Snow tapers off today, winds kick into high gear
Clipped
Our first Alberta Clipper of 2014 came in pretty much as scheduled today. Snowfall totals coming into the Twin Cities and other National Weather Service offices confirm a wide area of falling snow, from 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches. Here's a quick look at some selected snowfall totals coming into NWS.
1.9" Chanhassen NWS office
2" Edina and Eden Prairie
2.5" MSP Airport
2.6" Grand Forks
2.7" Menomonie
3" Brainerd
3.5" Anoka
3.7" NE Minneapolis
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Here's a bigger view of the snow swath, pretty much running along Interstate 94 as expected.
Back Edge
Snow tapers today as the back edge of snowfall moves through. Some nice snow bursts of moderate to heavy intensity attacked this morning during rush hour. That was enough to gum up roads at the worst time today. Check out the radar image below, and note the snowy stripes west of the metro behind the back edge of falling snow. That is likely airborne wind driven blowing snow.
Wind Next
The next feature with our productive Clipper is the wind. Winds gusted as high as 61 mph at St. James this morning. Numerous wind gusts over 40 mph are creating a wind-driven blowing snow layer anywhere west of the metro in open country. Expect blowing and drifting -- near ground blizzard conditions in open areas today.
Roller coaster temps this week
We ride the weather roller coaster this week in Minnesota. As the jet stream sails overhead, shifting winds will push and pull colder and milder air in an atmospheric tug of war. Our next shot of light snow comes in late Wednesday and overnight as a warm front sails in. It looks like we get two January thaws this year as milder Pacific air spills in again Sunday and Monday.
