Still no winner yet but our snow will come in time.

What date will the Dubuque Regional Airport see the first 1″ of snow? I will use the official report from the National Weather Service. Keep in mind this is not in town…this is at the airport. Here the report from which the amount would come from.  If it snows .5″ on one day and .5″ on the next it does not count. It has to snow 1″ from midnight to midnight. Put your name and guess in the comment section below. I will make a list and see who has the best guess. Your guess needs to be in by the October 15. This is just for bragging rights…there is no prize.

Below is the list of names and the dates you sent in. Good Luck. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

Posted under Uncategorized, Winter Weather

As Mark mentioned previously in the blog, today is the anniversary of the great Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940.  Early in the afternoon temperatures reached into the low to mid 60s over much of the Midwest.  Within a few hours, though, temperatures dropped up to 50 degrees, heavy snow fell and the winds started roaring at 50 to 80 mph.  Up to 27 inches of snow fell with drifts forming up to 20 feet deep.

The following photos are from the archives the Minnesota Historical Society.
 

Today is a bit different.  While we are expecting temperatures in the upper 50s and may even see a few 60s this afternoon, we will stay pretty calm for this Veterans Day.

As a matter of fact, we aren’t expecting any snow anytime soon.  We may have a few rain showers on Saturday, but it will stay warm enough to keep the white stuff away.

Posted under Weather History, Winter Weather

Never touch a fallen power line. Never touch anything or anyone in contact with a power line. You could be shocked by contact with the line or a secondary object or person.

Reporting a Fallen Power Line

• Call 911 and report it to local Sheriff or Police

When Vehicles Comes in Contact with a Power Lines

• If you are inside a vehicle:
  • Stay inside the vehicle and warn others to keep away.
  • Wait inside the vehicle until rescue personnel arrive.
  • Do not make contact with metal parts in the vehicle.

• If you have to get out of the vehicle because of a fire or other danger:
  • Jump out so that you do not touch the vehicle and ground at the same time.
  • Don’t run. Hop away keeping your feet together. Separating your feet can create two contact points with the ground and can result in a shock if the ground is energized by a fallen wire.

About Fallen Power Lines

When a live wire touches the ground, electricity fans out in a pool, similar to when a pebble hits water, with the voltage decreasing as it travels from the center. You can be shocked when in this area. Other factors play a role in the severity of the situation, such as wet conditions and the voltage of the wire.

It is important that those without power use caution when trying to stay warm. Special caution should be used.

• Generators should only be used outdoors, in well ventilated areas.  It is not safe to operate a generator in your house, or even in a garage attached to your house, even if the garage is well ventilated.  The exhaust from the generator contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can seep into your house and kill you.

• Don’t try to hook up a portable generator to your home electrical service.  This not only endangers you, but also utility crews that are trying to restore service.

• Only use appliances that are designed for heating to stay warm.  Never, ever, use a gas or charcoal grill, camping stove, or gas stove to generate heat.  In addition to carbon monoxide, prolonged use of these devices for warmth could cause them to overheat and lead to a fire.

• One of the greatest threats during times of prolonged power outages are fires caused by the careless use of candles or fireplaces.  Also use care when refueling generators and kerosene heaters, as hot surfaces can ignite spilled fuel.

Posted under NOAA, Uncategorized, Winter Weather

From: Yahoo News
BEIJING (AFP) - – Chinese meteorologists covered Beijing in snow Sunday after seeding clouds to bring winter weather to the capital in an effort to combat a lingering drought, state media reported.

The unusually early snow blanketed the capital from Sunday morning and kept falling for half the day, helped by temperatures as low as minus 2 Celsius (29 Fahrenheit) and strong winds from the north, Xinhua news agency reported.

Besides falling in the northeastern provinces of Liaoning and Jilin and the northern province of Hebei, the eastern port city of Tianjin also got its first snow of the autumn, the report said.

“We wont miss any opportunity of artificial precipitation since Beijing is suffering from the lingering drought,” the report quoted Zhang Qiang, head of the Beijing Weather Modification Office, as saying.

Chinese meteorologists have for years sought to make rain by injecting special chemicals into clouds.

Although the technique often gets results, a drought in the north of the country has continued for over a decade.

Besides the snow, which the Beijing Evening News said was the earliest to hit the capital in 10 years, the cold weather and strong winds also delayed air travel from Beijing’s Capital Airport, while interrupting passenger shipping services off the coast of Shandong province in the east, Xinhua said.

Posted under Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it. Here are some interesting winter records from across the state:

• Maximum 24 hour snowfall: 24 inches in Northboro on February 25-26, 1912 and in Lenox on April 20, 1918
• Maximum snowfall from a single storm: 27.2 inches in Iowa City on March 10-14, 1951
• Maximum on month snowfall: 44 inches in Red Oak in January 1936
• Maximum winter season snowfall: 93.1 inches in Elkader 1950-51
• Maximum winter season state average: 59.0 inches in 1961-62
• Earliest heavy snowfall: September 16, 1881 with over 6 inches of snow between Stuart and Avoca
• Latest heavy snowfall: May 28, 1947 with greater than 10 inches in Le Mars, 8 inches in Cheriokee, and 7.5″ in Waukon. Click here for more on this event.

Posted under Records, Winter Weather

After a weekend with highs in the upper 60s and low 70s it is hard to think about winter weather. It is November after all and the weather could change very quickly. The National Weather Service (NWS) in conjunction with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency have declared Thursday, November  12 as Winter Weather Awareness Day in Iowa. Each day this week I will be posting winter information to get you prepared for the inevitable cold and snow to come.

Here are some definitions of products the NWS issues during the winter.

Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO)

The Hazardous Weather Outlook includes any potential weather hazard out to seven (7) days. It is used for planning purposes and will include a short description of what the weather threat is, when it is expected, and how much it may impact the region. The HWO is issued daily around 5:00 AM, and updated during the day as needed. It is also broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio near the top and bottom of every hour.

Winter Storm Watch (WSW)

A Winter Storm Watch is issued when there is a potential for a winter storm to affect the region during the next 1 to 3 days. It does not always mean the area will be hit by a winter storm, but there is still some uncertainity of the exact path or timing of the event. This is a planning stage. Use this time to ensure you have supplies at home, like some extra food, medications, baby items, etc.. If travel is planned, check ahead and see if a different route or delaying your departure may make your trip safer. Be alert for changing weather conditions.

Winter Weather Advisory (WSW)

Advisories are issued for those winter weather events that are expected to be more of an inconvenience and should not become life-threatening if caution is exercised. These are often issued for 3 to 6 inches of snow, blowing and drifting snow, freezing drizzle, or a combination of these elements. It may be issued for less snow for early season events, when drivers may not be accustomed to slick roads.

Winter Storm Warning (WSW)

Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued when dangerous winter weather is expected, occurring, or imminent. The weather can become life-threatening. Criteria includes snowfalls of 6 inches or more in 12 hours, 8 inches in 24 hours, or lower amounts if accompanied by strong winds or a combination of dangerous winter elements. Avoid unnecessary travel.

Blizzard Warnings (BZW)

The most dangerous winter event is certainly the blizzard. Blizzard Warnings are issued when snow or blowing snow lowers visibilities to a 1/4 mile or less, wind gusts hit 35 mph or higher, and the storm lasts for 3 hours or more. Travel is dangerous and should be avoided if possible.

Ice Storm Warning (WSW)

Ice storm Warnings are issued when freezing rain will cause widespread glazing. A coating of ice is expected to reach 1/4 inch thick or more on objects and make travel nearly impossible. For lesser amounts of ice, usually a winter weather advisory would be used, but even a thin glaze of ice can make travel difficult. Avoid travel.

Wind Chill Warning (NPW)

Issued when wind chills of -35 F or lower are expected with wind speeds of 10 mph or more. A wind chill advisory is issued for values between -20 and -34 F. Dress warmly and cover as much exposed skin as possible.

Posted under NOAA, Winter Weather

Part of the forecast discussion from NWS in the Quad Cities:

STRENGTHENING EL NINO FULLY IN CONTROL NOW ACROSS NORTH AMERICA… AND WILL REMAIN SO THE REMAINDER OF THE UPCOMING WINTER. THIS MEANS ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS AND BELOW NORMAL SNOWFALL FOR THE DVN CWA. ANY COLD AIR INTRUSIONS ARE USUALLY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN IN A MODERATE TO STRONG EL NINO.

Posted under Long Range Outlook, NOAA, Winter Weather

From: NOAA
El Niño in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean is expected to be a dominant climate factor that will influence the December through February winter weather in the United States, according to the 2009 Winter Outlook released today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Such seasonal outlooks are part of NOAA’s suite of climate services.

“We expect El Niño to strengthen and persist through the winter months, providing clues as to what the weather will be like during the period,” says Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. “Warmer ocean water in the equatorial Pacific shifts the patterns of tropical rainfall that in turn change the strength and position of the jetstream and storms over the Pacific Ocean and the U.S.”
Click here for more details to the story.

Posted under Long Range Outlook, NOAA, Winter Weather

Snow lovers will enjoy the map below. It shows where snow is on the ground from the storm this past weekend. Far northern Iowa might see around 1″ of snow. Don’t expect any snow accumulation elsewhere.

Posted under Winter Weather

As summer comes to an end tomorrow….snow is showing up on the web camera. Click here to see where.

Posted under Winter Weather