WeatherFanatics: Winter Storm Blanche Continues to Bring Snow, Wind to Northern Plains and Northern New England

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Winter Storm Blanche Continues to Bring Snow, Wind to Northern Plains and Northern New England

Chris Dolce, Brian Donegan, Jonathan Erdman, Linda Lam
Published: November 29,2016
Winter Storm Blanche will continue to bring snow and strong winds to the northern Plains through Wednesday, leading to poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions at times. Blanche will also bring additional snowfall to northern Maine through Thursday.
(MORE: How Winter Storms Are Named)

Current Radar

Various winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service for parts of the northern Plains. Winter weather advisories are also in effect for portions of northern Maine.
(MORE: Winter Storm Central)

Winter Weather Alerts

Blanche brought up to 24 inches of snow to California's Sierra Nevada near the Lake Tahoe area over the weekend. The storm has also produced a foot or more of snow in parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and northern New Mexico.
The highest total from Blanche, so far, was estimated at 56 inches near Elk Mountain, Wyoming.
(LATEST NEWS: Blanche Dumps Heavy Snow in West, Northern Plains)
In the northern Plains, locally just over 20 inches of snow has piled up in North Dakota near Hannover, while South Dakota's Black Hills have seen more than a foot of snow.
The photo below shows the heavy snow that has fallen in Beulah, North Dakota. See the bottom of this article for more specific reports.

Here's a look at the winter weather we expect from Blanche across the country this week, by region.

Northern Plains Wind-Driven Snow

Blanche's surface low-pressure system has pivoted northeastward into the northern Plains. That gyre of strong, surface low pressure will remain parked in place into early Wednesday, wringing out more snow around it.
Here's a general look at the timing:

Into Wednesday Morning: Snow will persist in areas of the western and central Dakotas, while the eastern Dakotas will see a transition to all snow. A mix of rain and snow will be found across much of Minnesota and perhaps into sections of northwestern Iowa and western Wisconsin.
Wednesday: Rain will have changed to light snow in parts northern/western Minnesota and northwest Iowa, while continuing in the Dakotas. Rain may change to snow or mix with snow in eastern parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin by Wednesday night.

Wednesday's Forecast

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
The central and western Dakotas will see the greatest addional accumulations through Wednesday. Light amounts are possible in the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota.
(FORECAST: Bismarck, North Dakota | Pierre, South Dakota | Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Snowfall Forecast Through Wednesday

Strong winds wrapping around this low-pressure gyre in the northern Plains may produce near-blizzard conditions in open country, due to blowing and drifting snow, as well as falling snow, into early Wednesday.
(MORE: Yes, There is a Blizzard Alley)

Wintry Weather in Interior New England

As mentioned before, moisture associated with Blanche is interacting with sufficient cold air in interior New England to produce wintry weather there.
Pockets of freezing rain were observed early Tuesday morning in parts of western New England. Snow has been falling in Maine, as well.

Snowfall Forecast

The most significant snowfall from Blanche in the Northeast will fall in northern Maine. A foot or more of snow may pile up in two phases, with the first round continuing through early Wednesday, followed by another round Wednesday night into Thursday.

Snow Totals and Reports From Winter Storm Blanche

Snow from Blanche in the western states has been caused by a potent southward plunge of the jet stream that has pivoted through that region and into the central United States since this weekend.
The energy associated with that jet-stream dip spawned an area of surface low pressure in the Plains, where snow and gusty winds are ongoing.
Moisture from Blanche is also pushing well east of that low, producing wintry weather in interior New England through midweek, particularly in northern Maine.
Here are some of the top snow totals by state from Blanche, as of Tuesday afternoon.