STRONG PRE-THANKSGIVING WINTER STORM...

PLEASE CONSIDER THE VALUE...TSwails.com has been far ahead of the competition in catching and forecasting the trends of our extreme weather the past few weeks. It takes a great deal of commitment, passion, and knowledge to do that. Now that I'm no longer in television, this is my job and that's the reason I'm asking for a voluntary subscription fee of $12 dollars a year, one dollar a month to keep TSwails going. Together we can create one of the best, most unique, and reliable weather sites in the Midwest. Your contribution of 3 cents a day, allows me to stay free of the corporate world and pour my energy into doing what I do best, forecasting the weather! We hope you see the value and hard work that goes into the site everyday. You support in any way is sincerely appreciated. Thanks and roll weather. To donate click on the secure green box below.

WINTER STORM UPDATE FOR HOLIDAY TRAVELERS

New models are in house for the storm that will create travels problems Tuesday night and Wednesday for the NW third of Iowa. Minnesota, and NW Wisconsin. Based on what I've seen, no major changes on track and intensity meaning much of the area that is under a watch now will be upgraded to warnings later today or tonight. That's already happened in much of Nebraska.

The NWS in the Quad Cities put this out regarding travel.

The snow kicks in Tuesday night and winds down Wednesday morning. Poor travel will likely exist much of Wednesday just just to my west where the advisories are in effect. These are the odds of at least 2" of snow by noon Wednesday..

These are some of the snowfall forecasts that are in effect from various NWS offices.

NWS Des Moines

NWS Minneapolis

NWS Green Bay

My area will be in the warm sector and rain will fall here (even some t/storms are possible) where temperatures will be significantly warmer. The only snow would be at the tail end of the storm when a few snow showers or flurries are possible. Little if any accumulation is expected.

Once this system departs, another slow moving disturbance arrives for late Thanksgiving day that will bring periods of rain and snow to the Midwest into Sunday. For my area most of the precipitation should be rain. It could start as a rain snow mix late Thanksgiving day and then change to rain by Friday. Showers are still possible Saturday but look light and scattered in my area. By Sunday snow showers are expected as colder air arrives but again little accumulation is expected in my area. Up north, a different story in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and far northern Iowa where some accumulations are expected. Too early to pin that down yet. This graphic from the NWS gives you a rough idea of the timing and precipitation type. I'll of course have regular updates as things unfold. We'll get through the initial system first.

WEATHER SCHOOL WILL SOON BE IN SESSION...

Christmas is only 1 month away. Are you looking for a special gift for that hard to buy for person? Maybe you just want to treat yourself for being on the nice list! Well, here's an idea that can "give" any weather enthusiast a lifetime of pleasure. It's called WEATHER SCHOOL. What a person experiences here will open up the world of forecasting for years of enjoyment to come. Consider giving the gift of weather. Better hurry, only 20 seats left. You can get all the details below.

TSwails.com is offering a very special and unique opportunity to learn first-hand the ins and outs of weather forecasting with one of the best meteorologists in the Midwest along with his team of expert meteorologists.

That’s right… You want to forecast right along with Terry Swails, well now you can. He’s teaching weather with TSwails newest program called WEATHER SCHOOL. The opening bell rings this January and you can be a member of the very first graduating class. The one-day forecasting seminar for weather enthusiasts will be held at his home in January. It’s not your typical run-of-the-mill school. There will be no tests, but Terry, Rebecca, and Nick will cram your head with so much knowledge, it’ll be spinning like a tornado before the day is over

You want to know the essential online sites to use for models, radar, and the basic weather tools? DONE! You want to understand the structure of models and the role they play? DONE! You want to be able to construct forecasts from the ground up? DONE!

WEATHER SCHOOL will be presented in a seminar-type format where you'll have the ability to ask questions and dig deep. You’ll get the scoop on data acquisition, model analysis, severe weather, and actual forecasting from the big dog himself, T. Swails. With 43 years of experience and an uncanny ability to break the science down, you’ll open the door to forecasting like never before.

Along with the head master T. Swails himself, meteorologists Rebecca Kopelman and Nick Stewart of KGAN TV will be there to lend their knowledge and experience to the discussion. It will be fun, informative, and factual! This is the day for you to see, feel, and experience what it’s like to be in the hot seat of a meteorologist.

The seminar will be held January 25th and will last from noon until 5:00pm. We have limited seating and the cost is $99 dollars per person. A catered lunch will be provided. Again..not a lot of seats so reservations with a pre-payment are required. Sorry, no refunds. If there’s enough interest, a second session will be added in early February. To register or get additional information send an email to carolynswettstone@yahoo.com

GIVE THE GIFT OF WEATHER. This might be the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person this Christmas. Along with a WEATHER SCHOOL admittance voucher, TSwails will send a special holiday greeting to your weather enthusiast if you give the gift of weather with the TSwails touch!

WEATHER SCHOOL AGENDA:

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Purpose: To help weather enthusiasts understand the basics of forecasting and apply the knowledge and techniques learned to construct personal forecasts.

Session 1: DATA ACQUISITION

The essential on-line sites for models, observations, satellite and radar images, and general weather data.

Session 2: ANALYSIS:

Determining your objective goals. Short term, intermediate, or long-term. Understanding the process of analysis and its relationship to forecasting.

Model options and choices. What to use and when!

The GFS, EURO, NAM 3k, NAM 12K, Canadian, HRRR, MJO, ensembles, teleconnections, etc.

Locating, learning, and knowing what’s essential to make a reliable forecast.

The art and science of model interpretation: Using and understanding model output. Its called guidance for a reason!

Learn how to analyze key parameters such as:

Surface and upper air data

Vorticity and energy

Precipitation output