Outlook for the rest of the year.

Late Tuesday 12/29 into Early Weds 12/30: Light snow across the state. Mainly an inch of less accumulation.

New Years Eve: Light snow with the next system in Southern Oklahoma. Accumulations right now look to be around 1-3" with a higher amount in South Central OK that may see 3-5" amounts in a few spots. Higher amounts further south towards North Texas. We'll watch to see what happens with this, but right now all indications take the storm well south of OK.

Temps throughout the period should remain roughly 35-40, with evenings into the 20s.

The snowstorm was intentional. Here is the evidence.

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9461/20551130276197415613836.jpg

May it be God or Santa and his Elves working their magic.

looks like tue night and wed, could see another storm with a few inches possible.

No major changes from previous thinking. Dusting to an inch across most of the state Tue/Wed...maybe 2-3" SW.

New Years Eve, same. Snow mainly I-40 south with a dusting to 1" north until 3-5" south along the river.

Side note...OUN is likely going to revise the snowfall totals for Central OK down significantly. Apparently someone at the airport wasn't skilled enough to know that you don't measure snow in a drift. Unfortunately with 40-60mph winds, you aren't going to get an accurate snowfall total, so averaging has to come into play. That is unless you were able to trap the snow and protect it from the wind. Judging by the size of the drifts and previous experience, we'll probably see final totals in the 6-8" range.

No major changes from previous thinking. Dusting to an inch across most of the state Tue/Wed...maybe 2-3" SW.

New Years Eve, same. Snow mainly I-40 south with a dusting to 1" north until 3-5" south along the river.

Side note...OUN is likely going to revise the snowfall totals for Central OK down significantly. Apparently someone at the airport wasn't skilled enough to know that you don't measure snow in a drift. Unfortunately with 40-60mph winds, you aren't going to get an accurate snowfall total, so averaging has to come into play. That is unless you were able to trap the snow and protect it from the wind. Judging by the size of the drifts and previous experience, we'll probably see final totals in the 6-8" range.


You know, I was wondering how it was 11 inches, then within an hour it became 14. I was thinking all along that 14 seemed way too high. Of course, with all the drifting, I'm sure we will never know the exact number. 6-8 may be too low, but at the same time it would be consistant to the surrounding numbers.

I say leave it at 14".

You know, I was wondering how it was 11 inches, then within an hour it became 14. I was thinking all along that 14 seemed way too high. Of course, with all the drifting, I'm sure we will never know the exact number. 6-8 may be too low, but at the same time it would be consistant to the surrounding numbers.

Yeah, though convective snow/thundersnow would cause amounts to go higher. However, I didn't see any report of that over Will Rogers. Unfortunately, the best we can go off of will be radar estimates or any averaging of snowfall totals. 6-8 may be low...10 would probably be more accurate. And Thunder, that's the whole point. We can't let numbers go in as fact if they aren't. Same reason why tropical systems or even the May 3rd tornado are continuously reanalyzed for accuracy. When May 3rd first happened, people said that the winds in the funnel were near 330 mph due to the way the radar data was "starting over" in certain blocks. However, its since been revised down several times. Making sure we have accurate "ground truth" numbers allows the forecast tools, radars, etc...to all be calibrated correctly to allow for more accurate forecasts or real time info.

This evening's model runs keep things pretty consistent Tue through Thurs on precip amounts. Highest amounts look like they will remain SW, but we'll see at least a dusting to freshen up the snow pack and cover the dirty snow.

Sorry I didn't post this earlier when it was more relevent to the Blizzard, but like many of you I was busy with family and Christmas activities.

We had family coming down from KC on Christmas eve.....they made it as far as Joplin before having to stop when the interstates closed. They debated turning back to go home to KC but with a serious illness effecting a member of the family they were determined to make it. They eventually made it here late Christmas night, but they had a tough go of it and had to stop to help a young woman who rolled her car right in front of them near chandler. The usual 6-8 hour trip took two days. The whole event was heratwrenching for everyone.

First offf here are some pics I took during the blizzard....you can see as the slide show runs how the snow gets deeper and deeper with each photo. I'm guessing we got around 8-10"

Christmas Eve 2009 | Slideshow (http://cmd.shutterfly.com/commands/pictures/slideshow?site=snicksflicks&page=snicksflicks&album=611)

Secondly, and this is for more of the weather buffs is a satelite loop of the storm as it passed OK and moved up towards missouri. I don't know when I've ever seen such an impressive storm system via wv imagery. The shear size and scope of the storm were fascinating to watch even as I was worried about my family arriving safely. There is also a link to the KC webpage discussing the storm. I don't know how low the pressure got with this storm but it had to be close to a record I would think.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/eax/web/dec24b.gif

December 24-27, 2009 Blizzard & Sleet Event (http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/?n=2009dec2425blizzard)

I think it's interesting how the storm center seems to move into Arkansas, then north to St. Louis, then retrogrades back into central Iowa - weird. Kind of like watching the old tropical storm center reform an eye over western OK, strengthen, and move across the state a few years ago.

What struck me is just how tightly the storm was wound up....and the shear size of it. From the loop the storm influnces the weather over most of the country

Ugh...no need for only a couple inches, but whatever. I'm a born northerner and the home town had 3 inches of snow today which was "too low for an advisory" according to the office up there. LOL


URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
926 PM CST MON DEC 28 2009

OKZ004>048-050>052-TXZ083>090-291130-
/O.NEW.KOUN.WW.Y.0010.091229T2100Z-091230T1200Z/
HARPER-WOODS-ALFALFA-GRANT-KAY-ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-GARFIELD-
NOBLE-ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-KINGFISHER-LOGAN-PAYNE-
BECKHAM-WA****A-CADDO-CANADIAN-OKLAHOMA-LINCOLN-GRADY-MCCLAIN-
CLEVELAND-POTTAWATOMIE-SEMINOLE-HUGHES-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-
TILLMAN-COMANCHE-STEPHENS-GARVIN-MURRAY-PONTOTOC-COAL-COTTON-
JEFFERSON-CARTER-JOHNSTON-ATOKA-LOVE-MARSHALL-BRYAN-HARDEMAN-
FOARD-WILBARGER-WICHITA-KNOX-BAYLOR-ARCHER-CLAY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUFFALO...ALVA...CHEROKEE...MEDFORD...
PONCA CITY...ARNETT...WOODWARD...FAIRVIEW...ENID...PERRY ...
CHEYENNE...TALOGA...WEATHERFORD...CLINTON...WATONG A...
KINGFISHER...GUTHRIE...STILLWATER...ELK CITY...SAYRE...CORDELL...
ANADARKO...YUKON...EL RENO...MUSTANG...OKLAHOMA CITY...CHANDLER...
CHICKASHA...PURCELL...NORMAN...MOORE...SHAWNEE...S EMINOLE...
HOLDENVILLE...HOLLIS...MANGUM...HOBART...ALTUS...F REDERICK...
LAWTON...DUNCAN...PAULS VALLEY...SULPHUR...ADA...COALGATE...
WALTERS...WAURIKA...ARDMORE...TISHOMINGO...ATOKA.. .MARIETTA...
MADILL...DURANT...QUANAH...CHILLICOTHE...CROWELL.. .VERNON...
WICHITA FALLS...MUNDAY...KNOX CITY...SEYMOUR...ARCHER CITY...
HOLLIDAY...LAKESIDE CITY...HENRIETTA
926 PM CST MON DEC 28 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TUESDAY TO 6 AM
CST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM TUESDAY
TO 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY.

* TIMING: SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SPREADING INTO PARTS OF
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
THE AREA OF SNOW WILL EXPAND NORTH AND EAST ACROSS A LARGE PART
OF OKLAHOMA TUESDAY EVENING. THE SNOW MAY BE MIXED WITH RAIN AT
TIMES IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND WESTERN NORTH TEXAS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE SNOW SHOULD BE ENDING FROM
SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.

* MAIN IMPACT: PERIODS OF LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE SNOW WILL
RESULT IN SCATTERED SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO TWO INCHES.

* OTHER IMPACTS: ROADS IN SOME AREAS MAY BECOME SLICK ESPECIALLY
DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW FREEZING RAIN
CAN RESULT IN TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS
AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

(smile) Anyone who saw how folks here drove around in the blizzard and its aftermath can see why 2 inches warrants advisories here where it might not elsewhere.

I think the reason why most people drive fast in the snow is because they fear they would be looked upon by onlookers as cowards, if they drove slower for safety.

I am always marvelled at how people with pickup trucks think they are immune to slick roads. I can't tell you the number of big-*** 4x4's I saw screaming around traffic fishtailing and sliding without any regard for the safety of the others around them. Its like the rednecks of the city see snow and say "I'hm gun gowe owt and have sum fuuun!"

I have no problem with them issuing an advisory for such a small amount of snow. You have to remember that whatever does fall will be desguising any icy patches that remain on roadways from last weeks storm. Especially if there is any frz drizzle that accompanies the system.

Widespread light to moderate snow now moving into most of the Metro. Back end looks like it is coming into SW OK now. Some additional snow out in the Panhandles may swing in later it looks, but the freezing drizzle chances will probably go up once the snow stops.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/images/rtimages/oun/fxc_Today.jpg?timestamp=1262249038


URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
359 AM CST THU DEC 31 2009

OKZ021-022-033>038-044-TXZ083>086-311800-
/O.NEW.KOUN.WW.Y.0011.091231T1200Z-100101T0000Z/
BECKHAM-WA****A-HARMON-GREER-KIOWA-JACKSON-TILLMAN-COMANCHE-
COTTON-HARDEMAN-FOARD-WILBARGER-WICHITA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ELK CITY...SAYRE...CORDELL...HOLLIS...
MANGUM...HOBART...ALTUS...FREDERICK...LAWTON...WAL TERS...QUANAH...
CHILLICOTHE...CROWELL...VERNON...WICHITA FALLS
359 AM CST THU DEC 31 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST
THIS EVENING.

* TIMING: RAIN WILL MIX WITH AND THEN CHANGE TO SNOW DURING THE
MORNING HOURS. THE WINTER PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO END FROM
WEST TO EAST BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT: ONE TO THREE INCHES OF WET SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL
BE POSSIBLE TODAY MAINLY ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA AND
WESTERN NORTH TEXAS.

* OTHER IMPACTS: WIDESPREAD SNOW-PACKED ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NOT
EXPECTED AS TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY BE NEAR OR ONLY SLIGHTLY
BELOW FREEZING. HOWEVER... PERIODS OF MODERATE SNOW WILL RESULT
IN REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND SLICK ROADS IN SOME AREAS. DRY
WEATHER IS EXPECTED TONIGHT BUT WATER THAT REMAINS ON ROADS AND
SIDEWALKS WILL FREEZE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW COULD CAUSE
TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

I saw the radar on KOCO showing snow everywhere, but they're not reaching the ground. Virgo or whatever it is. lol