March 23rd/24th snow - Working towards average by May!

[bud2380]

As I’m watching basketball on KGAN their radar in the corner of the screen is indicating the rain is switching over to snow. Still just rain here right now though. Just had lightning and a clap of thunder here.

[hlcater]

Snow here. Big flakes. Will probably switch back to sleet as the higher returns pass over.

[bud2380]

The temp on my thermometer has dropped 1.4 degrees in the last 20 minutes. Down to 36.5

[bud2380]

My brother is currently on the north side of north Liberty and reporting sleet. Still rain her as of 5 minutes ago.

[Iowawx]

Snow is now falling here. Very large flakes.

[Hawkeye]

I'm on the west side of CR, currently getting a mix of sleet and snowflakes.  You can easily see the small blob of mixed precip over CR on the correlation coefficient loop on radar.

[bud2380]

Rain, snow and sleet all happening here right now.

[hlcater]

50/50 sleet and snow here at this moment. Wonder what the 95+ CC returns to the west are. Snow?

[bud2380]

Wow temp down to 34.3. It was 37.9 at 10:30. Almost all snow now and it’s sticking to the grass and even roads now.

[Hawkeye]

The HRRR just keeps getting more aggressive with the warm wedge aloft.  The surface low is not shifting north at all, but the MCS feature in eastern Nebraska is tracking farther north each run.  It's this strong disturbance that seems to be pulling the warmth northward as it crosses Iowa.

[bud2380]

Canadian still has 15.6”.

[gabel23]

We have been seeing moderate rain for an hour; Will easily finish with at least an inch. Good luck to the people who see snow, I’m thinking somebody is gonna get a thumping!

[bud2380]

I guess all we can do is wait and see what happens. The fact that it’s thunder snowing here (just happened) and snow already sticking to the ground is a good sign. If warm air works in and cuts down totals that will suck but it’s just wait and see right now. But most models are showing that even if that happens it’s likely short lived and almost all are showing very heavy snow between 6am and noon.

[Hawkeye]

Getting some decent lightning flashes, here, along with a nice crack of thunder just now.  It's trying to snow.

[hlcater]

Snowing here with some sleet still mixing in at times. That warm wedge, maybe even potential short lived dry slot are worrying me. Looking at forecast soundings, things are less than 0.5c above freezing for a short time in the sleet area, so even a minor change either way would have a massive effect on amount of sleet we get. 

[Hawkeye]

It certainly did cool off in a hurry... now down to 33.  It's snowing a little better now, mostly smaller flakes with a few big flakes mixed in.  We continue to get lightning and thunder.

[bud2380]

Well I just turned on Bloodsport so regardless of what happens with the weather it’s gonna be a good night.

[bud2380]

Down to 32.7. Snow is falling moderately but the wind is making the flakes small. Ground is coated white as are the roads and sidewalks

[hlcater]

CID airport reporting thundersnow. I don't think I've ever seen an AWOS do that, but then again, I don't follow nor'easters very much. That being said, this is pretty frequent thundersnow with a rumble every 3 or 4 minutes with massive parachutes.

 

[Hawkeye]

The temp at most of the Cedar Rapids school weather stations just fell below 32.

 

CC radar loop shows another little batch of mixing moving in.

[bud2380]

I’ve never seen a snowstorm with this much thunder and lightning. We’re getting repeated rounds of lightning and thunder

[Hawkeye]

I’ve never seen a snowstorm with this much thunder and lightning. We’re getting repeated rounds of lightning and thunder

 

Yeah, that has been pretty interesting.  I just heard another decent rumble.  Snow is coming down good here... very small flakes.  I hear a bit of sleet mixing in as well.  CC radar shows more sleet/mixing trying to move in from the west.  The bright radar returns north and east of CR must be some heavy snow.

 

The surface temp continues to fall, now down to 29 degrees at a few local stations.  It was only supposed to get down to 32.  We just need the rest of the column to cooperate.

[hlcater]

Yeah, that has been pretty interesting.  I just heard another decent rumble.  Snow is coming down good here... very small flakes.  I hear a bit of sleet mixing in as well.  CC radar shows more sleet/mixing trying to move in from the west.

 

The surface temp continues to fall, now down to 29 degrees at a few local stations.  It was only supposed to get down to 32.  We just need the rest of the column to cooperate.

If the surface is running colder wouldn’t that also reflect on the rest of the column? Especially with dynamic cooling where the entire column is nearly uniform in temperature. Small flakes here too though. I’ve already got pretty solid accumulation on the grass in the order of 1.5-2.0” with only 0.5” on the pavement.

[Grizzcoat]

 

CID airport reporting thundersnow. I don't think I've ever seen an AWOS do that, but then again, I don't follow nor'easters very much. That being said, this is pretty frequent thundersnow with a rumble every 3 or 4 minutes with massive parachutes.

 

 

CID is ASOS  (Not AWOS)- big differnce  but still - LAWRS site but your post has it in AUTO mode which even the ATC leave in while supposedly augmenting the system. TSSN with LAWRS sites in AUTO is a rather common because one doesn't know FOR SURE how far away the LTG is becasue with ALDARS it's always distant. IN this case it does appear to be within 10 miles, but with no actual human. observer to discern, no one knows for sure. I know the above because it's my living...

[Hawkeye]

I’ve already got pretty solid accumulation on the grass in the order of 1.5-2.0” with only 0.5” on the pavement.

 

I may have an inch on the grass.  Even the small difference in our locations has made a difference already.

[hlcater]

The Vinton AWOS(maybe ASOS) just had a 50 knot wind gust. Interesting.

[Grizzcoat]

VINTON is AWOS- but with wind , compared to ASOS, it shouldn't matter as I believe both up to date AWOS's have the new IFM (ice free wind sensor, no moving parts) -- ASOS's have had these IFM for about 5 years. They do have issues in variable winds but perform quite nicely in steady winds.

[Grizzcoat]

Wind sensor can't handle mother nature at ALO--

 

KALO 240554Z AUTO ( WIND MISSING) 1/2SM SN FZFG VV006 M02/M02 A3014 RMK AO2 PK WND 11034/0455 TSB21E36 SLP213 P0006 60009 T10171017 10056 21017 400891033 50003 RVRNO
KALO 240549Z AUTO 10023G29KT 1/4SM +SN FZFG VV006 M02/M02 A3014 RMK AO2 PK WND 11034/0455 LTG DSNT SE TSB21E36 P0006 RVRNO

[hlcater]

Under a 40dbz band at the moment. This is very heavy stuff. Visibility easily less than 1/8th mile. Actually seeing a bit of blowing snow as well, to my surprise.

[Grizzcoat]

Temp crashing quick just NNW of KDSM by about 25 miles. Down to 34.5 from 36.1 just 30 mins ago.  Do not know if it will be enough - but if I was at KDMX NWS I would be watching it like a hawk because many people in about 5 hours would be seriously pissed off..... if this changes over quicker.

[Craig-OmahaWX]

Temp crashing quick just NNW of KDSM by about 25 miles. Down to 34.5 from 36.1 just 30 mins ago.  Do not know if it will be enough - but if I was at KDMX NWS I would be watching it like a hawk because many people in about 5 hours would be seriously pissed off..... if this changes over quicker.

Shocked they don't at least have 1-3 inches in the grids for Des Moines. 

[Grizzcoat]

The ground level CAA seems to be working in faster--- so maybe a brief period of FRZA? Upper levels still have rain here. Will be interesting - --

[bud2380]

We’re getting freezing rain here with a temp of 30.6. Looks like 1-1.5” of snow sleet concrete on the ground. Models still showing several more inches of snow to come so I hope this changes over to snow again soon. I think 6” here is going to be a maximum now

[bud2380]

Looks like we’re back to a complete mix of every p type again. Snow mixing back in.

[Tom]

Surprised that temps are in the upper 20's near Waterloo while just east you guys have mixed precip.  James' place is getting crushed right now.  I think that area will be the winners as temps are colder with better fluff factor.

[Tom]

Pretty incredible to be seeing so many lightning strikes on radar from this late Spring storm and it isn't your A-typical wound up, deep low pressure...

 

[shakjen]

Woke up to no snow?? Been all rain. Going to have to snow a lot to get to the 8+ they called for

[bud2380]

Finally switched back to snow here. Hopefully for good

[bud2380]

Reports of 9” in north central Iowa. They were the big winners. HRRR still shows several more inches here. We’re going to need this to pivot and sink south to achieve that

[Madtown]

Looks like thunderstorms southwest of me this am. Sky looks angry down there.