SNOW DEVELOPING TONIGHT
Light snow will spread across south central Illinois and sweep across central Indiana during the overnight hours. We bracket the hours of 8PM through Midnight for the onset of the snow starting in western Indiana first. Initially the dry air over the state will prevent snow from reaching the ground but the atmosphere will become primed for the snow around 10PM in the city.
The average of 5 computer models places about 1” of snow over the city and area wide. Amounts range from .09” to .21” – the afternoon numbers did come in about 20% wetter than the morning runs. A trend that will be monitored and be sure to check in for updates later this evening. The system is expected to quickly exit on Tuesday morning with conditions improving during the tail end of the morning commute and through lunchtime.
A CLOUDY AND COOL VALENTINE’S DAY
After the snow departs Tuesday morning cloudy skies will hold with temperatures holding steady in the mid to upper 30’s. Valentine’s Day and the week leading up seems to always produce a storm system. (In the 20 years of forecasting – there seems to be a storm on the maps a good 70% of the time – all with varying degrees of intensity). It’s the start of a transitional time of the year…average high temps are now near 40° - the sun angle is 20% stronger than a month and a half ago and severe weather season traditionally starts along the Gulf Coast.
Last Year a cool 46° Valentine’s Day but as recent as 2009 the high reached 58°---just 2 years earlier the high only reached 19° with about 8” of snow deposited the day before!
