Snow Spotters Unite!
A Lake Effect Snow Warning continues in progress through tomorrow afternoon for So. Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Wyoming counties and McKean Co, PA. With heavy snowfall totals expected in spots, Snow Spotters unite! Thanks to those of you who've called in your reports so far today. However, it would incredibly helpful if you would measure your snow SEVERAL times a day and keep the updates going with NWS and the media. You can think of it as eating three meals a day...breakfast, lunch and dinner...measure in the morning, afternoon and evening! This way, we have a more accurate, representative picture of who's getting what especially when we have a 2 day lake snow event in progress. Of course, Channel 4/23 has the exclusive "Snow Vision" which is a doppler-indicated estimate of snowfall across our region, but we still need your help! Thanks for your service to the community!
I encourage you to become an official snow spotter. Again, here's the URL to do so through our local National Weather Service. They will disseminate this information to the media in a timely fashion. Your help is greatly appreciated!
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/spotter_form.htm
Here's a GUIDELINE ON HOW TO MEASURE SNOW ACCURATELY:
(Courtesy of the NWS)
Most people would think that measuring snow is an easy exercise, just stick a ruler in the snow and read the measurement. However, things like snow drifts and surface characteristics (grass, soil, pavement, metal) can greatly affect snow measurements. This guide will present some standard guidelines for measuring snow:
Do not measure snow from rooftops or paved areas. A grassy surface is a good surface to measure snow. Some observers even place a cut side of a cardboard box on the ground before the snow begins. However, if you measure snow in a grassy area, clear away the snow from a small area so you can determine where the snow ends and the grass begins. You may get an inaccurate reading if you push your measuring stick to far into the grass.
Pick a location that is least affected by snow drifts. Areas against a building or fence as well as windward and leeward sides of hills and crests are poor choices. Good locations include an open, level field.
Pick a location that is least affected by excessive sunshine or shade. South-facing slopes tend to have less snow while shady locations retain snow much longer.
Average several snow measurements. The more measurements you take, the better your estimate will be.
Adjust the amount based on coverage. At least 50% of the ground must be covered to have a snow depth. Average in a zero snow depth for each bare area. i.e. (25% bare soil * zero inches) + (75% snowcover * 4 inches) = 3 inch snow depth.
Don't mistake an ice layer or crusted snow as the "ground". Be sure to push your measuring stick firmly into the snow until you are sure you have reached the top of the grass or ground.
I encourage you to become an official snow spotter. Again, here's the URL to do so through our local National Weather Service. They will disseminate this information to the media in a timely fashion. Your help is greatly appreciated!
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/buf/spotter_form.htm
Here's a GUIDELINE ON HOW TO MEASURE SNOW ACCURATELY:
(Courtesy of the NWS)
Most people would think that measuring snow is an easy exercise, just stick a ruler in the snow and read the measurement. However, things like snow drifts and surface characteristics (grass, soil, pavement, metal) can greatly affect snow measurements. This guide will present some standard guidelines for measuring snow:
Do not measure snow from rooftops or paved areas. A grassy surface is a good surface to measure snow. Some observers even place a cut side of a cardboard box on the ground before the snow begins. However, if you measure snow in a grassy area, clear away the snow from a small area so you can determine where the snow ends and the grass begins. You may get an inaccurate reading if you push your measuring stick to far into the grass.
Pick a location that is least affected by snow drifts. Areas against a building or fence as well as windward and leeward sides of hills and crests are poor choices. Good locations include an open, level field.
Pick a location that is least affected by excessive sunshine or shade. South-facing slopes tend to have less snow while shady locations retain snow much longer.
Average several snow measurements. The more measurements you take, the better your estimate will be.
Adjust the amount based on coverage. At least 50% of the ground must be covered to have a snow depth. Average in a zero snow depth for each bare area. i.e. (25% bare soil * zero inches) + (75% snowcover * 4 inches) = 3 inch snow depth.
Don't mistake an ice layer or crusted snow as the "ground". Be sure to push your measuring stick firmly into the snow until you are sure you have reached the top of the grass or ground.
posted by Mary Beth Wrobel at
8:18 PM
10 Comments:
Hey i just have a question on what im going to see tonight as far as snow. When i dont watch Dons forcast i go online to www.noaa.com according to them they said Eden can see a possible 3-5 inches. Now looking at the radar it seems the lake effect in setting up in two differnt bands one north of Eden and the other south. Is there going to be any strenghting in lake Effect snows?
Now that's a thorough and easy to understand lesson in "snow spotting"! Thanks Mary Beth. Jus curious, how many snow/weather spotters do you and Don Paul have associated with the station and the NWS? Keep up the good work News 4!
Lancaster Lenny
Aaron,
In a NW flow, we generally get multiple, changing bands over WNY, with some occasional drifting of each band north or south.
That NWS Eden forecast you accessed is a digital product from computers with some human input. It's largely automated. But that's probably not a bad estimate for Eden.
lancaster lenny,
I'm not sure how many we have or the NWS has. Some serve both the NWS and Ch 4.
Because people have other things to do besides measure snow, sometimes we don't hear from many spotters during a given weather event. Other times, the reports come in in much greater numbers and with more regularity.
Don,
Currently at 7 inches in the most southwest corner wyoming county in he town of Arcade...
Considerable blowing and drifting but roads are getting down to bear pavement except in the open areas...
Don, MB, and Lindsay
Perhaps Lake Effect is keeping you busy, but when you have a chance, I would look forward to hearing about your analysis of the possible upcoming pattern change (zonal flow). Are we leaving the short-lived NAO negative pattern and returning to our mild winter or are we taking a few day break...
Are the models conclusive about this yet?
Looking forward to your thoughts-Matt
when is the metro area expected to get snow?
Matt--it won't be a "steady-state" warmup, but the weak negative trend in the NAO looks to be leaving us, and the PNA goes away as well. In general, a pattern flip--with a few cool "kinks" in it.
Mary Beth im a snow spotter in derby, in the form givin out by the NWS they reccomend not to measure snow on grass because its too uneven. Also they reccomend pavement only under conditions were melting does not occur. Best bet is a snow board. You can place it where you know the least amt of melting and drifting will be, plus you can clear it off at the end of the day to measure new snow fall totals.
Yes, yes, Jason! What you wrote is good stuff. Thanks a bunch! If you look back at my original post on snowfall measurement, you'll see that info on the board listed. The instructions are courtesy of the National Weather Service. And thank you, thank you, Jason, for your snow spotter service to the WNY community! :-)
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