of how this system may pan out over the next 48 hours. Notice the heavier band work through the Minneapolis metro during the afternoon on Friday, some moderate to briefly heavy snow is possible for a period.

Welcome to the start of winter! Look for this blog to become more active over the next 4-6 months. There are some hints of a larger system during the second week of November, so stay tuned to Midwest Weather on Facebook and on Twitter for continued updates.

Winter's Last Stand?

2017-04-28T19:14:00.003-07:00

After a warm February, a warm March, April looks to wrap up with a shot for snow across parts of the Upper Midwest. High pressure to the north will usher in cool and dry air from the Canada, This feature will set up an ideal thermo environment for Mid-Spring snow around these parts. Coupled with a strong area of low pressure coming in from the south and west, confidence is increasing that someone will see several inches of snow Sunday or Monday. A safe bet for 6"+ of snow will be across Colorado into western Nebraska. The storm will then push north and east towards Wisconsin. As it takes this path, more cold air will be brought down from Canada, allowing for the likelihood of more snow in northern Minnesota. What happens in between is the question, but there certainly is a chance of at least a few inches of snow. Nonetheless, temperatures look to stay on the cool side through early May. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Temperatures look to rebound by May 5th in the Plains, May 6th in the Upper Midwest, and May 7th in the Great Lakes.

Significant Winter Storm Expected Friday

2017-02-20T13:32:00.003-08:00

After a stretch of 5-8 days of well above normal temperatures and widespread record highs, confidence is increasing in a large winter storm come Friday. Computer models have latched on to this idea for several days and the question of "If" is becoming more of a "Where and When." Being 5 days out the exact location and amounts are unclear, but it is starting to look like an axis from northern Iowa through northern Wisconsin has the best shot for 6"+ of snow.

An upper level trough is expected to swing into the northern Plains late week, allowing for the ushering in of colder air from the north. The anticipated storm system will track along this boundary of cold to warmer air, taking it into the Midwest by Friday. Furthermore, a deepening of the low pressure and a high pressure to the north and west will act to increase winds on the back side of the system Friday night into Saturday. It is not impossible for some locations to reach blizzard criteria Friday night. Lots to work out in the next few days, feel free to follow on Twitter and 'like' on Facebook for more frequent updates.

We are also likely headed into a more active wintry pattern, with a couple chances for larger winter storms through early March, stay tuned!

Here is one model's take on the coming storm. Powered by Pivotal Weather.

Large Winter Storm to Unleash Bitter Cold

2017-01-31T18:28:00.001-08:00

It has been a relatively quiet and tranquil weather pattern across the Midwest lately, with the exception of a few snow makers. The atmosphere is becoming prime to support a larger winter storm with a benchmark track of widespread 6"+ snowfall. Computer models are now coming into agreement of the idea that an area of low pressure will emerge from the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday and press east or northeast through Wednesday. Right now it is way too early to discuss who sees the accumulating snow. Some models take the low through Chicago and some take it through Minneapolis. The impact on where the snow will fall, based on the track, is profound. Expect snow to pile up 50-100 miles northwest to the track of low pressure. Computer model ensembles are further northwest, but the trend had been further southeast. There is a lot to work out over the next several days, but one thing is becoming more clear...the potential for a long swath of 6"+ of snow is increasingly likely. Nevertheless, it does appear that cold air will filter down behind this system, with below normal temperatures for the entire Midwest by mid-next week.

Accumulating Snow Expected To Develop Tonight

2017-01-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Light to moderate snow is expected to develop over the northern Plains later tonight into Tuesday. The snow will linger into Wednesday for parts of the Upper Midwest. This system will deepen tonight, then weaken as it passes to the east over the next couple days. Consequently, the heaviest snowfall will stay in western sections of the region, across South Dakota, but a solid 3-7" of snow will set up east towards Wisconsin. Total snow of 4-5" amounts will be common, but a narrow band of up to 7-8" will fall where the more persistent snow bands line up. Questions still arrive in how much rain and sleet will mix in across southeastern Wisconsin, with a lot of snow coming during the day for much of Wisconsin, snow accumulation on pavements will be somewhat limited, as grassy surfaces will pick up more snow. Below is the total snowfall you can expect over the next couple day, with slightly less on roadways for those that see more snow during the day, as temperatures will hover around freezing. Be sure to follow on Twitter and Facebook for more weather tidbits and updates.

Accumulating Snow Returns To Midwest Early Week

2017-01-22T15:17:00.001-08:00

An area of low pressure will emerge from the Rocky Mountains into Colorado Monday and move through the Midwest during the first half of the work week. Limited upper level dynamics will keep from a widespread 6"+ snow these tracks often seem to lay down as the low pressure will hold its strength or weaken a touch as it pushes east through Tuesday and Wednesday. The heaviest snows look to occur in South Dakota, trickling off to a few inches further east across the Great Lakes. A more detailed snow map will be released tomorrow morning/afternoon.

Pre-Christmas Snowfall Expected

2016-12-22T13:42:00.002-08:00

While a rain storm is expected across the vast majority of the Midwest by Christmas Day, some light to moderate snow on Friday may help you get in the Holiday spirit. A system currently dropping heavy rain in the Las Vegas area will quickly charge northeast tomorrow. It will not have much to time to develop into a full blown winter storm, like many of these tracks can produce, but will still be capable of impacting travel Friday into Saturday. A general 2-4" of snow is expected from northeast Iowa through much of Wisconsin by late Friday evening.

However, there may end up being a narrow band of heavier snow that the weather computer models did not latch on to. With decent moisture streaming in from the south, and nothing to essentially block it, these systems have a tendency to surprise. Exactly where this heavier band of 5"+ sets up is hard to say, but the darkest swath on the map shows the most likely spot to see near a half of a foot. Again, most places will be in the 2-4" range, but a few cities may see more. Have a great Holiday Season! And travel safe!

Another Winter Storm to Hit the Midwest

2016-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

A complex storm system is beginning to organize off the West Coast this afternoon. Its counter-clockwise flow around the center and open feed to tropical regions in the Pacific Ocean has been pulling moisture from the areas further southwest to the United states. This along with an eventual feed of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will provide ample moisture for our next winter storm to work with come Friday into the weekend. Heavy snow total will likely be seen through multiple states.

Unlike most systems that move through the Midwest and produce snow, this area of low pressure will drop the most snow from the warm front ahead of the actual center. As warm air is forced north and overruns the cold air already in place a lifting mechanism is created. Anytime you get lift in the atmosphere and moisture is in place, precipitation will likely follow, and in this case it will be cold enough for snow. The best place for this meteorological process will be from South Dakota through Lower Michigan

Much of the Midwest will get in on the accumulating snow, some areas will likely approach a foot of snow. The best chances for 10-12" will be across northern Lower Michigan back through eastern Wisconsin. Meanwhile near 6" of snow will set up further west. Most of this snow will be very light and fluffy, piling up quickly. It will not take too much to blow the snow around. As this system pulls away on Sunday, the coldest air in years will fill in behind. Check out the morning wind chills Sunday, forecasted from the GFS model. For more, follow on Twitter and Facebook!

Rounds of Snow, Coldest Air in Over a Year

2016-12-08T15:34:00.001-08:00

An active pattern is beginning to unfold across much of the Midwest starting this weekend. A system will emerge from the Rocky mountain late Friday into Saturday ans head east across the country this weekend. Two rounds of snow are expected, with the initial round kicked off thanks to a warm front and a tightening temperature gradient through the Plains into the Upper Midwest. Then as the area of low pressure develops another, stronger, batch of snow is expected to develop to the northwest of the track.

This, all on the heals of the coldest air and potentially coldest departures from normal in over 18-21 months! So below for how cold it could get relative to normal next week below.

Over a 48 hours period, some hefty snow totals are possible. With the exact details still in question, exact snow totals are not responsible to forecast quite yet. The map on the right shows the best chance for a swath of a half foot of snow. Those who get in on both round of snow will have the best chance for 6"-10", and this is outlined in darker blue. With the multiple rounds and various dynamics coming into play with this event, the forecast is challenging. Be sure to follow on Twitter and Facebook for more!

Some Light Snow Before Cold Air Dives Down

2016-12-03T09:22:00.001-08:00

A weak storm system will bring the first round of accumulating snow for many across the Upper Midwest on Sunday. Generally 1-3" is expected for most areas that see persistent snow. With the more moderate snow coming during the afternoon for many, accumulation on roadways will be minimal south of I-90 as temperatures will be hovering right around freezing. Persistent bands of moderate snow may yield up to 3", maybe 4" of snow on grassy surfaces in southwestern Wisconsin. Total snow forecast by Monday morning below.

Winter Storm To Kick-Off Winter Season

2016-11-17T17:10:00.000-08:00

A developing storm system is emerging from the Rocky Mountains and is poised to move towards the Upper Midwest Friday. The area of low pressure will deepen with time and so will the amount of snow on the northwest side of the track. An area of 5-10" is expected through parts of Minnesota, with isolated locations picking up over a foot of snow. Some lake effect snow is expected in parts of Michigan as the cyclone pulls away from the area. Much of the lift, needed for heavy snow, is thanks to an area of large temperature gradient, see below.

At 700mb, temperatures vary almost 40 degrees across the state of Minnesota, allowing for avlarge amount of frontogenesis. This process of cold air brushing into warm air creates a large scale rolling motion in the atmosphere and aids in favoring upward motion where we expect the heaviest snow.

We seem to be headed towards a more active winter pattern, with more snow chances next week and beyond. More info always on my twitter account: Link