2/5-7/2008 Snowstorm: Initial Estimates

[donsutherland1]

To date, Winter 2007-08 has been quite snowy across portions of the Great Lakes region into Ontario. Seasonal snowfall to date includes:

Chicago: 36.7"
Milwaukee: 52.8"
Ottawa: 100.7" (255.7 cm)*
Toronto: 37.4" (95.0 cm)

* through 2/3

All of these cities are likely to receive additional snow. Chicago, Milwaukee, and Toronto could see a significant accumulation, even as some sleet falls in Chicago and Toronto. At Toronto, the snow could cease for a time tomorrow before resuming with additional accumulations.

At this time, my estimates are as follows:

Chicago: 7"-14"
Milwaukee: 7"-14"
Ottawa: 3"-6" (7.6 cm - 15.2 cm)
Toronto: 6"-12" (15.2 cm - 30.4 cm)

[PurdueWx80]

we've had 60.3" here in Madison. after this near-record storm, we will come very close to the all-time snowiest winter, which was the season from '78-'79 with 76.1". it'll be interesting to see if we can make it to the century mark.

this has been an incredible storm to forecast (i had enough confidence in the storm to keep it in the forecast even though most of the models got rid of it for a few days). it will be even more fun to watch overnight. i think convection will miss us just to the south, but with these things i suppose you can't be certain.

[tropicana]

Luckily, we got a thaw and rainfall in the last 24 hours to melt away some of the 16-18 cm of snow that fell on Friday in this area of Toronto.... as we prepare for another snowy day tomorrow with at least 15 cm of new snow, can't wait for the morning commute to work, im so excited haaaa

But seriously i am excited, tomorrow everyone is gonna be talking about the weather woohoo. My favourite topic of conversation.
the word coming from authorites tonight: Toronto IS prepeared for this new onslaught of winter weather.
Time will tell.

-justin-

[donsutherland1]

Justin,

It still looks snowy for Toronto, but perhaps not as much as I had initially thought.
In any case, my final estimates are as follows:

Chicago: 6"-12"
Milwaukee: 7"-14"
Ottawa: 3"-6" (7.6 cm - 15.2 cm)
Toronto: 5"-10" (12.7 cm - 25.4 cm)

[ohiostorm]

The east coast has really been spared this year. Seems like the snow is staying more in the midwest.

[PurdueWx80]

we've had just over 14" so far in madison, and it's winding down in a hurry. there've been a few reports near 20" within 20-40 miles of here. this is just incredible. it'll come in as the 2nd snowiest 24-hour period ever for us.

the city is pretty much shut down

[RL3AO]

The snow keeps missing us. Minneapolis got 2 inches in all of January.

[tropicana]

It was really bad overnight in Toronto, approximately 16cm fell overnight at Pearson Airport.
There was a break indeed during the morning just light flurries, but the snow was back with a vengeance during the later afternoon and into the evening tonight. Downtown Toronto reported thunder and lightning accompanying heavy bursts of snow at around 6pm tonight and just about 15 minutes ago, very heavy snow has developed again in the area with more thunder and lightning.

-justin-

[tropicana]

Weather summary for all of southern Ontario and
The national Capital region
Issued by Environment Canada Toronto at 9:58 AM EST Thursday 7
February 2008.

The long advertised Major winter storm is now winding down. For most
areas the heavy snow has ended and for regions across eastern
Ontario the snow will be ending by midday.

The storm produced two waves of heavy snow mixed with freezing rain
and ice pellets across most of southern Ontario. The first blast of
heavy snow occured from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning and the
second wall of heavy snow occured on Wednesday afternoon to Thursday
morning. The heaviest band of snow fell in a wide swath
Stretching from Goderich to Newmarket and north to Orillia.

The following is a preliminary summary of some snowfall amounts for
the second wave of heavy snow as of 9 AM. Further down in the list
are the preliminary storm totals which combined snowfall amounts for
both snow events spanning Tuesday night to Thursday morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------

As of 9 A.M. Thursday
Snowfall amount from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning.

Location snowfall amounts (cm)

Toronto downtown 15 cm
Toronto Pearson airport 15 cm
Toronto Buttonville airport 20 cm
Toronto ec weather office 24 cm
Goderich 31 cm
Kitchener 15 cm
Aurora 20 cm
Brampton 24 cm
Balaclava (ne Owen Sound) 27 cm
Caledon 22 cm
Cookstown 25 cm
Barrie 30 cm
Orillia 40 cm
Trenton 12 cm
Cornwall 10-20 cm
Ottawa airport 3 cm
Ottawa surrounding areas up to 10 cm

_______________________________________________________________


As of 9 A.M. Thursday
Storm total for snow amounts from Tuesday night to Thursday morning

Location total snowfall amounts (cm)

Toronto downtown 25-30 cm snow plus some ice pellets
Toronto Pearson airport 33 cm
Toronto Buttonville airport 30 cm
Toronto ec weather office 32 cm
Richmond Hill 30 cm
Aurora 32 cm
Mississauga 40-50 cm
Milton 50 cm
Guelph 31 cm
Peterborough 27 cm snow and ice pellets
Barrie 30-35 cm
Orillia 40 cm
Balaclava (ne of Owen Sound) 31 cm
Sutton 35 cm
Shanty Bay (ne of Barrie) 34 cm
Trenton 16 cm snow plus some ice pellets
campbellford 34 cm
Kitchener 26 cm snow plus some ice pellets

Please note that this summary contains the observations at the time
of broadcast and does not constitute an official and final report of
the weather events or the high impact events attributed to the
weather events.

END



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[tropicana]

I did some of my own research and here is what I've found:

well the results are almost in... 24 -28 hour snowfall at Pearson of 33cm. wooo SO this does sure rank up there in terms of feb snowfall, ...
here is what ive found:-

SNOWIEST FEBRUARY DAYS EVER AT TORONTO PEARSON AIRPORT:

Feb 25 1965 39.9cm
Feb 6 2008 30.4cm* UPDATED FIGURE*
Feb 8 2001 27.2cm

Feb 21 1950 24.9cm
Feb 25 1960 23.9cm
Feb 14 1957 21.1cm
Feb 25 1939 20.3cm

Feb 6 1964 19.8cm
Feb 16 1954 19.8cm
Feb 7 1942 18.5cm
Feb 12 1985 18.2cm
Feb 3 1972 17.5cm
Feb 11 1944 17.3cm

-justin-

[donsutherland1]

Verification:

From: 2/5/2008 3:14 pm:
Chicago: 7"-14"; Actual: 4.5"; Error: 2.5"
Milwaukee: 7"-14"; Actual: 12.9"; Within range
Ottawa: 3"-6" (7.6 cm - 15.2 cm); Actual: 3.6" (9.2 cm); Within range
Toronto: 6"-12" (15.2 cm - 30.4 cm); Actual: 12.1" (30.8"); Error: 0.1"

From: 2/6/2008 1:04 am:
Chicago: 6"-12"; Actual: 4.5"; Error: 1.5"
Milwaukee: 7"-14"; Actual: 12.9"; Within range
Ottawa: 3"-6" (7.6 cm - 15.2 cm); Actual: 3.6" (9.2 cm); Within range
Toronto: 5"-10" (12.7 cm - 25.4 cm); Actual: 12.1" (30.8 cm); Error: 2.1"

Seasonal snowfall to date for the above cities is:
Chicago: 41.8"
Milwaukee: 65.7"
Ottawa: 104.8" (266.1 cm)
Toronto: 49.5" (125.8 cm)