What to expect through the end of the storm

The difference between sleet and freezing rain

I've had some rather peculiar reports on freezing rain over interior areas Sunday morning, so I wanted to provide this graphic to help clear up any confusion. Freezing rain is liquid that freezes on contact. Sleet is essential rain that has refrozen and has landed on the surface in the form of ice pellets. There is a big difference with the two, with significantly different impacts. Sleet can be moved around, albeit begrudgingly. Freezing rain sticks to everything and accumulates. I hope this helps. 

What to expect through the remainder of the day

The warm nose has worked in aloft, which has turned this into a sleet show for the southern half of the state. This has impacted projected snowfall amounts. In addition to 1-2+" of sleet, the coast will likely be dealing with freezing rain this afternoon into the evening. 

Snow will continue to be heavy over northern areas through this evening. For the coast, snow has ended, and it is sleet to freezing rain until precipitation ends by 8-9 PM over southern and western areas, 9-11 PM for eastern areas. The snow machine continues for northern Maine into Monday.

Once again, keep in mind that snow showers will continue into Monday for most areas. Best chance for accumulations will be for the mountains and north. It's going to continue to blow and drift into Tuesday.

A bitter cold clean up day

Keep in mind wind chill indices will be double-digits below zero overnight, through Monday and into Tuesday for much of the interior. Standard road salt will be ineffective, and calcium chloride may be challenged. Temperatures are predicted to warm later in the week, but until then, slick travel is going to a part of the landscape until then.  

Integrity First

Personally I am not happy about the way this storm ended up. This was a big bust for much of the coastal plain due to the intrusion of warm air that came in a bit ahead of schedule. This affected snow ratios. Suggested guidance did not handle this well at all. Sure, there were hints, but this widespread of a bust deeply concerns me. At the end of the day it is on me as I am responsible for the forecast I produce. Notes have been taken, and learning will come out of it. This will be one that will be discussed in meteorological circles for a while. 

Weather forecasting can be truly humbling.  ​

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​- Mike