Weekend Snow: Sunday update

*Scroll down for snow totals*

Evening Update: The Winter Storm Warning for southern Wisconsin has been removed, but the Winter Storm Warning is still in effect until midnight for our western counties, and the Blizzard Warning also remains in effect until midnight. The snow has mainly stopped across the Stateline with just light showers remaining, but the bigger concern will be the blowing and drifting snow that will cover roadways. Winds will gust up to 35 mph from the north and will impact and create dangerous conditions on all roads, but especially east/west roads and roads in open areas. Snow plows have been pulled off the roads in DeKalb and Ogle counties and will not begin again until 3am. Sheriff office's reporting that roads in Ogle County are closed and many roads are impassible due to the blowing snow and urge residents to stay inside. 

4pm Weather Update:  The heaviest snow bands have shifted east, however, wind gusts have been close to 40 mph throughout the afternoon.  This has caused white out conditions in many areas.  In fact, this is what our First Warn Weather Watcher Beth Nagel said with the weather in Shannon:

"Extensive drifting, heavy snow and howling winds. We have drifting approaching 4 ft. White out conditions and impassable roads. Luckily no one is moving."

An additional 2" to 3" of snow will fall through late tonight, but the winds will remain gusty through at least 3am.  County and country roads will experience the worst drifting & blowing through Monday morning.


 

1:30pm Update: A band of moderate snow has developed north of low pressure in west-central Illinois this afternoon.  That band extends from Walworth County southwest through Rockford and into Sterling.  Temperatures are currently in the low 20's with winds gusting near 35mph, and even 40mph.  White out conditions have been reported mainly in open & rural areas.  Visibility area wide has fallen to a mile or less.

Here is a quick review for taking snow measurements.  Especially when snow is blowing & drifting. 

A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Winnebago, Boone, Ogle and Lee counties until Midnight.








10am Weather Update:

Many reports along I-88 and south have come in with totals approaching 9" and 10" of snow.  Now, there is some dry air trying to work in south of Dixon, but the snow continues further west so we won't see it ending anytime soon.

Northeast winds have been gusting between 30 and 35 mph this morning with visibility dropping down to a quarter mile in some places.  White out, or near white out, conditions are very well possible and may already be occurring in many of the open areas.  We just received a report of white out conditions in Pearl City.

Temperatures now are in the upper teens and low 20's.  When the snow began, our temperature was in the low 30's.  The snow that fell was very wet and heavy.  The snow falling now will be more light and fluffy.  This means there will be wet, heavy and slushy snow under the lighter snow.  Be very careful if you have to shovel.







SNOW TOTALS:

(8:31:26 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Paw Paw [Lee Co, IL] public reports SNOW of M10.0 INCH at 08:30 AM CST --

(7:55:42 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Sublette [Lee Co, IL] cocorahs reports SNOW of M10.0 INCH at 07:55 AM CST --

(7:39:34 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Dixon [Lee Co, IL] public reports SNOW of M6.5 INCH at 07:16 AM CST -- relayed by broadcast media.

(7:38:19 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Roscoe [Winnebago Co, IL] public reports SNOW of M4.4 INCH at 07:00 AM CST --

(8:11:52 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 1 ESE Nora [Jo Daviess Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M7.3 INCH at 08:11 AM CST -- so far.

(7:54:18 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 4 ENE Freeport [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M5.0 INCH at 07:30 AM CST -- so far.

(8:40:08 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: SSE Shannon [Carroll Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M6.0 INCH at 08:35 AM CST -- so far.

(8:52:58 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Capron [Boone Co, IL] public reports SNOW of M4.0 INCH at 08:30 AM CST --

(10:37:54 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS MKX: Milton [Rock Co, WI] nws employee reports SNOW of M6.0 INCH at 10:15 AM CST --

(10:49:19 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: Freeport [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M7.5 INCH at 10:38 AM CST --

(11:15:00 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Belvidere [Boone Co, IL] public reports SNOW of M4.5 INCH at 11:07 AM CST -- snow is beginning to drift.

(11:10:41 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 4 ENE Freeport [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M6.5 INCH at 11:00 AM CST -- updated. snow so far.

(11:52:31 AM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 2 ESE Ridott [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of E8.0 INCH at 11:51 AM CST -- visibility 1/4 mile in light snow and blowing snow.

 (2/1/2015 12:03:56 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Rockford [Winnebago Co, IL] official nws obs reports SNOW of M7.7 INCH at 12:00 PM CST --

(2/1/2015 12:09:00 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Loves Park [Winnebago Co, IL] public reports SNOW of M9.0 INCH at 11:55 AM CST -- relayed by broadcast media.

(2/1/2015 12:15:13 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS MKX: Whitewater [Walworth Co, WI] public reports HEAVY SNOW of E7.0 INCH at 11:35 AM CST -- total so far. relayed via social media. 

 (2/1/2015 12:35:50 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Genoa [De Kalb Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M8.2 INCH at 12:01 PM CST -- storm total so far

 (2/1/2015 12:35:50 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Harvard [Mchenry Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of E12.0 INCH at 12:19 PM CST --

 (1:19:18 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Woodstock [Mchenry Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M7.2 INCH at 12:50 PM CST -- storm total so far. near white out conditions in open areas to the north of woodstock the past few hours.

(1:24:11 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 6 NNW Morrison [Whiteside Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M9.0 INCH at 01:05 PM CST -- storm total so far.

(1:32:06 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS MKX: Evansville [Rock Co, WI] public reports SNOW of M5.5 INCH at 12:30 PM CST -- 
 
(1:32:06 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS MKX: 2 N Millard [Walworth Co, WI] amateur radio reports SNOW of M6.3 INCH at 12:45 PM CST -- 

(1:44:06 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: De Kalb [De Kalb Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M10.5 INCH at 01:39 PM CST -- measured through 130 pm

(2:03:59 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 3 ENE Rock Falls [Whiteside Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M12.2 INCH at 02:03 PM CST -- storm total so far. snowing heavily.  

(3:18:33 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 7 NNW Mount Carroll [Carroll Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of E10.5 INCH at 03:14 PM CST --

(3:18:26 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 4 ENE Freeport [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M8.0 INCH at 03:17 PM CST -- 

(3:23:28 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 1 WNW Morrison [Whiteside Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M12.0 INCH at 03:17 PM CST --

(3:46:47 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 4 SSE Winslow [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of E12.5 INCH at 03:45 PM CST -- still snowing

(3:48:34 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Genoa [Dekalb Co, IL] trained spotter reports SNOW of M9.5 INCH at 03:34 PM CST -- 

(3:52:34 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: SSE Shannon [Carroll Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of E9.0 INCH at 03:26 PM CST -- storm total so far. drifts 1 to 2 feet.

(4:17:10 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 3 WNW Bull Valley [Mchenry Co, IL] cocorahs reports HEAVY SNOW of E15.0 INCH at 04:00 PM CST --  

(4:51:09 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: De Kalb [Dekalb Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M13.0 INCH at 04:35 PM CST -- whiteout conditions

(5:11:28 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 3 NE Rockford [Winnebago Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M12.0 INCH at 05:03 PM CST -- 

(5:59:47 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Rockford [Winnebago Co, IL] official nws obs reports HEAVY SNOW of M11.7 INCH at 05:55 PM CST -- storm total 11.7 inches. 4.0 inches in the past 6 hours.

(2/1/2015 6:25:16 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: Erie [Whiteside Co, IL] public reports HEAVY SNOW of M14.2 INCH at 06:24 PM CST -- still snowing lightly

(2/1/2015 6:29:44 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS DVN: 1 N Freeport [Stephenson Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M8.8 INCH at 06:29 PM CST --  

(2/1/2015 7:41:29 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS MKX: East Troy [Walworth Co, WI] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M10.2 INCH at 06:00 PM CST -- storm total so far. 

(2/1/2015 7:54:57 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: De Kalb [Dekalb Co, IL] trained spotter reports HEAVY SNOW of M16.0 INCH at 07:35 PM CST -- whiteout conditions

(2/1/2015 7:54:57 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 3 WNW Bull Valley [Mchenry Co, IL] cocorahs reports HEAVY SNOW of M16.5 INCH at 07:30 PM CST -- 

(2/1/2015 10:03:53 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: 2 WNW Bull Valley [Mchenry Co, IL] cocorahs reports HEAVY SNOW of M12.9 INCH at 09:45 PM CST -- storm total 12.9 inches.

(2/1/2015 10:41:09 PM) nwsbot: Local Storm Report by NWS LOT: Marengo [Mchenry Co, IL] public reports HEAVY SNOW of M12.3 INCH at 10:30 PM CST -- 



    
 


WEATHER DISCUSSION:

The snow continues, and will continue, to fall through the morning as well as into the afternoon.  Snow totals throughout the area are nearing 4 inches, with a few spots already reporting close to 5 inches.  This means, once the snow finishes, totals could range anywhere from 10 to 12 inches!  Good news, this will have fallen over a 24 hour period.  Bad news, strengthening low pressure later today will cause the already gusty northeast wind to increase even further, significantly adding to the blowing and drifting snow that is already occurring.

Winter Storm Warnings continue for the entire area through tonight, with a Blizzard Warning going into effect at 2pm for DeKalb and McHenry counties.

Couple things to note this morning:

Current Satellite and Radar

Current 3hr pressure fall

Surface low pressure is currently in east-central Nebraska with a cool front/stationary boundary laying east from it through southern Iowa and west-central Illinois.  Along this boundary, heavier snow rates were occurring - mainly south of our viewing area.  The second map shows the area of greatest pressure falls within the atmosphere over a 3 hour period.  This is important to look at because it gives us an idea of where the surface low will track.  Low pressure will move to the area where the pressure is lowest.  So, if the pressure is dropping 3mb/3hrs, we know that the general trend of the low will be to track into central Illinois.  The third map shows the isentropic analysis.  This gives meteorologists a more 3D look into the atmosphere to give us an idea of where the vertical motion, or lift, is the greatest throughout the atmosphere and where there is moisture.  There are different levels for looking at this, but generally the 292K and 294K are very helpful.  The take back from this map is the nice moisture plume that has set up across northern Illinois.  This continuous feed of moisture into the cold air mass will keep the

Current Isentropic Analysis

snow falling through the evening.  Snowfall rates of almost an inch per hour will be very possible throughout the day.