Convective Addiction

Snowtorious B.I.G. prepares to exit stage right

Posted on 02. Feb, 2011 by Jesse in Uncategorized

Snowtorious B.I.G. continues to pound parts of the nation’s northeastern section, while leaving in its wake a crippling blizzard that will be followed by extremely cold temperatures and a continuation of blizzard to near blizzard conditions in the area encapsulated by its steep pressure gradient.  Here’s a 6 AM surface analysis from the HPC:

The next immediate weather makes is off to the left of that map across the northern Plains as a ridge of arctic high pressure builds across the central United States, spilling frigid temperatures as far south as Texas, with the coldest readings in over a decade expected over parts of the Southern Plains.  Snowtorious B.I.G. has lived up to its reputation so far, though record snowfall totals were more an exception than a rule.  However, for many in the Midwest, this snowfall will be remembered as one of the top five (5) snowfalls within a period of 24-hours and/or from  one single storm.  Parts of C/NE MO and WC IL appear, preliminarily speaking, to have shattered some of these standing records by an inch or two.  Also, this storm appears poised to enter the top three (3) or five (5) snowfall records from a single storm within 24-hours.  Some outlets are also noting unofficially that the storm may be one of the largest winter systems, by sheer girth, to impact the US so adversely in many years.  Check out this incredible GOES-13 image from NOAA below:

As of 900 AM EST the NWS surface observations network was reporting a 999 MB (29.50 in.) surface low pressure system located over Lake Erie.  The low is forecast to continue tracking eastward.  The arctic high pressure system is forecast to anchor over the Central Plains, producing a wide swath of temperatures below zero (0) tonight (see HRRR forecast low temps at midnight below).

Several Convective Addiction members already have live footage available from the event.  Scott Weberpal, Skip Talbot and Danny Neal have some footage of the event available for viewing.

Scott Weberpal’s video from the Lake Michigan shoreline:

Danny Neal’s video from Evergreen Park, IL:

Skip Talbot’s blizzard video from downtown Chicago late TUE:

So what did you get?  Have you any videos or photos to share?  How much snow do you have to shovel today?  Feel free to share your thoughts, memories, photos, etc. from snowtorious B.I.G. on our Facebook page.

J. Risley