10-13-2008, 01:07 AM
accuweather.com
Even more heavy snow will blanket places in Wyoming and Montana that are already knee-deep from the slow-moving major snowstorm. Meanwhile, this storm is expansive and is bringing a variety of messy weather conditions, including strong storms in the southern High Plains.
Up to another foot of snow will fall over eastern Montana to western North Dakota through Monday morning. Even more than a foot of additional snow may cover some places in northeastern Montana, where the snow will fall in the U.S. for the longest amount of time. High elevations in Idaho could have another 3 inches of snow.
The Winter Weather Center reports that the storm will finally depart the Rockies and push into the northern Plains by tonight before departing into Canada. The heaviest snow will be forced northeastward into southern Saskatchewan, Canada, by Monday.
Treacherous travel conditions will be in store for the areas receiving the wintry weather. Roads will be slippery and snow packed, while gusty winds could cause blowing snow and reduced visibilities.
To add to messy conditions, snow could topple trees that are still bearing full leaf and also some power lines. Some power outages could result, and this is typical of early season snowfalls which generally produce heavy, wet snow. Unfortunately, when this occurs, each power line has to be restrung, so restoring power can take a while.
Montana, Wyoming and Idaho have been hit the hardest by heavy snow. Some counties in south-central Montana, including Carbon and Still Water counties, have already received more than two feet of snow and even close to three feet since Thursday.
The following is a list of snow totals ending at 10 p.m. MDT on Saturday:
ââ¬Â¢Cole Creek, Mont.: 34.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Mystic Lake, Mont.: 30.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Roscoe, Mont.: 25.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Hobbs Park, Wyo.: 24.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Red Lodge, Mont.: 22.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Shell Creek, Wyo.: 23.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Marquette, Wyo.: 21.0 inches
Meanwhile, on the southern flank of the storm, a potent clash of cold air surging into the southern Rockies and warmer air to the east of the storm will allow some strong and severe storms to erupt across the southern High Plains. West Texas through southwestern Kansas will be targeted by the strong storms.
The Severe Weather Center will have an up-to-date list of storm-related watches and warnings in effect. Tall, rotating thunderstorm clouds will threaten to bring damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado.
According to the Southwest Regional News story, Norbert's moisture will also arrive on the scene, adding the potential for flooding downpours from the storms. Norbert first made landfall early on Saturday as a Category 2 hurricane in Baja California Peninsula. It then weakened into a Category 1 storm before hitting the mainland of Mexico after 8 p.m. PDT Saturday. It is expected to weaken quickly as it interacts with the mountainous terrain of Mexico.
The storms will die down after the evening with the lack of daytime heating to add vigor to the storms. However, rain will linger through Tuesday with the front stalling in the southern Plains.
While cold air continues to bite the Rockies, a strong area of high pressure will build into the Great Basin. It will kick up a warming offshore flow in the Southwest and the first Santa Ana winds of the season.
This will be a strong and prolonged wind event that will start up by tonight and last through Tuesday. Winds will become strongest on Monday night with gusts topping out at 70 mph.
The very low humidity and lack of rain in Southern California will result in a significant fire threat. If any wildfires do start, winds of this caliber could spread embers very quickly and allow for rapidly spreading flames. Residents are warned to use common sense and caution to prevent the start of any fires.
http://www.accuweather.com/news-top-headline.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&date=2008-10-12_12:36&month=10&year=2008
Even more heavy snow will blanket places in Wyoming and Montana that are already knee-deep from the slow-moving major snowstorm. Meanwhile, this storm is expansive and is bringing a variety of messy weather conditions, including strong storms in the southern High Plains.
Up to another foot of snow will fall over eastern Montana to western North Dakota through Monday morning. Even more than a foot of additional snow may cover some places in northeastern Montana, where the snow will fall in the U.S. for the longest amount of time. High elevations in Idaho could have another 3 inches of snow.
The Winter Weather Center reports that the storm will finally depart the Rockies and push into the northern Plains by tonight before departing into Canada. The heaviest snow will be forced northeastward into southern Saskatchewan, Canada, by Monday.
Treacherous travel conditions will be in store for the areas receiving the wintry weather. Roads will be slippery and snow packed, while gusty winds could cause blowing snow and reduced visibilities.
To add to messy conditions, snow could topple trees that are still bearing full leaf and also some power lines. Some power outages could result, and this is typical of early season snowfalls which generally produce heavy, wet snow. Unfortunately, when this occurs, each power line has to be restrung, so restoring power can take a while.
Montana, Wyoming and Idaho have been hit the hardest by heavy snow. Some counties in south-central Montana, including Carbon and Still Water counties, have already received more than two feet of snow and even close to three feet since Thursday.
The following is a list of snow totals ending at 10 p.m. MDT on Saturday:
ââ¬Â¢Cole Creek, Mont.: 34.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Mystic Lake, Mont.: 30.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Roscoe, Mont.: 25.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Hobbs Park, Wyo.: 24.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Red Lodge, Mont.: 22.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Shell Creek, Wyo.: 23.0 inches
ââ¬Â¢Marquette, Wyo.: 21.0 inches
Meanwhile, on the southern flank of the storm, a potent clash of cold air surging into the southern Rockies and warmer air to the east of the storm will allow some strong and severe storms to erupt across the southern High Plains. West Texas through southwestern Kansas will be targeted by the strong storms.
The Severe Weather Center will have an up-to-date list of storm-related watches and warnings in effect. Tall, rotating thunderstorm clouds will threaten to bring damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado.
According to the Southwest Regional News story, Norbert's moisture will also arrive on the scene, adding the potential for flooding downpours from the storms. Norbert first made landfall early on Saturday as a Category 2 hurricane in Baja California Peninsula. It then weakened into a Category 1 storm before hitting the mainland of Mexico after 8 p.m. PDT Saturday. It is expected to weaken quickly as it interacts with the mountainous terrain of Mexico.
The storms will die down after the evening with the lack of daytime heating to add vigor to the storms. However, rain will linger through Tuesday with the front stalling in the southern Plains.
While cold air continues to bite the Rockies, a strong area of high pressure will build into the Great Basin. It will kick up a warming offshore flow in the Southwest and the first Santa Ana winds of the season.
This will be a strong and prolonged wind event that will start up by tonight and last through Tuesday. Winds will become strongest on Monday night with gusts topping out at 70 mph.
The very low humidity and lack of rain in Southern California will result in a significant fire threat. If any wildfires do start, winds of this caliber could spread embers very quickly and allow for rapidly spreading flames. Residents are warned to use common sense and caution to prevent the start of any fires.
http://www.accuweather.com/news-top-headline.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&date=2008-10-12_12:36&month=10&year=2008