NOTHING LIKE A CHALLENGE...

terryswails1
Dec 12, 2019
6 min read

CONSIDER THE VALUE PLEASE...TSwails.com continues to be a leader in catching and forecasting the trends of our extreme weather pattern the past few weeks. It takes a great deal of commitment, passion, and knowledge to stay on top of the swings. 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. Your support in any way is sincerely appreciated. Thanks and roll weather. To donate click on the secure green box below.

THURSDAY'S FEATURE POST:

Wednesday was another cold day following a clipper that dumped up to 2 inches of fluffy snow on parts of my area Tuesday night. Here's some of the snowfall reports in my area.

Here's a broader perspective. About what was expected out of the fast moving system.

These are reported snow depths Wednesday morning.

This is the accumulated snowfall for the season so far. These are pretty impressive numbers, especially over the upper Midwest.

The next system is going to track north and should have minimal impacts on my area the next 24-48 hours aside from warmer temperatures. Some light snow could develop tomorrow afternoon north of HWY 20 but little if anything is anticipated further south. Here's the various snowfall forecasts.Good consistency in the fact the heavier snows fall in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The EURO

The GFS

With the northerly track temperatures in my area Thursday will be warmer with highs 35-42 from north to south. After this system departs, some models (mainly the GFS) bring a chance of some light snow to SE Iowa, (especially south of I-80) late Friday night/early Saturday. I have little confidence in this and don't see it being a concern. The big question is what happens Monday?

The GFS has a significant storm with several inches of snow. The model has this for accumulations.

The EURO is not as amplified and much further south and for now shows a black hole deprived of snow where the GFS has an abundance of it. What a difference!

This model battle has been going on for several days with neither camp willing to give much ground. For now I like a solution that is further south keeping the heavier accumulations over extreme SE Iowa, N. Missouri, and C. Illinois (certainly closer to the EURO). With the discrepancy in models this is a low confidence forecast and it will be at least 24 to 48 hours before we have a good handle on how this plays out. As consistent as the GFS has been I really hate to go against the EURO and I think it will end up closer to reality...as much as it pains me to say it. Nothing like a challenge!

I'll have much more on the trends as data gets better sampled later Thursday and Friday. Until then, roll weather...TS

WEATHER SCHOOL IS COMING TO TOWN...

GIVE SANTA A BREAK! Christmas is less than a month away. Are you looking for something special 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 and learns here will open up the world of forecasting for years of enjoyment to come. Consider giving the gift of weather. Better hurry, only 8 desks still open. 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