Sunday, December 25, 2016

Winter Storm Europa Bringing Blizzard Conditions, Heavy Snow, Ice to the Upper Midwest

December 25,2016
Winter Storm Europa is moving across the Upper Midwest, producing with blizzard conditions, heavy snow and ice. A snow emergency has been declared in Bismarck, North Dakota and hundreds of miles of interstate are now closed. Conditions will continue to go downhill overnight.
By Monday, snow, rain and freezing rain will arrive in the Northeast.
(MORE: How Winter Storms Are Named | Winter Storm Central

Current Radar and Conditions
Blizzard conditions were reported in Rapid City, South Dakota, Bismarck, North Dakota and at Mondell Field in northeast Wyoming. Wind gusts in Rapid City remained over 50 mph for 5 hours Sunday evening.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for much of North Dakota and western and central South Dakota, as well as a small portion of northwestern Minnesota and eastern Montana. Winter storm warnings have been posted for parts of the High Plains and a portion of northern Minnesota.
(MORE: What is a Blizzard? | The Nation's 'Blizzard Alley')
An ice storm warning is in effect from central Minnesota to southeastern North Dakota and northern South Dakota, where power outages and tree damage are likely due to ice accumulations up to 0.50 inches. Freezing rain advisories stretch from eastern South Dakota and western and central Wisconsin, where travel may become dangerous due to ice accumulations up to 0.10 inches.
A freezing rain advisory has been issued for parts of western and north-central New York for Monday as Europa spreads its reach into the interior Northeast.

Winter Weather Alerts
(LATEST NEWS: Winter Storm Europa Brings Travel to a Halt)
Snow, strong winds and ice will affect locations along the path of this storm, likely causing major travel delays for anyone taking to the roads and skies into Monday in those regions.
(MORE: Christmas Travel Forecast)
First, we'll step through the timeline, then touch on how much snow, wind and ice may occur.
(MORE: 10-Day Forecast Maps)

Overnight Into Monday Morning

  • Heavy snow will fall in parts of the Upper Midwest.
  • Blizzard conditions are likely overnight in the Dakotas and northwestern Minnesota.
  • A mix of sleet or freezing rain could affect locations just east of the snow, from the upper Mississippi Valley into Great Lakes.
  • FORECAST: Rapid City, South Dakota | Bismarck, North Dakota | Minneapolis

Monday Morning Forecast

Monday

  • Leftover snow is likely in parts of the northern Plains and into northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
  • Strong winds may lead to considerable blowing and drifting snow in these areas, with lingering blizzard conditions possible early.
  • Some snow, sleet or freezing rain may hang on over parts of upstate New York, northeast Pennsylvania and northern New England.
  • FORECAST: Fargo, North Dakota | Bangor, Maine

Monday's Forecast

Snow, Ice, Wind Forecasts

Plains

  • Over a foot of snow may accumulate in parts of North Dakota, northern and western South Dakota and perhaps far northwest Minnesota. Significant drifting is likely. 
  • At least 6 inches of snow is a good bet in the High Plains of Montana and northern Wyoming. 
  • Parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest south and east of the snow area, as well as northern New England, could see up to 0.10 inches of ice accumulation, coating trees and untreated roads. 0.25-0.50 inches of ice accumulation is possible in localized areas of central Minnesota to southeastern North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota, where an ice storm warning remains in effect.

Northeast

  • Up to a quarter inch of ice is possible in eastern upstate New York with lesser amounts in western New York and northern Pennsylvania through Monday Evening. 
  • Up to a quarter inch of ice is possible in northern New England. Locations where ice mixes with snow or sleet will see lesser ice accumulations. 
  • Up to 8 inches of snowfall is possible in northern Maine with lesser amounts farther south in Maine and into the mountains of New England.

Snowfall Forecast
Ice Accumulation Forecast

Wind Forecast / Blizzard Potential

As low pressure continues northward, the combination of snow and strong winds will produce considerable blowing and drifting snow and blizzard conditions, in some areas.
  • High winds in the Upper Midwest will continue into early Monday, with blizzard conditions likely in outlying areas, even in areas receiving lighter snowfall amounts.
  • Travel will likely become impossible into early Monday, with numerous roads, including major interstates, likely to be shut down.
  • The weight of snow, plus high winds, may lead to tree damage and power outages, which may last for several hours, if not longer, in some areas.

Forecast Gusts Sunday Night

Snowfall Totals, So Far

Here is a list of the highest snowfall totals from each state, separated by region, as of midday Sunday.

West

Arizona: 14.5 inches near Flagstaff; 12.1 inches at Flagstaff Airport
California: 32 inches on top of Mammoth Mountain
Colorado: 18.5 inches at Coal Bank Pass
Idaho: 22.3 inches near Sedwick Peak Snotel
Montana: 14.7 inches near West Yellowstone
Nevada: 18 inches near Pioche
​New Mexico: 10 inches near Arroyo Seco at the Taos Powderhorn Snotel
Oregon: 7 inches near Prineville
Utah: 24.9 inches near Almo at the George Creek Snotel; 4.9 inches in Salt Lake City
Washington: 8.3 inches near Clayton
Wyoming: 15.0 inches in Jackson
Saturday into Sunday, Flagstaff, Arizona, picked up a foot of snow, while Salt Lake City received just shy of 5 inches. Some mountain West locations ended up with more than 2 feet of snow.

Midwest

Minnesota: 2.6 inches in Little Marais
Nebraska: 6.0 inches in Hemingford
North Dakota: 11 inches in Beulah
South Dakota: 7 inches in Hermosa

Ice Accretion, So Far

Iowa: 0.13 inches in Osage
Minnesota: 0.30 inches near Hillman
North Dakota: 0.5 inches in Jamestown
South Dakota: 1.5 inches in Summit (may be mixed with sleet)
Wisconsin: 0.25 inches near Clayton
Widespread ice accumulations of 0.5 to 1.0 inches occured on Christmas in eastern and southeastern South Dakota. Some may have been mixed with sleet.
Widespread tree damage and isolated power outages occurred in eastern and central South Dakota and eastern North Dakota.
The entire towns of Venturia and Zeeland, North Dakota lost power due to heavy icing.
Europa (your-OH-pah) is named from Greek mythology, the name of a princess who was abducted by Zeus. Europe is named for her.
MORE: Winter Storm Europa

No comments:

Post a Comment