April 2020 Observations and Discussion

[westMJim]

The ground is now snow covered here and I just took a measurement and there is now a half inch of snow on the ground. There is still light snow falling and the current temperature is 30.

[Hawkeye]

I picked up 0.4" overnight.  A band of 3-4" fell from southeast of Des Moines to the Quad Cities.  That was a bit unexpected.

 

http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/data/lsr_snowfall.png?1261154738?area=IA_statewide

[Tom]

I have ice on my shoreline this morning. Still 2” of snow otg from Sunday’s snow and the squalls from the last 2 days. 19F with a chill of 13. My April heating bill is on pace to be bigger than March.

My goodness...that's friggin' cold bud!  Thankfully, looks like there is a light at the end of the tunnel as the models are showing a surge of warmth later next week in between storm systems.  I think Spring may finally start showing itself later this month.

[Stormy]

I just ran across some interesting news, at least for weather geeks in my area. Terry Swails, former tv met and local severe/snow geek, is moving to Portland, Maine for a couple years for a family adventure. They are planning to move back to the area/region when his daughter finishes high school. He is planning to continue his Iowa/midwest-centric website while he is living way out there. He's going to miss Iowa's severe storms, but he's going to love the nor'easters. When he moves back to this area he'll be bored to death by our nickel & dimer snowfalls.

Yes I saw he posted some video, but didn't take time to watch it yet. I have former neighbors that moved to eastern Maine years ago and they get tons of snow, something I wouldn't be fond of anymore. I used to like and have all kinds of fun in the snow when young, but I grew out of that. I bet Terry's going to miss the Iowa t. storms to though. My friend from here that moved to Ohio says storms even there aren't like what he was used to beings they are more toned down or the thunder isn't as earth shaking or loud. Probably isn't as bad as he says though. Ha

[Stormy]

There's beauty in this pic...great photo!

Thanks Tom!

[Stormy]

Oh I forgot to say it was around 19°. Haven't checked for sure. Hopefully it didn't damage things to much since it was kinda covered with snow. But an apricot tree had some flowers and a norway maple tree etc has open leaf buds.

[bud2380]

We got about 1-1.5" here, i'll have to get my measuring stick, but I stuck my fingers in the snow on my back deck and its easily 1". 

[Hawkeye]

The Cedar Rapids airport sure gets cold.  Yesterday morning, it bottomed at 19º while no other sites in the area dropped below 22º or 23º.  This morning, CR officially hit 15º!  Here in the city we only hit 25º, and Iowa City officially only dropped to 27º.

[westMJim]

Getting moderate snow fall here now. Nothing says spring better than a spring snow fall.

[Niko]

Attm, its 31F under cloudy skies

[james1976]

Wow where did that snow come from?!

[BMT]

It's nuts.  I've seen snow flakes 5 out of the last 7 days.  luckily not much accumulation though.  Doesn't seem like April.  before that it was 70's and large hail.  Have insurance adjusters coming to check the roof later this week as there have been numerous reports around me of significant damage.  

[Minny_Weather]

There is snow falling. 41.2*F. Probably the highest temp I've ever seen flakes at.

[Niko]

 

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac MI

1233 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2020
 

MIZ068>070-075-076-082-083-152000-

Livingston-Oakland-Macomb-Washtenaw-Wayne-Lenawee-Monroe-

Including the cities of Howell, Pontiac, Warren, Ann Arbor,

Detroit, Adrian, and Monroe

1233 PM EDT Wed Apr 15 2020
 

...SNOW MAY BRING LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS THIS AFTERNOON...
 

An area of moderate to locally heavy snow will overspread the area

this afternoon. This should bring light accumulations of an inch

or less to grassy surfaces. While roads will generally remain wet,

the intensity of some of the heavier snow may lead to a brief

accumulation, especially on elevated roadways or bridges. In

addition, the visibility will be reduced to one half a mile or

less at times. These factors will lead to locally hazardous travel

so caution is advised for those traveling this afternoon.

 

[Niko]

Attm...snowing w a temp at 32F. Its sticking also. Very cold air  arrives Thursday evening as temps drop into the teens followed by more snow possibly on Friday. Hoping its a miss.

 

Okay...UMMM, wtf!

[Minny_Weather]

HUGE flakes falling right now. Sadly, the temp combined with the fact that's it's the middle of the day means it's not going to accumulate.

[Tom]

Many record lows set this morning...

 

 

[Iowawx]

We may get a quick round of good snow later today. Traffic cams around West Des Moines show nice sized flakes from a band of precipitation off to the west that is moving to the East.

[westMJim]

Getting nice big flakes of snow here now. Still cold with a temp of 36.

[bud2380]

Starting on Saturday we look to have temps near normal here and all weekend as well (roughly 60) and then next week per the Euro we will move into the mid 60s early week to low 70s mid week.  That will be amazing.  

[Minny_Weather]

Big flakes falling again. Now that the sun's lower, it's actually trying to accumulate. Still not gonna with a temp of 37.4*F.

[Stormy]

The Cedar Rapids airport sure gets cold. Yesterday morning, it bottomed at 19º while no other sites in the area dropped below 22º or 23º. This morning, CR officially hit 15º! Here in the city we only hit 25º, and Iowa City officially only dropped to 27º.

Wow. But I have noticed Iowa City's temperature is consistently 1°- 3° warmer than I have and all of the surrounding nearby towns. I'm guessing their thermometer is off just a bit or they really are in a warmer spot. Wouldn't think so as the airport is in a low area and on calm nights colder air settles in the valleys. Oh well, my low was 24° yesterday & 19° today. Only up to 38° so far today & currently just 35° with occasional light snow showers. This needs to stop! Lol It will start warming up in a few days and might hit 70° next Tuesday.

 

BTW, the snow amounted to 0.18" liquid and the core samples yielded the same amount. A fluffy snow in April!

[Niko]

Attm, 34F under mostly cloudy skies.

[Stormhunter87]

And once again I stop watching for snow and we get a wwa for 2-5 inches of snow. Lol

[Stormy]

I wonder what happened to Jaster. Hopefully he didn't get sick with the COVID 19!

[Stormy]

Just thought I'ld share before and after photos of the same day.

 

[westMJim]

With yesterday's H/L of 36/25 here at Grand Rapids it made it the 3rd coldest maximum and the 9th coldest low for any April 15th and thus one of the coldest April 15's on record. At this time it s cloudy and 26 here with some light snow falling.

[Tom]

Yesterday's snowfall was not only trecherous back home during the morning commute, but also a record setter...another stat padder in the bag!

 

 

 

 

[Tom]

JMA weeklies don't necessarily suggest any sustained warmth in the long range or at least any glimpse of hope that Spring has any legs.  It appears the pattern may be setting up where there will be storm induced warmth as storm systems come out of the Rockies for those out west & south along with Severe Wx potential.  For those near the GL's/MW/OHV, the 500mb pattern doesn't suggest any sustained warmth in the near term.

 

Last night's 00z EPS is pretty dry for the northern/central Sub...

 

 

JMA Week 2...

 

 

 

 

Week 3-4...

 

 

 

 

 

[Tom]

Boy, the warm blob in the NE PAC is en fuego along with the GOM....interesting to see the waters off the west coast/Baja region have cooled off significantly since the Winter months.  

 

[Stacsh]

Last week of BN temps for a while here.  Back to normal soon.  Just need to get through Friday.  

[Tom]

Last week of BN temps for a while here.  Back to normal soon.  Just need to get through Friday.  

Normal is going to feel so good especially with sunshine...

[Niko]

Attm, its 35F w increasing cloudiness. Temps are way BN. Averaging a good 25 to 30 degrees BN. Snow is on the way for  (Greek) Holy Friday!

[Niko]

Just thought I'ld share before and after photos of the same day.

 

The variance between these 2 photos is remarkable. Good post!

[Stormhunter87]

My wife's cousins out in Ft. Collins got hammered by this storm.

[westMJim]

This has will be a very cold period for mid April. Yesterday’s high of 36 is the 3 coldest maximum for the date and the low of 25 is the 9th coldest minimum for the date. The high so far today at Grand Rapids has been just 38 and if that holds it would become the 6th coldest maximum for April 16th the low of 27 is already the 9 coldest low here at GR for April 16th.

[westMJim]

Normal is going to feel so good especially with sunshine...

Even with some sun with the wind it was a very cold walk today. It is still windy here with a temperature of just 38.

[Tom]

Even with some sun with the wind it was a very cold walk today. It is still windy here with a temperature of just 38.

Yikes, thats a chilly past couple days. Hoping you can enjoy some better days ahead.

[St Paul Storm]

Tom I see you’re now “staff”. Hoping that’s a good thing, and if so, congrats bud!

[jcwxguy]

Easily 6" here,. Jim flowers had 6" half hour ago at 680/80 split