Weekend snowstorm?

**Iastfan112** · 04-02-2009, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Any of you guys have a good idea of what to expect in DSM on Sunday around 1pm? I am supposed to take off from the airport around then and am getting a little PO'd by the current warning of 8-14 inches w/ 45mph winds in parts of central Iowa.

I'd expect snow, and it coming down at a good clip, probably pretty gusty. Not good weather overall.

**cycfan1** · 04-02-2009, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Iastfan112

I'd expect snow, and it coming down at a good clip, probably pretty gusty. Not good weather overall.

Well at least VEISHEA wasn't this weekend like it was supposed to be.

**matmann22** · 04-02-2009, 04:36 PM

Snowgasm !

How are they getting those snowfall totals ? The hourly grid for DM has only .24 of an inch of liquid on Sunday with a temp that never falls below 35F. Even going with 6 in of snow to 1 inch ratio, that still produces 1.5 inch of snow.

The wind is going to howl out of the NW. I went looking for how that would wrap cold air in given that it is going to be in the mid 50s on Saturday. I went to central South dakota and still found highs in the mid 30s. Hmmmm...

Yes, Heavy snow will start to cool the atmosphere and big heavy flakes will be bad with a 30+ mph winds that will be advectiing cold and dry air into this system.

Something tells me this could be a 5 inch snow that accumulates to only 2 inches in your yard and then melts 4 hours after the event is over (or worst case, the next day)

Another weird thing, this storm is still well over 48 hours from starting. This is very unusual to get a watch box up that far out.

**BigBake** · 04-02-2009, 04:36 PM

I absolutely refuse to shovel any more snow. I'll wait for the crap to melt. That's what 4x4 is for.

**matmann22** · 04-02-2009, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Clones21

Does this include Des Moines?

Not at this time, the hourly breakdown only has 1.5 inch of snow and temps around 35.

The 'trend' is for storms to track NW of forecast AND to not be quite as bad. For DM residents WHO HATE winter, that would be a good trend. NW Iowans who want snow, will like that trend as well.

**Cyclonepride** · 04-02-2009, 04:38 PM

There are two separate winter weather threads up at once. The very fabric of society is at risk of spinning into chaos. The threads must be merged immediately. There can be only one!

**Jeremy** · 04-02-2009, 04:58 PM

This snow darn well better skip the airport or I'm going to be extremely upset.

**FDWxMan** · 04-02-2009, 05:15 PM

Something to keep in mind is the National Weather Service busted on their forecast last weekend. They issued a warning for 5-7"...I never saw an amount in the DMX warning area over 4" with most around 2-3".

The amount of liquid precip expected in NW Iowa certainly supports higher snow totals...but will temperatures allow it? I'm not very confident in it just yet. Plus soil temps are above freezing so it will be melting as it's trying to pile up. I have a hard time believing the top end of the range at this point...still should be a fairly impressive snow storm by April standards.

**cstrunk** · 04-02-2009, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by matmann22

Snowgasm !

How are they getting those snowfall totals ? The hourly grid for DM has only .24 of an inch of liquid on Sunday with a temp that never falls below 35F. Even going with 6 in of snow to 1 inch ratio, that still produces 1.5 inch of snow.

The wind is going to howl out of the NW. I went looking for how that would wrap cold air in given that it is going to be in the mid 50s on Saturday. I went to central South dakota and still found highs in the mid 30s. Hmmmm...

Yes, Heavy snow will start to cool the atmosphere and big heavy flakes will be bad with a 30+ mph winds that will be advectiing cold and dry air into this system.

Something tells me this could be a 5 inch snow that accumulates to only 2 inches in your yard and then melts 4 hours after the event is over (or worst case, the next day)

Another weird thing, this storm is still well over 48 hours from starting. This is very unusual to get a watch box up that far out.

About the whole temperature thing, yes, it will probably melt pretty quickly. Even as it is still falling. Regional temperatures can be deceiving... did you happen to notice that parts of southwest Kansas got over 2 feet of snow with 10 foot drifts last weekend? Crazy. The pattern is basically repeating itself, except a little farther north this time, so now we are in its path. Should be fun.

**bawbie** · 04-02-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by FDWxMan

Something to keep in mind is the National Weather Service busted on their forecast last weekend. They issued a warning for 5-7"...I never saw an amount in the DMX warning area over 4" with most around 2-3".

The amount of liquid precip expected in NW Iowa certainly supports higher snow totals...but will temperatures allow it? I'm not very confident in it just yet. Plus soil temps are above freezing so it will be melting as it's trying to pile up. I have a hard time believing the top end of the range at this point...still should be a fairly impressive snow storm by April standards.

Here in Cedar Rapids they missed the forecast entirely too

We were forecasted to get maybe an inch and got 7.

**cyclonedave25** · 04-02-2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by cycfan1

Well at least VEISHEA wasn't this weekend like it was supposed to be.

No kidding.. I never even thought of that. It would have been a repeat of last year. I really hope it nice for VEISHEA this year. I'm talking sunny and 70+.

**FDWxMan** · 04-02-2009, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by bawbie

Here in Cedar Rapids they missed the forecast entirely too

We were forecasted to get maybe an inch and got 7.

I did notice that Cedar Rapids really got pounded...I may be wrong because I was more focused on this part of the state but I think CR saw more of their heaviest snow AFTER sunset and temperatures had been allowed to cool below freezing, thus less melting as it fell.

Should be another interesting weekend storm...or a gigantic headache depending on your perspective.