Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Snow Continues to Fall

12:17pm: 5.7" Rockford Airport - Winnebago Co.

11:30am: 2" since 7am - 4 NW Rockford - Winnebago Co. - Storm total so far 6" through 11:30am

11:30am: 4": SSE Shannon - Carroll Co.

11:17am: 3":  DeKalb - DeKalb Co.

Just finished with the conference call with the National Weather Service - forecast is still pretty much on track.  The upper low is really moving across the area and light snow will continue through the rest of the day before coming to an end Wednesday morning.  There is still a lot of uncertainty as far as the snow/water ratio because of just how dynamic the system really is.  Snow/water ratios will likely change throughout the life system of the low, making it hard to really try and pinpoint snowfall totals.  I think the going 6" plus will still stick through the afternoon.  One thing to note is when looking at the surface map, temperatures in northern Illinois are sitting in the 20s but further to the south and southwest temperatures have fallen back into the single digits.  This may actually allow what we call frontogenesis (basically a front) to form and could add a little extra lift which may enhance snowfall totals as the low rotates through.  Something we'll have to monitor throughout the day. 

10:38am:  Polo -Ogle Co. 3" of snow so far - storm total, still snowing

10:30am: Winter Storm Warning is cancelled for the counties of Jo Davies, Stephenson, Carroll and Whiteside counties.  A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for those counties until midnight tonight.

9:43am: 4.8" Dubuque - Dubuque Co, IA
 
9.:33am: 3.5" 1 mile WNW Morrison - Whiteside Co.

9:30am: 4.6" 4 miles NNW Lanark - Carroll Co.

9:28am: 4.0" SSW Stockton - Jo Daviess Co.

9:20am Update:  Looking at some of the snow totals that are coming out of Iowa right now and a lot of them are reaching the 6" mark already!  Moderate snow is falling over Rockford right now as the upper level low continues to deepen and move through northern Missouri.  Will be participating in a conference call with the National Weather Service in about 45 mins.

7:00am: 3" Milton - Rock Co.
6:40am: 4.0" in Freeport - Stephenson Co.
6:30am Update: About 2"- 3" of snow has fallen overnight and will continue to fall throughout the day.  The going forecast of 6"- 10" still looks on track by Wednesday morning.  Forecasting this system has been very interesting.  This is more of an upper level system than surface one and with that the dynamics of the storm will be changing throughout the day.  Trying to forecast snow/water ratios have been a little tricky.  Typically we would expect a 12:1 ratio with this type of system.  But what we're seeing this morning is more of an influence of warmer air being drawn in.  That will begin to diminsh as the upper level low moves through southern Illinois and more of a synoptic set up takes place.  With the low to the south of us, a band of moderate snow may set up through North Central Illinois.  The snow is light in nature so as winds begin to pick up later today blowing and drifting will be the primary concern tonight and overnight.  Take it easy out there!

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