Winter weather advisory: Up to 6 inches of snow expected by Wednesday in Ann Arbor
Commercial trucks and Interstate 40 travelers are stranded along the closed highway in Amarillo, Texas, Monday as a blizzard packing 50 mph wind gusts and up to 17 nches of snow blasted Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle.
AP photo
Update: New winter storm forecast: 3 to 4 inches of snow expected in Ann Arbor
The winter storm heading for the Ann Arbor area Tuesday is expected to begin around 2 p.m. with a mix of rain, snow and sleet. It’ll change over to all snow around 4 p.m., which is when it will start to accumulate, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory effective from 3 p.m. Tuesday until noon Wednesday. The Ann Arbor area could get a total of about 6 to 6 and a half inches by the time it stops snowing Thursday, said Matt Mosteiko, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township.
The bulk of that will come Tuesday night, when 3 and a half inches are expected to fall between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Wednesday. About an inch will fall before 7, Mosteiko said and another inch during the day Wednesday. One more inch is possible Wednesday night.
Temperatures around or slightly above freezing will keep any precipitation that falls before 4 from accumulating, Mosteiko said. And the temperature is only expected to dip slightly below freezing Tuesday night, keeping the snow wet and heavy.
Winds are expected to gust to near 30 mph during the day Tuesday and breezy conditions will continue overnight, meaning blowing snow could reduce visibility for drivers Mosteiko said.
Some melting could occur Wednesday as the high is expected to climb to 35 degrees. Thursday will bring a chance of snow showers and a high of 35 degrees under cloudy skies.
Ann Arbor will be feeling the effects of the same storm system that created blizzard conditions in the Plains and Texas Panhandle. Amarillo got 17 inches of snow Monday, the Associated Press reported. Thousands lost power in Texas and Oklahoma. Winter storm warnings were still posted Tuesday for parts of Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.
For updated forecasts and conditions anytime, check AnnArbor.com's weather page.
Cindy Heflin is associate news director at AnnArbor.com. Contact her at cindyheflin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2572 or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
justcurious
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:55 p.m.
If you look at the radar now there is a nice counter-rotation occurring which is bringing moisture from the southeast right up our way. It's just hanging there...
Saline_Wins
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:58 p.m.
Good that means just rain.
Saline_Wins
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:49 p.m.
It is calling for 3 to 4 inches at best now. The morning commute will be fine.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:27 p.m.
This storm must be given a name! Why do Boston's storms get names?
WalkingJoe
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:38 p.m.
Go to the Weather Channel or their website weather.com. They are the only ones who name winter storms and quite frankly I find it annoying and at the same time amusing. This ones name is "Rocky", probably as in "Rocky the Flying Squirrel". Some of the previous storms this winter had names I swear were taken from either movie or tv shows. One was "Draco" like the Harry Potter character, one was "Nemo" like the children's movie, and one was "Q" like the evil god like character in the Star Trek the Next Generation tv series. All hype just to get people to use their product.
sigdiamond
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:02 p.m.
In these comments: People who never leave the house complaining about plows and salt trucks that haven't been deployed on roads they never drive on for a storm that hasn't happened yet.
dancinginmysoul
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:07 p.m.
I'm probably going to get deleted for this...but... Grumpy McGrumperville Mayor of Grumpy Town.
GoNavy
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
As of 12:50PM, this appears to be turning into the Great Almost Snowstorm of 2013.
you can't handle the truth
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 5:32 p.m.
At least the Washtenaw County Road Commission was given plenty of advance notice this time to come up with their excuses.
HONDO
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:45 p.m.
Well get 2" thats all. When ever a storm gets hyped up by the media we get way less than predicted. A2.com says 6" , but go to NOAA and if you add all their expected totals over the 2 days, you got 4" expected. No worries plan ahead leave early and dont drive OVERLY cautious as to not cause problems for the other drivers who prepared....
Geoff Larcom
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.
One of the major benefits of online journalism is the weather updates. We appreciate the continued attention to the updated forecast. Remember the days when Sonny Elliott just wrote in chalk about big storms?
justcurious
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:53 p.m.
He loved to say Enga-denga-dine and take the Keewenaw right off the map. :)
Blue Marker
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 6:36 p.m.
You have to combine two words to make one like "it will be warm and breezy tomorrow making it a Wheezy sort of day" or something crazy like that.
dancinginmysoul
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
I'm going into hibernation. I'm so over you winter. jerk.
nickcarraweigh
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 3:41 p.m.
Pass the suntan oil.
justcurious
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 3:11 p.m.
Radar at 10:00 am http://icons.wunderground.com/data/640x480/2xradara4.gif
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
such pretty colors
Katrease Stafford
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
I usually try to stay off of the roads when we have a forecast like this, but I have a late meeting to attend! Any other brave souls have to drive tonight?
Cindy Heflin
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 5:30 p.m.
You might luck out Sun Runner. Forecasters are now not expecting much accumulation before 7 p.m. I'm working on a story with the updated forecast.
sun runner
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 5:07 p.m.
I have to pick someone up at the airport around 5:00 PM. There's no getting out of it. I'm dreading it.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
My husband does. He works 3-11 and will be coming home via Michigan Avenue, which makes me INCREDIBLY nervous. That road is scary in even dry conditions.
justcurious
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
Just keep a distance from all the other drivers and don't let anyone push you. If you are scared, stay home. Sometimes I think timid drivers on bad roads are just as bad as ones who have too much bravado.
operabethie
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
I do...Toledo. Dreading it!
BenK
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
Not sure why everyone gets so worked up and bent out of shape about this. We live in Michigan and it is cold and snowy in the winter. Sounds like it will be a sloppy snow storm as it will hover around freezing. Just drive smart and take extra time to get where you need to go. This will not be a big deal unless people make a big deal out of it, which they will. Every snow storm we get now, I think we are in the Carolinas... commence meltdown!
BenK
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
Thanks Johnnya2 for stating the obvious. It is not a cavalier attitude but rather we should expect this weather in the winter. Frequently, there are people complaining about lack of plows and salt on the roads. Surely it makes the roads more passable, but the lack of it is no reason to freak out. Plan ahead and stay off the roads if you can. Not too far North of us in the same state the common sentiment is the lack of snow. This is Michigan for God's sake!
dancinginmysoul
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
everyone panic and by all the milk and bread!!!
johnnya2
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
Not sure who you see as being worked up. Preparing is not getting worked up. For those of us who need to travel for work, knowing what to expect allows me to plan or change my schedule. I choose to not make a three hour drive through a snow storm if I can have the same meeting the following week or maybe make it earlier in the day. By the way, maybe you aren't out in it, but there are more accidents in the ice and snow then in dry conditions, so maybe people should take a less cavelier attitude and realize that just because we are in Michigan, does not make the ice any less slick and does not prevent a car from sliding into a ditch. If more people took a mentality that staying off he roads unless necessary we might have fewer accidents and get the roads cleared faster.
dexterreader
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
C'mon rain!!!!
Bertha Venation
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:01 p.m.
Have tire chains for Hoveround.... will travel.... YEEEEE HAAA!
Homeland Conspiracy
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:11 p.m.
Hoveround takes me to where I want to go
Bertha Venation
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 3:52 p.m.
Oh Geez! Thanks for the reminder, TDW! I hate it when the hubs fly off into a snow bank when I'm toolin' along about 40 mph on Plymouth Rd.
tdw
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
make sure you lock them 4x4 hubs in
JRW
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
"The bulk of that will come Tuesday night, when 3 and a half inches are expected to fall between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Wednesday. About an inch will fall before 7, Mosteiko said and another inch during the day Wednesday. One more inch is possible Wednesday night." Well well well. Just under 4" !!! How convenient! Now the city won't need to plow since it's under 4"!! Good luck out there, folks, slipping and sliding around on snow covered roads while the snow plows sit in their city garages.
djacks24
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 4:33 p.m.
Temps will be right where salt will be really effective.....If they decide to bother with it?
Brad
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
@Tano - how convenient for you.
Tano
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
1+3 1/2+1+1=6 1/2
Ross
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 1:33 p.m.
Not really the "tail end" of the storm as it will continue on and dump over a foot of snow from the thumb to nearby Ontario all the way on out to the Atlantic. The weather channel upgraded their southeast MI forecast to 6-10", but that seems optimistic. It will all depend on how it starts this afternoon - a couple hours of rain will cut inches off the total accumulation.
johnnya2
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
"but that seems optimistic" I think you and I have different definitions of optimistic.
Cindy Heflin
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 1:44 p.m.
That paragraph has been edited.