SAN FRANCISCO — Hilly areas of San Francisco got a rare light dusting of snow, the National Weather Service said Saturday.

Snow fell briefly late Friday and early Saturday on the city’s Twin Peaks neighborhood and some other areas with higher elevations, meteorologist Mark Strobin said.

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“A little bit up in the hills,” Strobin told The Associated Press. “It snowed down to about 400 feet.”

But there was only rain downtown and in other other areas of the near sea level city, and the snow that did fall disappeared rapidly.

The city last saw snow on the ground in 1976, when an inch fell.

Strobin said the higher regions might have had snow dustings since that measureable snow fell 35 years ago. He said it was still too early to tell how this event will be recorded.

Strobin, who is based in Monterey, Calif., said that city also got a rare dusting of snow.

The storm system moving across Northern California responsible for San Francisco’s snow also dumped more than 2 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Just the idea of possible snow had the tech-savvy city looking skyward with anticipation.

One blogger posted a pretend ski map, noting possible beginner, intermediate and expert runs in the city’s hilly Bernal Heights neighborhood. A newly created website – isitsnowinginsfyet.com – gives a simple answer for anyone who is wondering.

The San Francisco Chronicle posted old photos of snow from 1882, 1951, 1964 and other rare instances of city snowfall – including one photo from the 1976 storm that shows gleeful school kids throwing snowballs.

On Friday, the storm prompted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to take precautionary measures. He urged residents to watch out for icy road conditions, and, if possible, avoid driving during the storm’s peak. The city’s public works department was planning to offer free sandbags and emergency crews were on stand-by.

For snow to fall and accumulate in San Francisco, temperatures must drop to 36 degrees, precipitation must be falling and the ground must be chilled for several days beforehand, said Steve Anderson, also a National Weather Service forecaster.

Though it rarely gets that cold in San Francisco, where the surrounding bay and Pacific Ocean generally keeps temperatures moderate, temperatures in San Francisco were expected to drop into the 30s overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

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Issued by The National Weather Service
Detroit, MI
11:45 am EST, Mon., Feb. 22, 2010

… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON…

 
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.

* MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON BEFORE STARTING TO TAPER OFF.

* ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED… BRINGING STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL TO 5 TO 8 INCHES BY LATE AFTERNOON.

* VISIBILITIES WILL FALL TO A HALF MILE AT TIMES IN THE HEAVIER SNOW SHOWERS.

* ROADS WILL BE SNOW COVERED TODAY. THE SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AND WET. THIS WILL CAUSE THE ROADS TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT… FOOD… AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

… A WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY…

 
.SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION INTO THIS AFTERNOON AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRACKS FROM WEST CENTRAL OHIO TOWARDS CLEVELAND. AMPLE MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM WILL LEAD TO SOME PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON… BEFORE STARTING TO TAPER OFF DURING THE MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED BETWEEN THE I 94 AND M 59 CORRIDOR WHERE STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 5 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL TAPER OFF NORTH OF THE I 69 CORRIDOR. SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO WIND DOWN DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON WITH ANY LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS BECOMING LIGHT AND SCATTERED.
 

The latest snowfall reports from The National Weather Service in Detroit/Pontiac, MI: 8 miles west of Mount Clemens, 7.5″… Livonia, 7.0″… Brighton, 6.5″… Romulus, 6.4″… Howell, 6.2″… White Lake, 5.2″… Flint, 4.1″… Armada, 3.9″… 4 miles northwest of Marlette, 3.0″… Bad Axe, 1.8″.

MyFOXDetroit.com – A winter storm that dumped up to 10 inches of snow on parts of Michigan and caused at least three deaths subsided Wednesday after causing treacherous roads for early morning motorists and more than 500 school closings .

Wind gusts were expected to cause snow drifts and low visibility.

The storm, which struck the Midwest on Tuesday before crawling east, was blamed for the death of a 35-year-old Ypsilanti woman who was killed after her car was broad-sided by a waste hauling truck on Interstate 94, about 30 miles southwest of Detroit.

Poor weather conditions also were blamed for the death of Roberta Greene, 70, of Kalamazoo, who lost control of her car on southbound Interstate 75 in Bay County, and Candum Buckner, 38, who was killed after losing control of his pickup on state Route 20 in Isabella County, officials said.

McDonald’s manager Rita Campbell was 20 minutes late for the normal 5 a.m. start of her work day at her restaurant in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park. She said she woke up an hour early Wednesday, “then it took my husband 45 minutes to shovel out.” She said she passed a crash scene on the long drive in.

Campbell, a 39-year-old mother of two, said she couldn’t wait to get out and enjoy the snow.

“In fact, when I get home, I’m going to make me a snowman,” she said.

Some didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the snow.

Four Oak Park boys set out with shovels and a snowblower, attempting to turn the snowstorm into a business opportunity.

Thirteen-year-old twins Trevor and Travis Moore, who were waiting for a break in traffic to cross busy Nine Mile Road, about 10 miles northwest of Detroit, called the snow a “good thing.”

“We make money, and we don’t got to go to school,” Travis explained.

State police say the crash happened about 9 a.m. Tuesday on eastbound I-94 in Washtenaw County’s Ypsilanti Township. It killed a 35-year-old Detroit woman.

Road crews are preparing for what the National Weather Service says could be up to 10 inches of new snow through Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Jessica Mistak says Wayne County’s 124 trucks are loaded with salt.

AAA Michigan spokeswoman Nancy Cain says it received 950 road service calls trouble calls through midday Tuesday and expects a heavy call volume through Wednesday.

source: www.myfoxdetroit.com
 

Updated: Tuesday, 09 Feb 2010, 8:03 AM EST
Published : Monday, 08 Feb 2010, 6:59 AM EST

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Heavy snow expected Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.

 
A strong low pressure system will develop over Central and Northern Ohio, bringing widespread snow to Southeast Michigan from Tuesday into Wednesday morning. The snow will spread north across the area during the daytime hours with accumulating snow reaching the Thumb region by late afternoon. Light to moderate snow on Tuesday will become heavy Tuesday night as the storm system undergoes rapid strengthening. The bulk of the snow is expected to fall Tuesday night with total accumulations ranging from 4 to 8 inches across most of Southeast Michigan with locally higher amounts possible along and south of M-59. Lake enhancement is expected downwind of Lake Huron with accumulating snow continuing through Wednesday morning in the Thumb region. Elsewhere snow showers will become scattered Wednesday morning although blowing and drifting of snow will increase. Northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph will continue through Wednesday afternoon as the winter storm pulls away towards the Atlantic Coast.

——

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AN INTERACTIVE WEATHER MAP FROM WEATHER.COM

Winter Storm Warning

Areas affected: Genesee County, Lenawee County, Livingston County, Macomb County, Monroe County, Oakland County, Shiawassee County, Washtenaw County, Wayne County

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow, which is in effect from 10:00 a.m. Tuesday to 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.

Snow will spread north into Southeast Michigan from late morning to early afternoon and become heavy Tuesday night. Snow showers will taper off and become scattered by midday on Wednesday.

Total accumulations by Wednesday morning are expected to range from 5 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts along and south of the M-59 corridor.

Winds will increase from Tuesday night into Wednesday with sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts to 30 mph contributing to blowing and drifting snow.

Accumulating snowfall may lead to poor road conditions during the evening commute on Tuesday with travel becoming dangerous on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

——

Winter Storm Warning

Areas affected: Lapeer County, St. Clair County, Sanilac County

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow, which is in effect from 2:00 p.m. Tuesday to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Snow will increase across the Thumb region during the afternoon on Tuesday and become heavy Tuesday night. Lake effect snow showers will continue through Wednesday morning before starting to taper off.

Total accumulations of 5 to 8 inches can be expected by Wednesday afternoon with the highest accumulations expected near the Lake Huron shoreline.

Winds will increase from Tuesday night into Wednesday with sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts to 30 mph contributing to blowing and drifting snow.

Road conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly Tuesday evening with travel becoming dangerous from Tuesday night into Wednesday.

The snow will start late Tuesday morning and last until mid-morning on Wednesday. Around Detroit and areas to the west and south there will most likely be 2″ to 4″ by the end of the evening commute Tuesday – with less to the northeast.

Overnight Tuesday we’ll have heavy snow. Most areas will end up with 6″ to 10″ by mid-morning Wednesday. It is likely that many schools are expected to close Wednesday and the commute will be very bad.

Winds will pick up on Wednesday, originating from the northwest and it will blow around the snow. That will make drifts and keep the roads slick. Temperatures will be in the mid 20s during the snow storm.

Source: Channel 7 – WXYZ-TV

Winter Storm Watch for Wayne, MI

 
from 10 am EST, Tue., Feb. 9, 2010 until 10 am EST, Wed., Feb. 10, 2010

Issued by The National Weather Service
Detroit, MI
5:28 am EST, Mon., Feb. 8, 2010

… WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING…

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FORECAST DETAILS FROM WEATHER.COM

 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DETROIT/PONTIAC HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTH ACROSS SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON TUESDAY AND BECOME HEAVY TUESDAY NIGHT. SNOW SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF AND BECOME SCATTERED BY MIDDAY ON WEDNESDAY.

* TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED BY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND GUSTS TO 30 MPH CONTRIBUTING TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW.

* ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL MAY LEAD TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE ON TUESDAY WITH TRAVEL BECOMING DANGEROUS ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
More Information

… HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED FROM TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING…

.A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP OVER NORTHWEST OHIO BRINGING WIDESPREAD SNOW TO SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN FROM TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW WILL SPREAD NORTH ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW REACHING THE THUMB REGION BY LATE AFTERNOON. LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW ON TUESDAY WILL BECOME HEAVY TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE STORM SYSTEM UNDERGOES RAPID STRENGTHENING. THE BULK OF THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO FALL TUESDAY NIGHT WITH TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS RANGING FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES ACROSS MOST OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN. LAKE ENHANCEMENT IS EXPECTED DOWNWIND OF LAKE HURON WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW CONTINUING INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE THUMB. ELSEWHERE SNOW SHOWERS WILL BECOME SCATTERED ON TUESDAY ALTHOUGH BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW IS EXPECTED WITH NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND GUSTS TO 30 MPH.

MSNBC.com