Our weather forecasts tend to be dry, informative, and to-the-point. When the writers at NOAA Weather Service become verbose, I pay attention. This morning, they seem almost giddy, which makes me worry.
Here’s the beginning of this morning’s report:
“…A NEW SNOW STORM EXPECT TO ARRIVE AT END OF WEEK…”
“IT’S BACK….WINTER IS PROVING THAT SOUTHEAST ALASKA IS NOT DONE WITH THE SNOWFALL. A LOW MOVING NORTHWARD INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE GULF LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY…WILL BE SPREADING WARM MOIST AIR INTO THE PANHANDLE RESULTING IN AN OVER RUNNING SNOW EVENT FOR MUCH OF THE PANHANDLE. THE MAJORITY OF THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO FALL ALONG THE COAST MOUNTAIN RANGE AND THEN OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE. POTENTIAL SNOW FALL TOTALS FROM THE EVENT INTO SATURDAY APPEAR TO BE 8 TO 12 INCHES…BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO RAIN FOR MUCH OF THE REGION BY SATURDAY NIGHT.
THE REGION THAT THE BEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED WILL BE SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM HAINES TO CROSS SOUND TO NORTHERN PERIL STRAIT TO NORTHERN KUIU ISLAND TO ZAREMBO ISLAND THEN BEHM CANAL.
RESIDENTS SHOULD PREPARE TO DEAL WITH THE SNOW AND ITS REMOVAL FROM ROADS AND VEHICLES. FRESH SNOW PACKED ROADS WILL RESULT IN SLIPPERY SURFACES.”