ICAP Weather Commentary
Friday March 19, 2010
Prepared by: Andy Weingarten, Meteorologist ICAP Energy
**Big late season winter storm in the Plains will weaken as it heads east.**
A classic late winter storm in the Rockies will come out into the Plains this weekend. Winter storm watches cover parts of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Denver will see some heavy snow today then places like Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Kansas City see measurable snow Saturday. Flurries may go south to Dallas. An impressive cold for late March is generated underneath this system, but will quickly weaken as it heads east. While it will cool some farther east after several days near 70, this will be a near normal air mass by the time it gets there. The cold front should generate some rain though as it heads east of the Mississippi early next week. The coolest anomalies by far this period are over the central and southern plains with most of the rest of the country near to above normal. The west is quiet a couple of more days before a weak front invades the PNW on Sunday.
Day 6-10 discussion:
A similar pattern to the 1-5 day sets up in the 6-10 only the features are weaker. A more modest system comes out of the Rockies into the Plains so it likely won't be cold enough for snowfall this time. Less moisture is available and a weaker temperature contrast exists as the cold air stays north of the border. I should point out though the models indicate a pretty impressive shot of cold over central Canada later next week. It needs to be watched for signs of coming south, but I think we are too late in the season for it now. I see most temperatures pretty close to normal this period other than a small warm bias remaining out west. A third Rockies to Central Plains system may emerge late in the period.
Andy Weingarten, Meteorologist
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