The accumulating snow is moving out of the state this afternoon, after having dumped as much as a foot of snow on parts of the state. Many locations did receive at least 4-10 inches of snow in the eastern 2/3rds of the state with the heaviest being from Algona to Marshalltown to Ottumwa. Cold NW winds have begun blowing the snow around and this will continue through the evening and overnight hours. Skies will begin to clear tonight (a few peeks of sun even this PM), with temperatures dropping into the single digits and lower teens. A cold day is in store for Wednesday with highs generally in the teens to the lower 20s. A bitterly cold night Wednesday night will see readings drop below zero across the state especially in the heavier snowpack areas. The next chance of some light snow is forecast on Friday, with temperatures rising back into the 20s by the weekend.
February 8, 2010
Snowfall Amounts as of 10pm
Snowfall Totals through 10pm (only totals above 3\
Here are a few snowfall amounts as of 10pm this evening
February 8, 2010
9pm Update
Winter Storm Warning continues in the pink shaded counties through Tuesday evening in the west and early Wednesday morning in the far east. It along with the Winter Weather Advisory has been expanded in the last half hour to include a few more counties in the west central portions of the state. Snow accumulations of 4-9 inches have already occurred in central Iowa with a lot more snow to come. Totals by Tuesday evening will range anywhere from 6-12 inches, given what has already fallen and another 18-30 hours more of snow to come.
Travel is not advised in the Des Moines, Ames, Marshalltown, Newton and Grinnell areas this evening, with many more roads becoming hazardous throughout the evening into tomorrow morning.
Current temperatures have plummeted across the western and central portions of the state where the winds have switched to the NW.
Spencer has dropped to -18 (the validity of that reading is in question), but Sioux City is at -5, Des Moines is at 4, Waterloo at 7, Mason City at 3. Where the winds haven’t switched to the NW, readings include, Cedar Rapids 24, Dubuque at 23, Iowa City 26, Burlington 27, Quad Cities 25 and Keokuk 30.
Temperatures will drop quickly as NW winds take hold across the state tonight, with readings dropping 10-15 degrees in a few hours after the winds switch to the NW.
Snow totals so far will be posted later this evening.
February 8, 2010
Various Snowfall Records at Des Moines
…VARIOUS SNOWFALL RECORDS AT THE DES MOINES AIRPORT…
GIVEN THE AMPLE SNOWFALL THIS WINTER SEASON…DES MOINES IS CLOSE TO OR HAS BROKEN NUMEROUS RECORDS REGARDING SNOW…SNOWFALL AND SNOW DEPTH.
CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF SNOW DEPTH…THIS IS JUST THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE SNOW DEPTH HAS BEEN AT OR EXCEEDED A GIVEN VALUE FOR CONSECUTIVE DAYS. THE SNOW DEPTH DROPPED TO 5 INCHES ON JANUARY 24TH ENDING THE THREAT OF BREAKING THE RECORD OF THE BIGGER SNOW DEPTH VALUES. HOWEVER… NEW STREAKS FOR SOME OF THESE DEPTHS HAVE STARTED BUT ARE STILL IN THE TEENS OF DAYS AND NOT NOTED HERE. THIS DATA IS GOOD THROUGH FEBRUARY 8TH (TODAY) SINCE SNOW DEPTH IS RECORDED FROM THE 12Z (6AM) OBSERVATION FROM THE DES MOINES AIRPORT
SNOW DEPTH CONSECUTIVE DAYS CURRENT TOTAL
1″ OR MORE 99 (2000-01) 64 DAYS
2″ OR MORE 94 (2000-01) 64 DAYS
3″ OR MORE 91 (2000-01) 63 DAYS
4″ OR MORE 63 (ONGOING) NEW RECORD (OLD 61 DAYS 1979)
5″ OR MORE 62 (ONGOING) NEW RECORD (OLD 54 DAYS 1961-62)
6″ OR MORE 54 (1961-62) TOTAL ENDED JAN 24TH AT 46 DAYS
7″ OR MORE 46 (1979) TOTAL ENDED JAN 24TH AT 30 DAYS
8″ OR MORE 43 (1982) TOTAL ENDED JAN 24TH AT 30 DAYS
9″ OR MORE 35 (1960) TOTAL ENDED JAN 23RD AT 28 DAYS
10″ OR MORE 35 (1960) TOTAL ENDED JAN 17TH AT 23 DAYS
11″ OR MORE 29 (1960) TOTAL ENDED JAN 17TH AT 10 DAYS
12″ OR MORE 27 (1960) TOTAL ENDED JAN 13TH AT 7 DAYS
NON CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF SNOW DEPTH…THIS IS THE NUMBER OF DAYS THE SNOW DEPTH HAS BEEN AT OR EXCEEDED A GIVEN VALUE REGARDLESS IF THE SNOW DEPTH OCCURRED ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR NOT. IN OTHER WORDS…IT JUST THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES THIS SNOW DEPTH HAS BEEN OBSERVED DURING THE SEASON.
SNOW DEPTH NON CONSECUTIVE DAYS CURRENT TOTAL
1″ OR MORE 106 (2000-2001) 64 DAYS
2″ OR MORE 101 (2000-2001) 64 DAYS
3″ OR MORE 94 (2000-2001) 63 DAYS
4″ OR MORE 90 (2000-2001) 63 DAYS
5″ OR MORE 80 (2000-2001) 62 DAYS
6″ OR MORE 79 (1961-1962) 60 DAYS
7″ OR MORE 70 (1961-1962) 59 DAYS
8″ OR MORE 56 (1961-1962) 55 DAYS
9″ OR MORE 51 (ONGOING) NEW RECORD (OLD 49 DAYS 1960)
10″ OR MORE 42 (1960) 37 DAYS
11″ OR MORE 31 (1960) 22 DAYS
12″ OR MORE 29 (1960) 14 DAYS
MOST SNOWFALL IN A WINTER SEASON (JULY-JUNE).
1. 72.0 INCHES IN 1911-12
2. 70.9 INCHES IN 1885-86
3. 64.1 INCHES IN 1961-62
4. 62.9 INCHES IN 1981-82
5. 59.7 INCHES IN 1974-75
6. 58.5 INCHES IN 2007-08
7. 58.4 INCHES IN 2003-04
8. 58.2 INCHES IN 1959-60
9. 57.8 INCHES IN 1904-05
10. 57.0 INCHES IN 1983-84
MOST SNOWFALL TO DATE IN THE SEASON. IN OTHER WORDS…THE MOST SNOWFALL SINCE JULY OF LAST YEAR UNTIL FEBRUARY 7TH (YESTERDAY) IN ANY GIVEN SEASON.
1. 50.6 INCHES IN 1885-86
2. 47.5 INCHES IN 2009-10
3. 43.2 INCHES IN 1983-84
4. 42.8 INCHES IN 1904-05
5. 40.8 INCHES IN 2003-04
THE SNOWFALL TODAY WILL LIKELY PUSH US INTO FIRST PLACE ON THIS LIST. HOWEVER…WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO GET THE FINAL DAILY TOTAL.
HIGHEST NUMBER OF DAYS IN A WINTER SEASON WITH MEASURABLE SNOWFALL
THE RECORD IS 31 DAYS SET IN THE WINTER OF 1978-79. WE ARE AT 27 DAYS INCLUDING TODAY.
February 8, 2010
Some Late Afternoon Notes
Winter Storm Warnings have been expanded into eastern Iowa. They are in effect until late Tuesday evening. Snowfall amounts are still forecast to be in the range of 5-10 inches of snow, with some isolated heavier totals.
Roads have become very hazardous this afternoon. The following roads have “travel not advised”
I-35 from Grand Ave in Des Moines to Missouri Border, NE Mixmaster to Elkhart exit, IA Hwy 210 to IA Hwy 175.
I-80 from Colfax to Grinnell
US Hwy 30 from Ogden to Colo
US Hwy 34 from US Hwy 71 to east of Chariton
US Hwy 65 from Colo to Zearing and from Indianola south to Missouri Border
US Hwy 69 from Ames to Jewell and from Indianola south to Missouri border
US Hwy 169 from I-80 south to Missouri border
IA Hwy 163 from Pleasant Hill to Monroe.
February 8, 2010
Snow to Continue Through Tuesday
Snow continues in a scattered basis across the state this morning. Accumulations thus far have been light with 2-4 inches common across the central portions of the state with lighter totals farther to the east and in far NW Iowa. Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect in the central and north central portions of the state where the heaviest snowfall accumulations from this event are to be expected, with Winter Weather Advisories on either side of that. Total accumulations from this storm system are expected to range between 7-10 inches in the warning area with heavier totals near a foot possible with lighter 5-9 inch totals to the east and west of that. Wind will not be a big factor with this system until Tuesday as it begins to move away. Blowing and drifting snow will likely be an issue with winds gusting over 30 mph at times Tuesday afternoon and evening. Roads will likely become hazardous later tonight and especially on Tuesday with this snow event.
Cold arctic air will follow the snow, with temperatures dropping below zero by Thursday morning. Another light snow is possible again on Friday with another fast moving storm at that time.
February 7, 2010
The Beginning of a Long Duration Event
Even as the snow continues this evening across the state, this is just the beginning of a couple days of light to moderate snow. Winter Storm Warnings have been issued across the central portions of the state beginning Monday morning and lasting through Tuesday evening. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued to the west beginning this evening in the NW part of the state and tomorrow morning elsewhere. They will be in effect through Tuesday. The Winter Storm Watch is still in effect in the far eastern portions of the state. It will be in effect from Monday evening through Wednesday morning, (but will likely be changed prior to that)
Storm totals from this storm when all is said and done look to be in the range of 8-12 inches in the warning area, with lighter amounts in the Advisory areas. Already today, a few locations have received up to 2 inches plus of snow so far. Roads have become rather slick, especially in the northern and eastern portions of the state. A few locations have begun tow bans. If you have to travel tonight through the middle of this week, be cautious to the ever changing road conditions.
February 7, 2010
A Long Duration Event
Some light snow and flurries are being reported in the western and central parts of the state this morning. This is the beginning of a long duration snow event that won’t likely end until late on Tuesday night. Winter Storm Watches have been issued through the state except in the far west and extreme NE where snow amounts are expected to remain lighter. Snowfall amounts at the end of the event may range in the 8-12 inch range, but this will be over a 48 hour period, with the heaviest snow occurring Monday into Monday night. Winds will begin to become a problem on Tuesday as gusty northwest winds blow in behind the departing storm. This will likely cause blowing and drifting snow with some open areas seeing near-blizzard conditions.
Cold Arctic Weather will return by mid-week with highs in the teens and lows in the single digits above and below zero.
February 6, 2010
Winter Storm Watch for Early Next Week
Winter Storm Watch through Tuesday Evening
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the central portions of the state. In the north it begins at 6pm Sunday evening and is in effect until 6pm on Tuesday evening. In the south, the watch begins at 6am Monday morning and is in effect until 6pm Tuesday evening.
This will be a prolonged snow event, with the possibility of snowfall amounts in the range of 4-8 inches possible, with isolated heavier totals possible. Other watches and advisories are likely to be issued later tonight and tomorrow morning as this storm moves in from the north and northwest.
