Holiday Snowstorm Threat Shifts South, Hold Everything!
State College, Pa. — 22 December 2010 — AccuWeather.com reports the latest indications are the cross-country storm will shift farther south, sparing much of the Midwest heavy snow, but raising concerns for the same in places that rarely get it.
Based on the behavior of the storm Tuesday and Wednesday around California, AccuWeather.com meteorologists now believe the cross-country storm will track farther south through the middle part of the nation, and do so at a slower pace.
While this does not mean the central Plains and the Ohio Valley will escape the system without snow, it does suggest a heavy accumulation would be avoided in the I-80 corridor on the Plains and the I-64/I-70 corridor in the Ohio Valley states.
Interestingly, a more southern track and push of cold air raises the “possibility” of some snow for Southern cities such as Birmingham, Atlanta and Charlotte.
The new, slower storm idea, now being adopted by AccuWeather.com, would have light snow pushing through the central and northern Plains during the day Christmas Eve, then during the nighttime hours farther east over part of the Ohio Valley.
The possibility of snow in part of the South comes more on Christmas Day.
According to Meteorologist and Southern weather veteran Mark Mancuso, “A number of features have to come together for accumulating snow in the South.”
Mancuso stated, “Path of the storm with warm verses cold is one big issue, and the speed of dry air racing in, potentially causing the snow to evaporate before reaching the ground, is another.”
“This is likely to be a two-loafer,” Mancuso added.
Mark was referring to typical rushes on bread (and milk) at grocery stores that occur when a snowstorm threatens the South. “One loaf for the storm, add a second since it is threatening on Christmas,” he said.
Even a couple of inches of snow are a big deal in the South. It is huge, since it will be occurring on or around Christmas.
The issues of a more southern storm, and perhaps a more intense track, have big implications along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Hold on for the ride!
As far as AccuWeather.com meteorologists’ take on the expensive, high-tech computer models with this storm, “None of them are right.”
AccuWeather.com will continue to keep you updated on the situation, where you can always get your latest local AccuWeather forecast.
By Alex Sosnowski, senior expert meteorologist for AccuWeather.com
Updated 12-23-2010
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