Storm Summary Number 1 for Major Pacific Northwest, Intermountain
West & Plains Storm System
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1000 AM CDT Tue Apr 12 2022

...A dynamic storm system will produce blizzard conditions in the
northern Plains and the potential for severe thunderstorms and
critical fire weather in the southern and central Plains over the
next 48 hours...

Blizzard Warnings are in effect for eastern Montana, North Dakota
and northwestern South Dakota.

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for central Idaho, the central
and northern Rockies, northeastern Wyoming, northwestern South
Dakota and northern Utah.

High Wind Warnings are in effect for eastern Arizona, New Mexico,
the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado,
western Kansas, northeastern South Dakota, and portions of
southern Wyoming and norhtwestern Montana.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect for southeastern Arizona, western
New Mexico, portions of eastern Colorado, and much of the western
portion of the southern and central Plains.

Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for portions of southern
Idaho, northern Nevada, the northern and Central Rockies, northern
Montana and southeastern North Dakota.

Wind Advisories are in effect for western New Mexico, southern
Idaho, southern South Dakota, and portions of the Central Plains.

For a detailed graphical depiction of the latest watches, warnings
and advisories, please see www.weather.gov

At 900 AM CDT...A multi-faceted and potent storm system was
tracking eastwards across the leeward side of the Colorado
Rockies, with the main low being analyzed in eastern Colorado with
a central pressure of 982mb, or 28.99 inches of mercury. A warm
front extended eastward from the low through southern Nebraska and
eastern Kansas through the Missouri Valley, while a cold front
stretched westward through western Colorado, northern Arizona and
into the Southern California region. A well-defined dryline was
also analyzed stretching nearly 800 miles in length from Nebraska,
southward through Kansas, Oklahoma and into the Big Bend of Texas.
An additional arctic frontal boundary was located in the northern
Plains and Rockies, moving southward, bringing reinforcing cold
air to areas expecting heavy snow and blizzard conditions with
this system. Current surface observations and RADAR indicate that
a expansive shield of precipitation was spreading northward into
the Dakotas and northern Plains, with moderate to heavy snow
reported along the ND/SD border. Portions of southeastern Montana,
including the city of Billings, and the higher terrains of the
Rockies were also reporting snow as the system progressed eastward.

...Selected preliminary Storm Total Snowfall in inches from 1000
AM CDT Tue Apr 11 through 900 AM CDT Thu Apr 12...

...IDAHO...
PINE                                 15.0                    
FEATHERVILLE                         10.0                    
HAILEY 2 NNW                          7.0                    
MCCALL                                5.0                    
POCATELLO AIRPORT                     1.2                    

...MONTANA...
RED LODGE 3 SW                       16.0                    
MELVILLE 10 ENE                      14.5                    
HELENA 7 SW                          12.0                    
NEWCOMB 2 SW                         12.0                    
CLANCY                               10.0                    

...OREGON...
SADDLE MT SNOTEL                     16.0                    
MISSION 16 SE                        14.0                    
PARKDALE                             14.0                    
RED HILL SNOTEL                      13.0                    
LITTLE MEADOWS SNOTEL                11.0                    
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND 3 SW          10.0                    
CRESCENT                              9.2                    
PORTLAND                              1.6                    

...WASHINGTON...
CITY OF DALLE 9 NNE                  15.0                    
JUNE LAKE SNOTEL                     13.0                    
SNOWDEN 1 S                          12.6                    
WHITE SALMON 4 NE                    12.0                    
YACOLT 2 W                           12.0                    
WASHOUGAL E                          11.0                    
UNDERWOOD 1 W                        10.5                    

...WYOMING...
STORY 2 W                             6.0                    
DAYTON                                4.0                    
SHERIDAN 14 NNE                       4.0                    


The storm system will continue its northeastward progression
through the central Plains this afternoon, with heavy snow and
strong winds expected to lead to blizzard conditions in North
Dakota on the backside of the system. The combination of heavy
snow and wind gusts to 50 mph will lead to very difficult to
impossible travel conditions over the next 48 hours, as widespread
blowing snow will cause whiteout conditions and significantly
reduced visibility. A broad swath of 12"+ of snow is expected to
fall along an axis stretching from southeastern Montana through
much of North Dakota, with as much as 30"+ possible in
northwestern quadrant of ND. A tight snowfall gradient is likely
in the southeastern portion of the state, as warm air being
advected from the south & a pivoting snow shield will lead to
lesser totals. Further south, severe weather is possible in the
warm sector of the storm system, ahead of the dryline, with the
SPC highlighting a broad region of Slight Risk for Severe
Thunderstorms today from southern Minnestoa southward through the
Plains states and towards the Gulf Coasts of Texas and Lousiana. A
Moderate Risk has also been hoisted for central Iowa through
Tuesday night, where a greater potential for damaging winds, large
hail and tornados exists. The severe threat is expected to shift
eastward into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys tomorrow. Further
west, there is also the potential for critcal fire weather behind
the dryline, as the combination of strong winds and very dry air
will lead to dangerous fire conditions through tomorrow.

The next Storm Summary will be issued by the Weather Prediction
Center at 1000 PM CDT. Please refer to your local National Weather
Service office for additional information on this event.

Russell