Leaf Blower Snow

Leaf Blower Snow

By Todd Nelson

Call me crazy, but I actually look forward to mid-winter clipper systems. As long as it's going to be cold and snowy, why not embrace it by having fun with the snow removal chore? As long as you don't have to drive anywhere, light fluffy snow accumulations are the best kind for the old leaf blower!

Interestingly, light fluffy snow weighs about 7lbs. per cubic foot, whereas your average snow weighs nearly 15lbs. per cubic foot. Those nasty March snows can weigh as much as 20lbs. per cubic foot making snow removal then a very strenuous job. That's what they call a heart attack snow!

Of course, with all snow removal chores, it's best to take plenty of breaks and not overwork yourself. Your body is already working hard enough, trying to keep your body warm.

Cold air and clippers stick around for another few days as temperatures snuggle down into the sub-zero range. Another clipper system arrives Tuesday with light snow chances across far southern MN, but don't be surprised if you see a few flakes as we ring in the New Year!

Good news, temperatures warm by the end of the week. Saturday, by Minnesota standards, will be considered 'warm'! Hang in there -Todd Nelson

________________________________________________________________

MONDAY: Cold! Fluffy 1" to 2" snow possible. High: 4. Feels Like: -25F Winds: WNW 5-10

MONDAY NIGHT: Light snow tapers early. Gradual clearing and cold again!. Low: -10. Feels Like: -25F

NEW YEAR'S EVE: Clouds thicken, light snow possible in extreme southern MN. High: -2. Feels Like: -20F. Winds: NW 5-10

NEW YEAR'S EVE NIGHT: Chance of light snow/flurries in southern MN, still very cold. -10. Feels like -20F

NEW YEAR'S DAY: Memorable cold start to 2014. A few flakes early?. High: 2.

THURSDAY: Increasing sun, still quite cold.Wake-up: -8. High: 3

FRIDAY: Increasing clouds, light snow late? Feeling warmer. Wake-up: -9. High: 12.

SATURDAY: Warmer yet! Light snow possible. Wake-up: 8. High: 22.

SUNDAY: Another cold blast. Wake-up: 5. High: 8

__________________________________________________________________

This Day in Weather History

December 30th

2005: A large swath of snowfall in the 6 to 8 inch range fell approximately north of a line from Madison to Redwood Falls, to Glencoe, to Chanhassen, to Andover, to Woodbury. Even heavier snowfall occurred West of a Granite Falls to Willmar line, where reports of between 8 and 11 inches were recorded. In Willmar, several vehicles were reported in the ditch. A semi-truck also rolled onto its side.

1996: 6 to 7 inches of snow fell in Willmar. The new snowfall, in addition to previous heavy snowfall, caused a portion of the historical society's roof to collapse.

1980: Heat wave across Minnesota. Redwood Falls hits 51.

__________________________________________________________________

Wind Chill Advisory

...COLD WIND CHILLS THROUGH MONDAY MORNING... .ARCTIC AIR WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH THROUGH TONIGHT BUT COMBINED WITH SEASONABLY COLD TEMPERATURES...WIND CHILL VALUES OF 25 TO 34 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED. MAKE SURE TO COVER ANY EXPOSED SKIN AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

Minneapolis Temperature Trend

Here's a look at the frigid temperature forecast over the coming days. The good news is that the temperature trend shows the potential for a brief thaw by late week/early weekend!

Monday Snow Chances

Here's the Monday snowfall forecast from the National Weather Service broken down into 6 hour periods. The total snow accumulations could wind up to be in the range of 1" to 2" of very fluffy snow by the time this clipper system scoots out Monday evening.

Thinking Warm Thoughts!

After the recent blast of Arctic air, I think we all need a little reminder that warm air still exists somewhere around the globe!

Here's a nice warm view from my good friend Megan Gehrke who arrived in St. Lucia in the eastern Caribbean this weekend!

Here's another one from the warm tropical beaches, where another one of my good friends Jennie Moren also has the right idea!

And one more from the National Weather Service out of Miami, Florida on Sunday morning. What a stunning sunrise!

Back to Reality

Some of the coldest air across the entire nation was located across the Upper Midwest on Sunday morning, where air temperatures dipped into the -10s and -20s (nearing -30F across the far north). Here's a shot from Pimushe Resort located in central/northern Minnesota (near Bemidji) where temperatures dropped to the -20s and wind chills values neared -40F on Sunday morning!

Here's another cold shot from my aunt Marsha, who braved the cold early Sunday morning for this sunrise photo near Crosby, MN! BTW, she said she also heard the rumble Friday night from the Midwest meteorite I mentioned in Sunday's weather blog... pretty cool!

BIG Change!

This is an amazing map, which shows the power of the front. Note the near 50F swing from Saturday to Sunday.

Sunday Morning Temperatures

Here's the national temperature map from Sunday morning. Note that there are near -30F temperature readings across the far north! YIKES!!

Sunday Morning Wind Chills

When you factor in the wind, it felt MUCH colder...

Wind Chill Concerns

Dangerous wind chills will be in place through early this week as bitter cold continues to lodge itself into the Lower 48. Wind chill values could be as low as the -40s across the far north!

It is important to keep in mind that if you plan on spending ANY time outdoors, dress appropriately! With temperatures as cold as they are/will be, frost bite can occur within a matter of minutes!

Cold Into the New Year

As we ring in the new year, the cold air is here to stay. If you have plans for New Year's Eve, here are the expected low temperatures by AM Wednesday, which look mighty cold across the far north.

Forecast Highs Wednesday (New Year's Day)

Here are the chilly high temperatures forecast for New Year's Day on Wednesday, which will still be sub-zero across the far north and into the northern New England States.

Highs From Normal New Year's Day (Wednesday)

High temperatures from normal and Wednesday (New Year's Day) will still be well below the norm across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation.

U.S. Snow Cover 2013

According to NOAA's NOHRSC, nearly 31% of the nation is covered in snow.

Interestingly, by this time last year there was nearly double the amount of U.S. snow coverage (64%).

Early Week Forecast

We say goodbye to a very soggy weekend across the eastern third of the nation, but colder air and more precipitation will continue into the early week ahead. Clipper systems with light snow accumulations will dive in from Canada, while continued rain chances will continue across the deep south from southern Texas to the Mid-Atlantic Region.

This Week's Precipitation Forecast

The upcoming week ahead looks soggy once again for folks from southern Texas to the Mid-Atlantic region. The southern tier of the nation will be warm enough for rain, but the precipitation across the northern tier of the nation will be cold enough for some snow accumulations

Somewhat Snowy Outlook

Looking ahead through early next week, clipper systems will help to freshen up the snow cover from the High Plains to the Great Lakes and the Northeast. Notice the narrow band of snow cover these clipper system will provide over the coming days.

More Wintry Weather

Interestingly, some of the heavier snow (thru Monday) will be found across parts of Maine, where some folks are still without power after the major ice storm blew through places from Michigan to Maine nearly 1.5 weeks ago!

Here's a story from the HuffingtonPost.com:

"Michigan bore the brunt of the storm as nearly 600,000 homes and businesses lost power, and as of Friday afternoon, about 60,000 customers remained in the dark. Maine reported almost 12,000 outages and in eastern Canada, nearly 62,000 still hadn't had their power restored, including 33,000 in Toronto."

Read more HERE:

(photo courtesy: @lisa51966 from Litchefield, ME)

Thanks for checking in and have a great week ahead!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @TNelsonWNTV