Brutal Cold, Heavy Snow

Canada exported one of their Alberta Clippers into the US today and the brutal cold is savaging the northern plains states. It is really, really cold in many areas, with high winds adding to the misery. The front is also threatening to drop heavy snows across many areas of the country as it sweeps east. Brace yourself, folks. This one is nasty.

An Alberta Clipper delivering a bit of accumulating snow to the mid-Atlantic today will be followed by a more potent storm set to spread snow, ice and rain from the southern Plains to the Northeast before the start of the weekend.

The Severe Weather Center displays the snow-related watches and advisories pertaining not only to an Alberta Clipper, but also a more potent winter storm set to intensify over the South Central states on Thursday.

The Alberta Clipper will first spread its accumulating snow eastward from the Ohio Valley into the mid-Atlantic today. The greatest amounts, up to six inches, will blanket the mountains of West Virginia.

As moisture accompanying the clipper gets wrung out over the central Appalachian Mountains, the East Regional News story states lighter snow or rain showers will be found over the mid-Atlantic's Interstate 95 corridor. Despite the snow leaving under an inch or no accumulation, motorists should watch for slippery spots to develop on roadways tonight as colder air arrives.

The snow has already produced up to a few inches across the mid-Mississippi Valley. Late Tuesday to early today, the storm dropped 2.0 inches of snow on Prophetstown, Ill. Roads became snowcovered and slick in Quincy, Ill., as 1.5 inches fell.

In the wake of the clipper, a bitterly cold dome of high pressure will grip the Midwest today. Brisk winds will allow lake-effect snow to keep streaming downwind of the Great Lakes, which has prompted Lake-Effect Snow Warnings. The winds will also create even colder RealFeel® temperatures across the entire Midwest.

Late Tuesday into this morning, the combination of the cold and howling winds made the air feel dangerously colder across the northern Plains. RealFeel® temperatures plummeted to the following readings:

    * Grand Forks, N.D.: -63°
    * Fargo, N.D.: -58°
    * Park Rapids, Minn.: -41°

I used to live in Prophetstown, Illinois. I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned in a national story before. What the story does not mention is that brutal cold, high winds and 2 inches of snow adds up to whiteout conditions in that neck of the woods. The area is as flat as a pool table and there are no windbreaks to speak of. Generally, by this time of year the area I live in expects temperatures in the 30-40°  F range. Instead, all the schools are closed due to excessive wind chill.