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Snow is on the way
How much is not that clear
Nathan Payne, City/Living Editor
Posted 2/8/13
Meteorologists say that Gillette likely will see some snow Saturday, the only problem is that none of them agree on how much.
Somebody perusing online forecasts from the National Weather Service, the Weather Channel, Weather Underground and Accuweather will come away believing that forecasts are nothing more than an educated guess.
Computer models used by the National Weather Service show that a storm that came onshore Friday morning in California will cross northeastern Wyoming. And it predicts that Gillette likely will see more than four inches of snow, according to Meteorologist Melissa Smith for the National Weather Service in Rapid City, S.D.
But, beyond that, there are no certainties.
“It looks like the way the storm is moving, the Gillette area could see over six inches of snow as well as strong northwest winds,” she said. “A band of heavy snow will fall over Campbell County and over other portions of northeast Wyoming. Whether or not it is going to be in Gillette is hard to say.”
In fact, the snow will have to start falling before forecasters really know where the heaviest blanket will lay.
“It has to start falling because what we typically see is a band of snow that is maybe 20 to 50 miles wide,” Smith said. “Right now, the storm that is going to hit us is still over the Pacific Ocean.”
That said, here are some of the predictions:
National Weather Service
When: The snow will begin Saturday morning or early afternoon and will continue through Sunday evening. It will give way to wind that will cause hazardous road conditions.
How much: Snowfall totals will range from about 4 inches to more than a foot. In Gillette that range could be more than 6 inches.
Weather Channel
When: Snow could begin to fall by 7 a.m. Saturday and there will be a 50 percent chance of snow through Sunday.
How much: About an inch of snow is expected Saturday and 2 to 4 inches of snow is predicted to fall overnight that night.
Accuweather
When: No snow until Sunday.
How much: Temperatures will fall into the day Saturday and there will be “a little snow” Sunday.
Weather Underground
When: Snow could begin overnight Friday and will continue through Sunday.
How much: There is a 20 percent chance of snow overnight, then 70 percent chance of snow Saturday and 60 percent chance Sunday.