Muddling Through March

Muddlilng Through March
By Todd Nelson

YAWN... I, like many I'm sure, are still trying to recover from the weekend time warp. The cloudy, gloomy weather isn't helping either. Don't be ashamed if you hit the snooze button a few extra times this morning, most of us did!

As we muddle through this gray March weather, one thing to keep in mind is that we are making strides towards warmer weather. The atmospheric response is generally that of cloudier weather. Daytime highs above the freezing mark help to melt that winter snowpack, which adds moisture to the lower part of the atmosphere. That moisture tends to linger near the surface in the form of fog and low clouds, a pattern that can perpetuate for days.

The same storm that brought us Saturday rain will wrap up over central and northern Wisconsin today with shovelable snow. Tuesday brings another another clipper storm that will sail through relatively quiet. A few light snow showers may help to bring your desire to root around in the garden a few notches higher.

Can you believe that at this time last year, we would have had our 3rd 60 degree day in March? On March 17th we hauled in an astonishing 80 degree day! I don't see that happening in 2013. -Todd Nelson
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Todd's Conservation MN Outlook for the Twin Cities and all of Minnesota:

MONDAY: Light AM snow east? Peeks of PM Sun. High: 32
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Low: 20.

TUESDAY: Clipper moves in. Light snow showers possible. High: 34

WEDNESDAY: Clouds fade. Sunnier day of the week. Wake-up: 16. High: 31

THURSDAY: Clouds thicken through the afternoon. Wake-up: 18. High: near 37.

FRIDAY: Warmer. A few sprinkles possible. Wake-up: 27. High: 40.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, light rain/snow mix possible. Low: 25. High: 39

SUNDAY: Storm developing, warm enough for rain? Low: 29. High : 41

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 Looks A Little Snarly

Here was the webcam from earlier Sunday in Lincoln, Nebraska at 27th and Superior. It appears that the weekend snow storm caused a few traffic problems around town.

Classic Spring Storm

Here was a look at the storm on Sunday afternoon as it was winding up over the central part of the country. Note the 'comma' shape to the storm, denoting a mature state. Pretty classic in spring of fall to see heavy snow on the northwest flank and strong to severe storms on it's southern flank.

Baseball Size Hail in Texas

Thanks to @TXStormChasers for this picture north of Decatur, TX. Could you imagine a near baseball size hailstone flying at you? YIKES!

Saturday Storm Reports

Tulips Popping In Superior, Wisconsin?

Thanks to my good friend, Jon Ellis, from Superior, Wisconsin for the picuture below. Even with a decent amount of snow of the ground, the intensity of the sun is helping to awake any ready tulip bulbs that don't have snow cover over them. It's another testiment to how strong the sun is getting at this time of the year!

 

More Snow on the Way

 

The National Weather Service has issued winter weather headlines for locations into the Great Lakes region through Monday. Heavy, wet, shovelable snow is expected across the region.

 

 

Snowfall Expected

 

The high resolution, RPM model suggests 6"+ in a fairly large swath from Iowa to the U.P. of Michigan through Monday.

 

 

 

National Snowfall

 

The 3 day national snowfall forecast suggests that the heaviest band will occur across the Great Lakes region through Monday. Other than some high elevation snow out west, light snow potential will be possible across the Plains through midday Wednesday.

 

 

National Precipitation Forecast

 

NOAA's HPC 3 day precipitation forecast suggests that the same storm responsible for heavier snow across the Great Lakes Region through Monday will also be responsible for heavier rain across the Southeast through Tuesday before sweeping east into the Altantic Ocean.

 

 

 

Cool in the Northeast...

 

As the storm moves east, it will draw down cooler Canadian air and keep most of the Northeast cool through the end of the week. Note also how the Southwest looks to be quite a bit warmer by the end of the week!

 

 

 

Thanks for checking in, have a great week ahead!

 

Check me out on Twiter @TNelsonWNTV