lakeville weather journal

Yesterday's Alberta Clipper rushed in and through in perfect form, and as predicted. Frontal passage here in Lakeville happened around 1100 AM, and the change was swift and evident. The snow stopped, the wind shifted and increased in intensity, the skies cleared, and the temps fell...hard! Our overnight low was -14 which we hit at 0700 this morning, which had dropped steadily from a high of 24 just before the front passed yesterday.

We will slowly climb out of the below-zero temps today and tonight as the strong high pressure ridge moves east. Winds will not subside until after 1400 today, so wind chills will remain in the -35 to -20 range through noon, and in the -10 to -15 range after noon. This has prompted the NWS to continue wind chill warnings through the day.

Tonight the pattern begins to shift dramatically once again, as Pacific air moves over the cold dome of arctic air that is gripping the region. The resulting advection will produce a nice band of snow tomorrow, with models pointing to a just-after the morning rush time frame for arrival. 2-4" will again be the general potential from the system as snow bands clear by tomorrow night.

Posted by pierre at 9:44 AM | Permalink

A strong low pressure system has moved out of the Great Basin tonight and into the lower plains. Ahead of the low, moist air has surged in from the Gulf of Mexico and has advected north across IA and MN. As the upper jet digs around the system cold Canadian air will plunge in behind the low pressure center as it treks overnight from KS to NE, and into NW IA. Right now the storm track will keep Lakeville in the "warm sector" of the system for a brief time tomorrow morning and afternoon. Expect precipitation to begin sometime around or just after the morning rush and vary between snow flurries and freezing drizzle or sleet. By lunchtime, precipitation will increase in intensity with periods of heavy wet snow alternating with snow pellets/sleet pellets. By late afternoon all precip should be snow, with accumulations around 4" the rule for the area. A winter weather advisory has been issued...please check back for updates on advisories.

Posted by pierre at 10:13 PM | Permalink