Central Plains thunderstorms hijack moisture from Northern Plains blizzard

The blizzard that wasn't left Hubbard County wind, but little snow.

"You're not alone," laughed National Weather Service meteorologist Al Voelker.

"From right around Sioux Falls into eastern Nebraska and Kansas we had a huge system of thunderstorms and those storms took a lot of moisture from the (your) system. The precipitation band, instead of being widespread, was more confined to a smaller area around the surface low. So northern areas really didn't get much."

But Voelker said, "If we wouldn't have had those thunderstorms across the central Plains that developed you probably would have had it. They intercepted a lot of that moisture.

"I don't think you're done," he added. "That snow band is just right south of you. We do expect that to lift a little bit northward. You'll probably still get some snow.

"We transitioned your winter storm watch into a winter storm advisory."

As of 6 a.m., buses in Park Rapids, Nevis and Menahga were running two hours late.

Here is the forecast:

Snow and widespread blowing snow. High near 32. North northeast wind between 9 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipita-tion is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 18. North wind between 5 and 8 mph be-coming calm. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Calm wind be-coming south between 4 and 7 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 20. South wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. West northwest wind be-tween 7 and 9 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 per-cent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 25.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.