A Little More Snow PM Wednesday
Here's the simulated radar from AM Wednesday to AM Thursday, which shows a little more light snow drifting through the region, which could bring some light snow accumulations to the region. It won't be much, but there could be some slick spots as we head into the rush hour PM Wednesday and again AM Thursday.
Snowfall Potential Through AM Thursday
Again, snowfall amounts across the region late Wednesday into Thursday won't be terribly heavy, but there could be enough to cause a few issues on roads across the region.
"2023: 5th-Hottest U.S. Year with Record Billion-Dollar Disasters"
KEY CONCEPTS
- 2023 was the hottest year on record globally, and the 5th-hottest for the U.S., according to NOAA.
- Chart-topping temperature rankings are part of a decades-long trend of rapid warming caused mainly by carbon pollution.
- During 2023, the U.S. experienced a record 28 billion-dollar disasters. The previous annual record, 22 disasters, was set in 2020.
- Severe storms accounted for 19 (68%) of all billion-dollar disasters in 2023 — part of a rising trend of costly, dangerous, and deadly severe storms in the U.S.
- The frequency of billion-dollar disasters has increased dramatically. The average time between billion-dollar disasters in 2023 was just 12 days — compared to 82 days in the 1980s.
Snowfall Analysis Last 2 Days
Parts of the Midwest got pummeled by heavy snow over the last few days, but the Twin Cities was spared the worst of the weather. The MSP Airport only picked up 0.5" of snow, while some folks across far Southwestern MN saw nearly 6" to 8" of snow. Meanwhile, Sioux Falls, SD picked up close to a foot!
More Active Week Ahead
The storm system responsible for our snow earlier this week will continue to move east across the Great Lakes Region early Wednesday. There will be another brief shot of snow across the Midwest and Great Lakes PM Wednesday into early Thursday before another bigger storm system develops late week and into the weekend across the Midwest and Great Lakes late week and weekend.
An Arctic Plunge on the Way
Are you ready for winter? Take a look at the 850mb temp anomaly across the nation as we head through the next 7 to 10 days. Several storm systems moving across the nation will finally allow some Arctic air to funnel south into the Lower 48. This will be some of the coldest air of the season by far and it will also be some of the coldest air in the Midwest since February of last winter with daytime highs in the single digits and subzero overnight lows. Get ready!
Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI)
"Winter seasons have significant societal impacts across all sectors ranging from direct human health and mortality to commerce, transportation, and education. The question "How severe was this winter?" does not have a simple answer. At the very least, the severity of a winter is related to the intensity and persistence of cold weather, the amount of snow, and the amount and persistence of snow on the ground. The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) was developed to objectively quantify and describe the relative severity of the winter season."