A taste of a thaw

Image of the surface pressure and temperatures for noon CST on Thursday.

Since late last week, meteorologists have monitored the computer models forecast track of a developing center of low pressure. At one point, the track and intensity would have placed a good hunk of Minnesota in a heavy snow band.

The most recent GFS model is still generating a decent storm system but pushing the track of the low further to our west. This would put much of the state into the warm sector (to the right of the low pressure track). Thus not only would there be less snow, but the potential for some freezing rain and perhaps just rain in southeast Minnesota later in the week.

A tally of monthly snowfall amounts shows a range of only about ten inches in northwest Minnesota, to as high as forty-one inches at Rochester. The measurements of snow, taken at the Twin Cities International airport have totalled 33.4 inches for December. That is a new record for December for Minneapolis/St. Paul, beating the old record of 33.2 inches set in 1969.