More snow?

Here we go again - another forecast with snow in our immediate future. If you're a loyal reader of the blog you know that I blog more about the weather than I do about our life. It is an illness, I know. I would have seriously studied atmospheric science had it not been for the requirements of organic chemistry and lots of calculus! So instead, now I just blog out interesting impending weather. I really hope we see something pretty tomorrow - I want to take my new camera out and blog pictures (they're more fun than reading I'm sure)!

WRAL's headline, "Measurable snow possible"

Here's the latest advisory from the NWS:
"The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a Winter Storm
Watch... which is in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday
afternoon.

Precipitation is expected to overspread central North Carolina
during the day on Saturday. As it does so... much colder air will
spread into the area from the west. The airmass appears to be cold
enough at the onset of the event Saturday morning for most of the
precipitation to fall as snow across the western Piedmont. Further
east toward the northern Piedmont and northeast coastal plain... the
precipitation will likely start out as a cold rain Saturday morning
but should change over to snow during the late morning or early
afternoon.

Snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible... which could
cause significant impacts to travel.

Some uncertainty still exists with this event. The exact track of
the surface low and the timing of the colder air will ultimately
determine the snowfall accumulation potential.

A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant
snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel."

Snow from last January... (1/18/06)

Today's headline, "Snow turns to rain across the Triangle"

Boo. We got like 3 seconds of snow, 30 minutes of sleet and hours of rain. Well, not exactly "boo" on the rain; we need it, like really, really need it. It's been hovering around 35 degrees ALL day with a persistent drizzle. Seriously, why couldn't we get a little more snow!? I was looking forward to a snow day at home where I could take pictures and blog them from the comfort of my living room and in my PJs. I shouldn't complain too much, work was delayed 2 hours!

This was about the extent of it (photo from WRAL):

Snow? Is coming?

My office has already been delayed until 10am - wooooooooo! Come on snow! The 'rents in Atlanta have already seen some of the white stuff :)

Current advisory (emphasis my own):

... Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 4 am to 12 PM
EST Thursday...

Confidence continues to increase that there will be a period of
mixed light snow and sleet over the region late tonight... before
changing to freezing rain around daybreak... then to all rain by
noon. This could lead to a light accumulation of snow... sleet and
freezing rain before the change- over to all rain. Surface
temperatures near or slightly below freezing around daybreak should
slowly warm above freezing by late morning... then into the mid to
upper 30s during the afternoon.

Since the precipitation is expected to arrive just before the
morning rush hour... any light accumulation of snow... sleet... or
freezing rain would increase the potential for a significant
impact during the morning commute. This includes the northeast Piedmont
and western sandhills regions... extending roughly along and west
of a line from near Rockingham to Sanford... Raleigh... Louisburg...
and Warrenton. It appears that bridges and overpasses will pose
the greatest problem for icing.

A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow... sleet... or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads and limited visibilities... and use caution while
driving. Allow extra time and plan for travel delays.

An update - forthcoming ?

I can't say that we've been too busy to blog, but life has just been "out of whack" since Christmas. I've got lots of pictures to post and a few items I want to blog about, but just can't seem to get my act together.

So for now, here's 2 photos of a hawk (coopers? sharp shinned? chicken?) in our backyard. Needless to say, our bird feeders have been vacant since his arrival...