Impending winter storm...

Our focus is on the developing weather maker over the Plains states this evening. A strengthening low pressure system will come out of Wyoming and Colorado picking up plenty of moisture originating from the Gulf of Mexico. That warm moist air will be diverted vertically over a warm front to our southwest. That rising moist air will cool and generate snowfall over our area beginning Saturday morning.

The snowfall rates will reach 1 to 2 inches per hour and accumulations of 4 to 6 inches should occur before the storm system moves far enough north to allow sleet and freezing rain to take over on Saturday afternoon. That should effectively keep the snow amounts down somewhat. However, the roads will likely experience significant glazing because temperatures will remain below 32 degrees.

The storm will then pass us Saturday night and the heavier precipitation will become freezing drizzle and the system will end for Sunday afternoon, though flurries could linger.

Lastly, cold air will once again flow in to start next week, and the snow cover will keep our readings down even more so. Highs will struggle to reach 20 degrees.

Dan Breeden
News 19 Chief Meteorologist