Monday, January 31, 2011

FORECAST DISCUSSION

AT THIS TIME... A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING STORM IS PREPARED TO UNFOLD ACROSS THE MIDWEST, PLAINS, AND MIDSECTION OF THE US.

TO FIND DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE STORM, CLICK HERE.

ACROSS THE SOUTH GREAT LAKES... UP TO 24'' CAN BE EXPECTED.
ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY... UP TO 2'' OF ICE CAN BE EXPECTED, WITH ISOLATED HIGHER TOTALS.
ACROSS DETROIT... UP TO 15'' IS POSSIBLE.
ACROSS THE MIDSECTION OF THE US... UP TO 2'' OF ICE CAN BE EXPECTED.

IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDSECTION OF THE US (DEFINED IN THE LINK ABOVE) STOCK UP ON PROVISIONS NOW!
THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING STORM.

Chicago Blizzard Warning Discussion

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL 320 PM CST MON JAN 31 2011  ...DANGEROUS MULTIFACETED AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING WINTER STORM TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...  ILZ003>006-008-010>014-019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019- 010530- /O.UPG.KLOT.BZ.A.0001.110201T1800Z-110203T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KLOT.BZ.W.0001.110201T2100Z-110202T2100Z/ WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE IL-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DUPAGE-COOK- LA SALLE-KENDALL-GRUNDY-WILL-KANKAKEE-LIVINGSTON-IROQUOIS-FORD- LAKE IN-PORTER-NEWTON-JASPER-BENTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROCKFORD...BELVIDERE...WOODSTOCK... WAUKEGAN...OREGON...DIXON...DEKALB...AURORA...WHEATON...CHICAGO... OTTAWA...OSWEGO...MORRIS...JOLIET...KANKAKEE...PONTIAC... WATSEKA...PAXTON...GARY...VALPARAISO...MOROCCO...RENSSELAER... FOWLER 320 PM CST MON JAN 31 2011 /420 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011/  ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM CST /4 PM EST/ TUESDAY TO 3 PM CST /4 PM EST/ WEDNESDAY...  THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM CST /4 PM EST/ TUESDAY TO 3 PM CST /4 PM EST/ WEDNESDAY. THE BLIZZARD WARNING REPLACES THE BLIZZARD WATCH.  * TIMING...SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY AND BECOME HEAVY AT   TIMES SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 TUESDAY AFTERNOON...GRADUALLY   SPREADING NORTH INTO NORTHERN ILLINOIS BY TUESDAY EVENING.   SNOW...WHICH WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE TUESDAY   NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. LAKE ENHANCED SNOW SHOWERS WILL   CONTINUE NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN IN NORTHEAST ILLINOIS WEDNESDAY   MORNING...SHIFTING INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA DURING THE AFTERNOON.   NORTHEAST WINDS OF 25 TO 40 MPH WITH STRONGER GUSTS WILL RESULT   IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DEVELOPING LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND   CONTINUING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.  * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN EXCESS OF A FOOT ARE   EXPECTED OVER MUCH OF THE AREA FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH   WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. LOCALIZED TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 18 INCHES   REMAIN POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE LAKE.  * HAZARDS...WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES TUESDAY   NIGHT AS VERY HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS RESULT IN BLIZZARD   CONDITIONS. SNOWFALL RATES OF AT LEAST 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR   ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY WHERE THUNDER SNOW MAY BE PRESENT.  * IMPACTS...CONDITIONS WILL RAPIDLY DETERIORATE FROM SOUTH TO   NORTH ACROSS THE REGION TUESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH TRAVEL LIKELY   BECOMING VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES TUESDAY NIGHT AND INTO   EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO FALL SO HEAVILY AT   TIMES TUESDAY NIGHT THAT PLOWS MAY BE UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE   SNOW...WITH MANY SIDE STREETS AND UNTREATED ROADS BECOMING   IMPASSABLE.  PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.  &&  $$  SHEA 

Chicago under a Blizzard Warning

Chicago is under a blizzard warning.
Stay with The Weather Centre as we update our Midwest Storm Page.

Changes in Storm

-No track changes, some moderation in all.
-Slightly lower snowfall from NAM, possibly GFS.

Expected Chicago snowfall: Up to 30''.
General view: 12-30''
In-Depth view: 18-28''.