Mike Routsong sent this beautiful picture in of the Wildcat Creek and if you look closely there are a couple of deer. But the snow this time of year can become bittersweet in a hurry if the wind kicks up and you can see there have been major roads today impacted by the blowing and drifting snow from Cass County down to Clinton County.
Sometimes this time of year drifting and blowing snow can be just as bad as an actual snow event. This is the only state I have live in where one inch of snow can drift into 6 inches in spots! Now tonight the main thing to remember is the wind will pick up as our cold front moves through with wind gusts between 25 to 30 mph. There will also be a wind shift more to the west and west-northwest which means the North-South roads will be the ones to really watch out for including state road 43, portions of I-65 and Highway 421 near Francesville. Unfortunately, these wind speeds probably will not let up until high pressure builds in tomorrow afternoon. I spoke to Mark Kirby of TEMA and here is his full report to help explain what a level 2 advisory actually is.
Level 2 Travel Advisory
Effective 01/29/2009 at 5:00 pm or 17:00 hrs Tippecanoe County Indiana will be placed under a Level 2 Travel Advisory authority the Tippecanoe County Commissioners. Blowing and drifting snow on many County roads will make travel increasingly hazardous over night. This applies to unincorporated areas of Tippecanoe County only. A Level 2 Advisory allows travel in many cases including where it is necessary for employment, education and other essential endeavors.
This Level 2 Advisory is in effect until 5:00 pm or 17:00 hrs Friday 01/30/2009 or until otherwise announced. The essence of the Ordnance is as follows:
During a Level II Essential Travel Permitted Transportation Emergency, only essential travel will be permitted on county roads. Essential travel is defined in the ordinance as:
- Travel to and from work
- Travel to obtain essential medical care
- Travel to obtain essential prescription medications
- Travel to obtain essential supply of food or fuel
- Travel to obtain safe shelter
- Travel of emergency vehicles and emergency workers
- Travel to and from school
Vehicle operators traveling for essential purposes are required to operate their vehicles safely and with all caution necessary for the existing conditions. Any travel may be significantly delayed. Plan to travel by main roads and allow for extra driving time. Motorists who become stranded risk injury if exposed to existing conditions. Do not take un-necessary chances.
Travel for non-essential purposes is prohibited. Violators may be fined up to $150.00.
Parking on all county roads and their right-of-way is prohibited. Vehicles which are found parked in violation of this order will be removed at the owner’s expense.
Vehicles which are stalled, stranded or found abandoned on county roads or their right-of-way will also be removed at the owner’s expense.
The Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office will maintain information on any vehicle towed or removed from a county road during this emergency. The Sheriff’s Office may be contacted at (765) 423-9388 for information concerning the disposition of any vehicle removed. The vehicle owner must pay any towing, storage or other fees before the vehicle may be released.
Director Mark Kirby
Tippecanoe County Emergency Management
Keep up the good work Mark! Benton County has also gone under an advisory here is the latest.
Due to blowing snow roads are snow covered in many areas, and drifting in others.
BENTON COUNTY IS AT LEVEL 3 ADVISORY, effective Thursday January 29 2009 17:00 ET , until noon on Saturday, January 31. The Level 3 Advisory means that there is, or expected to be hazardous conditions in our area. All persons, businesses and organizations should make preparations to deal with the situation. Emergency Action Plans should be readied for implementation should conditions require. Travel plans should account for potential difficulties and delays.
Director, Benton Emergency Management Agency,
Now I am checking on next week's storm and I can tell you that this thing will be a monster. Now it will be developing at the triple point of all 3 major branches of the jet stream which only happens every few years. This will likely be a historic storm. I do think it may draw comparisons to the big Pre-Christmas blizzard that hit portions of southern Indiana back in 2004. This has the same potential. Now the question is what track do I believe. Well, I am still leaning to the farther East solution for now but this thing is so strong we should still get some snow from it and it could develop into a blizzard for portions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New England. Since we are going to be right on the edge of this thing I will continue to watch it for you and if there is any semblance of a jog west there will be a special blog update....for now I am leaning lighter but as we now know the models are only guides and we have a long way to go on this one!!
21 comments:
WOW Mike looks like things have really gone down hill!
I know we don't need to go anyware and will be at home!
Thanks for the update and showing us what the levels really mean!
Justin.
Aaah, the wind... reminds me of growing up in Wyoming. That's another place where 1 inch of snow turns into 6 inch drifts.
Mike about this next storm that could not have been said any better! We do have a long way to go on it and modles are just to give an idea! Well said!
We all just have to keep watching it!
Justin.
I just wish with all this wind and blowing snow, that all the schools in Tippecanoe County will call a delay or cancel is very bad now and is not to get better by morning . .. All the schools are in Tipp Co.not just TSC! WlSC LSC CSC..all included.....
I am Not a student,I am a worker and parent.
There is a new storm worth watching, however. The system is forecast to form in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday and will track northward Monday into Tuesday.
The exact track of the storm will determine whether heavy snow falls over hard-hit areas of the Ohio Valley or not early next week. A track up or just west of the Appalachians Mountains could bring crippling snow to these areas. A track near the coast would mean snow showers.
In either scenario, much colder air, driven by strong winds will follow in areas currently without power and in many areas that do have power. Winter is not over yet.
1/29/2009 5:21 PM
Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski DOES THIS MEAN NORTH LIKE OUR WAY?
Is that out of Chicago??? Where is our way? Sorry, I dont understand, really, I dont! are you wondering for the state of Indiana or parts of Indiana?.. sounds to be worry for some.
Please let me know what was posted means!
Thanks!
Any wind reports for Tippecaoe Co?? Windy in Lafayette..snow is drifted on my west door.
woo hoo tri-county 2 hour delay. Man the winds are tiny tornados.
"DOES THIS MEAN NORTH LIKE OUR WAY?"
Could be, depending on exactly what track the system takes. From reading the discussion earlier from the NWS, they had said trends were more westward and that most systems this year have ended up further west then the models have shown. Just needs watching.
Apparently the safety of TSC students is not as important as those in the surrounding corporations. If it is too dangerous for every other school to delay, why wouldn't TSC delay especially if their kids start school an hour earlier than those already delayed?
My goodness gracious ! I see I am not the only parent and worker of TSC that can see that the safety of "our children" come first !
I think all parents need to stand together and show the school corporation how important our childrens safety is and "NOT SEND THEM" !!!
Yes, I am a TSC Employee, but my children will ALWAYS come first !!!
I live just outside of West Lebanon in Warren County and it is horrible in the country right now with the drifting. My driveway is about a quarter of a mile long and I almost didn't make it home. I even have a big 4X4 truck with off-road snow and mud tires on it and I still had one heck of a time. The drifted snow that fills in the ruts is so fine and loose that you just spin and can't get any traction. Please everyone, be careful and don't travel unless you have to!!
Mike,
Do you think that you can gather some info on where these storms that form in the gulf of mexico usually track?
I really want to know what the possibility for us to get a bigger snow storm from this storm would be. I don't want to get my hopes up for a big snow and it not happen. You did do a superb job predicting our snow for earlier this week. Props to you. You do a great job. :)
Lets take it one step at a time on this next storm. We all know that it will change so much from now until then.
Keep us posted Mike!
I like the thought of some more snow next week! Might mean that Greek classes will be canceled again next week!
Any idea if the Travel advisory will still be up tomorrow night???
I can tell you....it has been rare that I post for the first time in the evening....this late! My replacement at work tonight was VERY late....she had to weave around 3-4 ft drifts on county roads....Tipton Co is under a level 3 snow emergency....plows are off the county roads until the wind dies down....what a mess!
Chris in Tipton
I thought the same thing earlier today....to whomever posted about the history of storms coming straight from the Gulf....then I thought....it is almost meaningless. The atmosphere is so unique....and it all depends upon the other variables that come into play....this one will again, be a totally different kind of storm. I have no gut instinct on this one yet....I think it needs to be watched. I have an obvious WISH....but that is it for now!
Chris in Tipton
Thank-you Anonymous, I get confused on all the direction thing ! LOL tAHNK-YOU FOR THE ANSWER TO(ON DOES THIS MEAN OUR WAY)
Chirs, I'm sorry I posted THE GULF stuff I'm confused on all the stuff they say, so I guess I was waiting on someone to elabarate on what all it meant..did'nt mean for it to sound like it was coming our way was just wondering what it all meant! I'll just keep reading these BLOGs and pay less attenion to the other one that I've been looking at...they have some really weird maps!!!! Mike and all you other guys that read these KUDUES to you. You all do a great job Please keep us posted!
Kid at Heart
oops meaning read the weather Maps
You guys are wonderful..when you do post your predictions ahead it does help me for I'm pretty much house bound knowing when not to make appointments and such (I have to go out 2 to 3 times a week to a rehab clinicfor me legs and it is good to plan ahead!ty for shareing it with everyone!
Don't be sorry....it is a great question! Kind of like the history of hurricanes in June. Where do they typically go? It's an awesome question....I just think that is almost a non issue. Kind of like a lot of sports statistics....how does your fav baseball player hit when the count is 2-0? Well....it depends on a lot of factors....
Chris in Tipton
Post a Comment