2012 to begin with wind and snow

   The latest computer model info looks impressive. A strong low pressure system passes through the region as 2011 ends and 2012 begins. The result should be strong winds and periods of snow later today (Saturday) into early New Year's Day. A mix of rain/snow and possibly freezing rain could develop Saturday evening, before the changeover to all snow.  Slippery roads and low visibilities are possible from late Saturday evening into New Year's Day morning. Here's a link to the Twin Cities National Weather Service web site:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/   There you can see the latest advisories and warnings. You can click on your location for forecast details.  If you click on radar and the base reflectivity loop, you can see the most recent hour and a half of Twin Cities NWS radar.
    Hope you have a great 2012!

Does it snow here?

  
   Our weather this holiday season has been great for travelers, but I'll bet that cross-country skiers and kids with new sleds want some snow. It’s strange to see bare ground in the Twin Cities in late December.  Here is what I saw at Lake Harriet this (Wednesday) afternoon:

Runners and walkers were enjoying the sunshine and mild temperatures:

   The ice looked thin on Lake Harriet, and I could see some open water near the middle of the lake.   

    We should see some flakes at times the next few days, but any snow that accumulates could very well melt by New Year’s Day.  If that happens, it will be the first New Year’s Day with less than one inch of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities since 2004.

What a difference a year makes

   Last December was incredibly snowy and temperatures averaged a bit below normal.  In the Twin Cities, we set a new December snowfall record, with a total of 33.6 inches. This December is running about 10 degrees warmer (through Dec. 21) than last December.  Snowflakes have been a rare sight...we've  seen only 5.4 inches of snow so far at MSP airport.
   A careful look at the latest computer models shows little hope of significant flakes over the next few days.  Yes, that means a White Christmas is very unlikely this year.  The last time we didn't have a White Christmas in the Twin Cities was in 2006, so I guess we were kind of due for a brown/tan Christmas.  
   If you need snowcover to get you in the holiday spirit, head to the arrowhead region of northeastern Minnesota...most spots up there have several inches on the ground.  A Minnesota snow depth map is now posted at http://climate.umn.edu/doc/snowmap/snowmap_111222.htm
   Hope you have a great Christmas, and an awesome 2012!

Snowstorm Anniversary

    The biggest December snowstorm in Twin Cities history happened one year ago. It started snowing late on the evening of Friday, December 10th, and continued until late in the evening of Saturday, December 11th. When it was over, a whopping 17.1 inches was the total at MSP Airport, which is the site for official Twin Cities weather records.
    There was plenty of wind too.  Blizzard conditions existed for awhile on Saturday afternoon at MSP, and for much of Saturday over parts of southern and central Minnesota into western Wisconsin. How is a blizzard defined?  The National Weather Service typically issues a blizzard warning when they expect sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below one-quarter of a mile; these conditions should persist for at least three hours.
    You can have blizzard conditions with very little new snow…strong winds and extremely low visibility are the key ingredients.  The snowstorm a year ago brought heavy snow plus blizzard conditions to portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  You can find more details on the storm at the National Weather Service web site:  http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/mpx/StormReports/10December2010.pdf  and also at the Minnesota State Climatology office site: http://climate.umn.edu/
    On a personal note, the snowstorm was exciting to cover.  I stayed in downtown Minneapolis from Friday afternoon into Sunday afternoon.  We televised 5 consecutive hours of snowstorm coverage on Saturday morning, and we did many special updates and web reports throughout the storm.  By Sunday morning, the big story was the collapse of the Metrodome roof.  I’ll never forget seeing that video for the first time!

Snowfall on December 3-4

    The total snowfall at MSP airport this weekend of December 3-4 was 4.4 inches...4.2 inches of that total fell on Saturday.  Below are some area snow totals, courtesy of the Twin Cities NWS office.  You can see more information about area snow totals at their web site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
711 AM CST SUN DEC 04 2011

...SNOWFALL TOTALS RECEIVED SO FAR FOR DECEMBER 3RD AND 4TH...

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.


SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  5.50   MAPLETON                 MN  BLUE EARTH       0654 AM
  5.30   12 N BRUCE               WI  RUSK             1200 AM
  5.00   RED WING                 MN  DAKOTA           0555 AM
  5.00   FARMINGTON               MN  DAKOTA           0451 AM
  5.00   MAPLEWOOD                MN  RAMSEY           0116 AM
  5.00   HASTINGS                 MN  DAKOTA           1140 PM
  5.00   CHETEK                   WI  BARRON           0630 AM
  4.90   3 N CAMERON              WI  BARRON           0955 PM
  4.80   1 SE RED WING            MN  GOODHUE          0847 PM
  4.70   COLFAX                   WI  DUNN             0643 AM
  4.60   FAIRMONT                 MN  MARTIN           1110 PM
  4.50   HAUGEN                   WI  BARRON           1010 PM
  4.50   NORTH MANKATO            MN  NICOLLET         1000 PM
  4.40   BLOOMINGTON MSP AIRPORT  MN  HENNEPIN         0600 AM
  4.40   INVER GROVE HEIGHTS      MN  DAKOTA           1200 AM
  4.30   CREDIT RIVER             MN  SCOTT            0654 AM
  4.30   2 W PRIOR LAKE           MN  SCOTT            0645 AM
  4.30   NORTH ST. PAUL           MN  RAMSEY           0431 AM
  4.30   SHAKOPEE                 MN  SCOTT            1100 PM
  4.00   WELLS                    MN  FARIBAULT        0345 AM
  4.00   MANKATO                  MN  BLUE EARTH       1115 PM
  3.70   LAKEVILLE                MN  DAKOTA           0100 AM
  3.50   AUGUSTA                  WI  EAU CLAIRE       0800 AM
  3.50   MADELIA                  MN  WATONWAN         0616 AM
  3.40   BLOOMINGTON              MN  HENNEPIN         0546 AM
  3.30   HASTINGS                 MN  DAKOTA           0744 PM
  3.20   1 SW EDINA               MN  HENNEPIN         0915 PM
  3.10   MENOMONIE                WI  DUNN             1130 PM
  3.10   2 N TAINTER LAKE         WI  DUNN             0635 PM
  3.20   CHANHASSEN NWS           MN  CARVER           0600 AM
  3.00   EAU CLAIRE               WI  EAU CLAIRE       1130 PM
  3.00   6 NW RICE LAKE           WI  BARRON           0645 PM
  2.90   JIM FALLS                WI  CHIPPEWA         0913 PM
  2.80   ST LOUIS PARK            MN  HENNEPIN         0800 AM
  2.80   3 NE BURNSVILLE          MN  DAKOTA           0845 PM
  2.70   5 SW ST PAUL             MN  RAMSEY           0842 PM
  2.50   1 SSE CHASKA             MN  CARVER           0821 PM
  2.50   HAUGEN                   WI  BARRON           0604 PM
  2.00   PLYMOUTH                 MN  HENNEPIN         0345 AM
  1.70   CHAMPLIN                 MN  HENNEPIN         0159 AM
  1.50   WINTHROP                 MN  SIBLEY           0800 AM
  1.20   LONG LAKE                MN  HENNEPIN         0628 PM
  1.00   GLENCOE                  MN  MCLEOD           0159 AM
  1.00   2 NNW CEDAR              MN  ANOKA            0611 AM

White Christmas?

Meteorologists are used to hearing one question this time of year: "Will we have a White Christmas?"  Some snow is expected this weekend, but Christmas is still about three weeks away.  In weather circles, a "White Christmas" is usually defined as one inch or more of snowcover on Christmas morning.
   The Minnesota State Climatology Office has compiled information on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day snowcover and snowfall.  Their records show that we have a White Christmas in the Twin Cities about 72% of the time.  The last time we did not have a White Christmas in the Twin Cities was 2006.  Last year, our snowcover measured a whopping 19 inches in the Twin Cities on Christmas morning.  You can see Christmas snowcover and snowfall info for the Twin Cities and for many other spots in Minnesota at  http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/white_christmas.htm 
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