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Only three weeks after a "cyclone bomb" – one of the most intense storms ever recorded – Hit the plains and the Midwest, another bomb cyclone of similar strength was planned. This spring storm seems to be about to dump even heavier snow; it could also be followed by a new wave of major floods.
In the past few days, various computer models of forecasting have shown an epic-sized snowstorm for the Central-North Plain and Upper Midwest states. Whenever a model is updated, the described storm seems to become even more intense. At this point, it seems likely that some of the same areas affected by devastating floods only a few weeks ago will be hit by a historic blizzard from Wednesday to Friday.
As of Monday night, the storm system was in the Pacific Northwest and was moving through the Rockies where it is expected to pour heavy snow Tuesday into the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado.
CBS News
The storm will intensify when it enters the central region of the Great Plains on Wednesday. Barometric pressure – a measure of intensity in which low means stronger – can drop to levels almost as low as when setting the record cyclone bomb mid-March. In fact, this storm could set or set low-pressure records in April.
As the storm intensifies, it will result in thick moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to the north during a collision, with temperatures below the freezing point north of the system. It is expected that it will slow down at that time and could even stagnate for 24 hours. This would mean a prolonged period of heavy snow, gusting winds at 70 mph and near-zero visibility in Nebraska, South Dakota, northern Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin from Wednesday to Friday.
CBS News
The latest computer models highlight the strongest group of snow from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, via Minneapolis, east to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Snow totals can be huge, with some models showing more than 30 inches in some areas.
Although it is not out of the question, snow falls of more than 30 inches are less plausible at any time, but especially as late in the season. In fact, in the milder spring air, the snow tends to be heavier, wetter and more compacted. Nevertheless, a narrow band of two feet seems well within reach.
By comparison, the biggest snowfall in Minneapolis was the Halloween Blizzard of 1991, when 28 inches had accumulated. The second largest snowfall was 21 inches in November 1985.
It was not a coincidence that the two biggest snows were not in full winter. Indeed, in the middle of winter, the atmosphere is often too cold and dry in the Upper Midwest to withstand the heaviest snowfall. In fact, 15 of the 20 largest totals of snow occurred outside of winter. But in the fall and spring, the atmosphere is loaded with more moisture, giving more credence to the possibility that springtime blockbusters dominate the charts.
Regardless of the amount of snow, it seems certain that large quantities of water will be removed from the air – a liquid equivalent of two to four inches. Once the snow melts this weekend, the flooded rivers of the Upper Plains and Midwest would be spilled.
Sunday night, dozens of gauges located along the Mississippi, Big Sioux and James were in major or moderate flood. Floods have largely subsided along the Missouri River.
Since January 1st, this part of the country has experienced about twice its normal rainfall. With saturated soil, melting snow may converge on rivers in the area. With this in mind, NOAA has released a rare and well-formulated spring perspective, calling for potentially historic floods. Ed Clark, director of the NOAA's National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, explained, "The flood season is potentially unprecedented, with more than 200 million people at risk of extinction. Flood in their communities. "
Thus, when the blizzard is over, it will be necessary to pay attention to snowmelt and runoff. It is unclear how much the floods will become, but considering the warning signs, it is certainly a problem to watch closely.
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