The storm has the potential to bring heavy snow to areas that have escaped with little or no snow thus far this season, including portions of the central Plains, Midwest and mid-Atlantic.
For us? The heaviest snow should focus from the I-80 corridor and south.
The storm will move onto the Pacific U.S. coast on Wednesday and track across the Midwest on Thursday and Friday. This system is expected to spread moderate to heavy snow across much of Iowa, however the most likely locations and amounts of the heaviest snowfall are still abit UNCERTAIN. It looks as tho the heaviest snowfall could be as far south as the Mo Border - yet spread moderate to heavy snows up into Central Iowa later Thursday into Friday. One Main thing I'm watching - I'm thinking even if the storm takes the southerly track, Thunderstorms will break out over Central Mo and Arkansas. This will increase the the moisture input to the storm and with fairly strong southerly flow, Iowa could blasted with induced moisture that the models may not pick up on until it's too late...........
Calling a spade-a spade: The term/word UNCERTAIN above may seem like a cop-out. However, that's what this system is. We have local forecasters wobbling to the point of UNCERTAINTY. I'm no different. The Forecast Models we use with this type of system are all over the place as to what the computer thinks will happen. One model bombs the system out over Iowa - another model takes the main energy of the system well south into MO., and eventually into Arkansas. The Bomb over Iowa would produce a Major Snowfall over all of Iowa - The more southern track would produce practically a "Non-Event" for Iowa. Maybe NO snow at all....That's when the Forecaster has to split hairs and eventually make a committment....Right or Wrong? I guess we'll know Friday afternoon once the system passes to our east............
WINTER WEATHER DEFINED - CLICK AND READ
21 Dec 2010 Extended Forecast
Today 21st - High Temp dropping to 23 - Mostly Cloudy with an Isolated Flurry.
Wed 22nd - Mostly Cloudy - Dry - High 28/Low 15.
Thurs 23rd thru CHRISTMAS - Lt Snow Thursday afternoon - Periods of Heavier Snow Showers/Breezy Thursday Evening into Friday afternoon - Then Mostly Cloudy (Possible Snowfall 4-6 Inches).
After the 25th - Dry thru the 27th - then expect Cloudy and Lt Snow thru New Years Day - Much Colder................
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This year, the winter solstice occurs on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 6:38 p.m. EST, marking the official start of the astronomical winter and the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.
The winter solstice occurs precisely at the moment when the Earth's axis is tilted the farthest away from the sun.
Many different cultures recognize the annual event through holidays, festivals, rituals and celebrations. This year, the winter solstice is even more significant, as it coincides with a total lunar eclipse for the first time since 1638.
After the solstice is when most people across the Northern Hemisphere can look forward to the days gradually getting longer. However, the daily lengthening of sunlight will not become widely noticeable for many until late February or March.
Astronomical winter runs three months from the time of the winter solstice, which usually occurs on Dec. 21 or 22 each year, into March.
Solar winter, which is the Northern Hemisphere's darkest quarter of the year, extends from November through January. This is the time of year when the least solar energy enters the Northern Hemisphere, with more than 50 percent being covered in darkness at any given time.
Meteorological winter, on the other hand, spans December, January and February, which are typically the coldest three calendar months of the year for much of the Northern Hemisphere.
By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist
The winter solstice occurs precisely at the moment when the Earth's axis is tilted the farthest away from the sun.
Many different cultures recognize the annual event through holidays, festivals, rituals and celebrations. This year, the winter solstice is even more significant, as it coincides with a total lunar eclipse for the first time since 1638.
After the solstice is when most people across the Northern Hemisphere can look forward to the days gradually getting longer. However, the daily lengthening of sunlight will not become widely noticeable for many until late February or March.
Astronomical winter runs three months from the time of the winter solstice, which usually occurs on Dec. 21 or 22 each year, into March.
Solar winter, which is the Northern Hemisphere's darkest quarter of the year, extends from November through January. This is the time of year when the least solar energy enters the Northern Hemisphere, with more than 50 percent being covered in darkness at any given time.
Meteorological winter, on the other hand, spans December, January and February, which are typically the coldest three calendar months of the year for much of the Northern Hemisphere.
By Heather Buchman, Meteorologist
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