February 8th-11th Major Snowstorm

[james1976]

80 corridor is looking good imo. You guys that got robbed last night might make up for it tonight. Good luck to ya'll down there.

[Tom]

Skulking just showed 13” in Palos Hills and mentioned a 16” report in La Porte, IN I think it was. Pretty impressive.

[NH4NU]

The differences between NAM and GFS are crazy. GFS is literally spot on.

 

http://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=gfs&p=snku_acc&rh=2018021000&fh=12&r=us_mw&dpdt=

[Tom]

Some more totals in the S/SW burbs in the 12"+ range:

ORD officially came in at 7.8"

 

 

 

13.0 - Palos Hills 12.8 - Frankfort 12.2 - Joliet 12.0 - Lemont 12.0 - Plano 12.0 - Hickory Hills 11.6 - Westchester 11.5 - Near Midway 10.5 - Orland Park 10.5 - Plainfield

[jaster220]

Finished with about 4.2" of snow here.

There are some "sun snow showers" continuing.

 

Sometimes it snows better here with the sun shining than when there is a thick overcast.

 

Look like the Chicago Airport (not named after Madalyn Murray!) ended with more snow than I did.

 

Well, you win some, you lose some.

Lol.

 

February Total: 5.9"

Seasonal Total: 21.4"

  

The fact that the so-called "2nd Storm" is proving to be far, far weaker than every model had it progged to be is hardly surprising from a meteorological perspective.

 

It is very, very rare to have two consecutive powerful storms within a short time frame.

 

This is because the earth's energy field is in equilibrium; and hence the first storm will ALWAYS rob the energy that the second was supposed to tap.

 

The atmosphere always needs a period to settle down after undergoing the convulsion a powerful storm inflicts upon it.

 

There is only so much energy to go around. 

 

Thus you will almost never see two big storms...one right after the other...inside of 5 short days.

Lol, you can forward my 1 cent via USPS

 

I agree on the principal that 2 storms in a short span is most unlikely. That's why I'm stunned Everytime I see MSP's top snowstorm list. How they scored 2 massive 18" storms in 3 days I still don't know?

[Tabitha]

  

I agree on the principal that 2 storms in a short span is most unlikely. That's why I'm stunned Everytime I see MSP's top snowstorm list. How they scored 2 massive 18" storms in 3 days I still don't know?

 

 

IIRC that was in January 1982?  That's w/o checking any books..

[GDR]

Snow picking up here! Big flakes

[Tabitha]

  

Lol, you can forward my 1 cent via USPS

 

 

The Rapid City NWS WFO actually had 4.6"...to my 4.2".

 

I wrote about my tendency to "under-measure"...as I sometimes do not adhere to the "measure every x number of hours rule".  Sometimes it is just too cold and dark to go out.

 

This is a problem in long duration events like this one (about 36 hours)...where settling of snow is a certainty....and one measurement at the end will almost certainly reflect less than the amount that actually fell.

 

Although both under-measuring and over-measuring are bad habits; if I were to choose between the two; the lesser of the two evils would be to under-measure...for then; when the total for the season is entered into the ledger; one will never need  endure the gnawing disillusion and uncertainty regarding whether or not the excellent total actually is real...or contrived.

 

Moreover, as a famous snow fan once said:

 

"I don't like to be the big winner in snow events.  It makes everyone else suspicious of my ruler."

[gosaints]

The Rapid City NWS WFO actually had 4.6"...to my 4.2".

 

I wrote about my tendency to "under-measure"...as I sometimes do not adhere to the "measure every x number of hours rule"

 

This is a problem in long duration events like this one (about 36 hours)...where settling of snow is a certainty....and one measurement at the end will almost certainly reflect less than the amount that actually fell.

I bet this turned out closer than most expected.

[Tabitha]

  

Lol, you can forward my 1 cent via USPS

 

 

I was closer than you would imagine to winning.  A very good and very narrow band setup last night   (ESE / WNW oriented) just to my SW.  I saw the outer edge of it; but right in the midst of it....8 to 9 inch storm totals were common.  Missed by less than 25 miles.

[snowstorm83]

FWIW, both the NAM and GFS shifted north with the wave tomorrow night.

[Hawkeye]

We're going to get some snow out of this, but I'd rather be in Iowa City than Cedar Rapids.  It's too bad the heavy band couldn't train ene instead of sagging toward the south edge of the snow.

[Tabitha]

I was closer than you would imagine to winning.  A very good and very narrow band setup last night   (ESE / WNW oriented) just to my SW.  I saw the outer edge of it; but right in the midst of it....8 to 9 inch storm totals were common.  Missed by less than 25 miles.

 

 

The funny thing was that Custer....in the 50's yesterday and seeing the snow they had previously on the ground melt away...ended up right in the midst of the great snow band.  I never got above 17 F; but was ultimately too far NE.

[jaster220]

I was closer than you would imagine to winning. A very good and very narrow band setup last night (ESE / WNW oriented) just to my SW. I saw the outer edge of it; but right in the midst of it....8 to 9 inch storm totals were common. Missed by less than 25 miles.

Same here. NWS map had me for 8-12", I ended up with 6 while 25 miles south Coldwater reeled in a very solid 14". Dec 15, 2007 we at least got 10" when Coldwater nabbed 15". That place should be renamed Hotsnowcenter, lol

[Niko]

Final snowfall here was exactly 8.0". Awesome!  

[Tabitha]

Same here. NWS map had me for 8-12", I ended up with 6 while 25 miles south Coldwater reeled in a very solid 14". Dec 15, 2007 we at least got 10" when Coldwater nabbed 15". That place should be renamed Hotsnowcenter, lol

 

So is that a Great Lakes related problem or just bad synoptic luck?

 

'Cause if its the former; expect history to repeat itself...

[bud2380]

Snowing in downtown Cedar Rapids Iowa.

[Hawkeye]

It's ripping here on the west side.

[Iowawx]

It's ripping here on the west side.

Same here on NE side. Nice flake size. I’m surprised CR is not in the WWA.

[Iowawx]

This has to be coming down at least 1 inch per hour now.

[Hawkeye]

This has to be coming down at least 1 inch per hour now.

 

Yeah.  Let's hope we can pick up a quick inch in the first hour.  The HRRR has the heavy stuff sagging south fairly quickly, but light snow continuing through morning.  I'd certainly be satisfied if we can scrape a couple inches out of this.

 

There is some wind, though, so I hope this can be measured accurately.

[Iowawx]

I took measurements from last nights snow. I’m going with 3.8 inches for a total from last night. Models show CR also likely will get more snow again Saturday night.

[bud2380]

It’s really pouring snow in downtown CR

[Hawkeye]

I took measurements from last nights snow. I’m going with 3.8 inches for a total from last night. Models show CR also likely will get more snow again Saturday night.

 

Cripes, how are all the spotters right down the street from me measuring twice as much as I got?  I really wish I would have melted down my gauge catch from the first part and then put it back out before bed.  That way, I could have as least gotten an idea of how much fell or did not fall overnight.  One thing I noticed this afternoon, though, is that a couple driveways up the street, which had not been shoveled, only had a couple inches on them.  There was a spotter report of only 2 inches on the north side, too, I think.  Looking at the radar loop again from last night, it certainly looks like all the good snow skipped past Cedar Rapids, so I'm not sure we got any additional snow at all on top of the 1.8 from earlier.  I'm just not buying the 3+ inch amounts near me.

[Hawkeye]

It's about to rip again here as the main band of heavy snow passes through.

[bud2380]

I’m about to head back to north Liberty but it’s a beautiful scene here in Cr right now.

[GDR]

Wow it’s a snow blitz right now. Ripping like crazy!

[hlcater]

Absolutely dumping here. Should progressively move through here over the next hour but there's some less significant bands behind it. Looks good for a 2" total.

[Craig-OmahaWX]

EURO jumped north again for tomorrow night. Gives us poor folk in Omaha another 3 inches. Will believe it when I see it lol

[Hawkeye]

It is pound town right now in CR... loving this.

[hlcater]

HRRR now gives the Cedar Rapids area almost 5" total when all is said and done. RAP is the same. I'll believe that when I see it. Although that's for in town, looks like it shows 3-4" up here. I'll still take that and run as I was expecing an inch at best. May already have that but I haven't measured.

[tbone8]

http://tribwgntv.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/feature02102018.jpg?quality=85&strip=all

[hlcater]

Linn and Jones added to the advisories as well.

[Hawkeye]

00z Euro farther nw with wave 3 Saturday night....  has Lincoln getting a couple tenths, Omaha and CR one tenth.

[Hawkeye]

It is snowing so heavily right now that I can now barely see the lights 1/8th mile away..

[hlcater]

Heaviest snow of this particular event here, maybe of the season, although street lights may skew that. We've had some serious rates earlier in the season.

[Hawkeye]

There's a 1.5" report on south side of CR.

[bud2380]

I just rode home to NL from CR. It was really coming down. It’s about to start pounding on NL.

[Hawkeye]

Just measured 1.8"... not bad for less than two hours of snow.

[Jaycee]

This storm tomorrow, if it wouldnt be for the dang high pressure, would be an absolute legendary Colorado low for all of us, on top of what we have. Wish that hp didnt ruin it :/