While most of us experienced a cold rain yesterday, sticking snow fell as close as southern Wisconsin. There were even a few wet snowflakes in some suburbs west of the city reported. Snow in November here is nothing unusual. We average about 1.2" for the month. The first flurries usually fly on average around October 31st with the first measurable snow around November 16th. The average date of our first 1" snowfall is December 1st.
The National Weather Service office in La Crosse snapped the picture below yesterday from their webcam showing what a trace of snow looks like in November.
Snow cover nationwide has shrunk to nearly a fifth of what it was about two weeks ago. Just over 20% of the contiguous US had snow cover on October 27th and today 4.4% has snow cover.
New snow is on the way over the coming days for parts of the country including the northern Rockies and the mid-Atlantic. If you want fresh snow, here is where you need to head:
- Winter storm warnings are in effect for northern Montana with up to 2 feet possible by Saturday afternoon
- Winter storm warnings are in effect in and around Philadelphia as the latest nor'easter could dump up to 5" of snow
- A winter storm will dump up to nearly a foot of snow in northeast California and the Sierra by the end of the week
The 10 day total snowfall forecast (see above) from the European model shows snow cover will be spreading over the coming days. It even hints at some light snow here early next week. Rain on Monday may mix with and change to snow as cold air comes crashing in just as a system begins to lift out.
