Sunday Snow Bowl Video Forecast Update

Updated Super Snow Sunday Forecast

As our snow event Sunday and into Monday morning draws closer we are also growing more confident in the higher snow totals that have appeared possible the past day or so. We have increased our snow forecast to 10-13" across much of the area. Winds will pick up 15-25 mph with gusts to 30 mph Sunday night into Monday morning creating widespread blowing and drifting snow.

Here is an hour-by-hour snap shot of how the snow will likely fall:

                                

#SuperSnowSunday: Forecast Update

We are now less than 12 hours away from the first flakes of the biggest snowfall of the season. 

We've gone over this forecast with a fine tooth comb, and we, the StormTrack Weather Team, are confident that very minimal changes will need to be made from this point out. 

Here's the timeline of events as we see it:

Saturday Afternoon/Evening: Mostly cloudy, mild, dry. 

10:00pm: A few flurries arrive

11:00pm: Snow arriving from the WSW

12:00am: The leading edge of #SuperSnowSunday is now in NW Ohio

Sunday:

7:00am: After light snow showers through the overnight hours, a 1-3" dusting of fresh snowfall will be on the ground by daybreak Sunday. 

1-3" snowfall accumulation by 7:00am Super Bowl Sunday

9:00am: Light snowfall. Slow accumulation.

**This isn’t going to be a quick downpour of snow, then be over. This event has a long-term duration and will last for over 24-hours.**

12:00pm: 3-5” of snowfall is likely by midday. 

1:00pm: As we get closer to game time, heavier and heavier snowfall will become an issue for travelers on the roadways.

Most intense snowfall occurs between 2-8pm Sunday

2:00pm: Between 2-8pm, the largest accumulations will build, nearly doubling the current accumulations from 3-5” to 6-10”.
4:00pm: Visibility will be low, roadways will be snow covered despite crew efforts, and winds will be gusting up to 25mph, creating blowing and drifting.

6:00pm: Close to 10" of snowfall and growing.

*6:30pm*: Game time. Travel will be nearly impossible. 

8:00pm: Blowing and drifting snow. Winds 10-20mph, gusts up to 25.

10:00pm: Light snow for the rest of the evening & overnight hours. 

A total of nearly 1 foot of snow for Super Bowl Sunday

Monday:

5:00am: Blowing & drifting snow. Light flurries. Final ending showers exit the area.

12:00pm: Winter Storm Watch/Warning expires.

Total event accumulations will range between 8-11” with isolated amounts up to ONE FOOT OF SNOW. 

This is, without a doubt, the largest snow event of the season.

SuperBowl Sunday Snow Storm

All signs point to Sunday being the largest snow event of the season.

 

Travel will be difficult at best on Sunday for many football fanatics planning to hit the roads. You will KNOW by early afternoon whether you’re going to want to venture out in this one for the big game.

Winter Weather Watch in effect until Sunday evening for all NW Ohio/SE Michigan

 Snow begins late Saturday (10-11pm), picking up in intensity towards daybreak Sunday. 

Sunday will be an all day snow. Yes, this means snow before & during the Super Bowl game. Steady, moderate to heavy snowfall will be likely through the late morning, afternoon and early evening hours Sunday, eventually building accumulations of 6-10”.

Heavy Snow on Sunday

 

To put this into perspective, our largest snowfall this season was 2.8” on the 12^th of January.
A far cry from 6”+! 

Blowing and drifting snow will be an issue through the late hours Sunday, creating larger drifts and making travel especially difficult after the majority of the accumulation has fallen.

Winds range between 10-20mph with temperatures in the low 20s.

Freezing Fog

Freezing Fog is a weather phenomenon that may seem rare, but is actually rather normal around these parts. 

In typical fog-fashion, freezing fog is a direct result of water vapor condensing out of the air and forming a cloud at the surface level. This low-lying cloud, or fog, can remain in it's gaseous/liquid state for longer than pure water. 

The freezing point of water is 32°, but a fog cloud, made up of particulate matter and water vapor molecules-- among other things-- can withstand the cold down to temperatures in the teens. This is mainly because the water vapor still needs something to freeze TO. On it's own, the fog can hover, but once the air reaches an environmental temperature below 14°, freezing fog becomes a concern as ice slowly adheres to local surfaces. 

Bowling Green State University Students walk to class in a post freezing fog environment

The true nature of the phenom occurs when the water vapor clings, or freezes directly, to any and all surfaces. Roads, trees, power lines, etc. Anything in the environment with a cold enough surface temperature can accumulate ice that is freezing on contact with the fog clouds. 

The deposition of ice on trees and other surfaces is known as hoar frost. 

Hoar Frost in Clyde, OH by @timafranks

Hoar frost pic by @NUTSHELMARSHALL

Another phenom known as ice fog, may also occur, but only once the fog cloud is composed of tiny ice crystals, not water vapor droplets. This is typically in an environment that does not support supercooled water formation. This may also be referred to as 'Diamond Dust'.

Frigid Tuesday Morning Ahead

A light wind combined with very cold temperatures will cause wind chills to drop well below zero Tuesday morning. Many spots will be 5 to 15 degrees below zero, even locations close to the lake shore. Below is a high resolution model showing the wind chill around sunrise Tuesday morning. A few schools have already delayed due to snow covered roads. Wind chills may also become a factor for some districts. 

Wintry Blast! Bring On The Snow!

Welcome to January. Cold. Frigid. Snowy.  This very well could be one of the harshest weeks that winter will throw at us this year.  Our first accumulating snow of the season will arrive tonight around midnight.  Steady snow overnight will make a mess of the Tuesday morning commute with 1 to 3" of snow expected on the ground by daybreak tomorrow.  Snow will continue through midday with an additional 1 to 2" of snow possible.  

Storm Timeline

Total snow accumulations in the Toledo area will be around 2 to 3" with snow totals up to 5" on the southern end of the area.  A shovel ready snowfall for all with many travel delays possible much of the week as bitter cold, frigid air follows!

Total Accumulations tonight through Tuesday PM

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