CPW Blog http://www.centralparts.com CPW Blog en-us CPW http://www.centralparts.com/Blog/ http://www.centralparts.com/Common/Images/Custom/RSSFeedLogo.jpg 150 58 Biggest Seattle snowfall since 1985 in the forecast http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/17/biggest-seattle-snowfall-since-1985-in-the-forecast/ Description: Image: Bus, car in snow

Ted S. Warren / AP

People in Seattle, Wash., on Sunday push a car uphill next to a bus showing an travel ad for skiing in Montana.

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

updated 2 hours 2 minutes ago


SEATTLE — A "potential major winter storm" that could dump twice Seattle's annual snowfall on the city over the course of two days was headed for the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday night and into Wednesday, weather.com reported.

Chris Dolce, a meteorologist with weather.com, wrote that travel could become "dangerous or impossible" by Tuesday night in areas including Seattle, Olympia, Bellingham as well as Portland, Ore.

Weather.com was predicting that parts of the Seattle area could be hit with 12-18 inches of snow in the next 48 hours. Up to 8 inches was also expected in Portland.

"Keep in mind, average annual snowfall is only 2.4 inches in Portland and 5.9 inches in Seattle, so these amounts are very significant for these metro areas," Dolce added. "According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, Wash., snow amounts from this storm could exceed anything seen since November 1985 at Sea-Tac airport."

The Seattle area saw several inches of snow over the weekend, and then a lull on Monday and overnight into Tuesday morning for most of the region.

Dolce said that "several feet of snow" was expected to pile up in the Cascade and Bitterroots mountains.


Description: Image:


Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass in the Cascades was shut down Tuesday morning for avalanche control.

PhotoBlog: Snowy in Seattle — Winter storm snarls traffic

According to Dolce's forecast, snow was likely to spread well inland across the interior Northwest into the Northern Rockies. Spokane, Wash., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Kalispell, Mont. and Missoula, Mont., will all deal with substantial amounts of snow and rough travel conditions, weather.com reported.

"There is a chance that an area of localized heavier snow could develop in the Seattle metro area Monday night into Tuesday morning along the arctic frontal boundary," Dolce added.

Snow was also forecast in the Midwest and New England starting later Tuesday, weather.com reported.

View the original story here. ]]> Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:08:36 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/17/biggest-seattle-snowfall-since-1985-in-the-forecast/ Near Blizzard Threatens Chicago Commuter Chaos http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/11/near-blizzard-threatens-chicago-commuter-chaos/ Plummeting temperatures, snow, howling winds and blowing snow will result in near-blizzard conditions across portions of the Great Lakes by Thursday evening.

An arctic cold front crossing the Midwest through Thursday will bring dramatic temperature drops. Following the record warmth on Tuesday, temperatures will be falling through the 20s in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison by late Thursday with Thursday night lows dropping off into the teens. High winds will contribute to even colder AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures that will add to the shock value.

Along with the push of drastically colder air, snow will spread from west to east from Minnesota and Iowa tonight to the western Great Lakes region on Thursday.

Chicago is expected to get 3-6 inches of snow with the worst conditions hitting late Thursday and Thursday night. To the north, Green Bay, Wis., will get 6-12 inches of snow in the heart of the storm.

Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams emphasizes in his blog that the changes will start out slowly on in Chicago on Thursday, perhaps fooling some into thinking that nothing drastic will happen.

Later in the afternoon and evening, just in time for the evening commute, it will get colder and more windy with snow falling heavily around Chicago.

"This will not have the paralyzing effect Groundhog Day blizzard last year in Chicago, but travel will still become very hazardous," according to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski. The big concern will be with a rapid freezeup and plummeting temperatures. Snow falling heavily on Thursday evening will start to coat and disguise a thin layer of ice forming underneath it.

Winds gusting over 30 mph will cause blowing snow, which will be "streaming almost horizontally." Snow will also be drifting. This will result in near-blizzard conditions across portions of Wisconsin and northern Illinois with visibility dropping below a quarter of a mile at times.


For a larger version of this snow map, visit the AccuWeather.com Winter Weather Center.

Motorists who travel along I-80 will run into extremely hazardous travel conditions on Thursday evening with a combination of very slippery roadway conditions and very poor visibility. Travel will become very dangerous along I-90 and I-94 as well.

Airline passengers should anticipate delays at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport and other busy Midwestern airports.

Accumulating snow will even reach southward to St. Louis, Mo., where a coating to an inch of snow along with the dropping temperatures could make travel very hazardous.

The worst of the snow and wind will spread eastward across the Lower Peninsula of Michigan by late Thursday night and Friday morning. This means there will be a messy commute for Detroit on Friday morning. However, snowfall totals will be lower, 1-3 inches in Detroit.

Cold winds will continue to blow across the relatively mild Great Lakes through the end of the week, allowing for lake-effect snow bands to set up over the typical snowbelts downwind of the lakes.

"Two weeks of winter will be rolled up into two days," added Sosnowski to sum up the winter comeback across the Midwest and portions of the Northeast late this week.

Original article can be found here.

]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:06:39 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/11/near-blizzard-threatens-chicago-commuter-chaos/ Truck Hood and Plow Light Interference Problems? http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/10/truck-hood-and-plow-light-interference-problems/ IF you are having interference problems on your newer Dodge or GM truck and your Western Ultra Mount snowplow - There is a Fix!

Western offers a "Headlight Bracket Extension Kit" under the P/N: 68210.  It is a simple bolt on kit consisting of a Driver’s Side and Passengers side bracket that are designed to move the Plow Headlights forward approximately 4".

Follow this link for a picture of the kit.  http://centralparts.com/ProductDetails24642.aspx



]]> Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:46:57 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/10/truck-hood-and-plow-light-interference-problems/ Is there Such a thing as TOO MUCH SNOW? http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/9/is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-much-snow/ Alaska town buried in snow gets shovel help from troops

We all want snow BUT    18 Feet? 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Dozens of National Guard troops armed with shovels deployed across a southeast Alaska fishing town on Monday after the coastal region was swamped with too much snow.

 

  1.  

    Worst hit was Cordova, a town used to snow, but not like this season's blanketing.

The Guard reported more than 18 feet of snow has fallen in the past few weeks.

"There's nowhere to go with the snow because it's piled up so high," said Wendy Rainney, who owns the Orca Adventure Lodge. A storage building for the lodge — which offers fishing trips, hiking, kayaking and glacier tours — partially collapsed under the weight of the snow, she said.

"This is more quantity than can be handled."

At least three buildings have collapsed or partially collapsed and six homes are deemed severely stressed by heavy wet snow, officials said.

The drifts are 12 to 14 feet high, but most roofs in town have been shoveled, said Chris Dunlap, a Cordova resident who was manning an empty Red Cross shelter early Monday.

PhotoBlog: Record-breaking snow results in state of emergency

"It's a lot of snow. I've lived here 33 years and this is the most snow I've ever seen," she said by phone. "The thing I'm impressed most with is we haven't had any injuries. Maybe a few back strains from all of the shoveling."

More than 24 feet in neighboring town
In Valdez, the other major town in Alaska's Prince William Sound, snow is also an issue, with more than 24 feet so far this season — 12 feet above normal.

After a dump over the weekend, Valdez resident Kevin Kimber said he had to crawl out of his upstairs window to get out.

"I woke up to have about 10 feet of snow in front of my door, so I had to crawl out of the house and I was finally able to get to my truck," NBC affiliate KTUU TV quoted Kimber as saying.

Another Valdez resident stayed home Friday because of the snow.

"It’s just white," Trish Stowe said. "It’s hard to see the edges of the road or — well, there are no edges. You just run into snow banks."

In Cordova, townspokesman Allen Marquette told the Alaska Dispatch that clearing roofs became top priority on Sunday.

"It's an ongoing issue," Marquette said. "Because of the rains, a lot of the (snow on) roofs did slough and fall off, so some doors were blocked."

Marquette said he'd started trying to get snow off his roof Saturday, but estimated there was still about six feet Sunday.

"I’m six-foot four, and I couldn't see over the top," he told the paper. "There'snot a snow shovel left in town."

The city has set up a shelter at a local recreation center but said people leaving homes in avalanche-risky areas have been staying with other residents.

The town issued a disaster proclamation last week after three weeks of relentless snow overwhelmed local crews working around the clock and filled snow dump sites.

"We had no alternative but to declare an emergency," Cordova Mayor Jim Kallander said. "It became a life-safety issue."

Rain makes it slippery
Responders said Sunday that rain fell overnight, making for a slippery, treacherous mess in the Prince William Sound community of 2,000 year-round residents.

The entire region has been pummeled by snow, but Cordova is of particular concern because there is no road access to the town, only boat and plane passage, said Maj. Gen. Thomas Katkus, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.

Bad weather has prevented the Guard from flying to the town, 150 miles southeast of Anchorage.

More than 70 Guard members arrived in Cordova via state ferry on Sunday. About 50 of them will help clear roofs, roads, boats. The rest will provide other assistance. The state also is working on bringing in more heavy equipment to Cordova.

An avalanche brought snow and debris down on a section of the Copper River Highway, the 12-mile link from the town to the local airport. State transportation officials said a secondary road was opened to two-lane traffic while crews cleared the highway Sunday.

Story: Tanker plows toward cut-off Alaska city

Another storm that started Saturday also brought rain, which soaked into the snow, weighing it down.

Classes were to begin later than usual Monday, but officials said students should go only if parents are comfortable with them venturing out.

Some roads have been cleared, but residents also are being creative, traveling on foot and by skis and snowshoes, officials said.

The National Weather Service said the snow depth at the airport measured 59 inches before the rain fell, weighing the level down to 47 inches. Monday was supposed to be clear before another system moves in Tuesday, bringing more snow and rain, as well as winds as strong as 40 mph.

"This break in the weather is very critical and very fortunate," meteorologist Don Moore said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:56:46 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2012/1/9/is-there-such-a-thing-as-too-much-snow/ New Meyer Salt Spreader Gear Box http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/12/31/new-meyer-salt-spreader-gear-box/
If you are not sure what model you have, please call one of our Inside Sales Techs to verify your Application. You may reach our Tech's at 1-800-761-1700. ]]> Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:23:51 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/12/31/new-meyer-salt-spreader-gear-box/ Intense, Dangerous Winter Storm http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/12/19/intense-dangerous-winter-storm/
Ingredients include heavy snow, high winds, falling temps and biting wind chills. Suffice to say, this is a dangerous and life-threatening storm for those stuck outside in the elements.

Blizzard conditions likely: New Mexico | Texas | Colorado | Oklahoma | Kansas


Fierce Winds and a Foot or More of Snow
Deep Snow: The snow will pile up in parts of the Southwest and southern High Plains (purple colors). Cold, gusty winds will make for blizzard conditions and next-to-impossible driving conditions.

Storm Timing


A strong upper low is sliding east into southern New Mexico and west Texas. Its presence will help to induce a surface area of low pressure to develop over West Texas at the same time.

See the animation below for the timing of snow (or rain) in your area.


Storm timing: This forecast model animation shows snow (white shading) intensifying Monday, peaking Monday night, then diminishing by midday Tuesday. Some freezing rain is also possible (pink shading) in parts of Kansas, Missouri, and southern Iowa, but only light accumulations are expected.



Increasing Winds
This area of low pressure will mature on Monday over Texas, eventually tracking into Oklahoma by early Tuesday morning. Meanwhile, as our winter storm germinates in the Southwest, high pressure will bully its way into the northern Rockies and northern Plains. The pressure gradient between these two areas of low and high pressure will give way to powerful northerly winds on Monday and Tuesday; reaching sustained speeds between 25 and 35 mph with gusts approaching 50 mph.

Forecast winds Monday night: Areas shaded in the darkest blue will see the strongest sustained winds tonight. Combined with heavy snow, blizzard conditions are possible in some of these areas. More maps

Winter Storm Alerts
Blizzard Alerts: A powerful storm beginning on Monday morning will create dangerous winter conditions complete with heavy snow, high winds and falling temperatures. States impacted include New Mexico, panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma, southeast Colorado and southwest Kansas. State-by-State Alerts


Falling Temps
Those northerly winds will help transport in a much colder air mass as a cold front drops south over the outlined region - northern New Mexico, Texas/Oklahoma panhandles, southeast Colorado and southwest Kansas. Wind chills will sink into the single digits during the storm. Long-term exposure will certainly lead to frost bite.

Map: Central US current temps
Map: Current wind chill values

Snow Amounts
The moisture available for this storm will be plentiful as moisture is transported in from the Pacific Ocean and even some additional moisture tapped from the Gulf of Mexico. Snowfall totals will be impressive. The Weather Channel is forecasting a foot or more of snow for northeast New Mexico, far southeast Colorado, parts of the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma and southwest to central Kansas.

View: 48-Hour Precipitation Forecast

The combination of the heavy snow, howling winds and single-digit wind chills tell us that this is a significant and dangerous storm. Blizzard conditions will be realized at times during the height of the storm. Blowing and drifting snow will create absolutely horrible driving conditions as visibility is reduced to zero at times. Roads will become icy and snow-packed.


Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma
TX/OK Panhandle: Widespread blowing, drifting snow in the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma by Monday evening. Wind chills only 0 to 15 degrees.
Image Credit: NOAA/NWS


Common sense tells you that travel is not recommended at all beginning Sunday night and lasting through Tuesday morning. This includes interstates such as I-40, I-25, I-27 and I-70.

You are taking your life in your hands if you travel on any of these interstates and various adjacent U.S. routes during the height of the storm.

Important Note: U.S. Route 54 - from Santa Rosa, New Mexico across the panhandles to near Dodge City, Kansas - will be the epicenter of horrendous winter travel conditions. Driving conditions

Again, this is a life-threatening storm if you are caught outside in the elements of this storm or somehow become stranded. Now is the time to prepare for this dangerous storm. Winter storm preparation


Southwest Kansas Impacts
Southwest Kansas: Beginning as rain/sleet on Monday morning but soon changing to snow by midday. Blowing/drifting snow as winds increase throughout the day. Travel will be next to impossible. Image Credit: NOAA/NWS

The original story from Weather.com can be found HERE. ]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:42:16 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/12/19/intense-dangerous-winter-storm/ Snowplow and Salt Spreader Shortage. Where does this leave you? http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/12/15/snowplow-and-salt-spreader-shortage/ As you may, or may not already know, there is a literal snowplow and salt spreader shortage nationwide. Mostly due to conservative manufacturing practices and high demand. This becomes scary for the consumer, especially with an unknown threat of potentially unrelenting storms. We all know that being unprepared in this industry means leaving a significant amount of money on the table, not to mention, risking large contracts. Central Parts Warehouse is a mere phone call away, with information on available stock, as well as estimated lead times. You can reach us at locally at (815) 469.1300, Toll Free at (800) 761.1700 and also by email at sales@centralparts.com. ]]> Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:40:42 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/12/15/snowplow-and-salt-spreader-shortage/ Front Range Snowstorm Heads for Plains http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/11/2/front-range-snowstorm-heads-for-plains/ is heading through the Rockies and Front Range, including the Denver, Colo. metro, this morning.

This is the second snowstorm in a week to hit the Mile High City. Last week's storm dumped 8.5 inches of snow in Denver, causing tree damage and power outages.

Photos: Front Range snowstorm

As the system heads eastward across the Central Plains on Wednesday, we could see rain change to wet snow in parts of Kansas, Nebraska and possibly western Missouri.

Current Colorado radar | Enlarge and animate| Enlarge and animate

Snow will continue through the morning hours across the Denver metro area. By later in the day on Wednesday, conditions should improve. As of 6 am MDT, portions of the Denver metro had picked up 6 inches of snow.

Map: Additional snow accumulations

Strong, gusty winds are contributing to bad travel conditions in Colorado with poor visibilities. Blizzard or near-blizzard conditions are possible in the Palmer Divide, an east-west ridge of higher elevation south of Denver.

A rough Wednesday morning commute is expected.

Map: Current winds

I-70 has been closed west of the Eisenhower Tunnel due to snow and blowing snow. Portions of I-25 were also closed due to the snow near Wellington, Colo. and from Cheyenne, Wyo. to the Colorado border. I-80 was shut down between Laramie, Wyo. and Cheyenne, Wyo.

The storm dumped more than 7 inches of snow in Cheyenne, Wyo.

City by city forecast: Denver | Cheyenne, WY | Aspen | Boulder | Fort Collins | Colorado Springs | Pueblo | Loveland | Castle Rock | Longmont | Thornton | Littleton | Englewood | Westminster | Arvada | Lakewood


Wet Flakes Continue Eastward?

As the storm system continues eastward into the Plains on Wednesday, there may be just enough cold air for rain to change to a period of snow in central and eastern portions of Kansas, Nebraska and perhaps western Missouri.

If the rain does change to snow, there is some chance that cities like Omaha, Neb., Topeka, Kan. and Kansas City, Mo. could see their first snow of the season later Wednesday into Wednesday night. Some very light accumulations are possible on grassy areas and on other elevated surfaces.

This changeover from rain to snow is depicted in the lightest green shadings on the Wednesday and Wednesday night forecast maps below.

Wednesday's forecast map shows rain changing to snow in the lightest green shadings over the Central Plains.


Wednesday night forecast map shows rain changing to snow in the lightest green shadings over the Central Plains.

See original story at: http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/more-snow-rockies-front-range-denver_2011-10-31 ]]> Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:05:07 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/11/2/front-range-snowstorm-heads-for-plains/ Early Season Snowstorm Targets Northeast http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/10/28/early-season-snowstorm-targets-northeast/ A potent October snowstorm will target the Northeast Saturday. Below we have the forecast and we will also dig into why it's so difficult to forecast major snowstorms this early in the season.

Northeast Snow Forecast

Low pressure will track up the East Coast on Saturday producing significant snow across the Northeast.

Below is our forecast accumulation map showing the heaviest amounts west and northwest of the I-95 corridor. In the pink shadings we could see 6 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow. This includes cities such as Allentown, Pa., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and Worcester, Mass. Early season snows are notorious for causing tree damage and power outages and this storm will be no exception.

While the heaviest amounts are most likely to fall northwest of I-95, some accumulations are also possible closer to the coast along the Philadelphia to New York City to Boston corridor. Precipitation will start as rain in these locations, but may change over to snow. How quickly this occurs and how much snow falls is dependent on the availability of enough cold air, which is difficult to forecast early in the season. Below we will explore "Is it cold enough for snow?"


Local forecasts: Washington | Philly | NYC | Boston

Northeast snow forecast next 48 hours..
Is it Cold Enough for Snow?

Early season snows present some difficulties for forecasters. What may look like a straight forward forecast of snow in December is trickier in late October. The simple reason: temperatures at and near the surface typically just aren't quite cold enough yet. This is the "climatology you have to fight" to get a decent snow event this early in the season, even with a fresh, cool area of high pressure in place ahead of the storm as depicted in the image below.

Article: How rare is October snow?

This is not to say it isn't cold enough for any snow to fall. As long as the cold (i.e. sub-freezing) air aloft is deep enough for snow crystals to survive the journey down to the surface without melting, you can get snow falling with surface temperatures somewhat above freezing. A stronger storm system, as computer models suggest this weekend, can also help increase the chance of wet snow by cooling the air through a process called "dynamic cooling."

What we expect Saturday.

Saturday morning, as the system is getting organized over the Mid-Atlantic States, surface temperatures will be "marginal"...from the upper 30s to the 40s in much of the Northeast. Temperatures could hold at these levels through much of the day.

Could some wet snowflakes mix in with rain, at times, with those temperatures along the I-95 corridor? Sure.

In fact, if enough cooling does occur, we could be talking about more than just snowflakes mixed with rain. Accumulations would be possible in grassy areas and on other surfaces.

However, another factor to consider is the temperature of the ground itself.

It's been a warm October so far in much of the Northeast, New England in particular. So, any falling wet snow that hits the pavement, in particular, could melt soon after contact. If snow rates are heavy enough, the warm ground obstacle to accumulations could be overcome. That effect would be most pronounced on major roadways. On the other hand, trees would cool quickly enough for snow to stick.

The image below shows the track of the low and what we are watching for in the Northeast on Saturday. There are still critical uncertainties with the exact track of the low and how much cold air and moisture will combine.

If you live near and particularly west of the I-95 corridor of the Northeast, stay tuned to The Weather Channel and check back with weather.com as we close out the week.

What we expect.


See original article at: http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/weekend-storm-wet-snow_2011-10-26 ]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:28:02 GMT http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/10/28/early-season-snowstorm-targets-northeast/ Slow go expected in the morning, after a night of steady snowfall http://www.centralparts.com/blog/2011/10/27/slow-go-expected-in-the-morning-after-a-night-of-steady-snowfall/ Heavy rain, at times, fell on evening commuters, but the morning rush hour is likely to be a slalom course of snow and slush, officials are warning. Parts of metro region could see up to 9 inches by morning and another 3 to 7 inches Wednesday, according to the latest forecast on the Front Range's first snowstorm of the season. On average, Denver gets about 4 inches of snow in October, according to weather records. Almost all of Colorado west of Limon is under a winter storm warning from 9 p.m. today until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Downtown, the Occupy Denver protest continued, despite the bad weather. As the rain slowed to a drizzle before 9 p.m., about 50 protesters drank coffee and plotted strategy. They had piles of blankets and reams of plastic, as they prepared for a long, cold night. "It's not a cause without sacrifice," said a woman identifying herself as Butterfly Dunn. The low before sunrise is expected to be 28 degrees in downtown Denver. Snow plows, airports and tree surgeons are on the ready. The storm made its introduction to the high country this afternoon, as light snow began falling along the Continental Divide at about 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service​. By 9 p.m., blizzard conditions had closed U.S. Highway 287 from Ted's Place to the Wyoming border. From midnight to morning, snow is expected to fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in the high county,according to the National Weather Service. Travel though the high country will be complicated by ice, snow and slush, exacerbated by single-digit temperatures, forecasters warned. The high in Denver Wednesday is expected to top out at just 32 degrees. The average high for Oct. 26 is 61 degrees, but Wednesday's chill is nowhere near record-cold. The coldest temperature for the date was 3 degrees set in 1997. Denver Public Works said this afternoon it would deploy all 68 of its heavy plows, and crews would work through the night, as well as Wednesday until the storm passes. Many trees across the Front Range still have most of their foliage, and wet, heavy precipitation could snap branches, authorities warned. Residents can avoid snapped branches by shaking the snow off any branches they can reach as the snow accumulates, according to Denver Public Works. Denver Solid Waste Management collects a limited number of branches as part of its regular trash collection. Branches must be cut into lengths of 4 feet or less and be no larger than 4 inches in diameter. The snow won't linger after Wednesday, however. Sunny skies return Thursday, as temperatures climb back to the mid 40s in Denver, the National Weather Service predicted. Temperatures in the 50s and sunny weather is expected in the metro region on Friday through the weekend, then return to the 60s early next week.