'Historic' Winter Storm On The Way For Granite City AreaArchived Message
Posted by Norad on January 29, 2011, 10:04 pm
Just to add to Operator's post, I cannot overemphasize how huge this winter storm is. Forecast models are comparing it to the 1982 winter storm that paralyzed St. Louis for a week. It's extraordinary that the NWS issues a WINTER STORM WATCH this far in advance (nearly 48 to 96 hours).
Two forecast models are predicting a half-inch layer of ice, followed by what the computer models call a 'historic' amount of snow by Wednesday morning. Record breaking snow, and that's coming almost 29 years to the day after the mind-blowing storm of 1982. And yes, this includes 'Thundersnow', always the harbinger of a major winter storm.
Here's a timeline of this storm that will begin Sunday night:
SUNDAY NIGHT-MONDAY MORNING, INTO MONDAY NIGHT: Light, freezing drizzle. This will slick up the roads throughout the day Monday. Into Monday night, winter precip is expected to intensify, with everything from sleet to freezing rain to heavy, wet snow. Minor accumulations are possible through Monday night.
TUESDAY, ALL DAY: Ahhh. Here lies the part we should all be aware of, and the computer models are screaming about.
Ice and freezing rain in the morning, eventually changing over into all snow by mid-day Tuesday as temperatures become cold enough to support an all-snow event.
Possible thundersnow. Extreme snow conditions on Tuuuuu-sday Aaaaaa-fter-nooon (Thanks, Moody Blues.) Visibility will drop to almost zero as the core of the storm passes overhead. Extreme bursts of snow resulting in inches of snow within a few hours, and these conditions will last into Tuesday evening and into the overnight hours.
TUESDAY NIGHT, INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING: Just when the fun snow event ends, here comes some fun Arctic northerly winds, blasting through here late Tuesday night and lasting all day Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Wind gusts could be as high as 50 MPH at some points. Get your cars from under trees Wednesday night if they are at risk from overhanging limbs covered in ice.
Expect extreme snow drifting, ice and snow-covered tree branches to land on power lines to knock off power for periods of time. Commutes to work will be crippled by this storm in the St. Louis area in the Tuesday afternoon-Thursday morning timeframe.
I would expect some schools to be called off on Tuesday at the least, and Wednesday for sure, possibly into Thursday as the area digs out from this mess.
The forecast models are always apprehensive about spitting out snow accumulations this far in advance, but folks...I would not be surprised to see at least 14 inches of snow around Granite by the time its all said and done Thursday night, and that might be a conservative estimate.
Based on what I've seen, we might be looking at 16-18 inches of snow around here. On TOP of a half-inch of ice.
This storm is no joke. It's a whale of a winter storm for the Midwest. Please. Prepare accordingly.