Well the forecast was right. We are getting a little bit of snow today. However, we haven't received the freezing drizzle that was expected before 2:00pm today. I guess it's only 12:15pm so there is still time. The forecast for today does call for a chance of snow, freezing rain, and sleet after 4:00pm today...icky! Looking at the surface map below we can see a low pressure system located near southwestern Minnesota. As we've said many times in the past low pressure systems indicate rain due to the system containing warm, moist air.
When looking at the wind patterns we can see that the wind is coming from the southeast. A big red red flag should go off whenever you see wind coming this direction, or from the southwest or east for that matter. This is because wind coming from the SE is filled with moisture from the Gulf (you can see this being pulled up from the Gulf by looking at the wind map).
Looking at the jet stream we can see cold, dry air being pulled down from the north. Combining the cold air with warm air and the low pressure system we can understand why we are having the nasty bit of weather we are having today.
Today's high is expected to reach 34F. Current temperatures are at 36F with overcast. Humidity is at 81% with a dewpoint is at 21F. Barometric pressure is at 30.14 inches. As we know winds are currently coming from the SE at 8 mph, but are expected to shift to the SW later this afternoon. SW winds still imply precipiation because the cold air coming counterclockwise around the low pressure system will be colder from the NW and will lift the warm air ahead of it still creating precipitation. This makes sense since there is a chance of snow, freezing rain, and sleet after 4:00pm.
Tonight's low is forecasted to be 24F and cloudy. Winds are expected to continue to shift with winds coming from the W around 5 mph. Winds coming from the west imply better weather conditions.
Tomorrow all forms of precipitation are expected to form only snow after 1:oopm with a high of 37F. Winds are forecasted to shift back to the E tomorrow afternoon...darn it! There is a 90% chance of precipitation due to this shift. Ice accumulation is forecasted to be less than 0.1 inch and with new snow and sleet accumulation of 2-4 inches is possible.
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