Winter Storm 1/28-1/30

[Kevin]

(Welcome to the forum, hrmc.)

Well, I wasn't even going to look at the models.  I figure I would take a break after a few exhausting days.  But, since you all asked, I did run the 12Z GFS.  To answer your question, other than a couple of borderline situations, there's nothing to get excited about at this point for the next couple of weeks. 

It's time for the pattern to relax a bit.

And, it's time for some of us to go into weather/model watching detox for a while.  Got other responsibilities in life to get back to. 

When next something interesting shows up on the horizon, you can be sure we'll talk about it here!

Isn't that the truth! Its hard to believe we've been in heavy-discussion (not just "oh there may be a system") for nearly a solid week...

[Mathman]

 Well, some of us may have been a bit disappointed with the snow totals... but after musing in front of the fire today, I woud rank this storm as a "classic" southern winter event, like the ones in the 1970's that I remember.  I think it is important to point out that  this storm covered a swath of real estate from centrial OK to the coast of VA.  It has been more than twenty years since that last happened!

Perhaps this was winter's only big show for us (I think so)... but maybe, just maybe this storm signals that the bland winter pattern most of you have grown up with is finally coming to an end.  I for one am ready, even if it means saying sionara to the eucalyptus tree in my backyard.   

[Crockett]

We wound up with about 6.5" at my home here just outside the Big South Fork NRRA boundary, west of Oneida. I've heard reports of up to 10" in Scott County, but I haven't seen any totals that high, nor talked to anyone first hand who has. The consensus around the county here seems to be 6-7". The snow never changed here in Oneida, but there were periods of sleet in some areas of the county and freezing rain in the south end of the county during the overnight hours.

It's hard to believe, but this is the biggest snow we've had since Feb. 3-4, 1998. We had a 6" snow in 2005 that rivaled this one, but it fell with warm ground temperatures and roads weren't impacted much at all. As the sun sets this evening, TDOT still hasn't touched the state highway in front of my house and it's several inches of compacted snow. Makes for a bumpy, slick (and fun) ride. Even U.S. 27 is still mostly snow covered. It's been a long time since we had a snow here that still had the state thoroughfares snow-covered and treacherous a day later.

Edit: Also had some very impressive drifting in spots, considering the amount of snow. I measured one in my back yard higher than 2 feet.

[WFayetteTN]

I sat back and lurked during SWM, I didnt have anything worthy to add. Had surgery on my hand last week, so impersonating a one-armed bandit for the better part of the week. Was in Cordova thurs night, Southaven, MS last night and Ive just arrived back to my home about an hour ago. Luckily had no power problems; and so far havent experienced any major tree problems on my (wooded) lot. Jul 2003 wiped out all my bad trees (17). Praying for an uneventful night as temps drop for the night. Hopefully no more wind? Enjoyed the reading the discussion. And maybe I'll get out and post some icey tree pics from the backyard in a little while.

[tnbassman]

Here In Roane Co it has snowed off and on since noon. Currently on.  Probably received more snow accumalation out of theese deformation bands today than we did with the main event yesterday. We have gotten at least an additonal 1 to 1.5" today. Last night we had about 1" of snow and .50" sleet.

[ChrisPC]

This was fun! 

It was dead quiet when I woke up; even the neighborhood kids didn't come out until 10 or 11 AM. I sledded a little with a garbage can lid, made some snow cream, and just played in the 5 inches of crunchy snow. BTW, I have some huge icicles about one to two feet long. My street was invisible at first, but the snowplow and brine finally came along about 11 AM. 

I had to work, but almost didn't go today. It still was a weird experience driving the 2 or 3 miles to work. Once I got out to the main road, it was just as white as my street! My boss let me leave early, and it was even scarier driving back. I actually stayed out of the grooves, because they were slick, hence less traction. I saw some broken fences and tire tracks where people ran off the road, too. 

[Susan in Macon]

Ok in my end of Macon County, I measured 5 inches on my car... however my car was not out in it the entire time.  I measured 8 inches in my front yard.  At my uncle's house, I stepped into a snow drift that was to my knee and I wasn't at the bottom of it yet.

The roads here are really slick.  Heard of alot of churches canceling tomorrow.

[tnbassman]

Knoxville area roads are treachorous tonight. I40 W closed at Holston river bridge. I75N closed at TN river bridge in Loudoun Co with a 20 car pileup with multiple injuries. Pellissipi Parkway bridge over TN river has 4 car pileup with injuries. Knox PD has gone to stage 3 snow plan. Chains on all cruisers. Only respond to accidents with injuries or blocked roadways. No routine patrolls.

[maryvillereb2003]

how are road conditions in maryville???

[kailynleto | Nightwolf]

Looks like I nailed both forecasts.  Odd.

[bigalpha]

Sledding today was too much fun.  That 5-6" of fluffy snow is great for it.

[Chelsea in Tn]

Sledding today was too much fun.  That 5-6" of fluffy snow is great for it.

Jealous - my kids had a blast but we have about 5 inches of snow with a good 1/2 inch of ice on top. Made for some good sledding in our yard but not any snow ball fights or snowmen... Oh well my kids did not mind... there will be another time I am sure...

How long do we expect this stuff to stay"?

[dwagner88]

Greenville (SC) is a giant skating rink tonight. Down here there is about a half inch of IP/ZR and a miniscule amount of snow. All of the slush froze up this afternoon and it is very trecherous out there. Apparently the roads in Chattanooga are mostly cleared, so I will probably have school Monday. 4.8 inches is remarkable for KCHA. Our annual average is 4.9. My parents said there is still a lot of snow on the ground at home.

Tomorrow I will be driving up to the north carolina state line. That escarpment got hammered with heavy snow yesterday and I am expecting to see accums of around a foot there. I will try to take pics!

[rhea weather]

ICE is what local MTN's and the Crossville area saw.


Whiteout conditions around 4:00PM in Dayton, TN. Heavy Snow

[Curt]

Just some quick notes to wrap up this winter storm for me...

While I did not get 8-10 inches of snow I was expecting, this winter storm was really interesting synoptically. The 850mb 0 degree line really played havoc with the forecast as the "warm nose" flucuated across extreme southwest TN all day, leaving a variety of precip types within a small range, 30-40 miles. (Surface temps were no problem as they topped out at 30 for me and were mostly in the upper 20's.) I ended up with about 2 inches of sleet, 1.5 snow, and .25 freezing rain. Had the 850mb line been 10 miles further south, the freezing rain and some of the sleet would have been snow, leading to the higher snow totals which were originally forecast(the 4-6 inch range was less than 5 miles away, and the 6 plus less than 15 miles). The variety of precip types for this storm was the most interesting aspect for sure, as it started as freezing rain to hvy snow to hvy sleet to freezing drizzle to light snow. The hvy freezing drizzle at the end coated everything, adding an amazing effect to the trees, while sticking to the ice too. I am glad we added another layer of some snow afterwards with the ULL.

Model wise, kudos to the EURO for the most part, followed by GFS, then NAM. The EURO stayed its course and except for overdoing the QPF, pretty much nailed the event here anyways.

So overall, the 850mg "warm nose" along with the decrease in QPF made this a really tough forecast. Still, it was a fun storm that led to some of the best sledding I have ever done before.

Here is what I did y'day, featuring my girlfriend and me, and my cuz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs5hIKaYy5o

Here are the NWS ice and snow accumulation maps from MEG (notice the tight gradient, esp snow across Shelby County):

Ice Accum Map: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/MEG/rws.PHP

Snow Accum Map: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/MEG/NOW.PHP