Here’s what we’re thinking about the potential for another winter storm Tues/Weds. pic.twitter.com/onoln3IlMw
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) February 1, 2014
As we stress with any winter storm, track will greatly impact snow amts. Too uncertain now for specific snow totals at your location
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) February 1, 2014
Many questions coming in about snow on Tues/Weds. We will have an update later this evening but focusing on today’s storm 1st
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) February 1, 2014
See the tweet above. Also, check out this morning’s Hazardous Weather Outlook:
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
411 PM EST SAT FEB 1 2014
INZ006>009-013-015>018-020-022>027-032>034-MIZ081-OHZ001-002-004-005-
015-016-024-025-022115-
LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-PULASKI-FULTON IN-KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-
ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-
BLACKFORD-JAY-HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-HENRY-PAULDING-
PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...ANGOLA...
KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER...AUBURN...GARRETT...WINAMAC...
FRANCESVILLE...ROCHESTER...WARSAW...WINONA LAKE...COLUMBIA CITY...
SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...MONTICELLO...BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...
PERU...WABASH...NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...
DECATUR...BERNE...MARION...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...
HILLSDALE...BRYAN...WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD...DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...
PAULDING...ANTWERP...OTTAWA...PANDORA...VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA
411 PM EST SAT FEB 1 2014
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO...
SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN INDIANA.
.DAY ONE...TONIGHT
RAIN ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA WILL CHANGE BRIEFLY TO WINTRY MIX
BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW FROM WEST TO EAST LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING. DEPENDING ON THE EXACT TIMING
OF THIS CHANGEOVER TO ALL SNOW...THERE IS A POTENTIAL OF SNOWFALL
ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES THROUGH MIDNIGHT.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
THERE IS INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER WINTER STORM TO IMPACT
THE AREA TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT WITH HEAVY SNOW. PLEASE
STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND UPDATES REGARDING THIS
SYSTEM.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SNOWFALL AND PRECIPITATION TYPE REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED.
Helpful 4 Saturday: The difference between snow, rain, sleet, & freezing rain http://t.co/WnVXBNUMPh pic.twitter.com/iBX8hqOKHc
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) January 31, 2014
Below are the verbatim Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisories the National Weather Service northern Indiana office issued this afternoon. There are five different sections, based on geography, so be sure to scroll down to the section that identifies your county.
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
322 PM EST FRI JAN 31 2014
...MIXED BAG OF WINTER WEATHER TO IMPACT THE REGION TONIGHT
INTO SATURDAY EVENING...
.LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS TONIGHT AND
THEN LIFT NORTHEAST INTO THE GREAT LAKES REGION BY SATURDAY
EVENING. ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING OVER THE ENTIRE AREA WITH GENERALLY
LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED. AS THE SURFACE LOW MOVES IN
SATURDAY...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE FURTHER IN SOME
AREAS AND IMPROVE SOMEWHAT. BASED ON A LOW TRACK OVER NORTHERN
INDIANA THE AXIS OF HEAVIEST SNOW NOW APPEARS TO BE FOCUSED ON FAR
NW COUNTIES WHERE 6 TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. AMOUNTS WILL
TAPER OFF AS YOU PROGRESS SOUTHEAST AS WARM AIR ALOFT AND SURFACE
TEMPERATURES APPROACH OR RISE ABOVE FREEZING. FOR LOCATIONS ALONG
AND SOUTHEAST OF A MONTICELLO TO COLUMBIA CITY TO WAUSEON OHIO
LINE THE PRECIP WILL QUICKLY TRANSITION FROM SNOW TO A MIX OF
PRECIP TO ALL RAIN BY LATE MORNING WITH POCKETS OF MODERATE TO
HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE. NORTHWEST OF THIS LINE SURFACE TEMPERATURES
ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 32 TO 34 DEGREES...ALLOWING FOR A
MIXTURE OF SNOW...FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN IN MANY AREAS. ICE
ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 TENTHS OF AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE GIVEN MANY
SURFACES REMAIN VERY COLD FROM THE RECENT COLD SNAP.
THE CURRENT HEADLINES ARE BASED ON A BLEND OF SEVERAL MODELS WITH
THE HEAVIEST SNOW AND ICE THREAT HIGHLY VARIABLE. SMALL SHIFTS TO
THE TRACK OF THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL HAVE GREAT IMPACT ON
PRECIPITATION TYPE AND TOTALS. VISIT WEATHER.GOV/IWX FOR THE
LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS EVOLVING STORM SYSTEM.
LA PORTE-BERRIEN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MICHIGAN CITY...LA PORTE...NILES...
BENTON HARBOR...ST. JOSEPH...BUCHANAN
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS
EVENING TO 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST /9 PM
CST/ SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY EVENING AND BECOME HEAVIER BY
DAYBREAK SATURDAY. A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM MID
MORNING INTO LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW COULD MIX WITH A
PERIOD OF SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN AROUND MIDDAY SATURDAY.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 9 INCHES AREA EXPECTED.
SOME MINOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE.
* SNOW FALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES.
IMPACTS...
* SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITIES MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING INTO SATURDAY
EVENING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
ST. JOSEPH IN-ELKHART-CASS MI-ST. JOSEPH MI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH BEND...MISHAWAKA...NEW CARLISLE...
WALKERTON...ELKHART...GOSHEN...NAPPANEE...DOWAGIAC...CASSOPOLIS...
MARCELLUS...STURGIS...THREE RIVERS...WHITE PIGEON...MENDON
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO
10 PM EST SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS
IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST SATURDAY. THE WINTER
STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY EVENING AND MAY BECOME HEAVY AT
TIMES SATURDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL BECOME MIXED WITH
FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. ICE
ACCUMULATION OF ONE TENTH INCH OR LESS IS POSSIBLE.
* SNOW FALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES.
IMPACTS...
* SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITIES MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING INTO SATURDAY EVENING.
* ICE COULD ACCUMULATE ON ELEVATED SURFACES AND UNTREATED
ROADS...CAUSING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-PULASKI-FULTON IN-KOSCIUSKO-BRANCH-
HILLSDALE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...SHIPSHEWANA...
ANGOLA...FREMONT...KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER...ALBION...WINAMAC...
FRANCESVILLE...MEDARYVILLE...ROCHESTER...AKRON...WARSAW...
WINONA LAKE...SYRACUSE...MENTONE...COLDWATER...BRONSON...
HILLSDALE...LITCHFIELD...JONESVILLE
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE AND MAY BECOME HEAVY LATER TONIGHT
INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL BECOME MIXED WITH FREEZING
RAIN AND RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
ICE ACCUMULATION OF ONE TO TWO TENTHS INCH IS POSSIBLE.
* SNOW FALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES.
IMPACTS...
* SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITIES MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING INTO SATURDAY EVENING.
* ICE COULD ACCUMULATE ON ELEVATED SURFACES AND UNTREATED
ROADS...CAUSING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
STARKE-MARSHALL-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...BASS LAKE...
PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...CULVER
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/
THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST /9 PM
CST/ SATURDAY.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE AND MAY BECOME HEAVY LATER TONIGHT
INTO SATURDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL BECOME MIXED WITH FREEZING
RAIN AND RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
ICE ACCUMULATION OF ONE TO TWO TENTHS INCH IS POSSIBLE.
* SNOW FALL RATES OF 1 INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES.
IMPACTS...
* SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITIES MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING INTO SATURDAY EVENING.
* ICE COULD ACCUMULATE ON ELEVATED SURFACES AND UNTREATED
ROADS...CAUSING SLIPPERY CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
DE KALB-WHITLEY-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-
WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-DEFIANCE-HENRY-
PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AUBURN...GARRETT...COLUMBIA CITY...
TRI-LAKES...SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...NEW HAVEN...MONTICELLO...
BROOKSTON...MONON...LOGANSPORT...ROYAL CENTER...PERU...
GRISSOM AFB...MEXICO...WABASH...NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...
ROANOKE...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...BERNE...MARION...
GAS CITY...UPLAND...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...
DUNKIRK...BRYAN...WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD...FAYETTE...SWANTON...
DEFIANCE...SHERWOOD...HICKSVILLE...NAPOLEON...DESHLER...
LIBERTY CENTER...PAULDING...ANTWERP...MELROSE...OTTAWA...
PANDORA...KALIDA...FORT JENNINGS...VAN WERT...DELPHOS...
OHIO CITY...LIMA...SPENCERVILLE
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORTHERN INDIANA HAS ISSUED A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN
EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST SATURDAY.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER...
* LIGHT SNOW WILL PERSIST THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY CHANGE TO RAIN SATURDAY MORNING.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED.
LITTLE OR NO ICE ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED.
IMPACTS...
* SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LOW VISIBILITIES MAY PRODUCE HAZARDOUS
TRAVEL CONDITIONS EARLY SATURDAY MORNING INTO SATURDAY EVENING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.
Snow will overspread the region today, w/ 0.5″ to 1.5″ possible through midnight. Wintry mix on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/chWbdkSg2R
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) January 31, 2014
Complicated forecast scenario on Saturday with warm air pushing north into the area, causing precipitation type changes.
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) January 31, 2014
For the latest hour by hour forecast for your specific location, visit http://t.co/HxPbUiZjdf for the latest information.
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) January 31, 2014
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORTHERN INDIANA
627 AM EST FRI JAN 31 2014
LAGRANGE-STEUBEN-NOBLE-DE KALB-STARKE-PULASKI-MARSHALL-FULTON IN-
KOSCIUSKO-WHITLEY-ALLEN IN-WHITE-CASS IN-MIAMI-WABASH-HUNTINGTON-
WELLS-ADAMS-GRANT-BLACKFORD-JAY-BRANCH-HILLSDALE-WILLIAMS-FULTON OH-
DEFIANCE-HENRY-PAULDING-PUTNAM-VAN WERT-ALLEN OH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAGRANGE...TOPEKA...ANGOLA...
KENDALLVILLE...LIGONIER...AUBURN...GARRETT...KNOX...NORTH JUDSON...
WINAMAC...FRANCESVILLE...PLYMOUTH...BREMEN...ROCHESTER...WARSAW...
WINONA LAKE...COLUMBIA CITY...SOUTH WHITLEY...FORT WAYNE...
MONTICELLO...BROOKSTON...LOGANSPORT...PERU...WABASH...
NORTH MANCHESTER...HUNTINGTON...BLUFFTON...OSSIAN...DECATUR...
BERNE...MARION...HARTFORD CITY...MONTPELIER...PORTLAND...COLDWATER...
HILLSDALE...BRYAN...WAUSEON...ARCHBOLD...DEFIANCE...NAPOLEON...
PAULDING...ANTWERP...OTTAWA...PANDORA...VAN WERT...DELPHOS...LIMA
627 AM EST FRI JAN 31 2014 /527 AM CST FRI JAN 31 2014/
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST OHIO...
SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN INDIANA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SOUTH OF ROUTE 6 THIS AFTERNOON.
THE SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE REGION THIS EVENING. ONE TO
TWO INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED BY DAYBREAK SATURDAY.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY
A MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN SATURDAY MORNING IS
EXPECTED. THE WINTRY PRECIPITATION WILL LIKELY CHANGE TO ALL RAIN
BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...ALONG AND SOUTHEAST OF ROUTE 24. A BAND
OF ICE ACCUMULATION UP TO ONE TENTH OF AN INCH INTO SOUTH CENTRAL
LOWER MICHIGAN. WINTRY DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY SATURDAY
MORNING...BUT WILL IMPROVE OVER AREAS WHERE THE TEMPERATURE RISES
ABOVE FREEZING.
THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE AREA
TUESDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT WITH HEAVY SNOW. PLEASE STAY TUNED
TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND UPDATES REGARDING THIS SYSTEM.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SNOWFALL AND PRECIPITATION TYPE REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED.
&&
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...OR
CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/IWX
I just got an excellent email message from Michael Lewis, warning coordination meteorologist, National Weather Service northern Indiana office. I’m excerpting it below, with his permission. Good words. Heed them!
As an NWS employee, I cannot police what people decide to ‘use’ for there forecast services; however, I would hope that our trained spotters would not fall victim to the hype and hysteria that is surrounding the model forecasts for next week.
The ‘hype-casting’ for an event next week is causing concern, when any well trained meteorologist will tell you that computer model skill beyond day 5 needs to be scrutinized carefully. Model solutions have been and continue to be “all over the place” and a simple change of 50 miles or change in speed of a few hours, changes to temperature and moisture and a host of other ‘artifacts’ can result in significant differences in the computer model generated output. Here is a well written blog – http://www.gensiniwx.com/2013/12/the-truth-is-you-gave-lousy-forecast.html. My sharing this link does not constitute the NWS opinion or support. This is shared because as a meteorologist, I agree with nearly EVERY point made.
The NWS in Northern Indiana is aware of the forecasts that are circulating, and we are providing forecasts based on our confidence in the solution. It is still TOO early to say with any level of certainty or confidence what the system next week will produce, let alone whether it will be all rain, all snow, or for that matter WHEN it will begin and end.
Please continue to monitor our websites and use our services to stay informed.
Quick Briefing Pages
I have been busy putting finishing touches on the Core Partner Briefing Pages.
- Core Partner Briefing Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/iwx/?n=embrief_winter
- Enhanced Data Display Page
This continues to be expanded and new data and resources are being added on a weekly basis. This is an invaluable tool for Situational awareness.
EDD Page Centered on the NWS IWX Area: http://tinyurl.com/q49o8bq
Default Page: http://preview.weather.gov/edd/ (there is a mobile version of this page)We are here to save lives and minimize loss. We take our mission seriously and want to provide you the BEST service, the BEST forecasts and the BEST watch/warning/advisories to help you make the BEST decisions to serve your community. No hype, no hysteria, no fear-casting.
Michael S. Lewis
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
KG4KJQ
@EricGolden6 Snow is possible next week … way too early to put an amount on it.
— Curtis Smith (@CurtisSmithINC) January 30, 2014
@digdugdigger Way too early to tell. Potential for a strong system somewhere from the Ohio Valley into Great Lakes,
— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) January 30, 2014
A lot of amateur meteorologists are spreading a lot of hype about a huge snowstorm that’s supposedly going to hit next week sometime. As WANE-TV meteorologist Jesse Hawila wrote in a Facebook post yesterday, this is ridiculous. The same thing happened in December, when Twitter and Facebook users posted a map image from a forecast model run six and a half days in advance of the storm. That map (below) suggested that northeastern Indiana could get more than 20 inches of snow. But that didn’t happen!
 |
| Forecast map from a European numerical forecast model created Dec. 16, 2013 for a Dec. 22-23 event. |
 |
| Gensini |
As that storm passed northern Illinois, DuPage College meteorology professor Victor Gensini wrote a great blog explaining why it’s so foolish to distribute images like the one above, especially without lots of explanation of what these computer models mean and don’t mean. Now that some people are again foolishly hyping the next big storm for our area, reading Gensini’s December blog is again worthwhile. Check it out. (Thanks to WANE-TV meteorologist Greg Shoup for sending a tweet about Gensini’s blog.)
From WANE-TV meteorologist Jesse Hawila:
Folks please read: there are a lot of rumors going around everywhere on social media about a huge snowstorm with 30″+ of snow next week. This is getting out of hand and ridiculous. Read more.