Thur-Fri, April 16-17th Snowstorm Update #3

(4:00PM - 4/16/20) A significant late season snowstorm will be affecting portions of the state today through Friday, bringing several inches of snow to some areas.

With this update we have increased expected snowfall totals for some areas within the expected snowfall axis. Outside of that change, only minor other changes were needed. This is now looking like a significant/historic snowstorm for the hardest hit areas, by mid-April standards. This will likely be the last full update regarding this snowstorm, with only short term updates expected as needed throughout the event. However, we will be watching trends for if there is the need for another full...Sometimes these events with several meso-scale factors involved can throw wrenches in the the evolution of things

A lead disturbance and an associated area of snow pushed across portions of Southern Iowa, Northeast Missouri and West-Central Illinois last night through this morning. This snow was previously not expected to amount to much of anything...However, like usual the weather always has surprises...As a dusting to 2" of snow occurred across portions of West-Central Illinois, with even upwards of 2-6" having occurred across portions of Southern Iowa and Northeast Missouri.

A mix of rain and snow is expected to move into Western Illinois late this afternoonand early this evening. This activity will then spread across Northern and Central Illinois this evening into early tonight...then continuing overnight and into Friday morning, before ending from west to east across the aforementioned areas early to mid Friday morning. Precipitation will fall as all snow across Northern Illinois, with the rain/snow transition zone setting up across Central Illinois. Periods of moderate to heavy snow with increased snowfall rates upwards of 1"+/hour will be likely across portions of Northern and Central Illinois, early tonight into early Friday morning. Additionally, conditions will also be favorable for the occurrence of thundersnow.

Additionally, given this will be a heavy/wet snow, the weight of the snow could cause some tree damage and power line damage in the hardest hit areas, with the potentialf or some power outages

Final snowfall totals within the main axis will likely range from 4-8", with amounts quickly tapering on either side of this axis.

​Below is the snowfall forecast for this event.

JP

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