I feel seen
DISCUSSION...
Issued at 224 PM EST Sat Jan 24 2026
Overall, no significant changes to the incoming winter storm.
A wintry weekend is underway or imminent for much of the US. Low
pressure over the TX/LA Gulf Coast slowly lifts north this evening
with a modest precipitation shield extending into the mid-
Mississippi valley where Arctic High Pressure has a grip over the
Midwest. This high pressure limits poleward moisture transport this
evening with its strong subsidence and bone-dry air mass (dew points
in the 10s-to-teens below-zero). Forecast soundings do show
saturation occuring prior to midnight ET for those along and south
of US 24 allowing for about 1-2" by daybreak Sunday; armchair
meteorologists may scoff Sunday morning about the lack of snow but
more is on the way.
Our primary period of prolonged, steady snowfall is during the day
Sunday and tapering off after sunset. This is when a second, more
potent low currently digging in over the Baja of California lifts
northeast through the Tennessee River Valley. By this time, high
pressure will have shifted northeast allowing for improved moisture
profile locally, but still cannot rule out being "robbed" of some
moisture transport with such a large precipitation shield across the
S Southeast US. The 12z suite of forecast guidance generally stayed
close to the existing forecast. There were some northward shifts in
CAMs (as well as the NAM). Balancing the dry air mass, subtle
northward shift of some guidance and reducing snow ratios a touch,
we`ve generally held course with this afternoon`s forecast package.
In coordination with neighboring offices, we did reduce the
inherited 20:1 snow ratios (now capped at (17:1); likely over-
boosted by the very cold air mass. Indeed, the 15k FT deep dendritic
growth zone is impressive, but overall forcing in the column is
modest as revealed by time-height cross sections. Nonetheless, a
fluffy snow and a brief period 1" per hour rates. These rates are
most likely around sunrise Sunday morning as an area of mid-level
frontogenesis passes overhead. Wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph will
result in areas of blowing and drifting snow, with easterly wind at
the start of the evening "backing" (counter-clockwise) to become
westerly by the snow`s end.
A single band of lake effect develops Sunday night as this surface
low becomes centered off the New England coast. The band tracks from
the western Lake Michigan shore to the east which will limit
residence time but 1" per hour rates are expected as the band swings
through. Depending on its residence time for the Monday morning
commute, additional winter weather headlines may be needed for
Michiana.