Biggest Snow of the Season Arrives Later Today

UPDATE:  Thursday, February 21, 2013,  3:44 p.m.

The snow is now closing in on the Quad Cities.  Moderate to heavy snow falling this afternoon has already dropped up to 1.5″  in Fort Madison, Iowa, and Macomb, Illinois.

Light snow will develop in the Quad Cities by nightfall and quickly become heavy for about 3-6 hours.

While the advisories and warnings have changed for a couple of counties from this map that I posted this morning, my snowfall forecast hasn’t changed.  Here is the general range of snow expected through daybreak Friday.  There is always the possibility that there could be a few isolated totals an inch or so higher than the range.  But, that will be scattered and random.

Be careful out there and try to enjoy the beauty of winter!

Anthony

ORIGINAL POST:  Thursday, February 21, 2013, 7:44 a.m.

Wood for the fireplace.  Check.  Food for dinner tonight and tomorrow.  Check.  Charmin.  Check.  Wine and liquor.  Check. Check.  Milk.  Slightly past expiration date.  Well, other than the milk being a little iffy, it sounds like I’m all set with what will likely be the biggest snow of this season, so far, in the Quad Cities.

Prior to this incoming storm, that was 4.9″, which fell on December 20, 2012.

All can we do now is wait for the snow’s arrival later today.

The winter storm advisories and warnings are pretty much unchanged from my last report.

The pink shaded area is under a “Winter Storm Warning” Thursday evening through Friday afternoon.  This is where the heaviest snow will fall.  The purple-shaded area, pretty much along and east of the Mississippi River, is under a “Winter Weather Advisory” for the same time period.  Moderate snow will fall in the “advisory” area, but it won’t be as heavy as the “warning” area.

Here is what the storm looked like yesterday as it moved across Scottsdale, Arizona!

We’re still several hours away from even seeing the first snowflakes today.

The storm will be lifting out of the southern Plains today and spreading light snow or flurries into our southern hometowns by early afternoon.  This should reach the Quad Cities by evening.

This is what it should look like at 6 p.m. from the GFS model with the heaviest snow (darker greens) still over Missouri.

Moving ahead three, six, nine, and twelve hours (9 p.m. Thursday, midnight, 3 a.m. Friday, and 6 a.m. Friday)

With those maps, you can get an indication of when the heaviest snows will fall (late evening and overnight) and when the heaviest snow will be pushing out of the Mississippi and Illinois Valleys into Wisconsin and the Chicagoland area (which will be by daybreak Friday).

When all is said and done, here’s how much snow should be on the ground when you head out Friday morning.

Be careful out there this evening and overnight tonight because, in addition to the snow, we’ll also be seeing blustery winds over 20 miles-per-hour, which will lower visibilities with near whiteout conditions as the moderate to heavy snow falls for about 3-6 hours.

The silver lining to this storm is that bitterly cold air WILL NOT be coming in behind it.

Highs Friday will be around freezing and this will allow some slight melting to take place.  After a chilly day Saturday, Sunday’s highs will be in the low-to-mid-30s and then close to 40° by Monday.  But, by then, another system threatens us with rain Monday and snow Monday night and Tuesday.

Stay safe, my friends.

Anthony

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