Blizzard Warning Issued For Chicago Ahead Of Winter’s Biggest Storm, -10s May Follow Late Week…

Written by Mark Vogan on February 1, 2015 in United States of America, Winter 2014/15 with 0 Comments

The NWS has issued a Blizzard Warning for the Chicago Metro as the biggest storm of winter get’s cranking.

Credit: NWS Chicago

It’s already a snowy scene across the region.

Credit: WeatherBug

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.

Credit: AccuWeather Pro

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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.

Credit: AccuWeather Pro

ECMWF surface shows the winding up of this system across Indiana and Ohio later today into Monday.

Credit: AccuWeather Pro

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.