January 5th/6th Potential Clipper

[Grizzcoat]

The ratios are running 20+:1 to in the heavier bands- in the lighter bands it seems to much about what Sciascia said. I have an official 8" NWS gauge in my yard and i have done two samples. Big difference. I-80 east of DSM is closed-- do not know which direction.

[Maxim]

If you read LOT's update, ratios are running pretty normal in Iowa. 10-11:1, so maybe the ratios will be near normal?

What's up with that? Must be pouring pixie dust out there or something.

[Grizzcoat]

another note to remember in the future-- the Euro sucked on  this system at least here in C.IA. Allready more QPF then what the Euro ever had. GFS much better.

[Seahawkfan]

Some of the Heavy bands now just starting to show up here in Eastern Ia

[james1976]

Well the real heavy stuff is just to my sw and looks like its gonna just miss me. Disappointing.

[dubuque473]

I see I80 is closed with a 20+ car pileup.

[Geos]

A lot of reports of fine snowflakes coming down in Iowa this afternoon. I think the atmopshere is just too cold to get full dendrites to form completely. Found this diagram that shows the structure to temperature relationship.

 

[Seahawkfan]

Yup i noticed that while i was out walking Snow really fine. Too cold lol go figure least it falling at a decent clip right now here. Hopefully it can stay that way so we can least get 5 plus out of this i be a happy camper.

[Money]

Like I said there is no way Chicago gets 5-7 out of this

 

3-4 is a good call

[Tom]

I think ORD gets 2" tops, the heaviest snowfall is occurring just to the north of the track.  Not much precip farther north...maybe an 1" towards the WI/IL state line. 

[james1976]

Just measured 0.9". Snow is coming down moderately.

[Tom]

DSM getting smoked right now...wouldn't be surprised if some 2"/hr snowfall rates hitting that area with 30dbz rates.  Seems like the most intense banding just to the north of the track is robbing the moisture to the north.  I've seen this before so this may bust on the northern fringe, just like James area.

[Tony]

Nobody knows how this is going to play out in in Illinois but I will go out on a limb here and say that we will do better than 10:1 ratios especially under the heavy banding. Just my opinion.

[6789]

I feel like it's going to far South for me to get anything. I say I got 2" tops as well in Kane.

[Tom]

Nobody knows how this is going to play out in in Illinois but I will go out on a limb here and say that we will do better than 10:1 ratios especially under the heavy banding. Just my opinion.

From Ottawa on south is where I think the heaviest band is going to hit...just look at the radar and you can gauge where the northern fringe of the heaviest snowfall may fall.

[dubuque473]

Just started snowing...

[james1976]

Yeah DSM and to the north and west getting destroyed. I absolutely hate just getting missed. Most frustrating thing ever. But for now its coming down pretty good. GFS may win this one after all.

[james1976]

DMX and DVN still have me just inside the heaviest snow totals (8+) but I dont know how thats gonna happen.

[Grizzcoat]

state trooper says maybe up to 100 car pile up on I-80 east of DSM-- westbound. terrible situation.

[james1976]

1.9" here. An inch in just over an hour.

[dubuque473]

What a nice snowfall. Local met says it wont end until around 0300...cant wait to see what I end up with.

[Geos]

Ceiling is lowering considerably outside. I will say that. Most roads are already icy and packed with snow still.

Just too cold for any substantial snow up this way.

[FV-Mike]

Flakes starting to fly out this way

[Madtown]

Pixie dust fallin.

[Geos]

Starting to spit flakes here now.

Not often I've seen a snowfall at these temperatures.

[Tom]

Snow starting to fall IMBY...I don't see getting more than 2" from this...just enough to lay down a fresh cover of snow before the cold hits again..

[Madtown]

I would say at this rate 1" to 1.5" tops

[Maxim]

got dust here

[Yerf]

Good punch hitting right now. Very fine chrystal like flakes

[ToastedRavs]

Anywhere from just under 5" (at my place and the DSM airport) to nearly 7"+ on the N and NE side of DSM.  One more band may give a bit more; but did pretty well over here.  Best of luck to the IL/Chicago peeps!  Hope you get 3" or more

[Tom]

Starting to spit flakes here now.

Not often I've seen a snowfall at these temperatures.

I was just going to say that.  The last time I recall it was nearly as cold as this was back in 2010 or 2009 in December when it was roughly 10F and temps rose into the upper 10's.  I believe it was a WAA snow event along a warm front coming in from the west.

 

Very fine and powdery snow flakes...about to get a heavier burst as we speak.

[Trinomial]

My grid was just recently updated to "heavy snow" and 3 - 5 inches. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like we'll get more than 2. Wonder why they just changed it? It was at 2 - 4.

[Geos]

Accumulating already here. Pouring down pixie dust right now.

[Seahawkfan]

We picked up almost 5 Inches pretty decent clipper. 6.5 total on the ground including the 1.5 we got yesterday still snowing out.

[Tom]

Probably getting 3/4-1 mile visibiity under this band right now. Roads are extremely slick. Susrprised its coming down as hard as it is.

[Maxim]

Just about the worst flake size I've ever seen here.

[Meichel]

Was out driving in that nice heavy band that rolled through the NW burbs. 3/4" flakes and very heavy for a bit. Visibility was 1/4 mile.  Almost pixie dust now, but falling heavy. 1.25" so far. 8º

[Geos]

Flake size did uptick a bit here. 0.5" down.

 

UGN has been reporting SN for the past 40 minutes.

[james1976]

4.0" at 8:30. Big flakes coming down.

[Geos]

Coming up on 0.8" here. I don't think it's a 10:1 snow, but definitely not towards 18:1 or anything above.