The NWS has issued a Blizzard Warning for the Chicago Metro as the biggest storm of winter get’s cranking.
It’s already a snowy scene across the region.
This storm will be impressive as there’s a strong west to east baroclinic zone setting up with abundant Gulf moisture driving into some pretty cold air. High moisture amounts and cold air always leads to bigger snow totals and high ratios.
This fairly tight thermal gradient will also lead to a stronger low and thus stronger winds, hence blizzard conditions later today for Chicago. It’s anticipated STRONG NE backside winds and continued heavy snow that will cause problems for travellers in and around the city.
ECMWF has this snow forecast through 72 hrs.
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The GFS nailed the snowfall in NYC during the last snowstorm but underdid New England. Both models agree on big totals across eastern Iowa, northern-central Illinois and northern Indiana as well as southern New England where another blizzard is possible.
ECMWF surface shows the winding up of this system across Indiana and Ohio later today into Monday.
Even with the first wave of arctic air, temps crash like a stone on the backside of the system and is likely to catch many off guard.
There’s TWO waves of arctic air which come down via high pressure systems this week. The first hits in the wake of the current storm and the second, stronger one hits on the backside of a midweek clipper.
Here comes that clipper with even colder air on it’s backside. Could send temps below -10 in Chicago, near 0 NYC.
GFS day 1-8 meteogram
NYC
Chicago
ECMWF 2m temps Friday AM following the clipper.
Busy week ahead.. Stay tuned. Be sure to watch the video for today’s discussion.
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