It looks like snow is on the way tonight into Saturday. This won’t be a major winter storm but with one to isolated three inch amounts of new snow combined with blowing snow, driving may become dicey at times. Conditions will be worse northeast of Cincinnati with considerable blowing snow in open areas and as much as 3 to 5 inches near Columbus, OH.
Snow flurries and snow showers have the potential to increase and produce some more significant accumulations Friday night into Saturday morning. While just a chance at this point, it is worth noting. Details here.
The global warming debate takes to the airwaves. Accu-Weather’s Joe Bastardi vs. Bill Nye the Science Guy on the O’Reiley Factor: click here.
In a paper published in Landscape and Urban Planning, Geoffrey Donovan of the U.S. Forest Service found that, on average, street trees add $8,870 to a home’s sales price and reduce its time on the market by 1.7 days. Read more here.
After a weak weather system on Saturday, another strong winter storm will move into the area.
This strong low pressure system will produce up to a foot of snow. However, the track of the low is forecast to move right over Cincinnati. This would move the heavy snow into central and northern Indiana and Ohio with heavy rain possible in Cincinnati.
Such a weather system will likely melt some snow. However, with streets and gutters clogged with ice and snow, this much water could lead to street flooding and home water damage. Colder air will rush in on the back side of this storm with snow showers into midweek.
As predicted for an El Nino winter, water equivalent precipitation has actually been below normal this year. Here is how 2010 compares to the previous two years:
Jan./Feb. 2008: 6.20
Jan/Feb 2009: 5.31
Jan/Feb 2010 to date: 3.51
Normal Jan/Feb liquid precipitation: 5.98
Due to the low amount of water equivalent precipitation this year, we actually needed the moisture. However, with nearly two inches of water in the current snow pack and up to an inch of rainfall possible in the coming storm, we may end up with too much of a good thing. Saturday may be a good day to clear out storm drains…and build an ark!
Ice dams and water damage: click here
Rainfall potential: Click here
Our friends at Handyman Matters are starting to get slammed by calls from homeowners reporting water coming into their home through ceilings and windows. Given the amount of snow we have had this past week, ice dams are forming on roofs everywhere in the Cincinnati area. It is likely that ice dams have already formed on your roof.
Translation: There is a reasonable chance that many of you are going to have water coming into your home once this snow and ice starts to melt.
Click here for more information.
Another winter storm is poised to strike the Cincinnati tristate Monday and Monday night. This will be another major storm with heavy accumulations, some wind, and major effects. The snow will begin before dawn on Monday and continue into Monday night, although the heaviest snow should fall between 6AM Monday and 1PM Monday. Details here.
Another winter storm is possible next weekend.
Long range models indicate that this pattern of cold and storms may continue for several weeks. Details here.
With deep snow cover building throughout the Ohio River basin, spring flooding concerns are rising along the Ohio River and its tributaries.
Another major winter storm appears likely in the Ohio valley Monday. Widespread snowfall of 4-6 inches now appears more likely with isolated 8 inch amounts possible. A winter storm watch is in effect from Sunday evening through late Monday night. While this remains a complex storm and the details could change, expect very difficult conditions again if the storm materializes. Details here.
Yet another winter storm appears possible next Saturday. An historic February in Cincinnati may be underway.
Cold weather will continue.
A weather system will move rapidly southeast out of Canada over the weekend. Computer models have not been handling the storm well. Currently, heavy snow is forecast to track south of the Cincinnati area, but that could change. There is a chance of significant snow in Cincinnati Sunday night into Monday. Given all the uncertainties, a current safe forecast would be 0-6″. Stay tuned.
