Weather News April 1, 2008

Brian Neudorff @ 9:09 am April 1st, 2008 · No Comments

Monday and Monday Night brought nearly a foot of snow to parts of the upper Midwest, Northern Plains and the northern Great Lakes. From this snow storm Minneapolis was hammered receiving nearly 8 inches of snow. This caused problems on local roadways and cause school to close early or even delay for Tuesday. The snow was also responsible for a 75 car pile up in Colorado.

Unlike the Cleveland Indians a year ago who’s home opener was delayed due to lake effect snow, the Minnesota Twins play in the Metrodome so although it was snowing outside they had the protection of the dome as they opened the 2008 season to the California Angels. But glimpses into the future were on the mind of some in the Minn. Twins organization because in 2010 the team is set to open their new open air ballpark.

Associated with the same storm system was a strong trailing cold front that brought severe weather to parts of Oklahoma and Missouri Monday and Monday Night, dropping damaging tornadoes and flooding roads with heavy rains. One of the locations experiencing a tornado was Buffalo, MO.

Although the East coast didn’t see any severe weather there was plenty of gray skies and rain showers. The rain delayed the last home opener for the current Yankee Stadium. The Yankees are hosting the Toronto Blue Jays and the home opener will be played on Tuesday, with a scheduled start time of 7:05 p.m. ET.

The same storm system will continue to move through Ontario and Quebec Tuesday and begin to deepen or strengthen. This will bring some heavy precipitation in the form of rain and a few thunderstorms for parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. Along with some very gusty winds.

To the south, strong to severe thunderstorms are forecasted for southern Texas to portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Large hail and damaging gusts are possible.

Behind the cold front, drier and colder air will sweep across areas impacted by yesterdays storms and heavy rains and snow.