Official Winter Storm Thread for 12/21 - 12/26

cyfanatic

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
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Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Any mid-day updates from any of the meteorologists? I seriously get very excited for every snowstorm we have, but since this one interferes with x-mas travel, I am not excited at all.

This is how I feel! I love storms...but this one is going to cause a lot of people some serious headaches! Don't like the thought that people might not be able to spend the holidays with their families!
 

garn91

Well-Known Member
Jun 1, 2006
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Ankeny
I just heard an audio feed from Charlie Freese with Freese-Notis. He is saying the storm is tracking further north and west with the noon runs. He is now saying that Des Moines is going to have mostly rain on Wednesday and then turning to snow on Thursday and Friday and his total snow for central IA is now 5-6" but NW IA is on track to receive anywhere from a foot to almost 2 ft as you get into Eastern NE and SD. Freese also said this storm is a very hard to predict right now so it could shift back on the next run. Sounds like this storm has them all confused.

Personally I would rather have all snow instead of this rain they are now talking. That will make things a lot more hazardous once the rain freezes as it gets cold enough for the rain to turn to snow.

There are so many different takes out there on this storm that it's really hard to know who to believe. Saw this on the Accuweather.com weather forums (yes, there's a place on the 'net to talk weather).

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/eBayKid/map.jpg?t=1261415555

Link to the thread were I saw the above image: http://forums.accuweather.com/index.php?showtopic=15796&st=2760
 

jdoggivjc

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Sep 27, 2006
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Macomb, MI

matmann22

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Dec 31, 2007
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Pleasant Hill
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There are so many different takes out there on this storm that it's really hard to know who to believe. Saw this on the Accuweather.com weather forums (yes, there's a place on the 'net to talk weather).

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/eBayKid/map.jpg?t=1261415555

Link to the thread were I saw the above image: Dec. 23-28 Plains/MW/GL/OV Winter Storm - AccuWeather.com Forums

Is that a prediction from like 2 days ago ?

That is several hundred miles South and East of the model tracks from this morning
 

Iastfan112

Well-Known Member
Apr 14, 2006
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Here's my take:
View attachment 6542

If the storm come in east or west of where its expected of course you need to move the lines accordingly. In areas that stay all snow as was mentioned earlier in the thread, over a foot is likely. Right now Sioux City looks to be in the bullseye for the heaviest snows with some soundings showing over 2 ft of snow.
 

cytech

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
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Hiawatha, Iowa
There are so many different takes out there on this storm that it's really hard to know who to believe. Saw this on the Accuweather.com weather forums (yes, there's a place on the 'net to talk weather).

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu114/eBayKid/map.jpg?t=1261415555

Link to the thread were I saw the above image: Dec. 23-28 Plains/MW/GL/OV Winter Storm - AccuWeather.com Forums

From what most of the weather experts are saying, we won't know what will happen till tonight or tomorrow. I am sure someones prediction made so far will come true, but we just have to wait till more than one person agrees with each other lol.
 

Iastfan112

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Apr 14, 2006
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From what most of the weather experts are saying, we won't know what will happen till tonight or tomorrow. I am sure someones prediction made so far will come true, but we just have to wait till more than one person agrees with each other lol.

Thats because the storm is just coming onshore now, the models tend to have a better handle on systems when the get more concrete data from reporting stations on the west coast.
 

BKLYNCyclone

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2007
2,122
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Twin Cities, MN
Just bought chains for my car in case we run into this muck on the way home... I don't plan on using them unless it gets really, really bad.

I wouldn't even consider chains except that I'm driving from NYC to NE Iowa, and I'd like a little extra security in the waning hours of the trip. If it gets crazy out, the chains are going on. Last year on this trip we hit some serious snow in ohio and indiana and counted over 100 cars in the ditch, including a double trailer fedex ground truck.

I've never used chains before, and hopefully won't have to this time either. Anyone have any experience with them? I got some from Thule, so I'm hoping they are as easy to put on as they advertise to be. Chains seem pretty rare in Iowa (I'm assuming because IA is more or less flat).
 

cytech

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
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Hiawatha, Iowa
Just bought chains for my car in case we run into this muck on the way home... I don't plan on using them unless it gets really, really bad.

I wouldn't even consider chains except that I'm driving from NYC to NE Iowa, and I'd like a little extra security in the waning hours of the trip. If it gets crazy out, the chains are going on. Last year on this trip we hit some serious snow in ohio and indiana and counted over 100 cars in the ditch, including a double trailer fedex ground truck.

I've never used chains before, and hopefully won't have to this time either. Anyone have any experience with them? I got some from Thule, so I'm hoping they are as easy to put on as they advertise to be. Chains seem pretty rare in Iowa (I'm assuming because IA is more or less flat).

You put the chains on the ground in front of the tires and drive forward then attach it is actually pretty simple.
 

jdoggivjc

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Sep 27, 2006
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Macomb, MI
Maybe it's just me but I've never heard of anyone using chains to travel around in Iowa. Not even the Appalachian Mountains. I thought that was just a Rocky Mountains thing.
 

cytech

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
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Hiawatha, Iowa
Maybe it's just me but I've never heard of anyone using chains to travel around in Iowa. Not even the Appalachian Mountains. I thought that was just a Rocky Mountains thing.

It pretty much is helps with going up and down the roads in the mountains. But added traction can never hurt.
 

HILLCYD

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Nov 22, 2006
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Chains are typically only used by people in Iowa who need to get onto gravel and/or level B roads for some reason prior to any plowing being done. They work very well in those situations.
 

BKLYNCyclone

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Sep 16, 2007
2,122
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Twin Cities, MN
Maybe it's just me but I've never heard of anyone using chains to travel around in Iowa. Not even the Appalachian Mountains. I thought that was just a Rocky Mountains thing.

They seem to be popular in upstate NY and in the Delaware river valley/eastern Pennsylvania. I agree, about not seeing a lot of people in Iowa use them though, usually reserved for trucks fitted with a blade plowing out parking lots...

Hopefully the plows are out and keeping the roads pretty much clear. Last year sucked as the plows couldn't keep up in Wisco on the interstate.

Due to the speed constraints, I'd really rather not have to use them at all. I'd much rather drive 45 on semi clear roads than less than 30 on snow full roads. The chains I got have a quick release mechanism, so taking them off only takes a few seconds. I'll be damn happy to remove them if I end up having to put them on...
 

jdoggivjc

Well-Known Member
Sep 27, 2006
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Macomb, MI
Must be because I've lived in/around larger cities for my entire life, which I'm pretty sure first outlaw chains on city streets, and second salt trucks render chains unnecessary (or are supposed to).