Winter Storm Quid Named: Watches Posted in Plains, Midwest Including Twin Cities

Chris Dolce
Published: February 22,2017
Winter Storm Quid will be a harsh reality check for many in the Midwest and Plains, bringing a swath of heavy snow and strong winds in what could be the season's heaviest snowstorm for Minneapolis/St. Paul.
(MORE: The Science Behind Naming Winter Storms | Named Winter Storms This Season, So Far )
Much of this region is currently in the grips of a record-smashing warm spell. The warmth has even tied all-time record highs for the month of February.
Winter storm watches have been issued for southern Minnesota (including Minneapolis), northwestern Wisconsin, northern and western Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming and the northern Colorado Rockies. There is potential for significant snowfall beginning Wednesday in the Plains and Thursday evening in the Midwest.

Current winter watches, warnings and advisories

The weather storm that will bring a change to conditions more typical of winter will first dump snow across the mountain West, as upper-level energy ripples through that region Wednesday.
The energy will then spawn an area of surface low pressure in the central Plains by Thursday, which will track in the direction of the Great Lakes through Friday. On the northwest side of where Quid tracks will likely be a swath of accumulating snow. Increasing winds are also expected, which could lead to poor travel conditions from blowing and drifting in open areas.

Low pressure develops late this week and could bring snow and strong winds to the Plains and Midwest.

The exact track of the low will determine where the most significant snow eventually sets up along the storm's path, but that still remains somewhat uncertain at this time, given we are still several days away.
Below, we have a look at the general timing of this potential snowmaker, followed by where accumulations could occur.

Potential Quid Timing

Wednesday

• Snow is expected from the Sierra Nevada and Cascades into the Rockies, with lowering snow levels.
• Some accumulating snow is possible in valley areas, including Salt Lake City, Wednesday night.
• By Wednesday night, snow will also begin to spread into the High Plains of Wyoming, western South Dakota and western Nebraska.

Thursday

• Snow and wind, heavy in spots, will increase in the Plains while also continuing in the Rockies.
• By Thursday night, snow could spread as far east as southern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
• Strong winds may lead to blowing and drifting snow, resulting in poor travel conditions across parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southern Minnesota by Thursday night.

Thursday's Forecast

Friday

• Snow and strong winds will persist in a swath from Nebraska into parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
• Winds gusting over 40 mph, at times, and lowering visibilities are likely to significantly affect travel in this swath.
• Severe storms are possible from the southern Great Lakes into the Ohio Valley.

Some sleet or freezing rain may reach as far east as northern New England late Friday or Saturday, but the rest of the East will see rain and even thunderstorms.

Friday's Forecast

Who Could See Accumulations?

• Our graphic below shows the general geographic area of where we could see accumulating snow later this week in the Midwest and Plains.
• Right now that includes areas from Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska to parts of northern Iowa, southern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
• In the general area of purple shadings on the map, some locations have the potential to see 6 inches or more of total snow.
• Keep in mind that since this event is still several days away, uncertainty remains with details such as where the most significant snow and worst impacts may be. Specifically, the axis of the heaviest snow forecast could shift north or south, depending on the track of the storm.

(CITIES: Cheyenne, Wyoming | Minneapolis | Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

Potential Snowfall Outlook

Paltry U.S. Snow Cover

Snow cover across the country is currently low for late-February standards, partially thanks to the widespread warmth we are seeing.
Just 20.4 percent of the Lower 48 was covered by snow as of Feb. 19, according to NOAA's National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC). That's the lowest amount of coverage for that date in the short period of record that begins in 2004.
The average snow cover across the Lower 48 for Feb. 19, during the 13 years for which records exist in the database, is 35 percent.
Minneapolis/St. Paul hasn't seen an inch or more of snow since it recorded 2.2 inches on Jan. 25. Some accumulating snow from this next system is not out of the question in the Twin Cities, depending on this storm's ultimate track.
Chicago hasn't picked up an inch or more of snow yet in 2017, and last saw more than an inch of snow Dec. 16-18 when it received 3.4 inches. Therefore, Monday was Chicago's 65th consecutive day since a one-inch snowfall, the longest such snow drought in records dating back to 1884.
The Windy City is unlikely to see any significant snowfall from this late-week system.

MORE: Deepest Snow in All 50 States

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