Saturday afternoon update on tonight's #memsnow

Updates at 3:45pm are highlighted.

The Arctic front has moved through the entire metro - and wasn't it a doozy? Temperatures were near 60° at 11:30am and now are in the lower to mid 40s (as of 2pm) with northwest wind routinely gusting to 30-35 mph. Memphis International recorded a 49 mph wind gust as the front passed.

Temperatures at noon Saturday clearly show the position of the Arctic front. (WxBell)

Behind the front, spotty light rain is occurring this afternoon as temperatures fall. The final "kicker," an upper level disturbance, will graze the area to our north later today, bringing with it one more defined round of precipitation. Temperatures near the surface and aloft will continue cooling, allowing that precipitation to fall as light snow this evening.

HRRR model forecast radar through 11pm shows the round of precip falling as snow in the metro and points north this evening. (WeatherModels.com)

As far as amounts, impacts and timing, here's what we expect:

How much: a trace (over north MS) to 1/2" (Tipton County). That leaves most of us with a dusting  to 1/4" on cold exposed surfaces, mulch beds, etc. A bit of sleet is also possible as rain transitions to snow.

The NWS forecast from late Saturday morning of projected snowfall totals. Minor accumulation is possible roughly north of I-40. 

[Updated] When: Light snow or sleet could begin mixing with the rain by 3-4pm in Tipton County and 4-5pm in north MS, becoming all snow by 5-6pm, and ending by 7-9pm. It won't last long.

Impacts: Mostly just pretty! A brief burst of steady snow is probable between 4-6pm for an hour or so before tapering off. I'm sure it'll be delightful to look at. Roads will still be warm and wet, so they should not be a major issue. Use caution on elevated roadways in the metro and rural roads to the north, especially Tipton County. I don't expect huge problems, but just be mindful. Here is the NWS statement:

Confidence: High. Light snow is expected for most of the metro, timing is fairly well locked in, and amounts are agreed on by the vast majority of our model data, including most of the members of the model ensembles, which just means the models are run over and over and the results are all pretty well in line. Meteorologists use this ensemble data to gauge confidence in the forecast and see what the potential is from the "outliers." In this case, well over 80% of all of the available data likes the forecast above.

On Sunday morning, temperatures will be in the mid 20s with wind chills well down into the teens - a major departure from 24 hours previous when temperatures were about 55°! The wind will help dry streets overnight, but again, be cautious on the elevated overpasses and roads as the rain from today could freeze in spots overnight. That results in black ice.

Will this be our only chance this winter? In short - no. See our recent blog that described how cold air will dominate the weather pattern for perhaps as much as the next 4-6 weeks. There are a couple more systems just in the next week or so that will need to be monitored. No major storms on the horizon, but in this pattern, you just never know! Keep an eye on the MWN Forecast (linked below or in the app) for the latest.

Be safe and enjoy!

Erik Proseus
MWN Meteorologist

----
Follow MWN on Facebook and Twitter for routine updates and the latest info!
Complete MWN Forecast: MemphisWeather.net on the mobile web or via the MWN mobile app
Download our iPhone or Android apps, featuring StormWatch+ severe weather alerts!

MWN is a NOAA Weather Ready Nation Ambassador

Meteorologist Erik Proseus is an NWA Digital Seal Holder