Utah Verification Matt “The Doctor” RayJeremy “Vincent” GeigerKyle “Mr. Brandt” Borchert

Supervised by: Fred “The Ewall” Gadomski

Synoptic Scenario (Nice Sound Bite Using Alliteration)

18z

12z

3z

12z GFS, as told by “The Doctor”

UCAR Archived Radars

UCAR Archived Radars

The Importance of Geography It doesn’t take much for mountains to get 12”+ snow events

Wasatch Range/Uinta Mountains

Zones By Topography

Categories “Ruled Out” Freezing Rain/Drizzle (9) ; Sleet (10) ;

Icestorm (11) ; Blowing Dust (14) ; Smoke (16) ; Extreme Chill (19) ; Nuisance Flood (21) ; Flash Flood (22) ; Stream Flood (23) ; River Flood (24) ; Thunderstorm (26) ; Severe Thunderstorm (27)

The Snow Verification Mess No CoCoRaHS… Joe and Sally live in valleys… Left to look at random ski resorts,

SNOTEL, and few Mesonet obs Speaking of SNOTEL…

“Flurries” Verification Zones: 1-4, 6-12, 14-16, 517, 518, 23,

24

“Snow Shower” Verification Zones: 3, 4, 6-11, 14-16, 517, 518, 23

“Light Snow” Verification Zones: 6-10, 14-16, 517, 518, 23

“Moderate Snow” Verification Zones: 6-10, 14, 15, 517, 518

“Heavy Snow” Verification Zones: 7, 8, 10

“Very Heavy Snow” Verification Zones: 7, 8

Newly “Ruled Outs” Snow Squall (3), Blizzard (8), Severe

Winds (13), Blowing/Drifting Snow (15)

“High Winds” Verification Zones: 14, 16, 517, 19, 21, 22, 25, 28,

29

“Dense Fog” Verification Zones: 6-9, 12, 16, 518, 24

“Wind Chill” Verification Zone: 9

“Freeze/Frost” Verification Zones: 1-16, 517, 518, 20, 23-29

“Lightning” Verification Zones: 518, 25, 29

“0.25 Inches Or Greater Liquid Equivalent” Verification Zones: 3, 6-10, 13-16, 517, 518, 27, 28

“Temperatures 50F or Greater” Verification Zones: 3, 4, 10, 13-16, 518, 19-22, 25,

27, 29

Lessons Learned Behind a cold front, there can be a “lag”

in gusty winds Four lows in the four corners! The same storm system that brought

mountains over a foot of snow, can bring nothing to places like the salt flats Geography is REALLY important

Dense fog is difficult to verify given lack of obs.

A Question For “Ewall” Himself Did somebody say “Cocktail Party

Trivia?”

Next Slide…