Another Winter Storm

Snow Accumulations 

Sunday will be the first day of March, which marks the beginning of meteorological spring, however, we will be dealing with another winter storm. Snow will overspread the region late tonight and continue into the afternoon Sunday. There may be a lull in the precipitation on Sunday, followed by another burst of snow. Total accumulations along and north of I-70 will range from 4-8" and 1-4" south of I-70. In Southern Ohio, rain will mix in at times during the afternoon which will cut down on snow totals. If the rain/snow line shifts north or south by ~25-50 miles, then you will need to adjust the snowfall forecasts accordingly.

Flooding Potential

There will be a storm system that makes its way into the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. We will spike into the 40's and 50's and get soaked with heavy rain. The precipitation may start off as some wintry mix, but will quickly transition to rain with some isolated thunder even a possibility. A couple of inches of rain could fall across a large portion of the State and with a melting snow pack, flooding will be a concern. The ground is essentially frozen solid from our stretch of record setting cold and that means any rain that falls will be 100% run-off. Another factor will be possible ice jams on rivers and creeks as the water rises and breaks up the ice. Finally, storm drains could be clogged with snow and ice leading to localized flooding on roadways. This rain event will create a big mess in the area and could be very dangerous for people who live in flood prone areas. Stay up to date on the latest from that storm system. 

Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are currently over 86% ice covered and nearing the peak date from last year. In 2014, the Lakes peaked over 92% coverage on March 9, and marked the second highest ice cover ever recorded. With another week of very cold air over the Great Lakes, it is possible that we surpass last years max and make a run at the all-time record. During the second week of March, ice should slowly begin to diminish with more frequent warm periods. *There were reports of chunks of ice still floating on Lake Superior all the way into early June last year and it could be the same situation this year!!