4/10 - 4/12 Plains/Upper Midwest Powerhouse Blizzard

[Hawkeye]

Gotta love April blizzards.

As far as I know our last April blizzard was in 1973, a year before I was born, so I've never been able to love one, and I probably never will.  Strong April lows track through Iowa, not south.

[snowstorm83]

April snow climo is definitely garbage in eastern Nebraska and Iowa. Last significant storm was in 1997.

[Craig-OmahaWX]

18z NAM was definitely close to Omaha...interesting.

 

[Stormhunter87]

00z Nam bringing it in weaker but slower.

[Stormhunter87]

April snow climo is definitely garbage in eastern Nebraska and Iowa. Last significant storm was in 1997.

Wasn't here for that one but heard it was nasty.

[Craig-OmahaWX]

00z Nam bringing it in weaker but slower.

 

Well I haven't looked but typically a weaker system wouldn't go as far north, at least from what I've seen in the past.

[Stormhunter87]

Well I haven't looked but typically a weaker system wouldn't go as far north, at least from what I've seen in the past.

So actually showing stronger later in the models but definitely slower.

[gosaints]

Complete concrete mixer followed by pingers on the nam

[Stormy]

April snow climo is definitely garbage in eastern Nebraska and Iowa. Last significant storm was in 1997.

Same for my area. Think I got over 8" in April of that year.

[gabel23]

Nam picks up yet again another band of heavy snow on the nw quad of the low. This will be interesting if the other models pick up on this tonight.

[gosaints]

Gfs way north and west with the goods.... Lots of rain here. Was always on the table

[Craig-OmahaWX]

Yeah what just happened on the gfs is something you dont want to see this late lol.

[Stormhunter87]

To close to the low. So dry air wins and the cold air doesn't make it until it's to late. Impressive totals north of here.

[Stormy]

I kind of enjoyed Terry Swailes' latest article on this storm.

https://www.tswails.com/single-post/2019/04/08/THE-WINDS-OF-CHANGE-ARE-STIRRING

[Stormy]

I might end up with only a few tenths of rain from this system. Not looking very exciting at all now for my area on the southern end. Oh well, need the fields dryer so farmers can plant. Actually, oats & hay (early crops) were already being planted last week around this area.

[Tom]

Blizzard Warnings hoisted for NW NE/SD and into MN....an incredibly strong Spring Storm is in the works!  Overnight 00z Euro trended a bit stronger, and for that reason, has ticked NW a bit leaving some members near MSP quite close to a mix scenario.  Warm tongue makes its way into S MN as this storm occludes.  Max wind gusts on the Euro are centering the worst winds across E SD into MN (50-70mph).

 

00z EPS is showing the ULL track from NW KS/C NE into SW MN shifting the heaviest snows NW, but still, there is a lot of snow still being forecasted for those in MN.

[Tom]

00z Ukie is still showing more cold air across MN and primarily indicating more snow.  Let's see if the models shift back SE in today's suite.  

 

On a side note, 00z GEFS did tick NW as well...

[St Paul Storm]

Full sample on the 12z runs today. Surprised that this thing is trending stronger as we get closer to the event, and hence the NW shift. Could be a rainer, could be a blizzard. Whenever there’s any doubt about a warm nose hitting the metro, there’s a good chance it’ll happen. I think we’ll ping like mad, with a few inches of snow at the start. But, let’s see what 12z looks like.

[CentralNebWeather]

My county is on the edge of the Winter Storm Watch and the heaviest snow line.  It will be interesting if it moves farther NW or ticks back SE.  NWS Hastings is talking ice before the changeover to snow in my area of Central Nebraska.  If I get put in a blizzard warning at some point in the next 36-60 hours, I think it will be at least 4 blizzard warnings this year, or is it 5?  I've lost track.

[gosaints]

Best chance for snow looks to be with the fronto band tomorrow.  Looks quite narrow who knows where it sets up...  HRRR buries northern iowa

[FarmerRick]

From Aberdeen NWS:

[CentralNebWeather]

12Z NAM with a 984 Low in SW Iowa at hour 45.  Not much change from previous NAM models imo.

[gosaints]

Pingers to canada

[Hawkeye]

The CAMs (HRRR/NAM) are keeping all the precip north of CR/IC.  As active as the pattern has been over the last month+, CR/IC just aren't getting much out of it.

[St Paul Storm]

Historic snowstorm is all I keep hearing about. If the 12z NAM is correct all this is going to be is a historic overhype.

[Hawkeye]

The NAM has been bullish on significant mix well up through MSP for at least the last couple days worth of runs.  On Tropical Tidbits, the NAM's 'total positive snow depth change' map only has a few inches in MSP.

[FarmerRick]

Historic snowstorm is all I keep hearing about. If the 12z NAM is correct all this is going to be is a historic overhype.

 

 

20"-30" wouldn't be historic for April?  Hmm....

[Stormgeek]

20"-30" wouldn't be historic for April?  Hmm....

I belive he meant for MSP. NAM is as good as a whiff with how people have been talking about this thing.

[St Paul Storm]

20"-30" wouldn't be historic for April?  Hmm....

I’m referring to my area. I’m sure it will be really impressive (if not historic) elsewhere.

[gosaints]

The NAM has largely been a whiff up there for multiple runs

[CentralNebWeather]

12Z NAM has my area in a swath of 8-10" from my county to the southwest.  I wonder how much of that might be sleet?

[Niko]

This storm has mesmerize a lot people, especially Meteorologists, as it has the potential to be historic for many in the Plains and upper Midwest regions. Wow....too bad its not Winter.

 

Btw: snow/rain mix here IMBY w an inch or so. UGH! (My poor grass will take a beating)

[Snowshoe]

The difference between 32^o memorable snowfall and 34⁰ cold miserable rain is minuscule. 

[St Paul Storm]

GFS going NW. Gonna be a cold rain.

[Stormhunter87]

This storm has mesmerize a lot people, especially Meteorologists, as it has the potential to be historic for many in the Plains and upper Midwest regions. Wow....too bad its not Winter.

 

Btw: snow/rain mix here IMBY w an inch or so. UGH! (My poor grass will take a beating)

Definitely got my attention . More so for those intense rates of snowfall. Wish we could get in on it but we don't need it I guess.

[gosaints]

Some places have the potential to get way to much rain

[Niko]

Definitely got my attention . More so for those intense rates of snowfall. Wish we could get in on it but we don't need it I guess.

Those rates in a hvy, wet snowfall is awesome to look at.

[CentralNebWeather]

NWS Hastings for my area:

 

Action Recommended: Make preparations per the instructions Issued by: Hastings - NE, US, National Weather Service,

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH POSSIBLE. WINDS COULD GUST AS HIGH AS 55 TO 60 MPH. * WHERE...PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. * WHEN...FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD IMPACT THE MORNING AND EVENING COMMUTES. STRONG WINDS COULD CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE FREEZING RAIN. ROAD CLOSURES MAY BE POSSIBLE DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITIES. THIS CAN LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE TRAVEL VERY DANGEROUS. &&

More Information

...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT FROM SNOW AND INTENSE WIND... ...FREEZING RAIN AND ICING ALSO POSSIBLE...

[East Dubzz]

Difference of 2” of rain between the GFS & NAM for my area.

[St Paul Storm]

12z GEFS with a very small tick NW compared to 6z. Still many heavy hitters for the metro on north. The King has his say next. Thru hr 24 it’s east of the GFS and FV3.