[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyYuPN9VtFQ&w=640&h=480]
AHEAD OF THE STORM: Readings will be at or just slightly above average for the next few days before the next storm moves in late Wednesday into Thursday. There will be a lot of clouds around with several disturbances that will be brushing the state. One today will be moving to our south and southeast with a few flurries or sprinkles. Most of that should stay across Missouri and Illinois at this time. Tuesday will see a disturbance move across Minnesota and Wisconsin that could bring flurries or a light snow shower there. Again like today’s, tomorrow’s system will only bring a few more clouds in the northern counties and perhaps a flurry at most there. Readings both today and tomorrow will be in the 30s to lower 40s.
WHAT’S UP WITH SNOW: The latest GFS Model Run is pushing the snow further to the west. The amounts however are increasing. Last night we showed about 10″ as a maximum across the area. Now the model is pushing out a “projected” 12-15″ in northeast Iowa into southwestern Wisconsin. It has also lightened the amounts in southeast Iowa due to the possibility of the precipitation starting out as rain there before the cold air changes it to all snow. This will have to be watched carefully as any slight deviation in the track could change the forecast tremendously. If it moves to the north by 50 or so miles. All or most of the snow could end up in Minnesota and Wisconsin again and Iowa would get rain and perhaps a little light snow at the end. If it shifts south, northern and western Iowa may get little to nothing and southeast Iowa would get dumped on. There are still a lot of factors that are hanging in the balance at this time and nothing is set in stone as yet. However this is a good time to get your emergency kit together for your car, perhaps get your snow blower tuned up or buy and extra bag of salt. We should know a little more than we know now by tomorrow.
A LITTLE BIT OF YUKON: The weather will turn colder and perhaps according to the GFS, it could turn sharply colder to end the year across the state and the upper Midwest. If the parameters come together regarding the snow storm this week, this will really bring the readings down even more. We may see highs struggling to get out of the 20s or even teens and lows could be hovering around 0. This is all dependent on whether or not we have a snow cover after this week. Stay Tuned.