Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Lake enhanced snowbands may make for tricky morning commute

Snowfall warning issued
for areas south of MB lakes
A cold northerly flow of Arctic air moving over the open waters of Lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba will set the stage for the development of lake effect snowbands this evening which will likely persist tonight into Wednesday. The north to south snow bands will be quite narrow and localized, but could be fairly intense with local snowfall accumulations of 10-15 cm possible within these bands tonight into Wednesday.  Off Lake Winnipeg, the main snowband is expected to set up through Selkirk and eastern Winnipeg into the Niverville area although the band may drift from time to time and fluctuate in intensity. Off Lake Manitoba, a lake effect snowband is expected to set up through Portage La Prairie to just west of Carman to the Morden area. In between these snowbands, occasional light snow or flurries are expected tonight into Wednesday morning with 2-5 cm possible. This will likely make for a slower commute Wednesday morning especially under the heavier snowbands which could be affecting east Winnipeg early Wednesday. A snowfall warning is in effect for areas immediately north, east and west of Winnipeg due to these expected heavier snowbands.

8 comments:

  1. 10 pm radar shows a nice band of lake effect snow starting to set up off the south end of Lake Winnipeg through Selkirk and beginning to intensify. This band will likely continue to grow southward tonight across eastern sections of Winnipeg and then south of the city. This band has potential to give snowfall rates of 1-2 cm per hour, with amounts of 5-10 cm by morning. Keep in mind though the heaviest snow will be quite localized as the band is quite narrow.. perhaps 5-10 km wide. So not everyone will be seeing these heavier amounts, but be prepared for locally poor visibility and highway conditions overnight into Wednesday morning, especially from Selkirk through eastern parts of the city, Oakbank, down to Iles de Chenes, Nivervelle area.

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  2. How much snow do you think Winnipeg will get? And when will it end?

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    1. Snow bands were not as intense as they were expected to be overnight.. Generally about 2-4 cm in the main bands from Selkirk to Oakbank, and from Portage LP to Carman to Winkler. Just a dusting-1 cm elsewhere including Winnipeg. Will continue to see off lake flurries today.. with another 2-5 cm possible within those main bands east and west of Winnipeg.

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  3. Rob, the long range is not looking to promising for anyone who wants some warmer temperatures. Almost constant NW flow.

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    1. Yeah, not very encouraging over the next week or so. The only upside is that it appears to be a dry pattern as well as Pacific systems get blocked or stay well south of us. I can put up with the cold if we don't have a lot of snow. It's nice that we still don't need boots, don't have to constantly shovel, and still have dry roads. I'm hoping the snow can hold off as long as possible.

      I'm encouraged by the latest CPC 8-14 day outlook that shows an easing of the below normal pattern over the central continent as the upper trough lifts eastward and we get some moderating temperatures for the last week of November.

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    2. Hoping this early cold spell is the worst we'll get this winter (in terms of the consistency and difference from normal)... With the lack of snow, it'll be easier to see above normal conditions.

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  4. Looks like a little bit of snow coming Saturday night into Sunday? How much do you think we will get?

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    1. For Winnipeg, most models are only bringing in a couple cm.. but the American NAM is showing about 2-3 cm Saturday night, and another 2-3 cm Sunday as the cold front goes through. A cold front dropping in quickly from the north generally doesn't give that much snow.. but perhaps there will be some enhanced bands off the lakes that could give some locally heavier amounts. Overall, I think Winnipeg should see about 2-3 cm, with locally higher amounts off Lake Winnipeg. Not also, there will,be some strong NW winds developing behind the cold front later Sunday which will likely lead to blowing and drifting problems with locally poor visibilities.

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