The latest GFS Snowfall Forecast is out and it’s quite alarming to see the large amounts of snow that is possible across the state. Although the amounts seen in the image are a bit high, the snowfall ratio will start around 10:1 and increase by late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning to 15-20:1. (To explain the ratio, 10:1 indicated 10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of rain, 20:1 would indicate 20 inches of snow to 1 inch of rain etc.)

The NAM run shows totals that are about 5-7″ lower than these totals across the southern and southeastern counties and only 3-5″ of snow across northern Iowa where they’ll see about that much from the Monday storm alone. The likely scenario is that the amounts on the image would be the absolute max anyone will see (except the northern counties where the totals are about right) Areas in the blue colors will likely see totals up to 10″ with isolated 12″ amounts. Areas in the pink and red colors will likely see 9-13″ snow amounts with isolated 15″ totals further to the SE. Areas in the faded pinkish tan color farther to the southeast will likely see totals of 11-16″ with isolated totals approaching 20″ or more. Along with the heavy snow, there will be strong gusty winds as well with near blizzard or blizzard conditions possible across mainly the southeastern counties into Missouri and Illinois where a Blizzard watch is in effect. More on this Particularly DANGEROUS Winter Storm in later posts.