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
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Edit .. 34 degrees
www.portlight.org
As we announced last week, we'll be working in New York and New Jersey over the next few weeks, replacing lost medical equipment and other disability aids, and funding the re-building of ramps for people with disabilities who suffered damage to their homes from Superstorm Sandy. We're excited to be working again with the great folks from St. Bonaventure College and their outstanding volunteer group, BonaResponds! We thank their fearless leader, Jim Mahar, for his kind words, shared on Facebook earlier today:
Do you know how there are some people/organizations/firms you just can't wait to work with again?
That is how we have felt about Portlight Strategies ever since we collaborated after the Haiti Earthquake to ship wheelchairs and crutches to Haiti. Well wait no more! We are very happy to announce that we will be working with them to help those with disabilities recover from Hurricane Sandy.
We will be teaming up to build ramps, deliver supplies, and whatever else is needed. We will be providing volunteer labor and they will be helping to fund ramp building and more! It is a great thing! VERY excited about it.
So if you know of anyone with a disability that was hit by Sandy (esp in the Rockaway-Breezy Point area) please let us know.
This also means that we need more volunteers! Plan on coming to help. Dec 28 - Jan 8th (?) Stay for the whole time or just a day. But come help (and if you tell us about it in advance it really helps with planning...PLEASE)
Yes you can. No matter what your "skill set" you can help! From driving, to taking pictures, to mucking basements, to building ramps, hanging drywall, cooking, or even installing plumbing, you can help. You will learn new skills and meet great people while helping! So come help!
Sign up at
http://BonaResponds.org
Like Jim said, if you know of anyone affected by the storm who needs help with rebuilding, or with replacement of medical equipment, please pass those needs along to us ASAP!
As always, thank you all for your continued support of our efforts!
I think the weakest risk in the highlight region is probably southwest Georgia and northeast Florida, as they will be somewhat removed from the higher instability moving in off the gulf, I think the southeastern Carolinas still have a threat once the front approaches because the front will again begin to tap higher maritime moisture and instability into those coastal regions, similar to how it is in the gulf.
#*()*! I have to drive home in this (&@*# in two hours and I also happen work in a town with largest population of morons with a validated driver license.
It's now all snow here in Decatur. Big fat flakes falling.
Come on man!
its SNOW!
I'd rather have a 1 hour drive take 5hrs because of snow than not get any snow at all....
What is really annoying is just getting a minute glaze of freezing drizzle turning everything into a skating rink
lol. I love the snow and I have no problem driving in it, but its everyone else on the road driving like (#*&#$. Trust me you just have to drive through Decatur, IL just once and you will understand completely. People here are idiots even when the weather is perfect.
sounds like Atlanta....
We are always listed in the top 10 in traffic with accidents everywhere, and nobody can drive well in (rare) snow
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Winter Storm Draco impacts on NE
click on image for larger view
It begins officially at 6:12 AM EST.
Yeah tell me about it!
Up here in the Tampa Bat area, at one point it was 33 to 34 degrees for hours with mix of sleet and rain, I would have rather it hit 32 for freezing rain to make things more interesting. The high was only 38 here too.
I had big fat flakes and howling winds part of the way on my commute to work two hours ago, then rain, then lighter snow again. The wind is FIERCE!
I drove slower and more carefully than usual, not because I'm afraid to drive in snow (lived in Wisconsin for 20 years), but because drivers in St. Louis are cretins in bad weather. :P
This has happened twice before with others names???
Where does the GFS actually show snow upcoming for Florida? I don't see it...
Lol. We got a little of both. Leave it to Texas to get rain that leaves your car dusty. :)
Patrick Vaughn, 12 News HD Is your car dirty? The reason is that dust from the Texas Panhandle dust storm, 500 miles away, was blown into Southeast Texas and this morning's rains forced the dust down onto your vehicle. I imagine car washing will be popular this afternoon.
Appeartly not watching TWC or reading WU much...man I'm out outta touch... well at least I know when the world is going to end, I better get back into my fox hole in the next 12 hours...
Thanks for the list. My comment about China was off the cuff. It's still a pretty strange situation. A 200 year institution doesn't mean much in the USA. Sounds like the trading floor will be boarded up and moved to Europe.
Yeah tell me about it!
Up here in the Tampa Bat area, at one point it was 33 to 34 degrees for hours with mix of sleet and rain, I would have rather it hit 32 for freezing rain to make things more interesting. The high was only 38 here too.
I'm pretty sure that's the coldest max temp I've ever seen down here...
Almost to 32 now, starting to stick on the cars in the parking lot, but that's it. Also, back to smaller flakes and less of them, but wind really whipping them around.
He said Washington, IL.... so Washington, Illinois
You want freezing rain? I had the worst fall I've ever had 3 weeks ago, due to black ice caused by freezing rain.
A 78 year old woman who lives 50 yards down the street fell and broke her arm in 3 places.
The accident and emergency departments of hospitals in areas affected by freezing rain will be hard pushed to cope with the influx of casualties from falls and car accidents.
You really don't want freezing rain.
So for my perfect storm we need a lot stronger and a bit farther southeast. lol
You might get one next week washi115, pattern is beginning to change. This is Day 7....
All you need is cold enough air, the low track is very favorable for you in a snow setup. Question will be how much warm air will be drawn into system.
I would imagine that probably is! I know that was the coldest day Ive ever seen since living here, we had a low of 26 the next morning, which i think was probably the coldest I've ever seen living here too.
That whole winter was extremely cold, I felt like sleeping all the time, having highs in the 50's and lows in the 30's during that winter wasn't even a big deal anymore. I remember we had at least a week straight without hitting 60 degrees and having lows in the 30's and it dipped below freezing several times even here in Pinellas county. That was a winter that we may never see for many many years to come again. Yet we still didn't get real snow.
lol dude, the not even 15 minutes ago I was looking at keepers satellite loop and first thought I had was the super storm of 93', just further northwest.
Well, I only said that somewhat sarcastically, but I really don't actually want freezing rain, its destructive and scary.
nope wait for winter solstice 611-612 eastern time.
Excerpt:
.TORNADO # 1...
RATING: EF-1
ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 86-95 MPH
PATH LENGTH /STATUTE/: 0.64 MILES
PATH WIDTH /MAXIMUM/: 200 YARDS
FATALITIES: 0
INJURIES: 1
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
135 PM CST THU DEC 20 2012
A friend told me it was 12:00am EST, which is "the real" time?
Good afternoon everyone, Draco is still giving me some rain showers. Some flooding occurred earlier when the rain was heavy. I am just hoping the change over really does happen and I get at least some snow.
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