A quickly moving storm system will brush by the Valley to our south today. There is a small chance of a few flurries or light snow, mainly this morning in areas south of Dover. Otherwise, we will remain dry but cloudy through the daytime and evening hours.
We are still on track for a round of snow to move into the Tuscarawas Valley tonight into Thursday as a potent disturbance travels through the Great Lakes region. This system will likely impact the Thursday morning commute and perhaps the evening commute as well.
This will be high-ratio (powdery) snow—quite a bit higher than the accepted standard 10:1 snow/liquid ratio—more like 15:1 or even 20:1. It blows around easily and is easy to brush off your car or sidewalk. It’s not good for making snowmen or snowballs. It also means that it doesn’t take much moisture to produce a fairly decent amount of snow.
Snow showers will start to spread into east-central Ohio after midnight tonight. Snowfall rates should be fairly light and accumulation locally is expected to be around an inch through Thursday morning. There is a potential for bands of heavier snowfall to develop Thursday afternoon with this system. Snow bands such as this are difficult to forecast where and when they’ll set up. Any area that does happen to get under one or two of these snow bands could see a quick 1″ – 2″ accumulation and a reduction in visibility.
In addition, Thursday promises to be cold and blustery. Daytime temperatures will only reach 20° or so. It will be breezy at times with gusts around 20 mph.
Chances of snow showers will taper off after sunset Thursday night and should push out of the area by midnight or shortly thereafter. Dry conditions will return on Friday.
LOCAL SNOW AMOUNTS
Generally expect around an inch of powdery snow accumulation in most locations by Friday morning. Those areas that happen to fall under one or two of those more intense snow bands could end up with an additional inch of snow.
AFTER THE SNOW
Temperatures will remain much colder than average on Friday but by the weekend temperatures will begin to moderate some. A warmer pattern sets up next week that will bring near-normal temperatures to finish out February. Those warmer temps will then slide back again as we start March.
Thank you!
Curious here, what causes the high ratio snow?
Good question! It’s all about temperature. Colder air (less than 20°F or so) aloft and at the surface is more likely to contain less moisture. (Think dewpoint temperature.) The colder the air becomes, the less moisture it can hang on to. (Cold air is dryer air) Air closer to freezing or even slightly warmer at the surface can hold more moisture.
Thank you for your service to the Tusc Co area!
As always, Thank you Joe!