Winter Storm Draco ends record snowless streaks across Midwest
Winter Storm Draco is powering up over the Upper Midwest, and is poised to bring a resounding end to the record-length snowless streaks a number of U.S. cities have notched this year. Blizzard warnings are posted over portions of Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and snowfall amounts of up to a foot are expected in some of the affected regions. While the heavy snow will create dangerous travel conditions, the .5" - 1.5" of melted water equivalent from the the storm will provide welcome moisture for drought-parched areas of the Midwest. Though much of the moisture will stay locked up as snow for the rest of the year, runoff from the storm may help keep Lake Michigan and Huron from setting an all-time record low for the month of December, and may also keep the Mississippi River at St. Louis above the -5' stage though the end of December. If the river falls below -5', barge traffic on the Mississippi may be forced to halt, costing billions of dollars. The Army Corps of Engineers is blasting away rocks on the river bottom south of St. Louis and releasing water from Carlyle Lake in Southern Illinois this week, in order to keep the Mississippi River high enough to allow barge traffic to negotiate the near-record low water levels. Several gauges on the Mississippi have set all-time record lows this year: the New Madrid, Missouri gauge on August 30, 2012 and the Tiptonville, Tennessee gauge on September 2. Records at the Tiptonville gauge go back to at least 1879.
Figure 1. Predicted precipitation totals fopr the 3-day period ending on December 22. Approximately 0.5 - 1.5" of melted water equivalent from Winter Storm Draco is expected over much of the drought-stricken Midwest. Image credit: NOAA/HPC.
Figure 2. Average water levels on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are near their lowest December levels ever recorded, preliminary data from NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory indicate.
Record snowless streaks coming to end because of Winter Storm Draco
The U.S. has had its warmest and 12th driest year on record, according to NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. It should be no surprise, then, that a number of major cities have set records for their longest period without snow. Most of these streaks have come to and end (or will do so in the next day or two) because of Winter Storm Draco:
MIlwaukee, Wisconsin's record streak without measurable snow ended December 18 with 0.5" of snow; the streak was 288 consecutive days, bookended by measurable snowfall on March 5 and Dec. 18. Milwaukee is likely to get an additional 4 - 6" of snow from Draco.
Omaha, Nebraska's record streak without measurable snow ended December 16 with 0.6" of snow; the streak was 295 consecutive days, bookended by measurable snowfall on Feb. 24 and Dec. 16. Omaha is likely to get 6 - 9" of total snow before the current storm winds down. Record latest first snow of the season: December 26, 1888.
Chicago, Illinois' new record snowless streak continues at 289 consecutive days as of Tuesday. The last measurable snow there was March 4. Previous record: 280 consecutive days between the measurable snowfalls of March 1, 1994 and December 5, 1994. Chicago has also broken its record for latest snowfall in the season, previously set on December 16, 1965. These streaks will likely end on Thursday, when 1 - 4" of snow are expected.
Rockford, Illinois' new record snowless streak continues at 289 consecutive days as of Tuesday, but this streak will likely end on Thursday, when 3 - 6" of snow are expected. The last measurable snow in Rockford was March 4. Previous record: 286 consecutive days between the measurable snowfalls of March 3, 1922 and December 13, 1922. Record latest first snow of the season: January 7, 1940.
Lincoln, Nebraska's new record snowless streak continues at 308 consecutive days as of Tuesday. This streak will likely end Wednesday or Thursday, as 6 -8" of snow are expected. The last measurable snow there was Feb. 13. Previous record: 295 consecutive days between the measurable snowfalls of Feb. 6 and Nov. 28, 2004. Record latest first snow of the season: December 31, 2006.
Syracuse, NY is often the snowiest major city in the contiguous U.S. This year, Syracuse has not yet had a 1" snowfall--the second latest such streak. The 3.0" that has fallen is over 28" below what Syracuse usually gets by this time of the season. The latest in the season that the first 1" snow has come to Syracuse occurred on December 22, 1998 (the previous warmest year on record in the U.S.) With the forecast calling for lake effect snows on the 22nd, Syracuse may just miss setting its mark for latest 1" snowfall of the season.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING ACROSS MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA
AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS...
.A STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL EJECT OUT OF THE
CENTRAL ROCKIES THIS AFTERNOON...AND CROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS
THROUGH TONIGHT. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL SPREAD FROM WEST TO
EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BEFORE COMING TO END
OVERNIGHT. ALL SNOWFALL WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA BY DAYBREAK
THURSDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE
FROM 3 TO 9 INCHES ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA...WITH THE HEAVIEST
AMOUNTS GENERALLY TARGETING THE INTERSTATE 80 AND HIGHWAY 6
CORRIDORS IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. IN ADDITION TO FALLING
SNOW...STRONG NORTH WINDS WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH
AND GUSTS TO 40 MPH OR HIGHER WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING
AND DRIFTING OF SNOW AND POOR VISIBILITIES...RESULTING IN BLIZZARD
OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL
HAZARDOUS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BEFORE CONDITIONS GRADUALLY
IMPROVE FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT.
Our Sun is looking beautiful this am.. :)
a re-post from the last blog, just for fun
Don't give up yet!
Yeah some days we just don't have the proper words for the beauty that surrounds us..
Just as long as we take time to breathe it in and allow ourselves to be amazed.. :)
City of Toronto
Windsor - Essex - Chatham-Kent
Sarnia - Lambton
Elgin
London - Middlesex
Simcoe - Delhi - Norfolk
Dunnville - Caledonia - Haldimand
Oxford - Brant
Niagara
City of Hamilton
Halton - Peel
York - Durham
Huron - Perth
Waterloo - Wellington
Dufferin - Innisfil
Grey - Bruce
Barrie - Orillia - Midland
Belleville - Quinte - Northumberland
Kingston - Prince Edward
Peterborough - Kawartha Lakes
Stirling - Tweed - South Frontenac
Bancroft - Bon Echo Park
Brockville - Leeds and Grenville
City of Ottawa
Gatineau
Prescott and Russell
Cornwall - Morrisburg
Smiths Falls - Lanark - Sharbot Lake
Parry Sound - Muskoka
Haliburton
Renfrew - Pembroke - Barry's Bay
Algonquin
Burk's Falls - Bayfield Inlet.
A winter storm will bring rain and snow to Southern Ontario
Beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday.
------------------------------------------------- --------------------
==discussion==
A weather system tracking toward Southern Ontario will bring a mix of
precipitation types beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday.
South and west of a line roughly from the Muskoka area to Brockville:
precipitation is forecast to begin during the day on Thursday.
Mostly rain is expected, although it may start briefly as a bit of
freezing rain or snow. The rain will also likely change back or
become mixed with snow on Friday, however significant snowfall
accumulations are not expected. The exceptions may be the
traditional snow belt areas to the southeast of Lake Huron and
Georgian Bay, where heavier snow and possibly snow squalls could
develop Friday night.
To the north and east of the Muskoka to Brockville line:
precipitation is forecast to begin Thursday afternoon or evening.
Mostly snow is expected, although some freezing rain or rain is also
possible in southern parts. Total snowfall amounts are uncertain at
this time, but it is possible that some areas will reach or exceed
snowfall warning criteria (15 cm within 12 hours) by the end of the
day Friday. Snowfall warnings may be issued later today or tonight,
as confidence increases.
Windy and colder conditions are forecast for all regions on Saturday.
Please monitor the latest forecasts and warnings from Environment
Canada at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca
END/OSPC
......"Lighten up Francis"
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php ?wfo=mkx&storyid=90352&source=0
We're seeing new burn marks along the roadside every day from cigarettes. We usually only see those in summer.
Hope my relatives in Wisconsin have prepared for the coming blizzard
I guess I should give up on seeing a green christmas.
Georgia White Christmas 2010:
Ga 6-8 inches of snow January 2011:
good times
didnt see a flurry in winter 2011-2012
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
357 AM PST WED DEC 19 2012
CAZ080-192000-
/O.EXT.KMFR.WS.W.0013.121220T0600Z-121221T2300Z/
WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ETNA...FORT JONES...GREENVIEW
357 AM PST WED DEC 19 2012
...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO
3 PM PST FRIDAY ABOVE 2000 FEET...
THE WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 2000 FEET IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM
10 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM PST FRIDAY.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...12 TO 24 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE LATE
THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT ABOVE 2000 FEET. SNOW WILL
CONTINUE FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND...BUT SNOW LEVELS WILL BE
HIGHER. SNOW MAY DROP TO THE VALLEY FLOORS AT TIMES WITH AROUND
AN INCH ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE.
* TIMING...THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL DURING THE DAY THURSDAY.
* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: ETNA...FORT JONES...GREENVIEW.
* IMPACTS...THE GREATEST SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE ABOVE THE
HIGHWAYS AND POPULATION CENTERS...BUT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS
ARE STILL EXPECTED IN THE KLAMATH AND SCOTT VALLEYS.
* FOR A DETAILED VIEW OF THE HAZARD AREA...VISIT
HTTP://WWW.WRH.NOAA.GOV/WRH/WHV/?WFO=MFR
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST
TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR
VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
&&
and then on the 27th
Also, any one know why the Euro model on this site has not posted today?
Hey Ainslie it was pretty bad ...68 Miles an hr winds gusts.. Rain and hail, Trash Collection day Yup you guessed it trash can knocked over ...Thankfully it had been emptied before LOL ..But the fun aint over yet..
Thanks
With the increasingly frequent cases of asthma, especially in children, the benefits trees provide in cleaning the air should not be underestimated. The canopies of trees act as a physical filter, absorbing harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Trees have also been shown to be very effective at trapping fine dusts and toxic particles, the trapped dust being washed to the ground by rain.
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