Saturday, December 6, 2008

Freezing Drizzle Will Give Way to Bitter Wind Chills, Blowing Snow, & Icy Roads

A special thanks to Brow that sent in a picture of Monticello's winter wonderland. It is beautiful but be careful on the roadways. This nice coating of snow was perfect timing for many in Monticello. The Monticello Christmas parade was this afternoon and it certainly was looking and feeling like Christmas with this nice candy coating of snow.

I am checking in with the latest on the snow and even freezing drizzle reported around the area. Meteorologists do not get any off days this time of year. Yes, we love this stuff but your safety comes first! The good news is the clipper brought us mainly snow with most areas including Lafayette receiving close to one inch. Unfortunately some freezing drizzle mixed in as warmer air aloft was pulled up ahead of the clipper along with a slot of drier air.

Now that the clipper is moving well east of us it will now drag down some more arctic air and plenty of wind for tonight. So even though most areas are reporting mainly wet conditions as of 3 p.m. on the main roads they will once again turn icy in a hurry this evening. I am glad WLFI gave out tons of warm coats at the CFRC today. They will certainly be needed.

The Main Concerns for our Saturday night:

Most areas will be near 10 for overnight lows and if we clear enough look for some single digits. Road ice does not work well when it gets this cold. The west-northwest wind will also be gusty at 15 to 25 mph causing our snow to blow and drift on what appear to be clear roads creating icy spots. Indiana is the only state I have lived in where one inch of snow can drift to six inches so keep this in mind tonight if you are traveling. You need to be attentive on the roads at all times. Take your winter survival kits because wind chills tonight will drop from near zero to ten below zero. Protect the pipes and bring in the pets. It will be a three dog and cat night!

Tuesday Storm Update: More Rain than Snow

There have been big changes in the storm track last night. The one model I place a lot of trust in when it comes to forecasting Lafayette snowstorms has shifted our low pressure track about 120 miles farther to the northwest. The low pressure track will move from near Oklahoma City to St. Louis and eventually through the Lafayette viewing area on Tuesday. This would bring a ton of warm air into our region from Texas and Louisiana. The snowstorm and ice threat for us has gone way down as a result. Areas from Chicago north and west will have to monitor this much more closely. This includes my relatives in southern Wisconsin. This looks like their snowstorm and not ours. They will also have to watch out for some nasty ice accumulations. I would rather have all rain than an ice storm that is for sure. So bring on the rain.

The European model did show this possibility last night of it being mainly a rain event and with our American and Canadian models trending its way I have no choice but to call for mainly rain for Lafayette. How can we go from being so cold to even think about calling for rain in such a short time? Well a wind speed of 120 mph at 36,000 feet from the southwest changes everything! As of right now I have an inch of rain possible over Lafayette on Tuesday with highs in the 40s. On the backside of the storm we could see some light snow accumulations with another blast of cold air. Our next snow chance would come later next week and early weekend (Dec. 12th-13th) with another blockbuster storm by December 15th. Will it be rain, snow, or ice? It is too early to tell for sure. But again it will bring heavy precipitation so circle your calendars.


Chance of White Christmas: 70% (trend---down 10%) It is a little lower do to changes in weather patterns at the North Pole, Eastern Pacific Ocean and Alaska. We need to hear from Jim our Alaskan weather blogger and he can fill us in on the changes he is seeing. We really are all connected.


Prang Snow Forecast for December 10" to 15"--(trend down 5 inches) due to rain storm next week. This is like taking a huge hit from a linebacker but do not worry snow geese it was by no means a knockout blow.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike, once again thank you for your updates. I dont like the forcast of the frigid temps. Ouch!

All take care out there, be safe.

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

sounds like its time to leave the water trickle out the water faucets
so our water lines wont freeze

Anonymous said...

Shoot. What a gut-shot

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Teri again!

Mike I think it's awsome that Stephanie Davis, Sue Scott, and you helped to distribute Coats for Kids!

All of us need to count our blessings and not bicker over the forcast.

Thanks to all at TV 18 for everything you do for our community!!

Teri in Laf

Anonymous said...

NO SNOW?????

Anonymous said...

Hey Bloggers!

Stil a real light snow well really flurry! Out there! right now!

I'm still around that inch mark with an Inch and a quarter for snow! I'M not looking for much more.

Tuesday no doubt is going to be a WET day!!!!! Keep out the boots rain boots more likely! :-(

Have a great night bloggers!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

So Justin, what was your total snowfall amount?

It is really really cold out there, not even the fire place is doing its job.

Anonymous said...

once again i called for 10-12 inches for December a couple of days ago.
you cant put much faith into the models too far out. All of the snowstorms never work out on the right track so snow fall totals of 15-20 inches are inflated.

Anonymous said...

Happy Sunday! Many of you going to the Christmas Parade? I am thinking about it but its going to warm up much more before I make up my mind. A temp now of 8 degrees:(

I dont like to be cold!

Anonymous said...

Indy weather just stated that the system moving in on Mon and Tues has to be watched very close. They have tipp co. right the line at this time. But I will go with Mike, all rain:-(

Anonymous said...

Are the models setting up to ice for tipp co?

Anonymous said...

I think it will be a mostly rain event this time around! Maybe a few snow showers on the back side but not anything BIG snow wise!

My final total stayed around the Inch mark with an Inch and a quarter! Not bad!! Yes still really cold out there! But a GREAT day to sit and watch the COLTS Play some Football at 1:00pm!!!!! I'M a MAJOR COLTS FAN!!

I think I drive my Family NUTS talking about weather and Colts all the time! I guess I'll stick with talking about weather with you all! Because we all love it!!!!! :-)

Have a great day Bloggers! I'll Catch you after the game!! Make it a great one!!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

anyone checking out the radars? a solid line of snow coming our way! The temps have gone down with in the last hour. I thougt couldy skys would help keep the temps up

Anonymous said...

Ya maybe a few snow flurries!

Colts won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They are now 9-4!!

If they keep this winning streak up they have a real chance at the playoffs!! This makes 6 wins in a row!

Really cold out there with a current temperature of only 22.8* Degrees!!!!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Keep warm bloggers!! Have a great day!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

It was freeeeeezing at the Christmas Parade. But, as always, it was AWESOME! : )

Still praying for snow instead of rain!

Anonymous said...

It is freezing! Wonder if it is going to get a warm as they say?

Anonymous said...

What fun weekend you must have had Justin, the Colts winning and snow to track LOL!!!

Wonder how much rain we are to get?

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

I really want snow! Not rain!
As annoying as it is to drive in it and shovel all of it, but a good snow storm would be fun.

Anonymous said...

me too!!!! I read with all the rain then the temps are to drop agian, and everything will be frozen, just like last year! Indy channel still has us on the line of this system. I will be watching for Brians forcast tonight.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the picture Mike! Yeah thats not a huge snowball by the way. :)

Anonymous said...

Hey bloggers! Weather update for Tuesday!!

Looking like all rain at this point! Maybe a real slight slight chance of a few snow flurries on the back side! Not much in the way of snow this time at all!! :-(

However for how much rain?? Well I'M looking for around an inch! Get out your rain gauge again!!

Temperatures will be around the
40s! so a rain event it is looking! A COLD rain at that.

Maybe a little bit of sleet for today!

Have a great day bloggers!

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

Here is it December and their expecting a fall like rain. This is annoying. But, could imagine the amount of snow if it was. So maybe we won't have an above average December like their saying. I was getting excited too, At this rate, it could be raining on Christmas Day..lol. Or Sunny with highs in the 70's. Indiana for ya... I hope that Prangley updates his blog soon!

Anonymous said...

Any chance of a wobble in the storm track in our favor?

Anonymous said...

Left the parking lot at school this morning and slid onto the road. It's pretty icey out there -- be careful!

Still have my fingers crossed for snow and not rain! AHHH!

And Mike really needs to update.