Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Update on "Christmas Day Snowstorm" - Past, Present and Future...

Here is an update on the snow that took place yesterday and overnight last night / early this morning, and where it is going for the remainder of the day today...

Lots of folks had their white Christmas wish granted yesterday, in a broad swath extending from southern and central Oklahoma into northcentral Texas (including the DFW area which is a rarity), and then on Eastward into Arkansas.  Snow fell late on Christmas evening and overnight last night from northeast Arkansas into the middle Mississippi Valley region.  The snow depth analysis valid at 10am CST this morning is shown below, first on the wide view to give you an overall perspective: 


On this next image I've zoomed in on the band of heaviest snow which fell from Arkansas into the Missouri bootheel:


...and on Northeastward across far southern Illinois and extreme southwestern Kentucky:


Snow is falling heavily at this hour from central and northern Indiana into the Ohio Valley as well as western and southern Pennsylvania:


...where a variety of winter weather warnings are in effect today:


The latest edition of the high resolution NAM computer forecast model is calling for total accumulation in excess of 1 foot across this region through 7am EST on Thursday morning:


When combined with strong and gusty North winds, white out or near white out conditions are possible across much of the region today, and travel is highly discouraged.

For more information from 'The Original Weather Blog', including shorter, more frequent posts during rapidly changing weather events, please be sure to follow me on facebook and twitter:
 
If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

2 comments:

Al said...

OT, but I was just reminded that I wanted to thank you and Mike Smith for your Sandy warnings. At a time when the local NWS office and TV forecasters were implying Sandy wouldn't be too bad, you two got my family warned.

We lost power for 5 days and an oak tree fell on our house. But thanks to you bloggers' warnings, we had batteries for our lantern, fuel for our camp stove...and most importantly, we had a "Candlelier" candle lantern.

We bought it because of your warnings. It lets you heat a mug or small kettle above its 4 candles. And since it's just candles, it's safe to use indoors. Because of it, we had hot drinks every morning and evening--without going outside or using the camp stove indoors. It takes 20 minutes to boil 2 cups of water, but even so, it really helped us stay warm.

Your warnings really saved our butts. Especially my elderly father who has trouble with the cold!

Rob White said...

Al,

Thanks for your comment and your kind words. I appreciate it.

I'm glad to hear that you and your family stayed safe and made the best out of that negative situation that you could. I'm also glad you were "only" without power for 5 days. I know that sounds like a lot and would be an eternity at my house, but considering the magnitude of the event, that was really fortunate.

I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas and wish you the best in the new year!

Thanks again,

Rob