Beau Dodson's WeatherTalk Blog

I will keep the live winter storm blog updated with fresh information.  Model data comes in four times a day.  

Hit refresh on this page for the most up to date information.  I will time-stamp each post.

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Thursday, January 9, 2025

11 AM

Video Update

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10:38 AM

Prayers for California.  They are suffering from severe wild fires.

Our storm system triggered the 100 mph winds in California which has led to a very destructive series of wild fires.

Thousands of homes have burned.  Businesses have burned.

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10:14 AM

Look how big this winter storm is.  Widespread warings.

Snow in Texas this morning.

The low is forming off the Texas coast.

Red arrows show the moisture streaming northeast into our region.

Gold color lines are the mid level energy and the surface low in the Gulf of Mexico.

10 AM

I did increase snow totals from the Bootheel into the LBL area of western Kentucky and then southward.  It looks like 3 to 6 inches is a good bet.

There are always surprises in winter storms.  Some receive more and some receive less.  Totals can vary even in the same county.  Keep that in mind.

Impacts will be the same.  Snow covered roadways.

Check out this morning’s visible satellite imagery.

You can see the widespread snow and ice.

Here comes out system

Radar shows widespread snow and ice moving northeast.

Blue and pink represents snow and heavy snow.  Orange is sleet.  Red is freezing rain.  Green is rain.

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9:43 AM

Here is a product from the WPC

What is the chance of six or more inches of snow?

9:34 AM

I just sent out the updated county by county zone forecast.  I did increase snow totals a bit in some areas.

Tough forecast.  If banding occurs with the snow then snow totals can increase by several inches.  Banding is difficult to predict.

Plan on a snowy Friday.  Our eastern counties may wake up to no snow.  It will move in during the AM hours.

Keep that in mind.

8:10 AM

The new NAM 3K model looks similar to other data.

6 AM future-cast radar.  Blue is snow.

8:05 AM

Video update

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7:39 AM

Video update from the St Louis, MO NWS

This covers my northern counties

7 AM

Models vary on arrival time for our eastern counties.

Here is the 6 AM future-cast radar for Friday morning.  The NAM model.

The snow spreads eastward from here.

6:50 AM

Quite a bit of data shows something interesting.

They show a two pronged snow band.  Higher north and higher south with a bit less in the middle.

This keeps showing up in the data, but placement varies.

There is a northern system and a southern system with this event.

So, it is possible that the models are latching on to something.

You can see that on this image.

Notice the somewhat heavier band from far SE MO into NW KY.  Notice the heavier band from SE AR into SE KY.

Different models show this.  Different models show the placement in different locations.  There is not agreement on the placement, but there is some agreement in the two pronged idea.

Either way, the bottom line is that it could cause totals to vary quite a bit in the region.  Some counties would pick up a bit more snow than others.

6:34 AM

You will see different snow maps today. Some will show an inch or two more or less than other maps.

Focus on impacts. It does not matter if you end up with 3″ of snow or 5″ of snow or 2″ of snow.

The impacts will be snow covered roadways. Hazardous roads tonight, tomorrow, tomorrow night, and Saturday.

There is always a range of totals. Even within one county you can have two or three inch differences.

Thus, focus on impacts and not totals.

Everyone will receive some snow.

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6:24 AM

Use care this morning.  Areas with fog could have icy roadways.  Freezing fog is being reported in areas that are in the single digits and teens.  Mostly in the snow and ice pack zone.

Let’s look at a future-cast radar as we prepare for our snow event.

Future-cast radar.  Blue is snow.

Time stamp is Zulu time.  12z=6 am/ 18z=1 pm.  00z=6 pm.

Double click the image to enlarge it.

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Here comes our winter storm.  Radar shows it nicely.  It will move in later this evening and overnight.  Widespread fog tomorrow.  Most schools will be closed.

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6:20 AM

Use care this morning if you experience fog.  It could cause ice to form on bridges, overpasses, and surfaces.

Double click images to enlarge them

6:15 AM Video Update

Snow update

Here is the latest update

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6:00 AM

Here is this morning’s Facebook Q&A thread

CLICK HERE

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5:44 AM

Paducah, KY watch warning map

Pink is the winter storm warning.

Double click on images to enlarge them.

Memphis, Tennessee NWS Graphic

St Louis, Missouri NWS

5:43 AM

5:30 AM

Watch for freezing fog this morning in these counties

Jefferson-Wayne IL-Edwards-Wabash-Franklin-Hamilton-White-Gibson-
Pike-Posey-Vanderburgh-Warrick-Spencer-Henderson-
Including the cities of Poseyville, Fort Branch, McLeansboro,
Carmi, Henderson, West Frankfort, Evansville, Mount Carmel,
Fairfield, Petersburg, Boonville, Albion, Rockport, and Mount
Vernon
218 AM CST Thu Jan 9 2025 /318 AM EST Thu Jan 9 2025/

...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST /10 AM EST/ 
THIS MORNING...
...FREEZING FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST /10 AM 
EST/ THIS MORNING...

* WHAT...For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold temperatures as 
  low as 2 below expected. For the Freezing Fog Advisory, visibility 
  one quarter mile or less in freezing fog and slippery spots 
  developing on roads and bridges.

* WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, and 
  western Kentucky.

* WHEN...Until 9 AM CST /10 AM EST/ this morning.

* IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin 
  is exposed to these temperatures. Low visibility and black ice 
  could make driving conditions hazardous.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Dangerously cold conditions are expected in 
  areas impacted by the recent ice storm that may still have 
  lingering power outages.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of 
distance ahead of you. Be alert for black ice and use extra caution 
if driving, especially on untreated roads and bridges.

Keep pets indoors as much as possible.

5:15 AM

Brrr we are waking up to bitterly cold air

Snow totals did not actually go up that much, but it is going to be more uniform.

Snow totals in some areas increased an inch or so.

The NWS went ahead and issued an impact based winter storm warning.  Since the snow will be hitting overnight into rush hour tomorrow morning, widespread travel issues are anticipated.

I will post more shortly.

Watch warning map

Want to read your warning text?

Load are city-view radars and turn on the watch warning tab.  Also, don’t forget there is a winterize button to see precipitation type.

Don’t forget the winter weather radars (the local city view radars) have a winterize button on them.  Click that to see precipitation type.

Interactive-city-view radars. Clickable watches and warnings.
https://wtalk.co/B3XHASFZ

Old legacy radar site (some of you like it better)
https://weatherobservatory.com/weather-radar.htm

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