In class today, I was telling students what to expect on the big genetics exam on Wednesday. I got an unexpected question: “What if we get 6-12 inches of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday?” I thought they were teasing me, no way I have to worry about that, look at the skies outside right now!
Another potent Spring Storm is on tap to arrive on Tuesday lasting into Wednesday with heavy snow expected for much of central Minnesota. The system will arrive in western Minnesota by Tuesday morning with a band of heavy snow expected to begin by the afternoon continuing overnight as the system pushes eastwards. Snow quality is expected to be on the heavier, slushier side as snow ratios favor below 10 to 1. An influx of mid level warm air could also lead to a wintry mix at times, with widespread rain to the south of the main band of snowfall. Snow will diminish by Wednesday afternoon as the system continues into the Great Lakes region. A broad area of 6 or more inches of snow is expected for parts of central Minnesota, with high end amounts potentially reaching the double digits. Ice accumulations should generally remain a glaze to a few hundredths at the most.
How dare Midwestern skies disrupt my curriculum! If it’s really bad, I’ll have to postpone my exam to Monday, which makes a mess of my plans, but I do want my students to survive winter. Even if it’s winter in April.
We got (again) the bottom end of one of those huge widespread multiday storm events yesterday. Spun up a few tornado warnings, one uncomfortably close just west of me, but the energy dropped out of the whole bow signature just before it went over me, thankfully. Watching it nervously on radar I was amazed how much it weakened. Had my full attention up to that point though. Tornado warnings are stressful.
PZ wrote: Even if it’s winter in April.
I reply: We see the instability of weather patterns as symptoms of climate change. (I’m still looking for meteorological stats to support the anomalous weather). One thing that seems to be rather unanimous is that this is, at least in a significant part, the result of massive human injection of pollutants, especially from fossil fuel sources. However, you will never see the corporate main slime media making any mention of the mump pushed recent increase in our addiction to fossil fuels and the resultant pollution of all of our environment.
Martha and the Vandellas: nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide.
@1 Hemidactylus wrote: Tornado warnings are stressful.
I reply: Of course they are. However, I have read that, likely because of cuts to resources by the mump cult, there are areas where the tornado warnings are not happening with enough advance notice, or not at all. Stay as safe as you can.
Cue Martha and the Vandellas again.
That’s a big storm, we’re expecting a bit of it in southern Alberta.
Here in Victoria B.C., after a few predicted showers today and a possible evening thundershower, it’s forecast to be sunny, with temps in the mid to high teens Celsius, for the next 5 days. Right now it’s sunny and 11 C.
We have a decent University here, too. Come to think of it, we have two of them, and another college.
Just sayin’,
When I saw the title of this post, I immediately thought of the 1951 science fiction/horror movie, The Thing from Another World, which ends with the exhortation to “watch the skies”, presumably in case there’s an invasion from outer space coming shortly. 8-).
Sure wish it would rain here in the Adelaide hills. As an amateur astronomer I watch ther skies quite a lot and usully appreciate clear skies for that reason but right now with the bushland and gardens all so horribly dry some rain clouds would just be so extremely very welcome. There’s none forecast..
@ 6 billseymour
I’d suggest you just got the reference.
We had a cyclone here in South-East Queensland (Australia’s Florida – sort of).
https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/news/tropical-cyclone-alfred-march-2025
Lost power and internet for a couple of days – even on the phone. Only text still worked. But no significant property damage and it didn’t make landfall (as predicted) but dissipated while still at sea.
A few months ago here in Canada’s capital, we had 12-16 inches of snow, about 72 hours after getting another 12-16 inches of snow. This past weekend we had freezing rain forecast for Saturday, with more freezing rain forecast for Sunday, and we have another freezing rain alert for Wednesday morning.
Memories of the April Fools’ Day storm a few years back here in New England. I was actually in Key West on vacation. Sitting at a bar (as one does in Key West) I noticed “Framingham” on the TV chryon. After a self satisfied chuckle at missing out on the fun, returned to whatever it was I was doing. Problem was upon return to NE to find a good inch of solid ice on all the decks and walkways of my house. Much sand, and wait for thaw!