By Rod Hill on 2011-02-17
Many areas reported large, beautiful silver dollar size snowflakes this morning. The large flakes are possible when the surface temperatures are near and above freezing. This morning, temperatures around the area were mostly 31 -35 degrees when the snow was falling. What we saw were not individual flakes, but numerous snowflakes bonded together. When snowflakes fall into near and above freezing temperatures, they melt, coating themselves with liquid. This process allows multiple snowflakes to stick or bond together, creating what looks to be a single silver dollar size perfect snowflake! As temperatures get colder, falling flakes become small and granular in appearance. Remember, drier air temperatures hold less water and warmer temperatures hold larger quantities of water vapor. The warm temperatures today, also allowed rapid accumulation of 1-2" in higher elevations near and above 500 feet. Temperatures through Friday morning will be near freezing at times, meaning we could see more large flakes falling from the sky.
I am tracking the potential of much colder air next Monday - Wednesday. Forecast charts are not in agreement, so forecast confidence is low. Also, I am wathcing the potential of valley snow this coming Sunday morning. Please keep updated.
What to expect in the coming days