BROOKINGS If you have travel plans this weekend, you might want to, well, make new plans ones that involve staying closer to home, or at home, period.
Theres a storm system moving into the region, and its not going to miss Brookings or the surrounding area, according to Sioux Falls-based National Weather Service meteorologist Samantha Garrett. The only real question is how much of the precipitation will fall as snow, rain, or as a mix of the two.
This weekend we are expecting snow and precipitation across the area, Garrett said. There is still a little bit of uncertainty in exactly how much precipitation is going to fall, and what type it is going to be. Up toward Brookings, its more likely that its going to be more snow than anything else (we) could see heavy snow at times up toward Brookings. (We) could also see some periods of mixed precipitation and rain.
She continued, There is some uncertainty in to where that transition line is going to set up. If you do have any travel plans this weekend into early next week, keep an eye on the forecast and be prepared to alter those plans.
Freezing rain might also be part of the picture, and the odds of that increase the farther south you are of Brookings.
Depending on where that line sets up, we cant entirely rule out that freezing rain, Garrett noted. It is a little bit more likely off to the south, say down toward Sioux Falls, maybe Sioux City, if the line sets up a little bit further south. But, again, youll definitely want to keep an eye on things for the weekend.
Brookings County Emergency Management Director Bob Hill said temperatures with this weekends forecast are predicted to be around freezing, hovering near 32 degrees.
If it is raining and the temperatures drop below that you could hit an icy patch, he said.
What if those travel plans cant be changed or, worse, theres some sort of emergency that necessitates travel in the middle of, say, a heavy snow band?
If its an absolute necessity that you have to travel you cant alter your plans or its an emergency make sure you have a preparedness kit in your car, Garrett said. Battery chargers and phone chargers, shovels, cat litter in case you get stuck, those sort of things.
Hill echoed her advice. If you are traveling, make sure that your vehicle has a winter survival kit. A shovel, extra water, blankets, a charged-up cellphone with a charger in the vehicle and food of some sort in case you get stranded some place, he said. Stay with your vehicle it is easier to find a vehicle than it is a single individual walking.
Beyond travel, the incoming storm carries other concerns as well, including the fact that any snow that falls will have a high water content. In laymans terms, that means its a heart attack snow hard to move, and hard on your body when attempting to do so by hand.
If you are out shoveling or doing any travel, this snow might be a little bit more difficult to move, Garrett cautioned. If you are doing snow removal youll want to make sure that youre wearing appropriate layers for the temperatures and that youre also taking frequent breaks as to not overexert yourself.
As the old saying goes, its better to be safe than sorry, and that applies to visits from Old Man Winter as well.
If you have the ability to go ahead and take time to prepare for winter weather conditions now, make sure that you have all of your supplies ready to go, whether that be at home or in your car, and just keep an eye on conditions, Garrett said. Make sure if you do have to travel, that youre checking road conditions before you head out and to stay safe during this winter weather.
After the storm
There is a chance the storm system could help reduce dry conditions in and around Brookings County. Garrett said that while snow totals couldnt really be nailed down as of Thursday afternoon, at least a half-inch or more of liquid-equivalent precipitation is very likely through the weekend.
Any moisture that we may receive is always welcome this time of year to help get the ground ready for spring planting, Hill said. We could get by without any ice or heavy snow, but Mother Nature controls that.
Right now, Brookings County is primarily in abnormally dry conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor that was released Thursday, with a small portion in the southeast corner in moderate drought conditions.
To the south, Moody County is primarily in moderate drought conditions while, to the west, Kingsbury County is entirely abnormally dry. Those conditions also dominate to the north in Hamlin and Deuel counties. Lake County, too, is abnormally dry.
During her interview with the Brookings Register on Thursday, Garrett also provided insights as to what awaits Brookings and the surrounding area in the weeks ahead.
Looking ahead toward the end of March and the beginning of April, looking at the Climate Prediction Centers eight- to 14-day forecast, across much of the Northern Plains were looking at favored below-normal temperatures, she noted. So, the average over that time frame would be below-normal. (It) doesnt mean we couldnt have some warmer days, but overall the trend would be colder than average.
For precipitation from the end of March to the beginning of April, (its) slightly favored for above average, Garrett continued. So, again, we might have some dry days, but overall we could see more precipitation than what is normal for this time.
Cooler temperatures with a greater chance of moisture? Well, maybe Old Man Winter will pay yet another visit during that time or, perhaps, itll merely be April showers that give way to May flowers.
Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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