MODIS pictures
January 21st, 2013 at 4:48 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
Click the pic. to enlarge. This is the MODIS Great Lakes satellite image from Sunday PM. Wisconsin is mostly clear (some high clouds moving west to east down toward the Indiana border. You can see the clouds that form as the colder air comes across the relatively warmer water of Lake Michigan. You can see that bigger and shallower Lake Winnebago is ice covered while smaller and much deeper Green Lake is still open water. Ice has started to form in Green Bay and you can see to the WNW of there, my infamous tornado scar from June 2007. The tornado went through a forested area and knocked down the trees, so in the open strip, it’s now snow covered and you can see a white streak. Here’s recent pictures of Lake Superior (from 1/17), Lake Ontario (from 1/17), Tropical Storm Narelle (1/11 off Australia) and an erupting volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. Also, from the NWS at White Lake: “THE AIRMASS FOR THE EARLY PART OF THE WEEK IS IN RECORD TERRITORY BASED ON OUR UPPER AIR CLIMATOLOGY FROM THIS WHITE LAKE OFFICE AND PREVIOUS DATA FROM THE FLINT AREA. 1000-500 MB THICKNESSES VALUES AROUND 495 DAM AND 850 MB TEMPS AROUND -26 C ARE ARE IN THE BALL PARK FOR THE RECORDS (IN THE JAN 22-23RD TIME FRAME) (Record Cold). THE SAVING GRACE FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN IS THE LACK OF SNOW COVER.”
Also, Gas prices went up today – to $3.49 a gallon here in downtown G.R. I filled up a couple days ago because I didn’t want to have to do it when the wind chill was -10.
Well thankfully this LES event didn’t pan out. Taking the highway from Muskegon is bad enough we don’t need it to be a worse drive to Midtowne Surgery Center then it is.
On the contrary, this has been quite an LES event for my area considering we rarely get much in the way of accumulating snow from LES evetns since we are so far inland, it has just been snowing all night and all day here, moderate at times, we’ve certainly picked up several inches and all back roads are snow covered, while main roads are not in the best condition at the moment.
It was beautiful seeing that line and the cloud formations coming back from Miami. I just knew it was cold and snowy underneath all those LE clouds!
A solid 2″ of snow on the ground here. Roads are slick and can see interstate 96 traffic from my house is moving slow….
Had to travel up East Beltline today (not a usual morning for me)… The roads were a bit snow-covered, but nothing Michiganders can’t handle. Traffic was moving much slower than usual, though (~40 mph).
I live in Muir and still have pretty much bare ground, though within the 15miles I drive to work roads are snowcovered and icy with around 2in of snow. Really hoping Muir gets some snow soon, im sick of looking out my window and seeing brown.
Well over here I just north of Bay City there was a light dusting of snow over night. So there is a good 11/2 inches here on the weather side of Bay City with a little less on the Far East side. (dam iPad put east in caps) I though there would be a lot of snow on the way home today but see the may not be the case. I do know the even a little bite of snow can be very slippery to drive on.
Slimjim
Just over 3 inches out thee YARDofBRICKS with a west wind snow all day!! Many more inches to come!! Stay tuned snow lovers haahahhaaaa …INDYYY…
I’d guess about 2″ on the ground here at 104th & Ottogan in Holland Twp. It may be a bit premature, but the big snows that were predicted for this area have not panned out. It is snowing lightly at the moment and 14.2 degrees.
Not reaaly enough to get the new snowblower out for its inaugural run. Maybe later today
The snow is just starting, you should get it running soon enough
I also see that manny of the bloggers just do not learn. That a weather forecast is just that a forecast its NOT written in stone and no amount of wishful thinking will make things happen. So while in has turned colder (we are cold but not usually so) we still are in a low snow fall pattern and may be for the rest of the winter. I would think that the GR NWS would play it more conservitlly thought. We have now gone thru a summer, fall and now half a winter season with more failed watches, and warnings then I have seen in a long time. I know they (NWS) want to be on the safe side but there comes a time when if you cry wolf too often people will no longer pay attention. Of course for the TV stations storms and possibly of storms can be good for ratings.
Slimjim
Excellent point!
2″ of snow by sunrise….
Just drove from northwestern Allegan county (Laketown) to Martin. Which is driving through the heart of Allegan county. Didn’t snow more then it did snow on the way. Most I noticed was probably just south of the city of Hamilton, couldn’t be more than, id say 4″. Not as heavy of a dump as I would like, but it does feel like winter for a few days.
Don’t want to hate on the forecasters, but definitely too much hype and maybe its time to invest in new and improved forecasting models and ways of predicting. Following some of these computer generated forecast have led very wrong predictions
A lot of hype also seemed to come from the bloggers for this one, getting excited at the GFS snowfall maps (horribly inaccurate things) even no source in particular. NWS has posted discussions for several days citing their concerns for limited accumulations. Overall, both WOOD and the NWS posted similar snowfall maps showing 6-10″ in the lakeshore counties by Tuesday. So far, we’re getting mixed messages from people. Some people have a good amount of snow, some people not so much. But the endless kvetching seems to be the only thing everyone here has an abundance of.
But thank you for suggesting that we keep improving our models and forecasting techniques. Believe me, they are continually being worked on. We would always love to see some more funding for our efforts. Call your congressman and tell them to support meteorology research through adequately funding the NOAA/NWS and academic institutions. I can find you and anyone interested some material online that explains how models work, if you want. How insanely complex they are (they have to be, they are representing our insanely complex atmosphere) is really quite astounding.
Lake effect always has and always will be hit or miss. Some are getting good amounts, some arent getting any, just like always. The snowfall maps are misleading because it gives the notion that EVERYBODY will see those amounts, not going to happen.
Be careful out there… I-96 is shut down between Coopersville and Walker for a 15-vehicle pile-up.
that’s because people in michigan forget how to drive every time it snows.
Yes, they do…so glad to have Mondays off from work.
Nothing but sunshine here, in Northeast Montcalm county with only a dusting of snow. I guess I’ll have to wait to Thursday.
Near record warmth for the southwest this week.
at least it will melt the snow they got
What snow? http://www.cs.arizona.edu/camera/
Mt. Lemmon, just outside of Tucson open for skiing with a 20-24″ base: http://www.skithelemmon.com/ Snow cover Monday morning: 5″ Flagstaff, 10″ Bellemont, 11″ Fort Valley.
The Southwest has had a very cold January. Here’s temperature departures in degrees F from normal for the first 3 weeks of January:
Tucson -5.8, Phoenix -5.1, Yuma -4.8, Prescott -5.3, Flagstaff -9.9 (7 days below zero), Winslow -9.8, Douglas -8.0, Grand Canyon -9.1 (7 mornings of -10F to -20F), Las Vegas -5.5, Reno -9.3, Elko -16.9 (WOW!), Los Angeles -2.8, Albuquerque -6.6, Salt Lake City -13.1, El Paso -5.3.
Arc: Mt. Lemmon, just outside of Tucson open for skiing with a 20-24″ base: http://www.skithelemmon.com/ Snow cover Monday morning: 5″ Flagstaff, 10″ Bellemont, 11″ Fort Valley.
The Southwest has had a very cold January. Here’s temperature departures in degrees F from normal for the first 3 weeks of January:
Tucson -5.8, Phoenix -5.1, Yuma -4.8, Prescott -5.3, Flagstaff -9.9 (7 days below zero), Winslow -9.8, Douglas -8.0, Grand Canyon -9.1 (7 mornings of -10F to -20F), Las Vegas -5.5, Reno -9.3, Elko -16.9 (WOW!), Los Angeles -2.8, Albuquerque -6.6, Salt Lake City -13.1, El Paso -5.3.
Lake effect has to be in the top 3 for most tricky things to forecast, the only thing trickier might be predicting if a tornado is going to hit your house an advance
We have been in a lull, stuck between two bands. The sun has been out the past ten minutes.
OHHHHHH HEAVEY LK EFFECTT SNOW OVER THEE YARDofBRICKS RIGHT NOW CAN’T EVEN SEE THE WOODS!!! STAY TUNED INDYY…….
i at least got 2″ and hopefully that’s it. enjoy your snow “winter nuts”.
hey rj how are those 30″ you predicted working out for ya?
On & off between heavier squalls & sunshine here. Still less than 1 inch total. Hopefully the winds will tweak slightly more to the NW instead of WNW so I can get into some of these heavier bands.
Hey Fizzer get the sleds out time to slide and ride the hills of Grand Rapids….It’s cold out 7* out thee YARDofBRICKS this will be the coldest 1/21/13 ever in Grand Rapids recoreds are going out the window today in West Michigan……INDYY….
Why am I seeing anybody who has been begging for this type of weather blogging. You wanted extreme cold and snow. Go outside if you enjoy it so much and stop just saying how much you want it. GO OUTSIDE.
I would be outside but im working!
Just a broad statement. Not a personal attack. It is a holiday, and obviously some people do have the day off and are still spending their time blogging about the weather rather than being out in it.
I know, I didnt mean for it to sound bad. Just saying I personally would love to be outside. Darn careers anyways.
lolololololololo…….
100% agree michigan. enjoy your snow people because i bet it will be gone soon enough.
you want extreme cold look at Ironwoods 1000am observation
Cloudy temperature -15 windchill -39
i don’t know how anyone in their right mind could enjoy that.
I was on the Ski Patrol for 11 years. Being able to enjoy cold weather is mostly a matter of dressing correctly. In temps like Ryan mentioned – you DON’T want exposed skin, for starters….
If you view this at about 11 AM…. check out Houghton’s webcam right now….whiteout with prolly a foot or 2 on the ground already….. NOW THIS IS WHERE I WANNA LIVE!!! http://www.pasty.com/bcam2.jpg
Sun is out here in Belmont with maybe a 1/2″ of snow. Not much wind, but it sure is cold out there. Pretty Winter day!
Still snowing here in Portland, hoping its hitting my house in Muir
Steady snow here all morning, piling up….beautiful!
It’s gotten pretty nasty in south haven over the last hour. Snowing pretty hard and the winds have picked up blowing it all around. I would guess at least an inch or slightly more in a little over an hour. We went from being able to see the grass and roads to not, at least in my area.
Fellow bloggers….as usual, the M-6 between 131 and Broadmoor is a mess when it snows. Lots of crashes in both directions.
OHHHHH A NOTHER LAKE BAND OF SNOW OVER THE YARDofBRICKS CAN’T SEE THE WOODS OVER 4 INCHES OF SNOW O THE GROUND MORE TO COME AND IT’S COLDD BURRRRRR UP TO 9* DEGREES OUTSIDE!!!! STAY TUNED INDYY…..
Just went out to shovel and measured as well. Measurements were between 4 and 5 inches here out in Allendale.
Spring cant get here soon enough for me.
Hey look, I actually had to shovel my driveway today. First time I’ve had to shovel in 2 years.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151388303271418&set=a.10150097766036418.306861.641556417&type=1&theater
Snowing again and the sun is out a little bit at the same time. Makes for a bright setting out there.
Hearing of just over 6″ m-89 and m-40 area in allegan county. Looking like we will see the 6, to some people getting in the 12″ range easily.
Just hoping this activity can stay steady throughout the day…
It has been banding up over that area for several hours now. And it’s literally 5 miles or less to my SW. I’m just on the northern fringe of those bands.
The 12Z GFS is a little cooler in the long range. Next Monday could be a rain to mix to snow event. Also both the GFS and NAM are giving us constant lake effect until about midday Wednesday.
the city needs to get out and do their jobs. the roads are horrid and haven’t even been touched yet.
Maybe in whyhomieee Grand Rapids roads are just wet,,,,INDYYY..
yeah accidents all over the place. they haven’t even salted yet.
to cold for salt they are putting down sand and it sucks!!
Dude, GR roads are just as nasty. Report your obscure muskegon location.
Dude how old are we! lolollolololo INDYY.
Old enough to know the difference between a lake effect snowband and a blizzard.
4-5″ between Allendale and Hudsonville as of right now.
BURRRR IT’S COLD…….AGAIN MORE LK EFFECTT SNOW FALLING OUT THEE YARDofBRICKS ON THIS COLDEST DAY 1/21/13 EVER IN GRAND RAPIDS KEEP THE HEAT ONNNN AND ALWAYS STAY TUNED BECOUSE WE HAVE MORE SNOW AND COLD ON THEE WAY…INDYY…
LOL! Lake Effect: I went from complete white-out, to hazy sun in about 2 minutes.
DDDDDDDDDDDDD CANT SEE MY WOODS SNOWING HARDER RIGHT NOW THEN IT HAS ALL DAY AND WINDY BLIZZARD CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW OUT THEE YARDofBRICKS…..DDDDDDDDDDD ..INDYY..
LOL. Whatever. It has been a long time since you’ve seen any good snow. Maybe it just looks like a BLIZZARD AT THEEEE YARDofBRICKS…
Ok dude…..
Just basing it off the radar, my observations here, and those of my family in Muskegon. That is where you are at, correct? There are “heavier” bands here than anywhere in your county, and I would hardly consider this extreme in any sense.
I always thought Indy was in the Comstock Park area
Not sure. Maybe it’s one of his other “relatives” that type, post, and speak exactly like he does.
Just like rumrum knows the owners of TACO BOY! rumrum knows nothing but dude…Yes INDY is in North Park..INDYY..
LOL. I do! They are a nice family. Coupla cute kids, a dog, ect. My mistake on your location Sparkee, er, um, Indy.
If that wind would shift a bit more westerly, might get more here, seems to be just to our south, can just see the tips of the grass now.
hey Fizzer buy some sleds and join us on the hills around Grand rapids today goin g to be a sled kind of day U know u love this weather lol …INDYY..
http://www.intellicast.com/National/Temperature/Current.aspx
those 70′s in Florida look nice!
The snow will be coming down all week as we will be watching the mid 30′s keep getting push back days.. going to be hard to blow the cold out of the great lks so get outside and enjoy build a snowman stay warm coldest air since 2009 lover us for days to come….INDYYY..
On and off whiteout conditions here in Holland. Maybe 4 or 5″ total so far. Hard to tell due to wind
My backyard is protected by the fence, a decent 3-4. front yard? Wind blown and grassy.
Well one thing is for sure, today winter is in full gear !! Blowing snow at the moment ….
Agreed! Sure feels nice.
Bill, do you agree with Wzzm’s forecast of an actual winter storm coming through around Thursday/Thrusday night/Friday morning?
I don’t know about Bill, however I agree and I have been discussing this potential storm for the last few days now. A week ago some people were trying to tell me that this would be rain. I have said all along – no rain and a possible SNOWSTORM. Get ready!
Yes…certainly will be too cold for rain for sure. It will be interesting to see what happens with this event.
YES 3-6 INCHES OF SNOW COMING WINTER STORM WATCHES COMING FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY FOR WEST MICHIGAN……….
Any of you ice fish?