Good Saturday, everyone. It’s a blustery day in the bluegrass state as a few snow showers get into the mix. These snow showers won’t amount to a whole lot, but it’s better than nothing for winter weather lovers. As we look ahead, the active setup continues with eyes on a better setup for next weekend.
The snow shower action comes and goes today and we may even have a few rain showers in there at times. Temps are in the 30s with a wind chill in the 20s. Overall, today is a blustery day.
Our best chance for some hit and run slushy, light accumulations will come after the sun goes down this evening. That’s when there is a little extra lift to get a few more snow showers going. Still, not everyone will see accumulations and those who do will mainly see it on elevated and grassy surfaces.
Another weak system zips in late Sunday into Monday and should bring rain and a touch of wet snow…
There’s the chance for another weak system on Wednesday as our pattern remains seasonally chilly. The setup continues to favor southern storm systems after that…
I will have updates later today, so check back. I leave you with your flake tracking toys…
Lexington
Louisville
Covington area
Florence
Georgetown
Frankfort
Pine Mountain
Mt. Vernon
Corbin
Mountain Parkway near Slade
Pikeville
Make it a good one and take care.
You know the mood is low. When the blog doesn’t receive a single comment on a Friday evening in January. One month and some change left this year. But the only way it gets worse for snow than this year is if we go a whole season with zero accumulation. Which could happen after four years and our declining totals.
I know. I was actually looking forward to a good snow this year, but it’s looking as if we’re not going to get anything major as I’m looking into the long range forecast, and the temps are showing 50s for day time highs, and upper 30s to low 40s for night time lows. The winters have been so disappointing. Sometime another, this warm air bubble has got to give way for the snow.
I could not believe what I read on yesterdays afternoon comment section, when Meteorologist Chris Bailey called out one of the most knowledgeable commentators. You have great comments Mike S and I like your detailed explanations.
Coming here and contradicting every post that CB makes for the past few months isn’t quite “knowledgeable”. This is Chris Bailey’s blog, which he has tirelessly worked on for us day in and night out for the past 12 years or so. Coming here and talking down every post/forecast he’s made for US isn’t the smartest thing to do.
I really wish the blog would have stayed like it was for the first several years of its inception. All kinds of folks, noone trying to one-up the other on their so-called “experience” in Meteorology;noone bashed another one because of how ignorant they thought their comment was; noone certainly came down on CB’s forecasts. Ahh, the good ol’ days! 🙂
Everyone has the right in The United States to voice their opinion and everyone can’t be right all the time when it comes to weather forecasting. I, however in the past, experience meteorologist which were much more accurate than they are today and never sensationalized their forecast. In my opinion, using just weather models to forecast the weather is asking for disappointment.
He does this when he gets his feelings hurt. Its normal and not unexpected i am just surprised it took him this long.
Get use to it folks this current weather pattern is not going anywhere according to many climatologist. The Arctic Oscillation, Polar low and as liberals call it ” Polar Vortex ” will stay in the positive phase for sometime to come. Oh, we will have short periods where the AO and the NAO will phase into the negative, but not very often according to climatologist. The good news is the Arctic Ice shield has expanded this Winter. That means no ” Global Warming ” so shut up and take the weather as it comes.
I enjoy waking up every morning and reading this blog. It’s been part of my routine for over 10 years. Chris is an expert in his field. Period. Does he get it right every time, no. Yet I’ve also never heard him claim to be perfect. Has he been correct or close more times than not…absolutely. At the end of the day I’m 100% sure about what my eyes see outside and my body feels. This isn’t intended as a lecture by any means but just a friendly thought that this IS Chris Bailey’s blog. He can post or not post whatever he wants just as you are free to post whatever you want until he says you can’t. I enjoy the back and forth at times but not when someone tells Chris what he should or shouldn’t forecast. I’m a snow lover. I love the anticipation and tracking. Yes, I’m disappointed in our winters lately but Chris has no control over that. I’m looking forward to the afternoon and evening update because, to quote Dumb and Dumber, “so you’re telling me there’s a chance!”
I don’t understand why some folks are frustrated.
Even if the snowfall forecast was 100% correct, all we were going to receive was an inch of slush.
For the first time in about 10 weeks, I actually like how the teleconnections are showing some promise for at least some snow chances in February. I haven’t felt positive much this season at all since November but I really think we get some late season hits, even if just small events.
Very underwhelming snow totals so far in the Chicago area, as of 7:30 AM CST. The snow has been light, and temperatures have been very marginal overnight, right at 32 degrees and even a degree or two above, so that has cut down on the accumulations. In addition, the snow didn’t start until around midnight. Coming home from work this morning, roads were just wet.
There’s about a half-inch of slushy snow on my driveway. The snow is starting to pick up in intensity though, but again, temps are right at or slightly above freezing, so that may cut somewhat into any additional accumulations, even though the snow isn’t expected to wind down until sometime this afternoon. We could get an inch or two if this heavier snow persists; we’ll see.
The far W and NW suburbs of Chicago have gotten the heaviest of the snow so far, but not the 7 to 9 inches that some of the computer models had predicted earlier.
The Chicago area did not get any measurable snow at all Friday, as just a trace was recorded, but most of the area got around a third of an inch of rain or so, as highs made it to the upper 30s. The rain and mild temps really delayed the onset of the snow.
It looks like the snow comma barely missed the Chicago metro to the W and NW. Where exactly do you live in that area? I hate that you missed out. How much do you have on the season now? About 10 inches or less?
I live in the Plainfield area, which is in the SW suburbs of Chicago, about 35 miles away from the city. I’m only 5 miles away from the NWS Chicago forecast office, which is in Romeoville.
Your guess is right on, Terry! So far for the season, the NWS office in Romeoville has recorded a mere 10.6 inches (3.5 inches of that fell in October and early November), which is 8 inches below normal! Last year at this time, we had 13.1 inches.
There’s been a little more snow at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, which has seen 17.1 inches to date (they usually get more snow than we do in the SW suburbs).
I just got in from shoveling the half-inch of slush from my driveway. The snow is now mixing with rain, and with temps at 33 degrees, I doubt we see any more accumulations.
I still think our biggest snow, I know it want take much, comes yet in February or early March, and maybe more than one. I am seeing signs that the PV is breaking down and look at the oscillations; they are changing. MJO looks a bit crazy right now but is neutral and trying to go into the correct phases for no more over whelming Pacific Rain Train pattern. PNA is now positive and looks to stay that way for at least a while while the AO, NAO needs correcting still but no longer strongly positive and forecasted to go at least slightly negative. As they say, “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings”, and I actually feel a bit positive about February, more so than any time since November about snow chances!
Believe things are about to turn around also..Guess we’ll know in about a week..Models remind me of Adam “Shifty” Shift and not to be believed most of the times when it comes to snow.
Chris,
I have been a faithful reader of your blog for better than 10 years. My family follows it as well. I feel compelled to comment today after seeing some recent negativity that really bothers me, because I believe you deserve our thanks. You have helped me dress myself and now my kiddos appropriately every day. I check your blog every morning because I know if anyone is going to have an accurate forecast, it’s you. Our weather service office is slow to issue weather products; by the time they do I’ve known the possibilities for the day for hours and have already prepared. You’ve saved my lawn furniture from the wind, my pets from the rain, and my cars from hail damage. I know I’m not the only one by far. You’ve saved everyone you have served millions in damages and far more than that— I am certain you have saved lives. It’s obvious that your work is more than a job to you. You spend hours every single day of your life trying to keep us updated, and we’re provided this at no cost and with minimal price exposure to advertisements. You’re an invaluable resource for those who are interested in meteorology— I have learned countless interesting things because of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping people like me ready for every single day without fail.
Looks like GFS won this round. It was more or less correct that the snows were going to be farther north.
We had a few hours of nice weather in the southern part of the state yesterday. Sun came out and temps were good before the rain came back. I enjoyed going outside and it still being daylight past 6 p.m. We are on our way to spring. Can’t wait until March 8th and DST.
Couldn’t agree more….at this point I no longer care if we get snow or not, I just want the infernal rain to stop for a while and have some nice temps. Spring cant come soon enough