The milder temps as of late have allowed much of the snow cover to melt and seep into the soil.  Area rivers which were ice-covered in recent weeks have melted quite a bit.

Rainfall amounts over the next few days could reach 1 to 2 inches through Sunday.  Some isolated higher amounts are possible.

Thunderstorms are possible Friday with isolated heavier downpours.

All of the above factors combined could produce some flooding in some areas.  A flood warning is in effect for the Tiffin River in northwest Ohio.  See our main weather page for all the current advisories.

Changes since the satellite picture from Thursday (shown below)…lake ice has broken up quite a bit, and more brown areas of land indicate dwindling snow cover.

The combination of warm temps and winds pushing offshore by Sunday will create the potential for ice floes.  This will be a very dangerous weekend, and the Coast Guard and local law enforcement officials are urging people to stay off the ice.  The main section of ice in the southwestern area of the lake has the potential to break away and drift northward towards Canada.

In addition to the potential for the entire ice mass to move will be individual cracks and separations within that main area.

Essentially, conditions are ideal this weekend for a major change in the lake’s surface.  Anyone on the ice this weekend risks being stranded on a chunk of ice, or falling into the lake through weak ice.

We switch the clocks ahead next Sunday (2 am on March 14) for Eastern Daylight Time.

Here is how that will affect our sun times:

Saturday, March 13:    sunrise  6:51 am,   sunset  6:40 pm

Sunday, March 14:       sunrise  7:49 am,  sunset  7:41 pm

Wednesday marked the 27th straight day of snow on the ground.

Snow cover of at least one inch has been reported at Toledo Express Airport since February 5th.

Normal High & Low:

March 1:      40° / 23°

March 31:   53° / 33°

Normal Precip:  2.62″  (rain/melted snow & ice)       Normal snow:  5.6″

Sunrise & Sunset:

March 1:     7:10 am / 6:26 pm

March 31:  7:20 am / 8:00 pm

We spring ahead to Daylight Saving Time at 2 am on Sunday, March 14.   Spring (the vernal equinox) occurs at 1:32 pm on March 20.

Blasted by a snow storm in the first half of the month and steady periods of light snow to end the month put this February of 2010 nearly on top of the all time snow record for the month.  All totaled this February had 23.9″ of snow at Toledo Express Airport.

Here is where this February ranks compared to other years and it shows just how close we came to the all time record.

I am still hoping for an early spring…it is March now after all!

Here are some links to some National Weather Service snow totals.  Note that some totals are for 12-hour periods, and that snow on the ground also includes any previous snow on the ground from recent storms.

Click here for reports from northern Ohio, near and east of I-75

Click here for reports from northern Ohio, west of I-75

Click here for reports from lower Michigan

Unlike the slushy snow from Sunday night’s storm, this snow event will feature the drier, fluffier snow.  Winds today will be 15-25 mph with some gusts exceeding 30 mph.  These northwesterly winds will blow and drift the snow a lot.

Winds will relax a bit tonight to the 8-18 mph range, and then 5-15 mph Saturday.

In addition to reduced visibility (and getting pelted with snow while you are outside), the winds will cause cleared areas to get covered again by the drifted snow.  Plus, it will not be fun if you are trying to use a snow blower while walking in a northerly direction.

We always welcome snowfall reports.  Please check out our previous post on how to take an accurate snow measurement.  With all of the blowing and drifting, it will be quite difficult to get a perfect measurement.