February 1-5, 2011 Arctic Blast/Winter Storm Discussion

[Big O]

Jeff, thanks for the update. I am from McAllen and have family in League City/Webster. Is McAllen looking at any accumulating snowfall, and, if so, how much?

What type and amounts of precipitation can people in League City/Webster expect?

Thanks in advance.

[cristina99]

well, just got a disappointing email from our head hauncho. Business as usual - be careful coming to work, but bundle up. You mean we don't even get a snow day to enjoy this historic snow?

[AggieBuckeye]

well, just got a disappointing email from our head hauncho. Business as usual - be careful coming to work, but bundle up. You mean we don't even get a snow day to enjoy this historic snow?

Damn, I'm sorry. Be safe!

[MRG93415]

well, just got a disappointing email from our head hauncho. Business as usual - be careful coming to work, but bundle up. You mean we don't even get a snow day to enjoy this historic snow?

That really stinks. I work in Downtown Houston and I am hoping that the roads will be closed getting into Downtown so there will be no choice but to give us off.

[Andrew]

well, just got a disappointing email from our head hauncho. Business as usual - be careful coming to work, but bundle up. You mean we don't even get a snow day to enjoy this historic snow?

That will be tomm but Friday might be another day. It could be bad that day.

[Ptarmigan]

well, just got a disappointing email from our head hauncho. Business as usual - be careful coming to work, but bundle up. You mean we don't even get a snow day to enjoy this historic snow?

That should be taken with a grain of salt right now because it could get really bad.

[CAK]

Looking at the Sat image, I see a big plume of moisture streaming north east and this morning was encroaching the coast . When I put it in motion now, that plume appears to be drifting south...away from the coast while still streaming north east. Is this the moisture we are waiting for or is it coming from a different location? If this is the moisture, might not be a good sign?

[Portastorm]

EWX just issued a Winter Storm Watch for the area west of you SE Texans. One inch of snow or less west of I-35, 1-2 inches along the I-35 corridor, with 3 inches or more east of a Cuero-Luling-Giddings line.

[shope2]

Thanks everyone for the information!! Haven't been on since Ike. Quick question...husband is supposed to leave for Austin tomorrow morning and return late tomorrow afternoon to Katy. Are there going to be any travel problems prior to 6:00 p.m.?

[weatherag]

18Z NAM forecast sounding for KSGR appears to be much more saturated in the dendritic growth zone than I've seen in previous runs....with a slight warm nose evident at around 10000 feet.

[Mr. T]

This will probably answer some questions:

332 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR ALL OF SE TX THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING...

.DISCUSSION...
PARTIAL CLEARING ACROSS SE TX HAS ALLOWED TEMPS TO AT LEAST
BRIEFLY CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING ACROSS THE SRN HALF OF THE AREA.
HOWEVER...TEMPS HAVE REMAINED BELOW FREEZING ALL DAY ACROSS THE NW
HALF. MID LEVEL CLOUDINESS WILL GRADUALLY FILL IN ACROSS THE AREA
TONIGHT. IN ADDITION...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY UP IN THE 5-15
MPH RANGE. AS A RESULT...ONLY A SLOW DROP IN TEMP IS EXPECTED
TONIGHT. HAVE TRENDED TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE MAVMOS AS A RESULT.
REGARDLESS...THE HARD FREEZE WILL CONTINUE...AND THE WARNING WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON THURSDAY. GIVEN THE THICK CLOUD
COVER ON THURSDAY...TEMPS WILL STRUGGLE TO CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING IN
THE AFTN.

WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A STRONG UPPER LOW ACROSS NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE DIGGING SOUTH
TOWARD THE BIG BEND REGION TONIGHT/THURSDAY...THEN LIFT EASTWARD
ACROSS TEXAS THU NIGHT/FRIDAY. UPPER FLOW WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY DIFFLUENT WITH SE TX POSSIBLY GOING INTO THE RIGHT
REAR OF A 300 MB JET MAX THU NIGHT. ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE WILL
BEGIN TO DEEPEN THURSDAY WITH PWS APPROACHING AN INCH NEAR THE
COAST. AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES...ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL DEVELOP
ACROSS SE TX BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT/THU MORNING. AS IS TYPICAL IN
THESE SITUATIONS THE ONSET OF PRECIP IS DIFFICULT TO TIME. THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL SATURATE FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE PRECIP WILL
REACH THE GROUND. THE MODELS HAVE TRENDED FASTER WITH PRECIP
DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF RUNS. A FEW FLURRIES WILL BE
POSSIBLE AS EARLY AS LATE TONIGHT NEAR THE COAST...AND OVER THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA THU MORNING. HOWEVER...THINKING THAT THE
MORE SIGNIFICANT LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP BEGINNING MIDDAY
NEAR THE COAST...MID AFTERNOON CENTRAL ZONES...AND LATE AFTN OVER
THE NORTH. THE MAIN PRECIP EVENT WILL GET GOING LATE AFTN/EARLY
EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH EARLY MORNING FRIDAY.

PRECIP TYPE: EXPECTING VERY LIGHT SNOW OR SLEET NEAR THE COAST AT
THE ONSET THURSDAY...WITH JUST SNOW FLURRIES OVER THE NORTHERN
HALF. BY THURSDAY EVENING...SOUTHWEST WINDS ALOFT RESULT IN SOME
WARMING IN THE PROFILE IN THE 700-900 MB LEVEL. THIS WARMING WILL
RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN OVER THE SE
THIRD OF THE AREA. CURRENT THINKING IS THE WESTERN EXTENT OF THE
FREEZING RAIN THREAT AREA WILL RUN FROM A MATAGORDA TO DOWNTOWN
HOUSTON TO RYE LINE. WEST OF THIS LINE...SLEET AND SNOW ARE
EXPECTED...WITH ALL SNOW OVER THE NW HALF OF THE CWA. EAST OF THIS
LINE...A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW ARE
EXPECTED...WITH MAINLY ICE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN BRAZORIA...
SOUTHERN GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...AND SOUTHERN LIBERTY COUNTIES.
THIS THINKING REFLECTS THE 12Z GFS SOLUTION WHICH IS A GOOD
COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE MODELS.

AMOUNTS: IN THE SNOW AND SLEET AREA EXPECTING ACCUMULATIONS OF 1
TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES. THE BEST CHANCE
OF 4 INCH ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ACROSS THE PINEY WOODS AND LAKES
AREA OF EAST TEXAS. IN THE ICE AREA (FAR SE)...ICE ACCUMULATIONS
OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ARE EXPECTED.

IMPACTS: THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS EVENT AND THE WINTER
WEATHER EVENTS OVER SE TX THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE THE
COLDER TEMPERATURES. DUE TO THE VERY LOW DEWPOINTS AND
EVAPORATIVE COOLING...TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 5 TO 7 DEGREES COLDER
WITH THIS EVENT. THESE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN A MUCH
HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF ROADS BECOMING ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE WITH ELEVATED
SURFACES LIKE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO DETERIORATE BEGINNING AROUND SUNSET THURSDAY. IN ADDITION...
POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN THE FREEZING RAIN
THREAT AREA.

PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF MID TO LATE MORNING FRIDAY AS BEST
LIFT SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA. SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BE
POSSIBLE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SYSTEM BUT HAVE NOT REFLECTED
THIS IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME. TEMPS SHOULD CLIMB TO THE MID
30S FRI AFTN WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR SOME TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT IN
ROAD CONDITIONS. HOWEVER...REFREEZING WILL BE POSSIBLE FRI NIGHT.
HAVE LOWERED FCST MIN TEMPS FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH CLEAR SKIES AND
LIGHT WINDS ALLOWING FOR ONE MORE HARD FREEZE. SUNSHINE EXPECTED
SATURDAY WHICH WILL FINALLY ALLOW ALL OF SE TX TO CLIMB ABOVE
FREEZING BY LATE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE 50S ARE EXPECTED. SUNDAY
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DAY WITH SUNSHINE AND MAX TEMPS IN THE 50S.
HAVE NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE FORECAST BEYOND SUNDAY...WITH THE
GFS/ECMWF STILL SHOWING MAJOR DIFFERENCES WITH THE TIMING OF THE
NEXT FRONT.

35/46/38/33

[cristina99]

This will probably answer some questions:

332 PM CST WED FEB 2 2011

...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR ALL OF SE TX THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING...

.DISCUSSION...
PARTIAL CLEARING ACROSS SE TX HAS ALLOWED TEMPS TO AT LEAST
BRIEFLY CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING ACROSS THE SRN HALF OF THE AREA.
HOWEVER...TEMPS HAVE REMAINED BELOW FREEZING ALL DAY ACROSS THE NW
HALF. MID LEVEL CLOUDINESS WILL GRADUALLY FILL IN ACROSS THE AREA
TONIGHT. IN ADDITION...WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY UP IN THE 5-15
MPH RANGE. AS A RESULT...ONLY A SLOW DROP IN TEMP IS EXPECTED
TONIGHT. HAVE TRENDED TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE MAVMOS AS A RESULT.
REGARDLESS...THE HARD FREEZE WILL CONTINUE...AND THE WARNING WILL
REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON THURSDAY. GIVEN THE THICK CLOUD
COVER ON THURSDAY...TEMPS WILL STRUGGLE TO CLIMB ABOVE FREEZING IN
THE AFTN.

WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A STRONG UPPER LOW ACROSS NORTHERN NEW
MEXICO THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE DIGGING SOUTH
TOWARD THE BIG BEND REGION TONIGHT/THURSDAY...THEN LIFT EASTWARD
ACROSS TEXAS THU NIGHT/FRIDAY. UPPER FLOW WILL BECOME
INCREASINGLY DIFFLUENT WITH SE TX POSSIBLY GOING INTO THE RIGHT
REAR OF A 300 MB JET MAX THU NIGHT. ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE WILL
BEGIN TO DEEPEN THURSDAY WITH PWS APPROACHING AN INCH NEAR THE
COAST. AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES...ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL DEVELOP
ACROSS SE TX BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT/THU MORNING. AS IS TYPICAL IN
THESE SITUATIONS THE ONSET OF PRECIP IS DIFFICULT TO TIME. THE
ATMOSPHERE WILL SATURATE FOR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE PRECIP WILL
REACH THE GROUND. THE MODELS HAVE TRENDED FASTER WITH PRECIP
DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF RUNS. A FEW FLURRIES WILL BE
POSSIBLE AS EARLY AS LATE TONIGHT NEAR THE COAST...AND OVER THE
SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA THU MORNING. HOWEVER...THINKING THAT THE
MORE SIGNIFICANT LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL DEVELOP BEGINNING MIDDAY
NEAR THE COAST...MID AFTERNOON CENTRAL ZONES...AND LATE AFTN OVER
THE NORTH. THE MAIN PRECIP EVENT WILL GET GOING LATE AFTN/EARLY
EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH EARLY MORNING FRIDAY.

PRECIP TYPE: EXPECTING VERY LIGHT SNOW OR SLEET NEAR THE COAST AT
THE ONSET THURSDAY...WITH JUST SNOW FLURRIES OVER THE NORTHERN
HALF. BY THURSDAY EVENING...SOUTHWEST WINDS ALOFT RESULT IN SOME
WARMING IN THE PROFILE IN THE 700-900 MB LEVEL. THIS WARMING WILL
RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN OVER THE SE
THIRD OF THE AREA. CURRENT THINKING IS THE WESTERN EXTENT OF THE
FREEZING RAIN THREAT AREA WILL RUN FROM A MATAGORDA TO DOWNTOWN
HOUSTON TO RYE LINE. WEST OF THIS LINE...SLEET AND SNOW ARE
EXPECTED...WITH ALL SNOW OVER THE NW HALF OF THE CWA. EAST OF THIS
LINE...A MIX OF FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW ARE
EXPECTED...WITH MAINLY ICE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN BRAZORIA...
SOUTHERN GALVESTON...CHAMBERS...AND SOUTHERN LIBERTY COUNTIES.
THIS THINKING REFLECTS THE 12Z GFS SOLUTION WHICH IS A GOOD
COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE MODELS.

AMOUNTS: IN THE SNOW AND SLEET AREA EXPECTING ACCUMULATIONS OF 1
TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED TOTALS AROUND 4 INCHES. THE BEST CHANCE
OF 4 INCH ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ACROSS THE PINEY WOODS AND LAKES
AREA OF EAST TEXAS. IN THE ICE AREA (FAR SE)...ICE ACCUMULATIONS
OF 1/10 TO 1/4 INCH ARE EXPECTED.

IMPACTS: THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS EVENT AND THE WINTER
WEATHER EVENTS OVER SE TX THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE THE
COLDER TEMPERATURES. DUE TO THE VERY LOW DEWPOINTS AND
EVAPORATIVE COOLING...TEMPERATURES WILL RUN 5 TO 7 DEGREES COLDER
WITH THIS EVENT. THESE COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN A MUCH
HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF ROADS BECOMING ICED OVER...EVEN WITH LIGHT
PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS. THIS WILL ESPECIALLY BE THE CASE WITH ELEVATED
SURFACES LIKE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. ROAD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO DETERIORATE BEGINNING AROUND SUNSET THURSDAY. IN ADDITION...
POWER OUTAGES WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN THE FREEZING RAIN
THREAT AREA.

PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF MID TO LATE MORNING FRIDAY AS BEST
LIFT SHIFTS EAST OF THE AREA. SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL BE
POSSIBLE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SYSTEM BUT HAVE NOT REFLECTED
THIS IN THE FORECAST AT THIS TIME. TEMPS SHOULD CLIMB TO THE MID
30S FRI AFTN WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR SOME TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT IN
ROAD CONDITIONS. HOWEVER...REFREEZING WILL BE POSSIBLE FRI NIGHT.
HAVE LOWERED FCST MIN TEMPS FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH CLEAR SKIES AND
LIGHT WINDS ALLOWING FOR ONE MORE HARD FREEZE. SUNSHINE EXPECTED
SATURDAY WHICH WILL FINALLY ALLOW ALL OF SE TX TO CLIMB ABOVE
FREEZING BY LATE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE 50S ARE EXPECTED. SUNDAY
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT DAY WITH SUNSHINE AND MAX TEMPS IN THE 50S.
HAVE NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE FORECAST BEYOND SUNDAY...WITH THE
GFS/ECMWF STILL SHOWING MAJOR DIFFERENCES WITH THE TIMING OF THE
NEXT FRONT.

35/46/38/33

Huh? I guess I'm more blonde than I thought. What does that mean now? Has it changed for us - as in not as much?

[Mr. T]

Huh? I guess I'm more blonde than I thought. What does that mean now? Has it changed for us - as in not as much?

no

[Ptarmigan]

Thanks everyone for the information!! Haven't been on since Ike. Quick question...husband is supposed to leave for Austin tomorrow morning and return late tomorrow afternoon to Katy. Are there going to be any travel problems prior to 6:00 p.m.?

The snow and ice is going to be a problem mostly on Thursday to Friday. It is going to be dangerous travel on the road.

[wxman57]

Huh? I guess I'm more blonde than I thought. What does that mean now? Has it changed for us - as in not as much?

Just a different opinion from the Houston NWS office as far as amounts. It's really a guess this far out.

[srainhoutx]

Great discussion from HGX. Nothing has really changed other than some higher isolated totals. It's not going to get above the freezing mark up here. 31.6F and starting to fall slowly.

[Portastorm]

Thanks everyone for the information!! Haven't been on since Ike. Quick question...husband is supposed to leave for Austin tomorrow morning and return late tomorrow afternoon to Katy. Are there going to be any travel problems prior to 6:00 p.m.?

Based on what the local NWS is telling us, we should have isolated to scattered snow flurries tomorrow morning with the snow picking up in coverage and intensity as we roll into tomorrow evening. If your husband is going to be here in Austin in the morning and leaving by lunch or shortly thereafter, he should be ok HERE. I don't know what to tell you though about from Austin to Houston and what conditions may be occurring during the afternoon.

The biggest problem here today and probably into tomorrow morning have been the power blackouts which ERCOT says will probably continue tonight or tomorrow morning. For the moment they have eased.

[MRG93415]

Some school closings starting to come across...LAMAR is the first with early release tomorrow..

[srainhoutx]

A reminder for our new folks. Please take a moment and go to your User Control Panel and update your profile to include your general location. This will help our Mets and other knowledgeable members when reporting observations and asking questions. Also, as funny as it is to say, here are the NWS snow measurement guideline for those that are interested in providing accurate measurements, if needed...

Code: Select all

The following procedures were developed from previous National Weather Service procedures and input from a broad array of expertise from climatologists, snow specialists, weather observers, and data users. Some of the materials have been extracted from "The Snow Booklet" by Nolan J. Doesken and Arthur Judson, CSU, 1996). 

It is essential for all observers to understand the importance of taking standard measurements in the prescribed consistent manner. Inconsistent observing and reporting methods result in incompatible data which can result in profoundly incorrect differences between stations and observers. 

Each season before the first snows come: Review these instructions for measuring snow. It is easy to forget what needs to be measured, especially in those parts of the country where snow falls infrequently. 


 At the beginning of each snowfall/freezing season, remove the funnel and inner measuring tube of the eight-inch manual rain gauge to expose the 8-inch diameter overflow can so that it can more accurately catch frozen precipitation. 
 

 Put your snowboard(s) out and mark their location with a flag or some other indicator so they can be found after a new snowfall. They should be located in the vicinity of your station in an open location (not under trees, obstructions, or on the north side of structures in the shadows). 
 

 Check your gauge to make sure there are no leaks. If there are leaks, take appropriate action. 
 

 Once your equipment has been readied for winter you are prepared for taking snowfall measurements. 
 

Observers should determine three values when reporting solid precipitation. They are: 

Measure and record the snowfall ( snow, ice pellets ) since the previous snowfall observation, 
Determine the depth of snow on the ground at the normal observation time, 
Measure and record the water equivalent of snowfall since the previous day's observation. 
Measure and record the greatest amount of snowfall that has accumulated on your snowboard (wooden deck or ground if board is not available) since the previous snowfall observation. This measurement should be taken minimally once-a-day but can be taken up to four times a day, (every 6 hours) and should reflect the greatest accumulation of new snow observed (in inches and tenths, for example, 3.9 inches) since the last snowfall observation. 

Snowfall amounts can be measured hourly or at any interval as long as the snow measurement board is NOT cleared more frequently than once every 6 hours. 

If you are not available to watch snow accumulation at all times of the day and night, use your best estimate, based on a measurement of snowfall at the scheduled time of observation along with knowledge of what took place during the past 24 hours. If you are not present to witness the greatest snow accumulation, input may be obtained from other people who were near the station during the snow event. If your observation is not based on a measurement, record in your remarks that the "snow amount based on estimate". 

Remember, you want to report the greatest accumulation since the last observation. If snowfall occurred several times during the period, and each snowfall melted either completely or in part before the next snowfall, record the total of the greatest snowdepths of each event and enter in your remarks "snowfall melted during the OBS period". For example, three separate snow squalls affect your station during your 24-hour reporting day, say 3.0, 2.2, and 1.5 inches. The snow from each event melts off before the next accumulation and no snow is on the ground at your scheduled time of observation. The total snowfall for that reporting 24-hour day is the sum of the three separate snow squalls, 6.7 inches, even though the snow depth on your board at observation time was zero. Snow often melts as it lands. If snow continually melts as it lands, and the accumulation never reaches 0.1 inches on your measuring surface, snowfall should be recorded as a trace (T) and record in your remarks that the "snow melted as it landed". 

It is essential to measure snowfall (and snow depth) in locations where the effects of blowing and drifting are minimized. Finding a good location where snow accumulates uniformly simplifies all other aspects of the observation and reduces the numerous opportunities for error. In open areas where windblown snow cannot be avoided, several measurements may often be necessary to obtain an average depth and they should not include the largest drifts. In heavily forested locations, try and find an exposed clearing in the trees. Measurements beneath trees are inaccurate since large amounts of snow can accumulate on trees and never reach the ground. 

If your daily schedule permits, you may wish to make a snowfall observation every 6-hours, beginning with your regularly scheduled time of observation. This is the procedure followed by National Weather Service Forecast Offices. Follow the same rules for a once-a-day observation, but the snow accumulation reported will be the greatest for the previous six hours instead of 24 hours. If you take your observations at this frequency, make sure that you clear your snowboard (or other measuring surface) no more than once every 6 hours. Record the frequency of observations during the day in the comments section of your report. Never sum more than four, six-hourly observations to determine your 24-hour snowfall total. If you use more than four observations, it would falsely increase snowfall totals. 

Freezing rain (glaze ice) should never be reported as snowfall. This precipitation type is liquid precipitation and should be reported as such. 

Determine the total depth of snow, ice pellets, or ice on the ground. This observation is taken once-a-day at the scheduled time of observation with a measuring stick. It is taken by measuring the total depth of snow on exposed ground at a permanently-mounted snow stake or by taking the average of several depth readings at or near the normal point of observation with a measuring stick. When using a measuring stick, make sure the stick is pushed vertically into the snow until the bottom of the stick rests on the ground. Do not mistake an ice layer or crusted snow as "ground". The measurement should reflect the average depth of snow, ice pellets, and glaze ice on the ground at your usual measurement site (not disturbed by human activities). Measurements from rooftops, paved areas, and the like should not be made. Note: Hail accumulation is not entered with snow and ice pellets. Hail accumulation is entered in the “/remarks/” section with the amount and diameter (inches and tenths) of the stones. 

Report snow depth to the nearest whole inch, rounding up when one-half inch increments are reached (example 0.4 inches gets reported as a trace (T), 3.5 inches gets reported as 4 inches). Frequently, in hilly or mountainous terrain, you will be faced with the situation where no snow is observed on south-facing slopes while snow, possibly deep, remains in shaded or north-facing areas. Under these circumstances, you should use good judgement to visually average and then measure snow depths in exposed areas within several hundred yards surrounding the weather station.

For example, if half the exposed ground is bare and half is covered with six inches of snow, the snow depth should be entered as the average of the two readings, or three inches. When in your judgement, less than 50 percent of the exposed ground is covered by snow, even though the covered areas have a significant depth, the snow depth should be recorded as a trace (T). When no snow or ice is on the ground in exposed areas (snow may be present in surrounding forested or otherwise protected areas), record a "0".

When strong winds have blown the snow, take several measurements where the snow was least affected by drifting and average them. If most exposed areas are either blown free of snow while others have drifts, again try to combine visual averaging with measurements to make your estimate. 

Measuring the water equivalent of snowfall since the previous day's observation. This measurement is taken once-a-day at your specified time of observation. Melt the contents of your gauge (by bringing it inside your home or adding a measured amount of warm water) and then pour the liquid into the funnel and smaller inner measuring tube and measure the amount to the nearest .01 inch (use NWS provided measuring stick) just as you use for measuring rainfall. Do not measure the melted precipitation directly in the large 8-inch outer cylinder. Make sure the inner measuring tube can't fall over when pouring the liquid back into it. If the melted water equivalent (including any added warm water) exceeds two inches and cannot fit into the measuring tube all at one time, then empty the full measuring tube and pour the remaining liquid from the large 8-inch outer cylinder into the emptied measuring tube. Then, add and record the water equivalent of the multiple measurements.

If you added warm water to the gauge to melt the snow, make sure you accurately measure the amount of warm water added before pouring it into the gauge. Then, when you take your liquid measurement, subtract the amount of warm water added from the total liquid measurement to get your final liquid water equivalent of the snowfall.

As winds increase, gauges collect less and less of the precipitation that actually falls. Generally speaking, the stronger the wind and the drier the snow, the less is captured in the gauge. If you notice that less snow is in the gauge than accumulated on the ground, you should first empty any existing snow from inside the 8-inch cylinder, then use it to take a snow sample, sometimes referred to as "take a core" or "cut a biscuit" from your snow board with the 8-inch overflow can. Melt the biscuit of snow, pour the liquid into the small measuring tube to measure the water equivalent. 

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/snowguid.htm

[Mr. T]

This is such an interesting event. For once we won't be sitting here wondering when the freezing line will be here; It will already be here