Brad Gilbert, Emergency Management Agency director for Wood County, has issued the following advisory:
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm WATCH for Wood County effective 4 a.m. Saturday morning through midnight. Based upon the forecasted snow totals for this storm, it is likely that this watch will be upgraded to a warning (for Saturday) sometime late on Friday. A new development in the forecast models today show that an upper level low pressure will develop just north of the developing low pressure (storm system) at the surface which will expand the coverage of snow (on the northeast side of the surface storm system) and bring snow into the area earlier than expected.
Light snow could begin as early as very late Friday night. Snow would be fairly light in the overnight hours but will increase in intensity through the morning hours of Saturday. The heaviest snowfall rates will be in the afternoon and early evening hours of Saturday. Storm total accumulations still appear to be in the 4”-8” range with the higher range (6”-8”) being more likely to the southern part of the county. Winds will steadily increase throughout Saturday with gusts Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the 35 mph range with an occasional 40 mph possible at times. Blowing and drifting snow will remain an issue most of Sunday. Dangerous cold air will also settle into the area on Sunday and overnight into Monday with low temperatures around -8 to -10 degrees and dangerous wind chills.
The last update for this storm will be emailed out Friday afternoon and we should have solid forecast information at that time. We will also detail the forecasted winds in tomorrow’s email.
