Weather Service: Heavy snow due this weekend

It's been much warmer in the last few days but by now your ears are probably buzzing about the talk of the winter storm coming in this Friday through Sunday. The good news, there is no arctic air associated with this storm, which will be coming from the southwest (not Canada!).  The bad news is that warmer temperatures mean that the atmosphere can hold more precipitation, and the snow that does fall tends to be heavy, wet snow.

It looks like some snow will start Friday afternoon, continuing through Sunday. The winds will pick up from the northwest at around 15 to 30 mph by Saturday evening and continue into Sunday. Blowing and drifting snow will be a problem on area roads. Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches are possible with this storm.

"We know that some people have cows that may be close to calving by the end of this month, so you may want to take precautions with them," Fransen said. "I already have many people who've contacted me or the office asking about traveling somewhere this weekend, and it's not something we recommend.  If you have to travel (especially east of here) leave on Thursday. And don't expect that roads will have been be cleared off or even open on Sunday."

The latest forecast details will be available through the radio or TV, weather radio, or the National Weather Service Glasgow Web site at www.wrh.noaa.gov/ggw/.