We’re headed to the end of 2020, finally, and getting ready to welcome 2021 to the scene. Hopefully it goes better than 2020.

Road Trip – Fresno, California to Tucson, Arizona

Billings, Montana

Brunswick, Georgia

Road Trip from Lincoln, Nebraska to Kansas City, Missouri

I think we will be able to hit all these spots before the end of the year. Recent pacing might leave one suspect, but I’m sure going to try.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Akron, Ohio

Bakersfield, California

Fresno, California

After a pretty light stretch of forecasts (which is ok, given the late activity in the tropics) we’ll pick up the pace a bit for the next few days.

Road trip from Yuba City, California to Abilene, Texas

Tucson, Arizona
Road Trip from Atlanta, Georgia to Tucson

Owensboro, Kentucky
Road Trip from Tucson to Owensboro

I94 WB at exit 201 (Albertville) is closed due to several crashes on I94 near Monticello, a semi is reported on fire – drv is ok. Use alternate routes and drive w/caution on snow covered roads & buckle up. https://t.co/UtVIO3kuBr pic.twitter.com/nFdhh9R2tP

— Sgt. Jesse Grabow (@MSPPIO_NW) November 12, 2020

Today, a narrow band of snow swept through the Twin Cities. At one point, the wind and heavy downburst of snow brought I-94 northwest of Minneapolis to a close thanks to a multi-vehicle accident. The Weather Service then issued a snow squall warning, but what is a snow squall, exactly?

In laymen’s terms, I would describe it as something similar to a severe thunderstorm, where the precipitation isn’t necessarily the most noticeable feature to the storm. In the northwest Twin Cities metro, for example, there were 40-50mph winds associated with the quick burst of snow. Buffalo, Minnesota reported 2.5 inches of snow in 90 minutes.

That’s another thing about a snow squall. The “squall” is important, because it is akin to a squall line, as with thunderstorms. There is a leading edge, and a well defined end, particularly as the storm is at it’s strongest. Instead of a bloated mass of snow showers you get with a typical winter storm, it’s a quick, intense line.

The primary impetus for the National Weather Service issuing a snow squall warning is the reduction in visibility, such as was the case in the accident seen above. The strong winds and heavy snow lead to white out conditions, in which visibility is at or near zero. They are targeted like a thunderstorm or tornado warning, to a very specific part of the storm, even if the entire line stretches for a longer distance.

This was Minnesota’s first ever issuance of a snow squall warning. They more frequently appear east of the Great Lakes, and are quite the curiousity in Minnesota.

All right, so this is definitely going to be a light stretch for forecasts, but given the rapid transition to winter time, there should be plenty to talk about!

Road Trip from Buffalo New York to Florence, South Carolina

Halloween should be the scariest thing this time of year, between COVID and the election, I’m not sure that will be the case. Hopefully, aside from Delta, the weather won’t be added to the list of scary things this autumn.

Kingston, New York

Santa Rosa, California

Wenatchee, Washington
Road Trip from Santa Rosa to Wenatchee

Hanford, California
Road Trip from Champaign, Illinois to Hanford

After a pretty light stretch, we’re going to come back with forecasting, curiously heavy in references to Washington and Indiana.

Bellingham, Washington
Road Trip from Michigan City, Indiana to Bellingham

Atlanta, Georgia
Road Trip from Terre Haute, Indiana to Atlanta

Road Trip from Atlanta to Olympia, Washington

All right, no more grandiose promises. I’m just not available as much at home with kids all the time! Hopefully I’ll find some more time soon.

Las Cruces, New Mexico

We’re headed towards a busy stretch of forecasting, and we’ll see a lot of the country as well, which will provide us a good look at the country as a whole. I think it could be fun!

Napa, California
Road Trip from Lewiston, Maine to Napa

Road Trip from Napa to Cumberland, Maryland

Durham, North Caorolina
Road Trip from Cumberland to Durham

Wheeling, West Virginia

Bay City, Michigan

Louisville, Kentucky

Santa Barbara, California

Here we are, in the middle of road tripping season, and I think there are several people eager to get out on the open road. Let’s move around the country here in July.

Road Trip from Longview, Texas to Fargo, North Dakota

Road Trip from Kennewick, Washington to Greenville, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina
Road Trip from Greenville to Fayetteville

Road Trip from Gadsden, Alabama to Reno, Nevada