Weather and Society: Post from February 20, 2014

Conditions Over the Day:

This report will be slightly different than any up to this point. With a very large winter storm looming to our west, the purpose of this blog will be to examine the change in conditions as the day progresses. I created a table that is being updated hourly that examines temperature, wind speed and direction, pressure, relative humidity, and outside conditions (overcast, light rain, heavy snow, etc). I also will be compiling maps as the day progresses that highlight the current conditions. This large storm is expected to bring upwards of 18 inches of precipitation in some areas. Another update in storm capacity has included thunder as a possibility during this storm.

3:00 PM: First signs of wintry precipitation falling.

3:30 PM: Snow starting to pick up significantly. 

4:00 PM: Experiencing moderate snowfall with some rain still present. Conditions are very wet and slushy.

4:30 PM: Heavy snowfall occurring, foggy conditions, very slushy.

5:30 PM: Heavy snowfall continues, after looking at radars, it appears as though the storm is beginning to swirl. The stagnancy of the current pressure systems and fronts would back this up. Some gusting has been observed currently. Snowflakes are very large and slushy.

6:30 PM: Heavy snow continues to fall. Storm seems more intense. Gusting winds not as apparent, however a steady wind is present from the north.

7:30 PM: Heavy snow still continuing. Pressure continuing to drop, due to the presence of a large, mid-latitude cyclone that is stationary over top of the region.

8:30 PM: Moderate snowfall currently. A bit of a light patch in the storm is currently over Eau Claire, judging by the radar. Current estimates of 7-11 inches are in place.

9:30 PM: Moderate snow continues to fall, as the storm is rotating over much of Wisconsin and Minnesota. 5-15 mph winds are persisting, as they have been since just prior to the storm.

10:30 PM: Moderate snow and winds out of the north continue affect the area.

11:30 PM: Heavy snow again and much more noticeable, stronger NW winds. Visibility is also very low.

Overnight: Over the course of Thursday night, into Friday morning, temperature should start to gradually decrease, heavy winds should be present, snow should continue to fall, and the pressure may start to rise very slowly.

Shown here, a low pressure system is fueling the large winter storm moving through the area. Our portion of the state will see blizzard-like conditions, while areas to the east should expect an icy mix. 

This map shows what form of precipitation will occur in the various areas to be impacted by the winter storm.

This map shows the expected snowfall totals through Thursday evening, with the largest totals accumulating in the northern part of the state and over Lake Superior.

An occluded front is moving through the area, pushing a large storm towards us. An occluded front is where a cold front intersects and takes over a warm front. A low pressure system is also moving through, dropping pressure and adding to a large mid-latitude cyclone moving through the area.

This update shows the previous occluded front right at the edge of Wisconsin, while a warm front is moving up from the south. Two low pressure systems seem to be fueling this winter storm.

The occluded front is no longer present to our north, as it has turned into a stationary front. However, another occluded front is pushing up from the southern portion of the state.

No change has occurred since the last map was update. The occluded and stationary fronts are still in place. 

The occluded front in the southern region of the state has moved northward, while the stationary front has transitioned into cold front and warm front. A very large mid-latitude cyclone is hovering over the Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois border. Three low pressure systems are now noted, affecting the region currently.

The low pressure systems, occluded front, and  center of the mid-latitude cyclone are currently right over the center of Wisconsin.

As stated in the previous map, the center of the mid-latitude cyclone that is facilitating this snow storm is currently right over the center of Wisconsin. Heavy winds are cycling on the southwestern portion of the cyclone, causing it to rotate.

The center of the cyclone is still hovering over central Wisconsin right now. The strongest winds are currently blowing in a westerly and northwesterly direction. If we look at the edge of the cyclone, further to the west, we can see the significantly lower temperatures that will be making their way to us in the coming days.

The current fronts and pressures systems have not moved much according to either map.