Tuesday PM, Wednesday Snowstorm

**scottie33** · 01-13-2009, 12:00 PM

I haven't seen many updates from the weather sites this morning, but what are we to expect? Weather.com only has like 1-3 inches but I read somewhere else where the QC is expected to get 5 inches. I know there are some weather gurus out there, I'd like to know what they are expecting and when to expect it!

It frustrates the hell out of me about snow and bball games

**garn91** · 01-13-2009, 03:30 PM

3-5 inches in the forecast for Central Iowa tonight, forecast low tomorrow night...17 below, wow.

Current season snow fall for Des Moines is ahead of last year when nearly 60 inches of snow fell.

**hawkeyeguy85** · 01-13-2009, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by scottie33

I haven't seen many updates from the weather sites this morning, but what are we to expect? Weather.com only has like 1-3 inches but I read somewhere else where the QC is expected to get 5 inches. I know there are some weather gurus out there, I'd like to know what they are expecting and when to expect it!

It frustrates the hell out of me about snow and bball games

I would expect closer to 3-5" in Ames with this one.
Winter Wx Advisory for tonight, generally expecting 2-5 throughout the advisory area. Far SW Iowa will see very little, but there will be a very tight gradient for the totals going NE. I think the Highest band will be along an Algona-Hwy20/I35 interchange-Marshalltown Tama line. Winds will be an issue again afterward. Shouldn't be the brief warm up to melt/settle the snow this time.

Highest amounts I think could hit 6" of very light, fluffy snow due to the nature of the cold air, and looking at the latest models, the GFS seems to be on board with this. 18z nam just came in as well and continues to shift further SW with the highest totals, bascially the same as the last storm, NAM late to the party in falling in-line, but eventually gets there in the end.

**snowcraig2.0** · 01-13-2009, 03:32 PM

3-5 seems to be the consensus. Looking at the swath of snow coming on the radar I would say that seems about right.

Has anyone noticed that you can usually just look at the radar and guess more accurately than the weather outlets are predicting?

**cstrunk** · 01-13-2009, 03:35 PM

Well, they have changed the previous forecast for Ames from 2-4" and some wind, to 3-7" and wind. Sounds like 4-5" of fluffy snow is a good possibility. This time, there will be no melting to stop this stuff from blowing around, and I believe there will be some healthy drifting. After the snow and blowing snow tonight and Wednesday, the coldest air of the season will be blowing our way. Forecast low for Wednesday night is -18F. Ouch. Winds 15-25 MPH gusting to 35 MPH. Double Ouch. Wind chills as low as -35F. Triple Ouch!!!

**Cyclonepride** · 01-13-2009, 03:37 PM

I'm expecting sunny and 70 degrees. But then, I am a kool-aid drinker from way back.

**aeroclone** · 01-13-2009, 03:37 PM

You know what's awesome? Global warming!

**keepngoal** · 01-13-2009, 03:39 PM

and another snow storm for a mens home BBall game.

ugh.

^^ word of the day

-keep

**cstrunk** · 01-13-2009, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

Has anyone noticed that you can usually just look at the radar and guess more accurately than the weather outlets are predicting?

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've noticed it too. However, they are trying to predict what will happen, and sometimes that prediction doesn't get changed until the time that the event is actually underway. A lot of things can change snowfall amounts... more/less moisture available, snow/water ratios, snow banding, etc.

Snow banding usually has the largest effect on snow totals. If you get stuck under a heavy snow band for a few hours, you can end up with quite a bit more snow than was anticipated. This happened to Ames on Friday night. It's just too hard to nail down the exact point that the bands will set up, until you actually see them.

**hawkeyeguy85** · 01-13-2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by garn91

3-5 inches in the forecast for Central Iowa tonight, forecast low tomorrow night...17 below, wow.

Current season snow fall for Des Moines is ahead of last year when nearly 60 inches of snow fell.

Des Moines cumulative snow year(winter)-to-date

2008/09
24.5"

2007/08
20.3"

scary indeed.

**tejasclone** · 01-13-2009, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

I'm expecting sunny and 70 degrees. But then, I am a kool-aid drinker from way back.

I'm expecting that too... but for a different reason.

Hope y'all stay thawed enough to function in that crap. This is exactly what I do not miss about Iowa.

**2020cy** · 01-13-2009, 03:41 PM

It's Global Change now , warming didn't quite fit.

**ISUFan22** · 01-13-2009, 03:41 PM

Like I said the other day, home hoops games bring bad weather.

**BigDISU1** · 01-13-2009, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

3-5 seems to be the consensus. Looking at the swath of snow coming on the radar I would say that seems about right.

Has anyone noticed that you can usually just look at the radar and guess more accurately than the weather outlets are predicting?

So true, RADAR is #1 for predicting weather for me, at least short term.

For example, last weekend, I was traveling to the Des Moines Area, all day long there were no weather advisories, predicing about 1-3 inches of snow. On the radar you could see a nice band of snow developing right in the middle of the state, you could just tell it was going to be alot more than 1-3 inches. 12 hours later, 8 inches of snow and I am starting to think there is a weather station conspiracy or something going on

I have wondered that many times too