|
SNOW, SLEET, FREEZING RAIN SNARL TRAVEL FROM TEXAS TO MINNESOTA
Residents of Willmar, Minn., in Kandiyohi County about 100 miles west of Minneapolis, found themselves virtually locked in by 30.4 inches of snow that stopped all travel. About 13 miles to the northeast, the town of New London was buried under 28 inches of snow. The Willmar and New London measurements were made by cooperative weather observers who volunteer their time and efforts to recording weather data for the agency. Todd Krause, warning coordination meteorologist at the Weather Service's forecast office in Chanhassen, Minn., said a localized band of convective snow produced the total in Willmar. "While this was the biggest snowfall total for Willmar, the state climatologist told us it didn't set a record for the state, but I think it's safe to say nobody in the area had seen such snowfall before," Krause said. According to Krause, snow fell at the rate of 2-3 inches an hour when the storm stalled over Willmar. Other snowfall totals in Minnesota included: Slayton—18 inches; Dawson and Madison —16; Eden Valley, Milaca, Cokato, and Pipestone—15; Canby—14; Rockford and St. Cloud University—13; and Medina—12 inches. South Dakota didn't equal the heaviest amounts recorded in
Minnesota, but many areas in the southeastern part of the state
received significant snowfall of up to 16 inches. Artesian reported
14-16 inches, as did Woonsocket and Madison reported 12-16 inches.
Other totals included: Mitchell—16 inches; Brandon—15;
Lake Andes—14; Alexandria, Emery and Howard—12-14;
Flandreau and Sioux Falls—13; and Salem 11-13 inches. Roads in the Texas Panhandle were made dangerous by powdery snow that melted when it hit warm pavement only to ice over in below-freezing temperatures. Totals of 1-3 inches fell in the southeastern Panhandle. The Amarillo Weather Service office Wednesday forecast called for some morning snow flurries with high temperatures around 25 degrees and north winds of 10-20 mph. Thursday's high is expected to be 45-50. Sleet mixed with snow fell much of the afternoon along the Red River in Texas as temperatures fell 25 degrees from Monday's highs. The forecast for the Dallas-Ft. Worth area called for sleet mixed with rain and freezing rain Wednesday and Wednesday night with ice accumulations up to one-half inch. Temperatures were expected to be in the low to mid 30s with a north wind around 15 mph. High temperatures in the upper 30s are expected through Thursday, finally warming to the mid 50s on Friday. In Oklahoma, freezing rain and snow moved from the southwestern part of the state Tuesday afternoon into the Oklahoma City area Tuesday night, where bridges and overpasses began to freeze shortly after 8 p.m. local time. The area forecast called for 2-4 inches of snow Wednesday, possibly mixed with sleet. A high temperature near 30 degrees will be accompanied by north winds of 20-25 mph. After an overnight low near 20 degrees, temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 30s on Thursday and to the upper 40s on Friday. The storm system moved Wednesday into Missouri with a Winter Storm Warning in effect for southwest and south-central Missouri. Snow is expected to change to sleet and freezing rain Wednesday afternoon in the Springfield area with continued snow, sleet and rain continuing overnight. Springfield forecasters warned residents of significant ice accumulation in the area. The forecast for Columbia and Jefferson City, Mo., also called for 2-4 inches of snow followed by freezing rain and sleet for significant ice accumulation from Columbia and Jefferson City, Mo., to Quincy, Ill., by Thursday morning. Temperatures are forecast to rise to above freezing Thursday afternoon. Snow and sleet are expected to extend across southeast Kansas and into the Kansas City area Wednesday. Accumulations of 1-3 inches are expected in Kansas. A chance of snow will continue through Thursday in the Kansas City area and temperatures there are expected to reach the mid 40s on Friday. Relevant Web Sites
|
