Sleet And Ice Possible Friday Morning

A lot of people in Region 8 want to see some snow. While we may see some snow on Friday morning, it looks like sleet and freezing rain may be the greater threat. Here are the bullet points I want you to know, as of this morning (Wednesday):

• Data is in decent agreement.
• Rain on Thursday and Thursday evening.
• SHARP temperature drop on Thursday night.
• Rain switching to freezing rain and sleet.
• Coating of ice glaze and sleet is possible.
• Travel impacts are possible.
• Most of the precipitation ends before 8AM on Friday.

Let's first start with the sharp temperature gradient on Thursday night. As the front moves across the area, we will likely have a temperature spread of 35° across Region 8! Here's one model at 6PM on Thursday evening:

As the cold air comes in, most data is showing the rain switching to a WINTRY MIX. Here are two of the most widely used models. One showing freezing rain (pink: ice glaze) and one showing sleet (orange: sleet falls frozen... and bounces):

If given the choice, I'll take the sleet because it does not stick to power lines and trees. By sunrise, both of these models have the precipitation exiting Region 8. Possibly ending as light snow:

If this all plays out like you see above, we would probably have some travel impacts. The forecast can still change, so STAY WITH US as we update the forecast over the next 36-40 hours.

Ryan