Monday, December 18, 2006

Winter Storm Nears…

The last couple of hours have been a flurry of Winter Storm Watches that have been issued for much of the western plains states. The watches now extend into northwestern Iowa as Sioux Falls just released their watch indicating a significant winter storm may be on its’ way. Currently the storm system is affecting areas of the southwest and southern plains states, mainly Texas/Oklahoma and into the Rockies. Ice Storm Warnings as well as Winter Storm Warnings are posted for the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma panhandle, with ice accumulations expected to be over a 1/4 of an inch. This storm will move north tonight/Tuesday and setup somewhere in Nebraska before moving off to the east on Wednesday over some portion of Iowa.

Currently the forecasted track is still fairly variable, as the system has yet to make its’ way north to setup for its’ trip east, it is quite possible for the track to change slightly either north or south. Thus, no solid forecast amounts for ice or snow have been made for the northern plains quite yet. Early indications do have areas of eastern Nebraska, southeastern South Dakota with a potential 3-6 inches of snow at least. That to go along with some ice accumulations early in the storm. Northwest Iowa as well as extreme southwest Minnesota currently on on the forecast of significant ice accumulations, potentially above a 1/4 inch. Snow totals aren’t as great in this area, but 3 inches or more could easily be possible. Another update will be likely tomorrow morning and afternoon, most likely as these watches are switched over to some type of warning. In the meantime, the latest Winter Storm Watch texts from throughout the nation can be read here: NWS WSW Text’s

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