purduewx80

Peoria reporting 0.15" of ice accretion since 12Z and 0.06" in the last hour. 0.11" at CMI since 12Z.

KPIA 151454Z 09017G28KT 4SM FZRA BR OVC050 00/M02 A3007 RMK AO2 PK WND 08028/1453 SLP188 P0013 60052 I1006 I3015 T00001022 50010

happy birthday to this thread/topic/sh*tshow 

There are lots of reasons to be hopeful, but it’s somewhat surprising how little chatter there is in here about the B117 (UK) variant, which is estimated to be 60% more infectious and has a 64% higher likelihood of causing hospitalization. Once the variant reaches 50% of new cases, we are expected to see a rise in cases and hospitalizations again. 
 

Moreover, kids are catching it at a higher rate and are just as likely to spread it to others. The strain in Brazil sounds as bad or worse, and they are heading into the lower UV season now. 

Got my 2nd dose of Moderna yesterday. No adverse effects today other than a minor headache when I woke up, which may or may not have been due to the glass of red wine I had last night after work. Several of my co-workers had to get their 2nd yesterday too and did not fare as well, so I’m filling in today. Seems prior infection did reduce the side effects of the 2nd, for me anyway. 
Can’t speak for the other mass vax sites, but the Kane Co one was exceptionally well run and efficient. There is no shortage of medical workers there monitoring people for anaphylaxis or other reactions -  no reason whatsoever to feel unsafe. 

The Ohio is reaching a crest in the Louisville this weekend....technically minor flooding but still impactful. 

There are signs on the ensembles (and MJO?) for another dump of cold air into central and eastern North America towards the last week of the month. 

Of course, the fact that it's several weeks out and that Bust-hard-i is honking that horn gives me reason to doubt it. Guess we'll see.

1 hour ago, buckeye said:

I do agree that the general (non-wxweenie) public is clueless with pretty much all watches, advisories, warnings and their meaning, so anything that simplifies is probably best.   I can't count the number of times I've heard media wx personalities, (much less general public), say things like "winter storm advisory" or "winter weather watch".

There are even some weather-savvy people I work with who don't understand the differences. Some of this comes down to communication failures, but I also think simplifying things will do wonders as long as it is well-planned and executed.

In some ways I liken all of this to the private industry starting to name winter storms. There is a ton of pushback in the meteorological community, but I've seen firsthand how it actually makes it easier to communicate risks in the age of social media. 

First legit lake breeze for Chicago tomorrow. Should make it well into the 50s early PM before it comes crashing down. 

3 hours ago, Danny8 said:

Still over 9" snow depth (glacier depth) in my backyard in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood. Just amazing snowpack in the city this month.

My yard is pretty shaded but the neighbors depth seems pretty similar.

Can definitely see the reverse gradient even more now driving to/from work in the suburbs. Lots of grass showing out there  but we still have deep piles in the city. Despite most roads being snow-free now, people are somehow still claiming dibs on parking.

12 hours ago, RCNYILWX said:

From reading the articles about the greatly amplified immune response to the vaccine among covid survivors, and also a friend who had covid about a week after me having had pretty intense symptoms from the first shot, I'm hoping it's not too crazy for me. That said, even though there's some experts saying covid survivors may not need to get the second shot, I currently plan to get the 2nd shot.

I've been debating the latter given all the recent news about potentially not needing a second dose if you've already had COVID-19. As with everything else during the pandemic, I doubt CDC will recommend anything based on science for at least several months even as other countries appear prepared to do so. If I'm even more protected now from re-infection than those who never had it and got two doses, why not let someone who needs it more than me have it?

I got my first dose about 11 months after having COVID-19. There was some prolonged (~4 days) swelling and soreness in my arm, and I may have had some slight muscle fatigue, but I otherwise had none of the other symptoms reported. I know as of November I still had some anti-bodies from last March, but the study I'm part of didn't divulge exactly how much. 

ORD up to 40 for the first time since Jan 14th. Models are over saturated in the boundary layer, which means 50 could be in reach tomorrow with the anticipated sun and wind/mixing. Deep snow cover may cap it in the upper 40s. 

On 2/18/2021 at 10:23 AM, Chicago Storm said:

Looks like a solid 2-5” event area wide.

Looking $$ near and north of ~I-80. FGEN could even sneak some 6" amounts in IA/WI. 

Dynamics easily support swaths of 1-2"/hr given the instability and moisture available. 

As Ricky has mentioned a few times now, there are some similarities to the Feb 4 system (that produced widespread TSSN). Seeing thunderstorms with it already out over the Pacific, which is a good indicator of the steep lapse rates aloft. The dynamics with this look really good despite the trough being positively tilted, its 60KT LLJ will be tapping into some Gulf moisture, too.

Halfway decent agreement on the -PNA in the extended. This does not bode well for river flooding since the Gulf will open up for business and the pattern should remain active. Could mean a lot more snow for some, too.

More synoptic seeding coming in in an hour or two. Can see it starting on sat/radar over southern LM. 

Really nice lake enhancement showing up on TORD. Models not doing well. Some may get more than an inch within a couple miles of the lake. 

Epic snow depth here now, which I haven’t experienced since living in Madison in ‘07-‘08. No way of knowing exactly how much we got, but there are drifts of 3-4’ in the backyard and piles 5-6’ high along the street. Roads are still pretty meh in the city, 290 was even still partially snow-covered on the drive home this afternoon. 

Safe to say the perennials are well-protected this year. 

Been a recent uptick in cases at work that is driving a move back to staffing restrictions. The office has been a bellwether for trends in the national population, so I’ll be curious to see how things shake out the next few weeks. 

Pretty bummed to be missing out on the absurd rates at home. Hunkered down at a hotel by work so as not to experience the shitshow that will be every highway in the area at 4 AM tomorrow. 

1 hour ago, Chicago Storm said:

1/4SM with -SN. 

Oh, and forget about having a reliable measurement until 2PM.

I called and tried. What a nightmare. “Blowing snow is the obstruction”. 

Actually some indications of waterspouts in the meso lows over the lake on TMDW. 

Radar estimating some tops over the lake as high as 10,000’ or 3km. Gives increased confidence in some 2-4”/hr rates today. 

2 minutes ago, ILSNOW said:

plumes at ORD up to 13

The 03Z has 13” because of snow w the system later in the week. It’s just over 9” with this system. 

Some double digit totals already near the lake in IN. One report of 10” in 3 hours. 

Nothing more predictable than a mby meltdown.