1311 replies to this topic

[north pgh]

Though I would start a new thread for our region. Springtime is over, haha

[Paweatherguy1]

Let's see how the NWS handles this...the GFS and SREF's are each showing about 2-4 inches probably, based on the lower ratios, while the NAM and Euro show less than that....

The NWS, quite literally got caught with their pants down a couple times last year...will be interesting to see what happens here. I would think at the very least they would have upped the probs of precip in the Pittsburgh area.

[RitualOfTheTrout]

Let's see how the NWS handles this...the GFS and SREF's are each showing about 2-4 inches probably, based on the lower ratios, while the NAM and Euro show less than that....

The NWS, quite literally got caught with their pants down a couple times last year...will be interesting to see what happens here. I would think at the very least they would have upped the probs of precip in the Pittsburgh area.

GFS did look interesting, but I still don't think this will be anything major outside of the ridges of SWPA. I would be shocked to see more than 1 inch, although that might be enough to bring some branches down given they are still have foliage and cause a few power outages, but nothing like what they are looking at in central PA. I am excited to see the first flakes of the season.

[colonel717]

Welcome back snow....KPit Accumulated snowfall..,,

http://www.meteor.ia...phtml?site=kpit

[Paweatherguy1]

The SREF's are interesting to say the least...mean gives us .5 QPF, most members give us in the .25-.5 range, and there are a couple members that go nuts on WPA.

http://www.meteo.psu...z/srefloop.html

[Paweatherguy1]

GFS did look interesting, but I still don't think this will be anything major outside of the ridges of SWPA. I would be shocked to see more than 1 inch, although that might be enough to bring some branches down given they are still have foliage and cause a few power outages, but nothing like what they are looking at in central PA. I am excited to see the first flakes of the season.

I'm going 1-3 PIttsburgh proper
2-4 in Westmoreland and Indiana County in the lowlands...
Ridges..I'll go 5-9.

Anymore adjustment west though, and we could be looking at an advisory level event...they might throw one up anyways for 1-3 inches due to the time of year.

BTW, 3 inches of wet snow right now would cause major power issues, IMO.

[Burghblizz]

Though I would start a new thread for our region. Springtime is over, haha

I kinda didn't maintain the title through the summer and early fall,


Funny how this kinda "looks" like a snowstorm on the GFS (850's mostly well south and east, QPF's over .75, etc) - but I'm not sure overall temps or snowfall rates will cooperate. If this were January, this would turn into one of those situations were the western side seems to get better and better.

In any event it's just October....This will be a big snow and quick melt for some to the east. Kinda cool, since you can't really be too concerned about your snowcover right now.

[PottercountyWXobserver]

Either way, I hate Nor'Easters unless they are inland runners. They never work out for western PA

[north pgh]

NWS finally updated their forecast for Allegheny County.
They had continuously had a 20% chance tonight and 30% for tomorrow with less than 1/2 inch.
Now they have 2 inches.

This is the new forecast.

-290815-
ALLEGHENY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PITTSBURGH METRO AREA
612 PM EDT FRI OCT 28 2011

.TONIGHT...CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN AND LIGHT SNOW THIS
EVENING...THEN SNOW LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATION
AROUND AN INCH. LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S. EAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH.
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT.
.SATURDAY...CLOUDY. SNOW LIKELY IN THE MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF
RAIN AND SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION
AROUND AN INCH. HIGHS IN THE MID 40S. NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND
5 MPH...BECOMING NORTH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION
70 PERCENT.

[Paweatherguy1]

Ok...I admit it, I just completely weenied out right now, but wanted to see my first flakes, and test something that our from coraopolis has said before.

I recently moved from West View to an apartment in Emsworth, and that dropped my elevation a couple hundred feet. Basically, I went out, and took a drive up onto Ben Avon Heights, and into West View because it was just plain old rain down by the river...however, up in Ben Avon and in West View and Ross near Highland Country club, snow was mixing in. Came back home, and got off the interstate at the Camp Horne Road exit, and back to rain, and rain in Emsworth.

Amazing how just a couple hundred feet in elevation has such a huge impact.

[Burghblizz]

Ok...I admit it, I just completely weenied out right now, but wanted to see my first flakes, and test something that our from coraopolis has said before.

I recently moved from West View to an apartment in Emsworth, and that dropped my elevation a couple hundred feet. Basically, I went out, and took a drive up onto Ben Avon Heights, and into West View because it was just plain old rain down by the river...however, up in Ben Avon and in West View and Ross near Highland Country club, snow was mixing in. Came back home, and got off the interstate at the Camp Horne Road exit, and back to rain, and rain in Emsworth.

Amazing how just a couple hundred feet in elevation has such a huge impact.

Absolutely....Halloween '93 a few hundred feet was the difference between seeing 7" and white rain.

[north pgh]

Just woke up to about an inch of snow. No wind at all.
My elevation is a little higher. I will try to get some pictures on.

[Burghblizz]

Nice totals from the usual suspects.....but I found this Belmont, Ohio total interesting if legit.

I'm probably pushing 2" on the grill and car that's outside. The grassy areas appear to be struggling a bit, and hovering in the 1" to 1.5" range. Roads are coated.

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL******************** LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS SNOWFALL OF /INCHES/ MEASUREMENT MARYLAND ...GARRETT COUNTY... REDHOUSE 7.0 829 AM 10/29 OAKLAND 5.0 759 AM 10/29 OHIO ...BELMONT COUNTY... FARMINGTON 3.3 730 AM 10/29 PENNSYLVANIA ...ALLEGHENY COUNTY... 1 SW BRIDGEVILLE 0.5 615 AM 10/29 COCORAHS ...FAYETTE COUNTY... MARKLEYSBURG 7.0 833 AM 10/29 FARMINGTON 5.0 849 AM 10/29 ...VENANGO COUNTY... 1 E COOPERSTOWN 1.0 700 AM 10/29 COCORAHS ...WASHINGTON COUNTY... NE MCMURRAY 1.1 700 AM 10/29 COCORAHS 3 WNW WOLFDALE 0.4 700 AM 10/29 COCORAHS ...WESTMORELAND COUNTY... 1 WNW GREENSBURG 0.3 800 AM 10/29 COCORAHS WEST VIRGINIA ...MARSHALL COUNTY... 6 E MCMECHEN 1.0 700 AM 10/29 COCORAHS ...PRESTON COUNTY... TERRA ALTA 10.0 837 AM 10/29 KINGWOOD 5.0 803 AM 10/29 BRUCETON MILLS 4.0 653 AM 10/29 ...TUCKER COUNTY... 2 SW CORTLAND 6.5 843 AM 10/29

[north pgh]

Here are some pics I just took.

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•  DSCF2392.JPG   1.39MB   2 downloads

[north pgh]

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•  DSCF2394.JPG   1.37MB   0 downloads

[north pgh]

Still snowing moderately. I was just out and heard a crack and a large branch came down up in the woods across the street. I have close to 2 inches on my grassy areas and roof.

[Burghblizz]

This was about 30 min ago....roads snow covered. Pretty impressive for October

 IMG_0631.jpg   431.02K   1 downloads

[north pgh]

This was about 30 min ago....roads snow covered. Pretty impressive for October

 IMG_0631.jpg   431.02K   1 downloads

Burghblizz, You seem to be a higher elevation too. Do you have any tree branches coming down yet?
I am starting to get small ones coming down in my yard and a lot of the trees are starting too hang.

[Burghblizz]

Burghblizz, You seem to be a higher elevation too. Do you have any tree branches coming down yet?
I am starting to get small ones coming down in my yard and a lot of the trees are starting too hang.

Luckily the big tree in my backyard lost all its leaves already. The smaller tree in the front yard does have some limbs starting to sag.

[CoraopolisWx]

Nice pics.
Looking out my kitchen across the river, about the top third of the hills are all white.

A few stray flakes are surviving, down here in the abyss. LOL

[meatwad]

Moderate Snow here in Monroeville, about 3" on the ground

The largest since the Halloween Storm of 1993.

[Paweatherguy1]

Well, down in the valley in Emsworth, I have nothing...however, it seems that a lot of the areas away from the rivers have 2-3 inches. Very nice storm, and I must say, I called for 1-3 inches in the Pittsburgh area

On a side note, not a great way for the NWS to start the year....they downplayed this in the Pittsburgh area to a point that NOTHING would really happen...and they missed....

[north pgh]

Well, down in the valley in Emsworth, I have nothing...however, it seems that a lot of the areas away from the rivers have 2-3 inches. Very nice storm, and I must say, I called for 1-3 inches in the Pittsburgh area

On a side note, not a great way for the NWS to start the year....they downplayed this in the Pittsburgh area to a point that NOTHING would really happen...and they missed....

You were right. We were so close on the models but they verified. That green blob on the GFS models seem to wrap right around Pittsburgh. I kept thinking that we could get a 2-4 situation but it had definitely been helped by elevation. If I drive 2 miles from here I have maybe 1/2 inch but here up on the hill tops I have a solid 2.

Here are more reports from NWS.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1051 AM EDT SAT OCT 29 2011

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0653 AM SNOW BRUCETON MILLS 39.66N 79.64W
10/29/2011 E4.0 INCH PRESTON WV MEDIA

0759 AM SNOW OAKLAND 39.41N 79.41W
10/29/2011 E5.0 INCH GARRETT MD 911 CALL CENTER

0803 AM SNOW KINGWOOD 39.47N 79.68W
10/29/2011 E5.0 INCH PRESTON WV MEDIA

0803 AM SNOW TERRA ALTA 39.44N 79.54W
10/29/2011 E9.0 INCH PRESTON WV MEDIA

TREES AND LINES DOWN ALL OVER COUNTY

0829 AM SNOW REDHOUSE 39.31N 79.45W
10/29/2011 M7.0 INCH GARRETT MD TRAINED SPOTTER

0833 AM SNOW MARKLEYSBURG 39.73N 79.45W
10/29/2011 M7.0 INCH FAYETTE PA PUBLIC

0837 AM SNOW TERRA ALTA 39.45N 79.55W
10/29/2011 M10.0 INCH PRESTON WV CO-OP OBSERVER

0843 AM SNOW 2 SW CORTLAND 39.05N 79.45W
10/29/2011 M6.5 INCH TUCKER WV CO-OP OBSERVER

0849 AM SNOW FARMINGTON 39.81N 79.57W
10/29/2011 M5.0 INCH FAYETTE PA TRAINED SPOTTER

0907 AM SNOW CANAAN HEIGHTS 39.10N 79.43W
10/29/2011 M5.6 INCH TUCKER WV CO-OP OBSERVER

0912 AM SNOW ACME 40.13N 79.43W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1005 AM SNOW NEW KENSINGTON 40.57N 79.77W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1010 AM SNOW PENN HILLS 40.48N 79.83W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1014 AM SNOW BRIDGEVILLE 40.36N 80.11W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1016 AM SNOW WEST NEWTON 40.21N 79.77W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1021 AM SNOW CHAMPION 40.08N 79.36W
10/29/2011 M8.0 INCH FAYETTE PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1035 AM SNOW 3 W MARS 40.70N 80.07W
10/29/2011 M1.0 INCH BUTLER PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1049 AM SNOW 1 NNW CARNOT-MOON 40.53N 80.22W
10/29/2011 M1.3 INCH ALLEGHENY PA NWS OFFICE


&&

[Paweatherguy1]

You were right. We were so close on the models but they verified. That green blob on the GFS models seem to wrap right around Pittsburgh. I kept thinking that we could get a 2-4 situation but it had definitely been helped by elevation. If I drive 2 miles from here I have maybe 1/2 inch but here up on the hill tops I have a solid 2.

Here are more reports from NWS.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
1051 AM EDT SAT OCT 29 2011

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..

0653 AM SNOW BRUCETON MILLS 39.66N 79.64W
10/29/2011 E4.0 INCH PRESTON WV MEDIA

0759 AM SNOW OAKLAND 39.41N 79.41W
10/29/2011 E5.0 INCH GARRETT MD 911 CALL CENTER

0803 AM SNOW KINGWOOD 39.47N 79.68W
10/29/2011 E5.0 INCH PRESTON WV MEDIA

0803 AM SNOW TERRA ALTA 39.44N 79.54W
10/29/2011 E9.0 INCH PRESTON WV MEDIA

TREES AND LINES DOWN ALL OVER COUNTY

0829 AM SNOW REDHOUSE 39.31N 79.45W
10/29/2011 M7.0 INCH GARRETT MD TRAINED SPOTTER

0833 AM SNOW MARKLEYSBURG 39.73N 79.45W
10/29/2011 M7.0 INCH FAYETTE PA PUBLIC

0837 AM SNOW TERRA ALTA 39.45N 79.55W
10/29/2011 M10.0 INCH PRESTON WV CO-OP OBSERVER

0843 AM SNOW 2 SW CORTLAND 39.05N 79.45W
10/29/2011 M6.5 INCH TUCKER WV CO-OP OBSERVER

0849 AM SNOW FARMINGTON 39.81N 79.57W
10/29/2011 M5.0 INCH FAYETTE PA TRAINED SPOTTER

0907 AM SNOW CANAAN HEIGHTS 39.10N 79.43W
10/29/2011 M5.6 INCH TUCKER WV CO-OP OBSERVER

0912 AM SNOW ACME 40.13N 79.43W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1005 AM SNOW NEW KENSINGTON 40.57N 79.77W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1010 AM SNOW PENN HILLS 40.48N 79.83W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1014 AM SNOW BRIDGEVILLE 40.36N 80.11W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1016 AM SNOW WEST NEWTON 40.21N 79.77W
10/29/2011 M2.0 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1021 AM SNOW CHAMPION 40.08N 79.36W
10/29/2011 M8.0 INCH FAYETTE PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1035 AM SNOW 3 W MARS 40.70N 80.07W
10/29/2011 M1.0 INCH BUTLER PA TRAINED SPOTTER

1049 AM SNOW 1 NNW CARNOT-MOON 40.53N 80.22W
10/29/2011 M1.3 INCH ALLEGHENY PA NWS OFFICE


&&

And here is what is crazy, and really dumb...the NWS text forecast is still saying half an inch or an inch in the county? Don't you think that would be like hmmmm, we're getting in reports of 2 inches from around the county...should we up totals, should we issue an advisory for anywhere about 900 ft?

[Burghblizz]

And here is what is crazy, and really dumb...the NWS text forecast is still saying half an inch or an inch in the county? Don't you think that would be like hmmmm, we're getting in reports of 2 inches from around the county...should we up totals, should we issue an advisory for anywhere about 900 ft?

I would like it - but most people have no clue as to their elevation.

I'm glad they at least split the mountain counties now.

[north pgh]

And here is what is crazy, and really dumb...the NWS text forecast is still saying half an inch or an inch in the county? Don't you think that would be like hmmmm, we're getting in reports of 2 inches from around the county...should we up totals, should we issue an advisory for anywhere about 900 ft?

I don't think they will now because it should start winding down in the next several hours. I have gone from 33 degrees at 9:00 am to 36 now. Probably at 7 or 8 am this morning they should have changed the forecast to include say... 1-3 inches but I am not a met. I am sure they have their reasons. I was with you. After they issued a winter weather advisory for Westmoreland County yesterday I thought they should have moved it over to include Butler, Allegheny and Washington. Normally they would have to be higher totals but with it still being October, maybe they could have. You also don't want to overhype with the temps above 32. If temps were in the 20's you would have bad roads and a more serious conditions.

[Paweatherguy1]

I would like it - but most people have no clue as to their elevation.

I'm glad they at least split the mountain counties now.

Yeah, to be fair, this had to be an extremely tough forecast....i just wish they would be more flexible in their adjusments...maybe just say if you are outside of the river valleys you are going to see a couple inches?

[meatwad]

Changed to rain here.

[Digger]

Wow. Been outta touch all day, but here there wasn't 1/2", even on the cars this morning. Kinda surprised to see how much you all got...

[meatwad]

000
SXUS71 KPBZ 291850
RERPIT

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
250 PM EDT SAT OCT 29 2011

...RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT PITTSBURGH PA...

A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 1.6 INCHES WAS SET AT PITTSBURGH PA TODAY. THIS
BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 0.6 INCHES IN 2008.

[north pgh]

Strange day indeed.
2 inches of snow this morning.
All melted tonight.
Just came down from rt 8 in dense fog and 33 degrees.
Ready for some indian summer now.

[CoraopolisWx]

Yeah, to be fair, this had to be an extremely tough forecast....i just wish they would be more flexible in their adjusments...maybe just say if you are outside of the river valleys you are going to see a couple inches?

Welcome to the river valley my friend.

Dynamic cooling snowstorms are really tough to come by below 800 ft. Unfortunatly the best dynamics were too far away, and elevation became a bigger factor.

Occasionaly the AFD might mention hilltop snows, but like you said, forecasting the rain/snow line within the county is pretty tough.

[RitualOfTheTrout]

I'm going 1-3 PIttsburgh proper
2-4 in Westmoreland and Indiana County in the lowlands...
Ridges..I'll go 5-9.

Anymore adjustment west though, and we could be looking at an advisory level event...they might throw one up anyways for 1-3 inches due to the time of year.

BTW, 3 inches of wet snow right now would cause major power issues, IMO.

I'd say your call was pretty solid, I ended up with about 1.5. Higher elevation just north of Freeport at my parents they had probably a solid 2-3 inches. Now this storm has wet my appetite for tracking and we probably have another month before something else to track comes up lol.

[colonel717]

WPXI Winter Forecast.
http://www.wpxi.com/...7109/index.html

WTAE Winter Forecast.
http://www.wtae.com/...783/detail.html

KDKA Winter Forecast
http://pittsburgh.cb...eather-forecast

[north pgh]

I feel bad for the trick or treaters tonight. Rain started around 5:30 and lasted until after 8:00. Bad timing.
Oh well, It is now November 1st and with a favorable winter forecast of snow and cold I am ready for some snow storm tracking.