Official Winter Storm Thread for 12/21 - 12/26

**tejasclone** · 12-20-2009, 10:04 PM

Ugh. My wife and I are driving back to Ames from Austin this week. We were originally planning on Wednesday but we moved it up to Tuesday to beat this one. Nothing like getting welcomed back to Iowa with a vengeance.

**cymonat** · 12-20-2009, 10:11 PM

Same here. Planning on driving back to NE Iowa from Dayton on Wednesday. Might be pushed to Tuesday and even then will probably be a pain in the ***.

**mj4cy** · 12-20-2009, 10:14 PM

Dear God just let me get on my plane to Jamaica the 28th.

**alarson** · 12-20-2009, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by cardinal&gold

Ugh. My wife and I are driving back to Ames from Austin this week. We were originally planning on Wednesday but we moved it up to Tuesday to beat this one. Nothing like getting welcomed back to Iowa with a vengeance.

Haha, i'm sure my brother will feel the same way. This is his first winter back in the north after doing his undergrad at purdue. He's driving back to iowa tomorrow.

**jdoggivjc** · 12-20-2009, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by MrsWx4Cy

With the last blizzard a couple weeks ago, all the models were in agreement and we could tell days out that a foot of snow was going to happen. This time it's a different story. We do know that we will likely be impacted by a major winter storm during the Wednesday/Thursday timeframe but the details including precipitation type and intensity aren't as clear. It could be another snow event or a wintry mess including frozen/freezing precip. We're all looking forward to the details on timing and such that should begin to clarify themselves later tomorrow I would think. So pretty much yes it looks like a storm of some type somewhere near here and we'll find out more details tomorrow and Tuesday. Sorry I can't be more helpful now, but it would be foolish of me to attempt it when we just don't know yet. If you leave tonight, travel should be ok...

"I even heard one meteorologist talk about a rain event. Swear to god. Said, 'Louisiana is expecting a rain event.' I said, 'Holy **** - I hope I can get tickets to THAT!!!'"

Sorry, had to break out the George Carlin line...

**Cyclonepride** · 12-20-2009, 11:08 PM

I hope this misses us. I haven't ever missed a Christmas eve in Atlantic, but I'm not going to drive with my son all the way over in a snowstorm.

**Dave19642006** · 12-20-2009, 11:12 PM

How much flooding will there be in the spring??

**maui6651** · 12-20-2009, 11:54 PM

The NWS apparently thinks this storm is somehow related to our athletics department:

Originally Posted by NWS

THE BIG STORY OF THE LONG TERM FORECAST IS THE POWERFUL CYCLONE THAT WILL AFFECT OUR REGION FOR SEVERAL DAYS LATER THIS WEEK.

So do I blame the basketball team's win this afternoon for not getting to my grandparents Thursday, or is this related to the bowl game?

**mred** · 12-20-2009, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by maui6651

The NWS apparently thinks this storm is somehow related to our athletics department:

So do I blame the basketball team's win this afternoon for not getting to my grandparents Thursday, or is this related to the bowl game?

I'm guessing it's the MBB and WBB teams winning by a combined 44 points in one location only a few hours apart. That somehow caused a huge area of low pressure.

**Iastfan112** · 12-21-2009, 05:17 AM

Tough system to call as its forecast to track right over the eastern part of the state but here's my stab at what sort of weather you'll see in your area

Official Winter Storm Thread for 12/21 - 12/26-iowapreciptype.jpg

**Cyclonesrule91** · 12-21-2009, 06:58 AM

Wow, a good part of Northern IA getting 18-20 inches of snow and the majority of IA getting 12-15 inches. This is going to be a doozy.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/BRIANA%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/BRIANA%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG]
Earl's GIS Radar Site Overlays Page

**mj4cy** · 12-21-2009, 07:50 AM

With being married now, I only get to do Christmas with my family every other year.....of course this is the year for me.

**garn91** · 12-21-2009, 07:54 AM

SAC-CALHOUN-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-BOONE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-
POLK-JASPER-POWESHIEK-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-WARREN-MARION-MAHASKA-ADAMS-
UNION-CLARKE-LUCAS-MONROE-WAPELLO-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD-DECATUR-WAYNE-
APPANOOSE-DAVIS-
556 AM CST MON DEC 21 2009

...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO HAVE PROLONGED EFFECT ON IOWA...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST
CENTRAL...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL IMPACT THE AREA THIS WEEK WITH INITIAL
CONDITIONS BEGINNING TUESDAY AND LASTING RIGHT ON INTO THE START
OF THE WEEKEND. AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BEGIN
TUESDAY...TRANSITIONING INTO LIGHT FREEZING RAIN TUESDAY
NIGHT...THEN EITHER SNOW...SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN FOR MUCH OF
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MUCH OF THE SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE
NORTHWEST THIRD OF IOWA WHERE SIX TO EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW MAY
ACCUMULATE BY DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

FARTHER SOUTHEAST INTO CENTRAL IOWA...A WINTRY MIX OF FREEZING
RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW IS MORE LIKELY. AMOUNTS OF ANY PARTICULAR
FORM OF PRECIPITATION ARE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE AS OF YET...BUT
ABOUT A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICING FOLLOWED BY MODERATE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD OCCUR BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IN SOUTHEAST
IOWA...PERIODIC FREEZING RAIN MAY OCCUR WHEN IT IS NOT WARM ENOUGH
TO SWITCH TO ALL RAIN.

ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALSO EXPECTED THURSDAY INTO
FRIDAY WHICH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WINDS. THIS WILL LIKELY
RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING WITH THE WORSE
CONDITIONS...NEAR BLIZZARD AT TIMES...OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF
THE STATE.

EMMET-KOSSUTH-WINNEBAGO-WORTH-PALO ALTO-HANCOCK-CERRO GORDO-
POCAHONTAS-HUMBOLDT-WRIGHT-FRANKLIN-BUTLER-BREMER-WEBSTER-HAMILTON-
HARDIN-GRUNDY-BLACK HAWK-STORY-MARSHALL-TAMA-
556 AM CST MON DEC 21 2009

...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO HAVE PROLONGED EFFECT ON IOWA...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF
NORTHERN...CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST IOWA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SNOW SHOULD DEVELOP LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH ONE TO THREE
INCHES OF ACCUMULATION BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL ALSO IMPACT THE AREA THIS WEEK WITH
INITIAL CONDITIONS BEGINNING TUESDAY AND LASTING RIGHT ON INTO THE
START OF THE WEEKEND. AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BEGIN
TUESDAY...TRANSITIONING INTO LIGHT FREEZING RAIN TUESDAY
NIGHT...THEN EITHER SNOW...SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN FOR MUCH OF
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE
NORTHWEST THIRD OF IOWA WHERE SIX TO EIGHT INCHES MAY ACCUMULATE
BY DAYBREAK THURSDAY.

FARTHER SOUTHEAST INTO CENTRAL IOWA...A WINTRY MIX OF FREEZING
RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW IS MORE LIKELY. AMOUNTS OF ANY PARTICULAR
FORM OF PRECIPITATION ARE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE AS OF YET...BUT
ABOUT A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICING FOLLOWED BY MODERATE SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD OCCUR BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. IN SOUTHEAST
IOWA...PERIODIC FREEZING RAIN MAY OCCUR WHEN IT IS NOT WARM ENOUGH
TO SWITCH TO ALL RAIN.

ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE ALSO EXPECTED THURSDAY INTO
FRIDAY WHICH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WINDS. THIS WILL LIKELY
RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING WITH THE WORSE
CONDITIONS...NEAR BLIZZARD AT TIMES...OVER THE NORTHWEST HALF OF
THE STATE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED...BUT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND
REPORT OF ADVERSE WINTER CONDITIONS ARE APPRECIATED AND ENCOURAGED.

**CyinCo** · 12-21-2009, 07:54 AM

Well, this is why drinking during the Holidays is excessive. We are now leaving tomorrow night rather than Thursday morning to go stay with my in-laws. Ugh!!!!! That is two more nights of not sleeping in my own bed in a house where the occupants are chain smokers. I'm not sure I can keep my sanity. The only thing that helps is booze. I'm going to need a lot of it!!!!!

Damn you, Storm!

**garn91** · 12-21-2009, 07:59 AM

There's so many sources out on the internet to get weather information. This from AccuWeather:

AccuWeather.com - Weather Blogs - Weather News

By late Wednesday or Wednesday night, the storm and its heavy snow will shift into the Plains and begin really ramping up. As the storm intensifies, the wind will increase, potentially bringing an all-out blizzard.

The storm will then move northward through Thursday and into Friday, cutting across the Upper Midwest or the Great Lakes. This means the eastern Plains and Upper Midwest may be dealt the biggest blow.

Cities that could get hit by the core of the snow and wind include: Wichita, Kansas City, Des Moines, Omaha, and perhaps Minneapolis.