The snow that has fallen all day must have a very high water content because we have only had about 3-4" added to the snowpack. N.O.A.A. did call for it to snow all day, and the sky also remained overcast with stratus clouds. The buildup on my truck and on the roads is minimal since it is melting almost as fast as it is falling. I think too, that the temperature may have a bit to do with that since it has been close to or above the freezing mark all day. That would also have an effect on the water content.
For the overnight the N.W.S. forecasts ice for the entire period (sleet or freezing rain). The snow is still falling though (21;00 hours), and it has continued unabated all day. The cloud cover has continued at 100% all day as well, and is expected to all night as well. The NEXRAD regional composite radar indicates that there is still a lot of precipitation to pass through before this is all over. The Weather Underground model forecast maps also indicate that this system may well be around until sometime Friday morning.
My Weather Stick is frowning again at the 84% relative humidity. There is no big surprise there. My La Crosse Weather Station started out the evening indicating a storm alert, but now it like the other two electronic instruments call for foul weather with falling barometric pressure. We had high temperatures that were not very high 34.7°F, 33.7°F and 34.3°F. I think the snow will continue through the night, and it will remain as snow. I do not think it will change to sleet or freezing rain, but that depends on the temperatures aloft as well as the ones near the surface. Warm aloft and cold at the surface would be a recipe for sleet or freezing rain. We will see the results in the morning.
High Temperature (°F): 34.9
Current Temperature (°F): 31.8
Relative Humidity (%): 84%
Dew Point (°F): 27.5
Heat Index (°F): N/A
Barometric Pressure (in Hg): 29.93
Wind Direction: Calm
Wind Speed (mph): 0.0
Wind-Chill (°F): 31.8
Precipitation (Type): Snow
Amount (Inches): 3.00
Cover (PM): Overcast
Cloud Type: Stratus
Weather Stick: Down
Comparative data for today.
Temperature::30°F/28.5°F//30°F/33.6°F//33°F/33.8°F//38°F/31.8°F
Relative Humidity: 35%/75%//66%/80%//69%/81%//72%/84%
The N.W.S. did get three of the four temperature forecasts correct, missing only the 17:00 hour data point. They did not do nearly as well with the relative humidity, since they missed all four data points. This was not nearly as good a job as they have been doing. Maybe I should not have said anything.
Forecast data for the overnight
Temperature: 31°F/31°F/32°F/32°F.
Relative Humidity: 81%/81%/85%/85%

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