Record Heat for the Intermountain West and Northern Plains; Heavy Rainfall and Severe Weather Threats

Record setting heat is expected over the next several days from the Intermountain West through the northern Plains. Furthermore, fire weather concerns increase with dry and breezy conditions. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorm threats for the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys, central Appalachians and Southeast today. The threat shifts to central Gulf Coast and across central Texas this week. Read More >

Freezing Drizzle Explained

There is a very small margin of error in determining primarily light snow vs. light freezing drizzle for forecasters. However, the difference in impacts between these two precipitation types is often significant, with freezing drizzle prone to quickly cause slick surfaces, even with only trace amounts.

An 8 am model analysis sounding near Romeoville, IL, indicating a saturated layer that was within temperatures close to both flurries/snow grains and supercooled liquid for freezing drizzle.

Radar loop and observations during from 9 pm January 23 through 12 pm January 24. A gradual expansion in light echoes occurs during the overnight/early morning of the 24th. There are some embedded heavier echoes that are likely light freezing rain showers. As an indication of that, NWS Chicago recorded 0.05" of liquid during the morning of January 24.

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Record Heat for the Intermountain West and Northern Plains; Heavy Rainfall and Severe Weather Threats

January 24, 2018: Freezing Drizzle Event