12/07 - WINTER STORM: SRN PLAINS [Archive]

Robert Dewey

12-05-2005, 09:00 AM

Looks like a decent overrunning snowstorm setting up for parts of TX, OK, and KS... A high pressure builds in from the north, dropping arctic air southward - 12Z NAM shows daytime highs not getting much above 10F across the Southern Plains (and further north, struggling to even hit 10F!). The SFC flow is northwesterly across a very strong baroclinic zone located across southern TX, with a strong southeasterly flow aloft at 850MB. This creates a good overrunning/isentropic upglide situation, and the NAM outputs roughly .50 to .75 inches of QPF across northern TX, and another bullseye around the KS/OK boarder (yes, missing Norman).

I also included the Midwest (more towards the Great Lakes) since the shortwave heads in that general direction once it begins developing.

The exact placement of all these features is crucial, and with it being +60HRS out - things are subject to significant changes. I still thought it was interesting though.

Gabe Garfield

12-05-2005, 09:44 AM

I was a little bit skeptical of the snowfall probs looking at the 6z ETA, not only because it was one run, but it's also an off-hour run (with no benefit of soundings). However, the 12z run of the ETA is much more compelling.

As Robert mentioned, liquid equivalents are forecast to be in the .50-.75 range across parts of the southern plains. As far as the bullseye of precip is concerned, the dprog/dt of the vort max is markedly southward (comparing the 0 and 6 UTC NAM vs. the 12 UTC NAM). This could bring about a fortuitous combination of lifting mechanisms with differential positive vorticity advection juxtaposed with the left exit region of a cyclonically curved jet along with strong warm air advection. If this scenario were to pan out, I believe that parts of Oklahoma and north Texas could receive as much as a foot of snow.

I believe the main caveat to the above scenario will be moisture return. The southern plains have been in a serious drought, so I'm a bit skeptical about whether there will be enough moisture to support heavy snowfall. Regardless, I believe that at least a couple of inches of snow is likely.

Gabe

David Brookshier

12-05-2005, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by Gabe Garfield
I was a little bit skeptical of the snowfall probs looking at the 6z ETA, not only because it was one run, but it's also an off-hour run (with no benefit of soundings). However, the 12z run of the ETA is much more compelling.

As Robert mentioned, liquid equivalents are forecast to be in the .50-.75 range across parts of the southern plains. As far as the bullseye of precip is concerned, the dprog/dt of the vort max is markedly southward (comparing the 0 and 6 UTC NAM vs. the 12 UTC NAM). This could bring about a fortuitous combination of lifting mechanisms with differential positive vorticity advection juxtaposed with the left exit region of a cyclonically curved jet along with strong warm air advection. If this scenario were to pan out, I believe that parts of Oklahoma and north Texas could receive as much as a foot of snow.

I believe the main caveat to the above scenario will be moisture return. The southern plains have been in a serious drought, so I'm a bit skeptical about whether there will be enough moisture to support heavy snowfall. Regardless, I believe that at least a couple of inches of snow is likely.

Gabe

Even if the foot of snow scenario does not pan out at least those of us suffering in north Texas from the drought and extreme stability aloft might get something. I'll take anything at this point.

Jay McCoy

12-05-2005, 05:31 PM

I dont look for near that much snow in Texas. We are just too damn dry. DP's are miserable. In amarillo we are 43/-2 right now and its 45/15 in DFW. The DP's are in the teens to low 20s all the way to the coast and I dont see anyting that will pull them up much between now and wednesday. Just some light snow and some serious cold air.At least for Texas and Oklahoma its serious cold

Karen Politte

12-05-2005, 06:09 PM

WFO OUN are getting confused with the Norman Pit signature currently proposed by this winter storm. It will be interesting to see how the National Weather Center's pre-existing weather deflectors hold up with winter weather - but I have a fairly good idea that they will keep the city safe once again.

WFO OUN evidently do, too - as despite the whole area being blanketed in a Winter Storm Watch as of 4.30pm CDT Monday Dec 5th, Norman's Point Forecast (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ifps/MapClick.php?MapType=3&site=oun&CiTemplate=1&map.x=206&map.y=132) page remains at a 20% chance of "wintry mix". :lol: I'm wondering how that wording can possibly jive with us being under a Winter Storm Watch. :roll:

Long live the Norman Pit effect - blessed by thy hallowed protective circle keeping us Normanites safe and dry!!!

KR

Aaron Kennedy

12-05-2005, 06:14 PM

I was also curious to why they have wintry mix when the high is progged to be 18F AND temps at 850/700 should be well below 0.

Hmmmm

Bring on the snow! I'm gathering a party to hunt down and destroy the primary OUN deflector shield.

Aaron

Robert Dewey

12-05-2005, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by Aaron Kennedy
I was also curious to why they have wintry mix when the high is progged to be 18F AND temps at 850/700 should be well below 0.

It is interesting... At first, I thought that freezing drizzle would be the big "mix" threat. Typically, when you have a profile that is 0 to -10C through the cloud layer with a significant dry air intrusion directly above the cloud top / saturation level, freezing drizzle is likely.

In this case, temperatures through the cloud layer are in the -10C to -20C, which seems slightly too cold for a "perfect" freezing drizzle situation, but I still wouldn't rule it out completely.

Also, I'm not liking the 18Z NAM forecast soundings out of OUN, in terms of heavy snow. The saturated layer barely reaches the -15C isotherm, and the majority of the strongest vertical velocities are located at the very top of the saturation layer. Definitely not good for snow flake growth, and I have seen small flake size kill plenty of good setups (mostly over my area, LOL).

We shall see, it's still a ways out.

Simon Brewer

12-05-2005, 07:52 PM

I have to defend Mother Nature with respect to this storm and Norman, OK:

This setup is reminding me of January 2000; big snowstorm for Central Oklahoma. The "Norman Pit" filled up with 9 inches of white stuff on the OU Campus.

I'm hoping that shortwave digs a little further south and it is "SNOW TIME".

Just got a look at the 0z run of the models and it's not looking good for Oklahoma if you like snow; so this setup no longer reminds me of the Jan-2000 Norman Snow Storm.

Simon

rdale

12-06-2005, 05:42 AM

Lawton is forecast to receive an inch or less per NWS, yet they are under a Winter Storm Watch. Do they really issue Winter Storm Warnings for an inch or less of snow in Oklahoma?

Not that OUN has the hold on bad snow forecasting - GRR called for 2 to 4" for Lansing last night and we picked up a flurry, they still think a half-foot could fall today and I'm going out on a limb by saying an inch or two ;>

- Rob

Rob Satkus

12-06-2005, 06:43 AM

Originally posted by rdale
Lawton is forecast to receive an inch or less per NWS, yet they are under a Winter Storm Watch. Do they really issue Winter Storm Warnings for an inch or less of snow in Oklahoma?

- Rob

Well....seeing that it's a watch and not a warning, I guess not.
I think they issued a watch yesterday late when the computer models were showing heavy amounts possible ( Sunday night some models or at least a model showed 10"+ for northern Ok,(( comment based on a forecast discussion issued early Monday AM))). But as far as I know, a winter storm warning was never issued.I don't know what criteria they use down here for warnings or watches, but 2" or less of snow in Ok, merely a nuisance for you northern folks, can result in utter chaos for southerners. There is also a concern for some ice across southern areas, including Lawton.
Here is a quote from a winter weather statement issued around 4am from the NWS OUN:
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY CREATE DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE HEAVY WITH THIS STORM...THE COMBINATION OF THE FIRST WINTER PRECIPITATION EVENT OF THE SEASON AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LIFE-THREATENING COMBINATION OF COLD AND WIND MAKES THIS DEVELOPING WINTER WEATHER EVENT A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ONE. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS. RESIDENTS SHOULD PREPARE FOR THE CHANCE OF WINTER PRECIPITATION AS WELL AS THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES OF THE SEASON.

Rob2

rdale

12-06-2005, 06:51 AM

"Well....seeing that it's a watch and not a warning, I guess not. "

I'm aware of that - but watches are issued when you have a 50% chance or greater of issuing a warning. So somehow they think it is better than even odds of the 1" or less snowfall resulting in some sort of warning, and I was wondering what warning would be valid for this type of event.

Bill Hamilton

12-06-2005, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by rdale
I was wondering what warning would be valid for this type of event.

Considering that we haven't had a real snowstorm in years, they might issue one for all the bad drivers that get out when the slightest amount of snow hits the ground. :wink:
I personally hope we do get some snow down here. We need any moisture we can get right now.

Aaron Kennedy

12-06-2005, 07:35 AM

Considering it is the first snowfall of the season... as long as it's above an inch or so it will warrant a winter weather watch.... this is OK we're talking about ;). A winter weather watch is much different than one say in Buffalo or Chicago. All it takes is an inch of snow to turn the streets into a frozen hell with OK drivers.

Sort of the same deal with heat advisories.... Temps of 90+ would warrent one in Seattle, yet in AZ you won't see them except for the most extreme of days (well above 100).

Aaron

Shane Adams

12-06-2005, 09:04 AM

Originally posted by Aaron Kennedy
I'm gathering a party to hunt down and destroy the primary OUN deflector shield.

I'm heading up a small two-man squadron here in Dallas and will be searching for the deflecor as I trek my way back north either Wed or Thu. However, recent intelligence suggests the deflector maybe located along the gulf coast.

I'm awaiting an owl from the Ministry of Meteorology for further details. Godspeed.

Karen Politte

12-06-2005, 09:43 AM

Originally posted by Shane Adams+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Shane Adams)</div><!--QuoteBegin-Aaron Kennedy
I'm gathering a party to hunt down and destroy the primary OUN deflector shield.

I'm heading up a small two-man squadron here in Dallas and will be searching for the deflecor as I trek my way back north either Wed or Thu. However, recent intelligence suggests the deflector maybe located along the gulf coast.

I'm awaiting an owl from the Ministry of Meteorology for further details. Godspeed.[/b]

Didn't you get the latest? Aaron's party was semi-successful last night. They personally scouted the grounds of the new Weather Center and found that the landscaping teams there had furtively woven deflector-strands into the lawns on the new site. Having seen the insane amount of cableage and man-hours that have gone into getting the new site up and running.......they were doing everything within their power to make sure that the next F-5 doesn't destroy their efforts!

Ahem - sorry, that's just too much. LOL.

But - for some reason - OUN's snow chances are now 60% chance of "Snow Likely" - so, something made the difference........a major victory for N.A.D.S. - Normanites Against Deflector Sheilds!!! :lol: :lol:

KR

Mike Peregrine

12-06-2005, 09:57 AM

The canoe is in the river.

...Repeat...

The canoe is in the river.

It's been snowing off and on up here this morning (drove to work in a pretty good little snow shower) - hoping to come up with some better totals tonight, at least on the south side of town. Doesn't look like it will amount to much, though. If it's going to be this dang cold, it might as well go ahead and snow as far as I'm concerned.

Angie Norris

12-06-2005, 10:00 AM

So I'm guessing the primary reason for the winter storm watch is because we technically live in the south where flurries will bring a city to its knees and the grocery industry is in need of a pre holiday boost :wink: . Granted, the simple mention of that 4-letter S word is enough to cause a panicked run in search of bread and beverage of choice.
Just finished a bit of model peeping...maybe, just maybe we can maybe get an inch or so out of it here. NAM and GFS are both holding out until 0Z tomorrow before they bring the snow in to central OK, and they're both keeping it in the 0.1" liquid range, so I'm looking for the dry, blowy stuff that you can't even get a snowball out of.
I'm hoping to be wrong and hoping we get nailed. If we need more people on the deflector search team, I'm available 8)
Angie

Mike Gauldin

12-06-2005, 10:31 AM

I used to live in CO and after being in OK (where people can't drive on DRY roads, nevermind with something on them) I've noticed that we tend to get more ice build-up on the roads. In CO, it's so dry that the snow can be blown off, but in OK it likes to turn to ice and don't even think of trying to drive anywhere. Plus everyone here seems to think you can do 40mph with a two-wheel drive car. I remember a couple of years ago, Christmas Eve, we got like 6" of snow in a matter of hours. Holiday rush at the mall, businesses closing down early, etc... It took me 4 hours to go 11 miles (round trip to the mall). There was literally a stalled car every 1/5th mile in alternating lanes of the roads, so everywhere was down to one lane and you had to zigzag around dead cars. I found it easier to take neighboorhood streets, but it just shows that people here aren't used to that kind of weather. Back to the topic, yeah, for OK I can see a watch. 2"-5" is more than enough for a first snow.

Jeff Snyder

12-06-2005, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by OUN Winter Storm Watch
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY CREATE DANGEROUS AND
LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS
ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE HEAVY WITH THIS STORM...THE COMBINATION OF
THE FIRST WINTER PRECIPITATION EVENT OF THE SEASON AND THE
LIKELIHOOD OF A LIFE-THREATENING COMBINATION OF COLD AND WIND
MAKES THIS DEVELOPING WINTER WEATHER EVENT A POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS ONE.

I'm still not sure... The current forecast seems to be for 1-3 inches, with highs in the upper teens (note that the high on 2-24-03 was 15F at OKC), and wind chills bottoming out near -10 in the northwest part of the state.

http://www.weather.gov/om/windchill/images/windchill.gif

-10 is pretty cold, but it doesn't even register on the "frostbite danger" scale. It'll be pretty cold (by southern plains standards I suppose), and there may be a couple of inches of snow, but you'd think the "likelihood of life-threatening combination of cold and wind" would mean like highs near 0 (note that the highs in the northern plains will be between 0 and 10 today) and/or windchills colder than -25. Oh well, I guess it is the first winter event here this year.

Chris Geelhart

12-06-2005, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by rdale
I'm aware of that - but watches are issued when you have a 50% chance or greater of issuing a warning. So somehow they think it is better than even odds of the 1\" or less snowfall resulting in some sort of warning, and I was wondering what warning would be valid for this type of event.

I was thwarted in my initial efforts to find out (looking for a regional supplement to NWS directive 10-513 which might list the criteria), but the overnight AFD indicated less of a chance of whatever the warning criteria is:

NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE QUESTION TO SEE A 4 INCH AMOUNT ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA... BUT THINK THE BIGGEST IMPACTS WILL BE THE VERY COLD TEMPS AND BITTER WIND CHILLS. WILL KEEP THE WINTER STORM WATCH GOING FOR WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...BUT THIS WILL LIKELY EVOLVE INTO AN ADVISORY SITUATION ON WEDNESDAY AS AMOUNTS LOOK TO REMAIN BELOW WARNING THRESHOLDS.

Chris G.

David Brookshier

12-06-2005, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by Karen Rhoden+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Karen Rhoden)</div>Originally posted by Shane Adams@
<!--QuoteBegin-Aaron Kennedy
I'm gathering a party to hunt down and destroy the primary OUN deflector shield.

I'm heading up a small two-man squadron here in Dallas and will be searching for the deflecor as I trek my way back north either Wed or Thu. However, recent intelligence suggests the deflector maybe located along the gulf coast.

I'm awaiting an owl from the Ministry of Meteorology for further details. Godspeed.

Didn't you get the latest? Aaron's party was semi-successful last night. They personally scouted the grounds of the new Weather Center and found that the landscaping teams there had furtively woven deflector-strands into the lawns on the new site. Having seen the insane amount of cableage and man-hours that have gone into getting the new site up and running.......they were doing everything within their power to make sure that the next F-5 doesn't destroy their efforts!

Ahem - sorry, that's just too much. LOL.

But - for some reason - OUN's snow chances are now 60% chance of "Snow Likely" - so, something made the difference........a major victory for N.A.D.S. - Normanites Against Deflector Sheilds!!! :lol: :lol:

KR[/b]

These extreme stability generating deflectors are a threat to the entire chase community, they must be destroyed :!: Bring in some heavy artillery or M1A1 tanks. So this is why we Texas chasers have been under such a drought :shock: I am now quite certain that their is a third deflector hidden in the NWS office in Ft Worth I've heard that these things can even create upper level ridges or make a cap unbreakable, we have got to take these things out to initiate instability everywhere. :twisted:

"As it breaks the cap punch the core, shoot a meso, and bag a nado."

Karen Politte

12-06-2005, 04:11 PM

Aaron's hunting party's hit on the newly-installed deflectors at the Weather Center has had a chain reaction effect and caused the WX-avoidance server at Tinker AFB to overheat temporarily......

Read: They just upped OUN's pops to 80% with a wx descriptions of "Snow" and a low tomorrow night of 7. Almost unheard of LOL. :shock:

KR

Jeff Snyder

12-06-2005, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by Karen Rhoden

Read: They just upped OUN's pops to 80% Almost unheard of LOL. :shock:

KR

Yes, but indicate "SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH". I guess it's better than a dusting... But hey, you should NEVER doubt the power of the Norman weather deflectors, lest you want to get burned. :lol: This event wouldn't be too bad if we some more of that elusive moisture that's evaded the region the past several months. How many flooding events did Kansas have this past spring and summer again? Like 4?

David Brookshier

12-06-2005, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by Karen Rhoden
Aaron's hunting party's hit on the newly-installed deflectors at the Weather Center has had a chain reaction effect and caused the WX-avoidance server at Tinker AFB to overheat temporarily......

Read: They just upped OUN's pops to 80% with a wx descriptions of \"Snow\" and a low tomorrow night of 7. Almost unheard of LOL. :shock:

KR

Outstanding!!! they must have disabled the interfering deflectors (hopefully long enough) to bring about the unheard of 80% prob and low 7degree temperature. Let it snow let it snow let it snow.

"Instability=Success> As it breaks the cap punch the core, bag a nado and the chase goes on"

Lance Maxwell

12-06-2005, 04:24 PM

Originally posted by Jeff Snyder

Yes, but indicate \"SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH\". I guess it's better than a dusting... But hey, you should NEVER doubt the power of the Norman weather deflectors, lest you want to get burned. :lol: This event wouldn't be too bad if we some more of that elusive moisture that's evaded the region the past several months. How many flooding events did Kansas have this past spring and summer again? Like 4?

Yeah, it's sad....we deserve at least 4 inches for the extreme cold we are going to have to endure tomorrow and Thursday. I demand there be a reevaluation of the models!

On a weather note, as you said, moisture has been an issue for a good part of the last 10 months, since February. Were we even to have only decent moisture for this system, we would be talking about 4-6 inches +.

David Brookshier

12-06-2005, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by Lance Maxwell+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lance Maxwell)</div><!--QuoteBegin-Jeff Snyder

Yes, but indicate \"SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND 1 INCH\". I guess it's better than a dusting... But hey, you should NEVER doubt the power of the Norman weather deflectors, lest you want to get burned. :lol: This event wouldn't be too bad if we some more of that elusive moisture that's evaded the region the past several months. How many flooding events did Kansas have this past spring and summer again? Like 4?

Yeah, it's sad....we deserve at least 4 inches for the extreme cold we are going to have to endure tomorrow and Thursday. I demand there be a reevaluation of the models!

On a weather note, as you said, moisture has been an issue for a good part of the last 10 months, since February. Were we even to have only decent moisture for this system, we would be talking about 4-6 inches +.[/b]

Even if this system brings only 1" at least that would be a vast improvement compared to the extreme stabilty we Texas chasers have been forced to live with. If the current drought persists I'm afraid these cracks in the ground will grow so wide I'll drive right into one :!:

"Instabilty=Success> it's great to be unstable in life"

Mike Peregrine

12-06-2005, 04:41 PM

If there is one thing I have come to believe about forecasting winter weather - it is that no one really knows what will happen until it happens. That's not to say that there's harm in trying ... I just personally don't believe in it.

I've seen one inch forecasts end up with over a foot, and 12 inch forecasts end up as a dusting. This happened just a year (maybe it was two) ago in Kansas City, where every met seemed quite confident in a heavy band setting up across the metro one winter evening that would result in over a foot of snow ... some estimates went to 15-17 inches! ... I stayed downtown that night to be closer to work ... only to wake up to see a few skiffs of dust blowing around here and there in the morning.

As with any winter weather, the anticipation is just half the fun, though ... and talking about what might happen is as much fun as it actually happening. Big winter surprises are awesome, though - - -

rdale

12-06-2005, 05:17 PM

"it is that no one really knows what will happen until it happens."

True, but there are some who can do much better than others - just like severe weather. And we've got to put something out there. It's just some entities like to "spice things up" a bit.

The 4"-12" forecast by NWS for my area which I toned down to an inch or so turned out to be a dusting.

Mike Hollingshead

12-06-2005, 05:42 PM

http://datadevel.com/radio/images/aa0/blizzard05_arnold003.jpg
Highway 92 in central NE after last weeks blizzard. Photo by Crystal Day.

OK needs some of that. Would almost keep folks off the roads.

Rob Satkus

12-06-2005, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Karen Rhoden

........a major victory for N.A.D.S. - Normanites Against Deflector Sheilds!!! :lol: :lol:

KR

Well done N.A.D.S! I fully support your work. Go N.A.D.S. !
I am a bad boy.

RS

Shane Adams

12-06-2005, 07:25 PM

After much meditation, I have theorized that I'M the OUN wx deflector. Will attempt to prove this theory by leaving Dallas tomorrow and returning to OUN. If the snowy forecast busts, I'm to blame.

Angie Norris

12-06-2005, 07:33 PM

:lol: LOL, Rob!!! I was wondering how long it would take :wink: 8)
Angie

Rob Satkus

12-06-2005, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by Angie Norris
:lol: LOL, Rob!!! I was wondering how long it would take :wink: 8)
Angie

I can't resist an easy joke, no matter how bad it is. 2 lumps of coal for my stocking this year.

RS

Chris Lott

12-06-2005, 10:38 PM

In Central Texas(including Waco) we were changed earlier today from a winter storm watch to a warning which has now been extended through early Thursday morning. What?! Couldn't catch a storm all spring or summer, haven't had any substantial rain since maybe September, and now we're expecting ICE! Go figure.

Robert Dewey

12-06-2005, 10:41 PM

Changed the thread title... This appears to be mostly a southern plains event for the time being, so I just edited the title to better fit the timeframe / location.

I may start another thread for the Great Lakes / Northeast if the models continue (or after better analysis of the 00Z data).

CHris Whitehead

12-07-2005, 02:38 AM

Hey i hear due to the impending winter weather event, Stoops has decided to move practice indoors........guess where?

Remember how above Antarctica theres a continuous hole in the ozone layer, that keeps changing its shape, kinda like an ameba but never fills in. Well if global warming is starting to occur and the ice caps are melting, then maybe, just maybe the deflector shields are deflecting incoming IR and UV radiation back into the atm creating a second hole in the ozone which explains everything around here.....hmm increased 850mb temps year round leading to....something called a cap and warmer 850mb level temps in the winter which ive heard but let me go check..yeah,check, it does prevent such ice crystal formation that would lead to a term that meteorologist (scientist that study and attempt to forecast whats known on Earth as weather) call snCENSORED.

hey, it could happen.

Shane im hunting you down............will be making a thread in Map room for Shane Chasing.

btw its 2:30am and I think ive lost it.

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 07:39 AM

LOL Chris,

I never would have thought that DFW would be the place to be for the first Srn Plains winter storms of the season. :roll: Shane - we're coming to hunt you down, you know??

Anyway - I just sat and watched a DFW met talking about their upcoming winter storm today......and sure enough they had a loop on the screen of the return-moisture making its way back north. Dallas is below freezing now and the moisture is arriving as we speak. The only thing I choked at was when their on-screen met. gestured to the white echoes vs. pink or green and said "oh don't worry folks - that's not snow that's falling here - that's just frozen rain"!!!! :shock: Mmmmkay......

Well I guess we'll see what the Dust Bowl II (a/k/a OUN) can pick up out of this moisture-starved system.

Watch it prove me wrong and we get like 10+ inches. I DARE IT TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PROVE ME WRONG - DUMP ON US!!!!!!!!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr...............LOL.

This thread is silly.........I hope I don't feel the wrath of the mod wand........ :wink:

KR

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 07:41 AM

Shane - I hope you have a good explanation for all this.........

>>Image removed - out of date<<

:roll:

And I think back to Jeff S's post........

Originally posted by Jeff Snyder
But hey, you should NEVER doubt the power of the Norman weather deflectors, lest you want to get burned. :lol:

I'm not laughing anymore...........

KR

Jeff Snyder

12-07-2005, 09:11 AM

And of course, since it's been relatively cool the past several days, the ground has actually had time to cool quiet a bit. Mesonet indicates that the 10cm bare-soil temperatures run from the low-40s in the southeast, to near the freezing mark near the I44 corridor, to the 20s in the northwest. So, what does this mean? This means that snow that falls actually has a chance of sticking! Well, southeastern OK is still a little warm, but the rest of that would see ground temps that support snow sticking.

This is not necessarily a good thing, however, since this enhances the Norman Dome, thereby making it more difficult for anything interesting to happen... :evil:

Mike Peregrine

12-07-2005, 09:25 AM

Snowing like crazy up here ... made for an interesting ride to work. Seems like the ground was instantly covered, and the big snowfall isn't expected till later on this afternoon/evening ...

Originally posted by Jeff Snyder
And of course, since it's been relatively cool the past several days, the ground has actually had time to cool quiet a bit.

I've been curious about something lately ... is there something to this? - You always hear people talking about the ground being too warm to allow snow to stick, but I've really questioned that reasoning. I've seen times when we've gone from near 70 degrees to below freezing in a day's time, and yet the snow still sticks on the ground. Maybe not for the first hour or two, but it really doesn't seem like it takes that long for it to cool off and start stacking up.

Anyway - it's just something I've been wondering about for any of you winter weather experts out there ... Seems like the right storm can pile up snow amounts, warm ground or not - - -

Jeff Snyder

12-07-2005, 10:32 AM

Mike,

I think it largely depends on the rate of snowfall. The melting process absorbs energy (similar to how condensation releases energy), so if the ground temp is 36, fallen snow that melts does decrease the surface temperature. In addition, if swow is falling heavily, it will accumulate on top faster than it can melt on the bottom, so you still end up will net accumulation. It does certainly helps that temps near OKC have been cool lately, since it's allowed the topsoil to cool, thereby giving us a better chance that snow that falls will stick (or at least stick appreciably).

Lance Maxwell

12-07-2005, 11:36 AM

Is there anywhere else in the entire Southern Plains where the stinking sun is out????? NO!! But it sure as heck is shining bright here in Norman. Someone is going to have to hold me back from Shane....this is outrageous.

Lance Maxwell

12-07-2005, 11:40 AM

Interesting...the ETA sure seems to be much heavier on the precip for the 12z run compared to last night's 0z run:

http://weather.cod.edu/forecast/ETA/SP/etaSP_0_prec_18.gif

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by Lance Maxwell
Interesting...the ETA sure seems to be much heavier on the precip for the 12z run compared to last night's 0z run:

Well in that pic. you posted it's still tough luck for anybody living at the I-35/I-40 intersection!! I don't live in Le Flore-freaking-County Oklahoma!!! :twisted: :roll:

Ahhhahahaha..........don't look at the RUC's precip run this morning, then!

Very dry, very dry.........

This really is horrible.

KR

Michael P. Morris

12-07-2005, 12:05 PM

I think the biggest problem with the 4-6 inches forecast was the ETA's handling of the snow melt over the northern great plains the past couple days. One of the model's tendencies is to underresolve radiational cooling over the GP at night (i.e. too warm on clear evenings - a consequence of the surface layer components underestimating the amount of longwave radiation emitted) , which leads to more melting and greater surface moisture content. The problem clearly remedied itself on the subsequent model runs, however.

Jeff Snyder

12-07-2005, 12:25 PM

LMAO, the Norman Dome is in full effect!

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/enhancedwx/fxc_Developing_Weather.jpg

Shane Adams

12-07-2005, 12:30 PM

It's not me.....still in Dallas and it's been sleeting all day so far.

Please cancel all scheduled lynchings. Thank you.

Amos Magliocco

12-07-2005, 12:43 PM

The University of North Texas just announced that the campus will close at 1:00 PM. So far we've had rain, sleet, and snow intermittantly since about 9:00 AM, and I suppose there's a light coating of ice on the secondary streets. I don't intend to investigate since I don't trust my fellow Denton-ites on their first ice day of the year.

But I love that UNT is closing already. It reminds me of my first winter in Indiana three years ago. A fair snowfall was forecast for the next day, and I went to the main English Department office to see what the secretaries (who always know more about what's going on than anybody on campus) thought about the chance for cancellation.

Both ladies had worked at IU for more than twenty years. They looked at each other and smiled and one of them said to me, "They haven't cancelled classes at Indiana University since the Blizzard of 1974." And they never did while I was there, even though that first winter was a record-setter, with around 50 inches of snow before it was over.

I glanced at the RUC a minute ago and it seems that the 850 moisture continues to stream north until late tonight, so I guess we'll keep on keeping on. It appeared a short time ago that we're cold enough now for snow exclusively. That's all I saw falling from the last patch of precip.

Aaron Kennedy

12-07-2005, 12:47 PM

I am sorry to report that our efforts to destroy the deflector shield have failed. While we did bring down the main power generator, we underestimated Norman's infrastructure and ability to bring it back online so quickly... We have reason to believe there may be another secret nuclear generator being run in the basement of the NEL building on the campus of OU.

Norman Dome 1 - Winter Storm - 0

Obviously we are still too dry... although I can't locate the sounding from OUN this morning. In addition, main forcing is with the CVA aloft, and S near the front. Doh.

Aaron

Mike Peregrine

12-07-2005, 01:20 PM

Jeesh - Norman cannot catch a break ... unbelievable. Almost sounds like another dustbowl shaping up down there the way this is going.

Walked out to do some video at lunch and there was an accident right in front of me on 435 ... sounds like there are plenty of them right now. Seems like it takes a while to get it together during the first good snow of the season. Very light, 'dry' snowfall here in 12 degree temps. I'd post some photos, but don't want to rub salt in the wound for anyone to the south.

Angie Norris

12-07-2005, 01:26 PM

Aye, Captain, we've put a small chink in their shield...sleet/snow mix falling in Norman as I speak....er, type. Started just before 1300 and is actually acumulating!!! :D 8)
Angie

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 02:06 PM

Ya, -

"Ah cannae dae it Cap'n - ah just doon't have the powrrrr!!!!".

LMAO.

Aaron - your efforts will go down in the hallways of N.A.D.S. as one of the pivotal moments in our history when we actually did manage to make it precipitate below 32oF!!!

I am about to make a trip to Norman's Post Office, bank, and Wal-Mart for the afternoon - amidst the sleet/snow/pellets/whatever it is. Wish me luck......LOL........Oklahoma drivers in light snow? I may be some time.......... :wink:

KR

Jeff Snyder

12-07-2005, 03:37 PM

Aaron - your efforts will go down in the hallways of N.A.D.S. as one of the pivotal moments in our history when we actually did manage to make it precipitate below 32oF!!!
KR

Can we chant "GO NADS"? ::lol:

Mike Parker

12-07-2005, 04:10 PM

I am not rubbing it in, just excited about the snowfall. I am in Iola, KS and it has been snowing all day. It is a really dry, powdery snow. We have around 3 inches so far and more is expected. Here are 2 pics if you are interested. I certainly hope all you Normanites can get a little action down there as well. Good luck!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a331/weathernut07/000_0006.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a331/weathernut07/000_0002.jpg
[img]

Dave Ewoldt

12-07-2005, 04:37 PM

I guess we'll take what we can get. I don't remember many significant snowstorms in central oklahoma from systems that have approached like this one has. Always better to get a big wet system coming out of the southwest....but SOMETHING falling from the sky is nice to see for a change.

I just saved a cool radar image from twin lakes showing well the depth of the arctic air. http://www.okweatherwatch.com/depth.png

SRV at .5/1.5/2.4/3.4 degrees has the beam height about 3000 ft where the low level north winds shift to southwest....

David Brookshier

12-07-2005, 04:43 PM

Thank you NADS for at least taking out the power generator in so doing you have allowed us in Denton County TX to get some sleet today. Hey it's no ice storm but seeing the pellets of sleet falling and having a nice sheet of slick ice all over our stairwell is very nice. Currently my sons bedroom window is completely sheeted out in ice!! Outstanding!! a major improvement for the weather here in Frisco TX. We need a whole lot more ice to come down bring on the so called winter storm warning we're under.

"Instability=Success> Punch the core break a windsheild"

Mike Gauldin

12-07-2005, 05:12 PM

Starting to see some snow sticking here in Tulsa. It's coming down fairly light, but what is coming down seems to be staying on the ground (at least on the roads). I've already been hearing calls about traffic accidents from the roads from the FD and PD. I tried to go to the bank and EVERYONE is driving like 25mph, which is what I think is probably causing the wrecks since the roads are slick. The snow is just blowing around on them for the most part (highly traveled roads). I hate Tulsa drivers... excluding Steve and Justin of course :)

Dick McGowan

12-07-2005, 05:15 PM

I think here in extreme western Olathe, we have about 3 inches, looks like more is on the way though. Just threw out about 2 pounds of bird seed for the blue jays, cardinals, mourning doves and whatever other kinds of birds that are flawking to it, which is right next to my window and which is accompanied by an electric fireplace. :D 10 degrees out and a -4 windchill makes me hibernate for the rest of the evening. :wink:

Mike Peregrine

12-07-2005, 05:48 PM

Here are a few grabs from my snowchase today .... work let out at 3:00 ... the highways are a mess, pretty much.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/mikeperegrine/snow1.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/mikeperegrine/snow2.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/mikeperegrine/snow3.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/mikeperegrine/snow4.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/mikeperegrine/snow5.gif

Sitting in Panera right now drinking hot chocolate ... ahhhhhh ....

Jason Boggs

12-07-2005, 06:55 PM

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3811/radar4jk.jpg

Don't worry, I think we also have a deflector shield here in Amarillo. :(

Angie Norris

12-07-2005, 08:07 PM

We didn't get total failure of the deflector, but got a good enough crack in it that we got a "heavy dusting"...prolly less than 1/2", but almost enough to get the ground white. Most of it is actually sleet even, but who cares...we got white stuff on the ground!! :D 8)
Angie

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 08:09 PM

I'm glad to see the N.A.D.S. reference was taken and ran with......LOL. :wink:

Well - I got in at 5.30pm from my very interesting jaunt into Norman. The roads were a mixed bag - some were very dry with pellets just drifting with the wind across the road, and others had mounds of pellets and sleet and snow built up on the sides of the lanes. Still more roads - mainly the smaller roads in downtown Norman and even Main St. further west - were actually quite treacherous - a result I'm sure of the traffic compouding the lying snow and pellets and turning it into ice. While I sat at the bank I saw two people spin out in front of me LOL.

I did have some problems getting away from intersections here and there - and I was everywhere from the west side to the northeast side of Norman. The traction from standing still was difficult occasionally. I almost had a smash when some stupid ass changed lanes right in front of me on Gray St. in an attempt to get to his left turn. He made the left turn - good for him! I almost went into a spin from slamming my brakes on but hey it's allll good right? :roll:

I got back over to the east side about 4.45pm to Wal-Mart - and crossed over on Main to get to the store. 12th Ave was TOTALLY backed up with numerous school buses and traffic - it wasn't moving at all. I still don't know what the deal was - it was really weird. So after I got my groceries I checked to see if 12th was still the same - it was - and headed north to Robinson, then east, then south on 24th to home. Sad. I wish Norman would get it's damn roads straightened out. 24th Ave was pretty good - mostly dry.

The interesting thing will come when we all need to drive to work tomorrow morning. This stuff on the roads will freeze solid tonight and then with the sun coming out tomorrow it may melt a bit and turn into black ice. I'll have to watch myself on the way to the office!

I had fun out on the roads today though. It was nice to see some weather. This Normanite got out of her hibernation today and surveyed the good work done by Aaron Kennedy - N.A.D.S. coordinator extraordinaire. Very nice work!!!

KR

mikegeukes

12-07-2005, 08:19 PM

NCDC has OKC getting 9.6 inches for the average snowfall season
MWS OUN has OKC getting 8.1 inches for the average snowfall season

Oklahoma City Snowfall Records
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/winterwx/okcpns6.php

Top 10 Oklahoma Snowstorms
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/winterwx/okcpns5.php

Mike
http://mgweather.com

Grand Rapids Michigan Season Total 27.4 inches
4 inches of snow on the ground.

David Wagener

12-07-2005, 09:12 PM

Andrew Francis

12-07-2005, 09:16 PM

Saw about an inch of snow/sleet here in edmond, it started off just blowing around on the roads, but eventually it got packed down and now its like an ice rink... Oh well, I'll just be patient for a storm to approach from the southwest and dump a wet heavy snow down.

Greg Stumpf

12-07-2005, 09:28 PM

Don't worry, I think we also have a deflector shield here in Amarillo.
I guess it really broke last May!

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 09:49 PM

Don't worry, I think we also have a deflector shield here in Amarillo.
I guess it really broke last May!

ROFL Greg.....uh - yeah!!! If OUN had had chaseable storms like AMA had this past spring we'd be laughing all the way to the proverbial tornadic bank!!! :lol:

LOL - you guys should be in this house tonight - we have DFW television. It's a hoot to listen to all the news reports - at 5pm they had a special "extended" news program simply to report all the wintry weather - which amounts to some freezing rain and a bit of sleet. They're listing all the school, church and other closures that are in effect for tomorrow - "oh folks - don't go out tomorrow unless it's totally necessary!!!". Sheesh. :roll:

THE DFW ARCTIC BLAST OF 2005!!!!!!!!

KR

Jeff Snyder

12-07-2005, 10:04 PM

We're experiencing some major icing on the roads in Austin and Round Rock. My wife drove in from Milam county to our east and was almost hit by crazy drivers several times. There have been well over 200 calls to 911 in Williamson County alone since noon and the last report was about 100 car accidents in the metro area. This is likely to go up to 200+ be tomorrow. We're now under a winter storm warning until 8:00 am. One of my employees was a victim of a hit and run although the damage to his vehicle was limited. We'll see how things pan out tomorrow when we wake up!

Jeff Snyder

12-07-2005, 10:14 PM

Nothing like sitting back and getting a good laugh. After being in Ohio the last 3 years, being back in Norman is always entertaining as how much trouble a little dusting can do. Not to mention I had to pause for a W.T.H. moment when OUN put out the winter storm watch. I know...its all relative. Winter storm watch means a lot of ice or a decent snow fall...not what we got today. I could still see my neighbor. Whimps. ;)

Oh well time to adjust...went through a good winter last year in NW Ohio with around 55" of snow for the season and every other storm dumping over 8 inches of snow.

Oh well, some year we'll get a good snow down here and some real wind chills....0 to 10 below...blah. Give me 30 to 50 below. :)

LOL I hear ya David. I grew up near St. Paul, MN, where avg snowfall is about 55" / yr, and the avg high temp in mid-January is 19 degrees. I'm sure there are folks on here who live in even snowier locales... So, it is quite humorous to watch the news coverage about the 'brutal cold', and the OUN winter weather product telling people to "stay inside Wednesday if possible". You'd think we're seeing -30 temps and -50F windchills. Heck, OKC has been colder in the past few years... Feb 2003 saw a day with a high of 15F, so this isn't that bad, especially since we got MAYBE 0.5" of 'snow' here in Norman... It was half pellets, half snow really. I'll take the 20F high with the "extreme" (per TV met) wind chills of -5 to 5F over a cold Minnesota day anytime (cold meaning the high stays <0F).

Oh well... I was going to meander over to Petsmart this afternoon, but it would have taken me 30 minutes to go ~5 miles, not because it was that slick out, but because some folks drive side-by-side at 5mph :roll: Yes, the road may be wet, or snowcovered, but that doesn't mean you have to drive slower than I walk. I didn't see too many vehicles with ABS or traction control (similar to ABS, except for when you're accelerating) either. Just make sure you stay plenty far behind the vehicle in front of yeah, don't make any sudden turns/lane changes, and you're probably okay to drive like you would in heavy rain (~25-30 in a 35mph, etc). If ya wanna drive 2mph on Main Street, that's fine, but don't drive next to someone else who's also driving insanely slow.

Karen Politte

12-07-2005, 10:24 PM

Here's a question from someone who grew up in a different country let alone a different state......

How come Oklahoma's road/transport agency only treats the roads around here reactively, rather than proactively???

I have never ONCE seen a gritter or sander out BEFORE an event is anticipated. They always wait until the frozen preip. is falling or has fallen, and has caused the roads to become treacherous - and THEN occasionally I will see one of their rusting, delapidated sanding trucks trundle by on Main.

What's the deal??? Don't they stay up with/believe the weather forecasts???

Seems like - when I was growing up in Scotland - I would always see gritters and sanders out like the night before an anticipated winter weather event.

KR

Greg Stumpf

12-07-2005, 10:52 PM

In Fort Collins Colorado, a place that averages about 45" per year, they would run street cleaners after every snow melt to remove the salt and gravel. I never understood this. I grew up in upstate NY, and leaving that stuff on the roads throughout the winter really helped - especially that layer of salt - always melted these tiny snows like we just got in Norman.

Yea, and plows came down every single residential street in upstate NY. They only hit the primary and secondary roads in Norman (and Ft. Collins, believe it or not).

greg

Robert Dewey

12-07-2005, 11:00 PM

Our city doesn't plow any secondary streets unless we get over half a foot. The city of Detroit has a similar "rule".

Up north by my grandparents, in a heavy lake effect snowbelt in the middle of no where (think >25 miles to the nearest store, and 3 miles to your nearest year-round neighbor) - they only plow major highways (there are no express ways). Even so, between the months of December and late March, the major highways are all two tracks (they don't salt). All other streets are considered seasonal, and if you happen to live on that "seasonal" road, you better have a plow that can handle a couple feet of snow / 250 inches a year.

Angie Norris

12-07-2005, 11:24 PM

The year before I left TN, they started treaing the roads before a snow/ice event with some kind of spray on solution...I think it was a calcium chloride solution to prevent the ice from forming. That stuff would wreck absolute havoc on your car, but...it stopped a lot of the icy road problems too, as in I was able to drive in two freezing rain events with no problems. Today was on my way to work when I almost spun out at a stop light here on Hwy 9. Called them and told them if they wanted me to come in that was ok, but they'd need somebody to pick me up (they usually call a cab for such occasions). They called me back a few minutes later and said the shift was covered. No problem...got some studying done for finals. Seems like Norman got the icy roads today. Like Karen said, the roads will be "interesting" in the morning.
Angie

Shane Adams

12-07-2005, 11:59 PM

Jeff Snyder

12-08-2005, 12:06 AM

Oklahoma is crippled by the most miniscule winter events, just like the rest of the country is by severe weather. It's give and take, depending on what a ceretain part of the country is used to. This is the time of year when all the yankees make fun of us southerners. In 5-6 months we'll be laughing at the yankees as they panic over linear junk which will trigger TVS algorithms along their gustfronts :wink:

:lol: Very true... I can deal with -20F temps, but I've never experienced such a long, hot summer before I moved down to OK. MN media mets handle winter weather better; OK mets handle convective/severe weather better (MUCH better)...

Tony Laubach

12-08-2005, 12:08 AM

CHris Whitehead

12-08-2005, 12:14 AM

everyone around here must be having amnesia cause the deflector shield is and has always been working at 100% today, yesterday, the day before, etc...
If all of yall are calling this weeks dusting a "kink" or "loss of power" in the deflector shield then well, like i said, amnesia.
Let me say that this weeks event is right on schedule/par for seasonal/monthly climate for OKC/central Oklahoma.
During the winter in OKC, the average or normal pattern for winter weather events calls for the first event to occur sometime before Xmas and is usually very minor (eg this weeks event). The next winter weather event typically occurs on average around mid to late January and that one is usually noteworthy with around 2 to 4" of frozen precip. Other events can be found scattered throughout late January and all throughout February. I remember my soph yr (winter '03/'04) there were several mini snows scattered throughout the winter, from December to February.
Also remember that OKC averages 8" snow a winter. Now, yes, last years winter was a dud, but the 8" is an average taken over several decades so there are going to be a few aberations every so many winters or so but the few winters I have been here (this is my 4th), ive found that 8" to be about right to slightly generous.

SO, 1" of dust in Norman..... call me when something on order of 2 to 4" of snow or heavy ice is imminent or is occuring here, then Ill listen to your comments about deflector shield issues. :?

and as far as OUN supposedly "over hyping" this event, Ill say this: the Winter Storm Watch was prob a little overkill but OUN along with local OCM's were right to hype the extreme cold aspect of this system. Jeff, I love you dearly but im going to have to disagree with you on this one. Anytime daytime highs are in the teens and wind chills values are hovering right around/at 0 degrees here in central OK, thats deadly, life-threatening, not different than serious severe wx situation. Im all for warning the residences/public of the impending cold. I was at the bus stop this afternoon waiting for the apartment bus to come pick me up at the oval i was in the sheltered bench that you see at bus stops and I had total three layers of clothing on abover then two for my legs both including my thermal/long underwear I was wearing underneath plus heavy jacket and santa hat to cover my ears. So I was not freezing while waiting 20 min for the bus but 6 or 7 other people in that shelter were shivering notably, which was just a microcosm of a lot of people i saw on campus today. Funny how I didnt see any METR majors shivering, maybe b/c they were prepared b/c they saw the forecast and headed warnings.
So I agree with the hype of cold weather. Its not uncommon at all for wintertime highs in the teens in central Oklahoma but almost always only a handful of days in the winter that that happens. I know Jeff mentioned the day in Feb 03. I distinctly remember that day. I remember it was like three days in a row at the very end of month of highs teens and lower 20s. And it was overcast to and somewhat windy. So it does happen.

Well that should satisfy my daily blog requirements for the next week.

EDIT: Karen, please tell me that wasnt DF that made that comment about freezing precip on the map. Hes the one I watch while at home, I like his way of forecasting and "stay calm lets look at this from all angles" type approach

Tim Stoecklein

12-08-2005, 06:53 AM

In Fort Collins Colorado, a place that averages about 45" per year, they would run street cleaners after every snow melt to remove the salt and gravel. I never understood this.

I think all those chemicals have a rather adverse effect on road surface after an extended period of use. Roads in Michigan are a good example of this! On another note of guessing, think about where all those chemicals eventually end up once they are flushed through the storm drainage. Ft. Collins is a very eco-aware city :wink:

I had a good 4" of snow by the time it was done last evening. Some places SE of the turnpike recorded 10". Not bad for the first actual snowfall of the season.

Tim

Ben Prusia

12-08-2005, 07:37 AM

I am checking in with a good 11.5" of snow here in southern Johnson County, Kansas. Some folks just a tad southwest of here got over a foot of snow, up to 14", not too shabby!

Robert Dewey

12-08-2005, 07:45 AM

I am checking in with a good 11.5" of snow here in southern Johnson County, Kansas. Some folks just a tad southwest of here got over a foot of snow, up to 14", not too shabby!

Wow, 14 inches?

I've been trying to verify if the NAM or the GFS had the best QPF fields... SFC obs indicated no higher than 0.45 inches of total melted QPF, but we all know that the network doesn't cover 100% of the US. If 12-14 inches did in fact fall, I'd be more confident in the NAM's higher QPF solution for today and tomorrow (i.e. my Great Lakes thread). Not to mention, pretty high radar echoes are now breaking out over a large portion MO - drifing in this direction.

Karen Politte

12-08-2005, 07:46 AM

LOL........anybody know what the roads are like in Norman this morning????

I have to leave for work in half an hour.......want to know if I should up my commute time from 12 minutes to an hour....... :P

KR

Anthony Silver

12-08-2005, 09:14 AM

I am checking in with a good 11.5" of snow here in southern Johnson County, Kansas. Some folks just a tad southwest of here got over a foot of snow, up to 14", not too shabby!

12.5 inches here in Shawnee...one heck of a storm we got. Now it's on to the ugly task of shoveling it and removing it from the cars.

Mike Peregrine

12-08-2005, 09:57 AM

This is one of the prettiest snows we've had in a long time ... it's like everything is coated with a foot of powdered sugar. Now that the sun is out (along with my sunglasses), it really looks like a winter wonderland. Getting these kind of snows used to be the norm around here ... maybe this winter it will be again! Going to head out in the woods during lunch to take some stills.

I-35 was surprisingly good in Johnson County today ... though the city streets (particularly on the Missouri side) are in their typical sorry state. When I used to commute I never ran into problems with road clearing until I got into the city, which is always a mess, seems like.