Ginx snewx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Thanks, Chris. I guess even crappy flakes are better than none. That said, I guess my angst about missing a decent storm may have been unwarranted. Fantastic geography--the mountains right from the ocean are awesome. Some of the bathing suits are pretty fantastic as well. But I suppose that's for another forum. Without pics another forum, with pics perfect forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40/70 Benchmark Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Not crazy about the ugly hole over n ORH co heading right toward me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT Rain Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Yeah...this. The snow growth region everyone mentions is basically just the max dendritic one of -12C to -18C. Like you said, you want strong omega in that zone with higher supersaturations for the largest dendrites and ratios. If the lift is poor you get smaller dendrites. If you are outside the range of those temps you start mixing in other types of snow crystals that don't have the ability to produce really high ratios like the large dendrites do. In very cold airmasses you can get small columns and bullets that have relatively lousy ratios. When it comes to ratios with different crystal structure, everyone just has to look at their shape to get an idea of the ratios they'd produce. Think of dendrites as a bunch of tree branches thrown into a pile. The pile gets stacked high the more you add as the branch structure traps air in between. Now throw them through a wood chipper and watch how much lower the pile gets. There's your columns, needles, bullets, and small plates. I may steal this analogy for my blog lol. Perfect. Kevin things his sugar is going to pile up at 25:1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40/70 Benchmark Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Yeah...this. The snow growth region everyone mentions is basically just the max dendritic one of -12C to -18C. Like you said, you want strong omega in that zone with higher supersaturations for the largest dendrites and ratios. If the lift is poor you get smaller dendrites. If you are outside the range of those temps you start mixing in other types of snow crystals that don't have the ability to produce really high ratios like the large dendrites do. In very cold airmasses you can get small columns and bullets that have relatively lousy ratios. When it comes to ratios with different crystal structure, everyone just has to look at their shape to get an idea of the ratios they'd produce. Think of dendrites as a bunch of tree branches thrown into a pile. The pile gets stacked high the more you add as the branch structure traps air in between. Now throw them through a wood chipper and watch how much lower the pile gets. There's your columns, needles, bullets, and small plates. Thanks for elaborating....I had the basic idea, but I'm certainly no expert on that stuff...I usually just wait for you guys to declare whether or not a given system meets the criteria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40/70 Benchmark Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I may steal this analogy for my blog lol. Perfect. Kevin things his sugar is going to pile up at 25:1. It is a good analogy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Good analogy Brian. You can also think of it in terms of Pete's hair. Picture cutting it off and watching it stack weenie high like cotton balls, then picture shaving Kevin's peach fuzz and it doesn't stack up at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 BTW there is a nice table out there about flake structure and the temps at which they form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bostonseminole Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 light ripping here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Not touching the percs....no booze for at least a couple of weeks (promotes fluid retention)....blah. Looking forward to tmw's games, though. Cyber email them to me lol. Giants and Pats shall meet again, Go Jints, <Will> Sports Forum<\Will> Nice for the south coast after getting screwed Thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40/70 Benchmark Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Good analogy Brian. You can also think of it in terms of Pete's hair. Picture cutting it off and watching it stack weenie high like cotton balls, then picture shaving Kevin's peach fuzz and it doesn't stack up at all. His hair shafts are about as thick as snow grains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Flake size smaller here but still decent and coming down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzucker Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Thanks, Chris. I guess even crappy flakes are better than none. That said, I guess my angst about missing a decent storm may have been unwarranted. Fantastic geography--the mountains right from the ocean are awesome. Some of the bathing suits are pretty fantastic as well. But I suppose that's for another forum. I went to Costa Rica in college, spent two weeks volunteering on an organic tropical fruit plantation near the Pacific coast...then I traveled a lot, going sea kayaking in Cahuita on the Caribbean, heading up to Monteverde and the Santa Elena preserve to do the ziplines and wildlife tours (howler monkeys FTW), spending some time in the mountains right outside San Jose as well. Home in Westchester NY for the weekend, 3" down and still snowing at 21/18. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40/70 Benchmark Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 BTW there is a nice table out there about flake structure and the temps at which they form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RI Rob Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Reallly small flakes here. Lighly snowing. Hoping to still get 4 in from this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalcottWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I won't complain about this. I don't mind it at all. I like the light powder we have falling. Better than worrying about mix line. Didn't wiz warn about the dry air aloft maybe causing some ****ty sg? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40/70 Benchmark Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Flake size smaller here but still decent and coming down That sucker hole moving over you looks nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchaumburgStormer Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I may steal this analogy for my blog lol. Perfect. Kevin things his sugar is going to pile up at 25:1. Had the same problem in Chicago area yesterday. Expected high ratios, 20-25:1, ended up somewhere around 12-13:1, as low as 10:1. Some pockets of higher ratios, but all in all due to broken, small flakes, less accumulation occured than was expected. FWIW, it is ripping pretty good with moderate flake size in bloomfield at the moment. Edited for wording issues.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Should be a decent coastal front developing near BOS although it doesn't necessarily mean much in this instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weathafella Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 That's just it....ratio is mainly determined by flake type....when the max lift is not in the snowgrowth region, we see these plates...which don't add up as quickly as fluffy dendrites. 12/16/07? (the Thursday event) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Not crazy about the ugly hole over n ORH co heading right toward me. Not so ugly here Steady snow. Just light Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderfreak Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Yeah...this. The snow growth region everyone mentions is basically just the max dendritic one of -12C to -18C. Like you said, you want strong omega in that zone with higher supersaturations for the largest dendrites and ratios. If the lift is poor you get smaller dendrites. If you are outside the range of those temps you start mixing in other types of snow crystals that don't have the ability to produce really high ratios like the large dendrites do. In very cold airmasses you can get small columns and bullets that have relatively lousy ratios. When it comes to ratios with different crystal structure, everyone just has to look at their shape to get an idea of the ratios they'd produce. Think of dendrites as a bunch of tree branches thrown into a pile. The pile gets stacked high the more you add as the branch structure traps air in between. Now throw them through a wood chipper and watch how much lower the pile gets. There's your columns, needles, bullets, and small plates. Nice one... I always think of potato chips in a bag. Stacking up and trapping air... crush those same chips and its about a quarter of what it once was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damage In Tolland Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Had the same problem in Chicago area yesterday. Expected high ratios, 20-25:1, ended up somewhere around 12-13:1, as low as 10:1. Some pockets of higher ratios, but all in all due to broken, small flakes, less accumulation occured than was expected. FWIW, it is ripping pretty good with moderate flake size in bloomfield at the moment. Edited for wording issues.. Chicago had 7 inches..which was more than forecast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalcottWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Should be a decent coastal front developing near BOS although it doesn't necessarily mean much in this instance. Im just happy im on the 16 degree side of that front. Okay as much as id love to watch this pile up, the room is spinning. Need sleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 That sucker hole moving over you looks nasty. Yeah, looks bad on radar. Still snowing attm. Sky is a bit brighter though I wasn't expecting much from this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Had the same problem in Chicago area yesterday. Expected high ratios, 20-25:1, ended up somewhere around 12-13:1, as low as 10:1. Some pockets of higher ratios, but all in all due to broken small flake size less accumulation than expected. FWIW, it is ripping pretty good with moderate flake size in bloomfield at the moment. Nice but the PNS from Chitown was all 6-8 I would take 6 of needles. One thing starting to happen is some wind . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 That band over srn ct looks great. I expect Kbosch to come in and claim sw ct winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damage In Tolland Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 1 inch just hit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchaumburgStormer Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Chicago had 7 inches..which was more than forecast Wrong. Officially Chicago had 5.4 inches, as recorded at O'hare, the official recording station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchaumburgStormer Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Nice but the PNS from Chitown was all 6-8 I would take 6 of needles. One thing starting to happen is some wind . Had some enhancement in the southern suburbs and south area of the CWA, but all in all, most of the warned area (aka the northern CWA) ended up generally a bit lighter than originally forecasted. Definitely turned into a nowcast event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalcottWx Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Wrong. Officially Chicago had 5.4 inches, as recorded at O'hare, the official recording station. *b*tchslap* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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