Good morning everyone! Radar is pretty inactive this morning for most of the region. However, there are a few scattered bursts of snow in far northwestern NE as of 8:05am CST, but should work to the northeast and out of the state in the next few hours. This won’t be the end of the snow risks across the region, however, as another system working in will bring an additional round of accumulating snow, especially northeast, later today through Sunday night. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Advisories out ahead of this incoming threat across northeastern NE, the eastern half of KS and much of IA/MO. The Winter Weather Advisories for southeastern KS and southern MO are more for the potential of light freezing rain rather than snow; Something to keep in mind.
Our next system quickly follows this afternoon into the night with scattered snow showers breaking out across eastern KS around the lunch hour and spreading north and eastward into western MO and a majority of NE through 6pm EST. Heading into the overnight hours, snow coverage will expand and lift further north into eastern NE and all of IA while scattered rain/snow chances will be more dominant in KS/MO. As previously mentioned, watch for some freezing rain to mix in at times in southeastern KS into southern MN tonight. By Sunday morning, the bulk of the precipitation will have since exited KS while also continuing to work eastward across MO. To the north, a swath of lighter snows will have positioned itself across northern/northeastern NE into IA.
During the day Sunday, the greatest threat for snow will reside within the northern tier of the region as a ribbon of energy will be sprawled out across the area. This energy will promote the continuation of an axis of light snow within the circled region below through the day Sunday into Sunday night. The snows aren’t expected to be too overly heavy, but given the persistent, lighter nature of it, accumulations will slowly add up. This energy will fade push eastward as Sunday night progresses with only flurry activity remaining in these areas come Monday morning.
Simulated radar from 12pm CST Sunday through 6pm CST Monday: Given the ribbon of upper-level energy persisting across northern/northeastern NE into IA Sunday afternoon into most of Sunday night, light snows will remain likely, though will be gradually weakening and fading in coverage through Sunday night with only light flurries remaining by Monday morning. Most of KS/MO will be dry Sunday afternoon through Sunday night with some light snows clipping the far northern portions of MO at times. Given the elongated timespan of which these snows will occur in the north, snow-covered and slick road conditions will linger. Nearing the end of this loop through the day Monday, watch for another pulse of snow showers, this time entering western KS and lifting northeastward into NE. This pulse should remain on the lighter side and can bring 1-3″ of snow to some areas.
Latest thoughts regarding snowfall from this afternoon through Sunday night: The heaviest totals will reside over the northern portions of the region where a band of 3-6″ of snow is likely (across northeastern NE into IA). A stripe of 6-9″ of snow also extends into far northeastern NE and into northwestern/central IA. Snows of 1-3″ extends southward towards the North Platte area and into Kansas City while also trending less the further south you head from there. As mentioned earlier, the snows won’t be too necessarily heavy and will come over a long duration, so a slower, steadier snow should be anticipated that adds up accumulations over time.
Some additional minor freezing rain is likely tonight across southeastern KS into southern MN that will result in ice accretion generally around 0.05″ or less. This won’t be too overly widespread and should remain scattered in nature, but a risk to highlight never-the-less. Even if not much in the way of snow falls in these areas, the freezing rain will make for hazardous road conditions.
Beyond this system, we’re eyeing another potential snowmaker across the heart of the area Tuesday into Wednesday as shown by the simulation below. Another round of rain is looking more likely in southeastern MO, but the track and intensity of this system will still need to be ironed out over the next few days. Regardless, this is one of our targeted storm dates and bears watching as several inches of snow will be possible in the cold sector of the storm.
Here’s a look at total precipitation over the next 7 days: Most will observe liquid amounts ranging between 0.25-0.75″ with potentially higher amounts in southeastern MO pending mid-next week’s system. Our active pattern across the region looks to continue through the coming week.
High temperatures over the next four days:
Low temperatures over the next four mornings:
Wind forecast over the next four days:
High/low temperatures over the next 10 days for Des Moines, Lincoln, Salina and Columbia:
If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out! Have a great weekend!