From Louisville, Kentucky, where I’m attending the NFBA Expo, more snow predicted for “back home” in the Midwest… the heaviest amounts (8″ to 12″ of new snow possibly) are coming this weekend across Eastern South Dakota, Southern to Central Minnesota, and extending into Western Wisconsin. The maps below show the probability of getting at least 4″ / 8″ / or 12″ of snow or more in each area and this for the 24 hour period between Saturday morning at 6am and Sunday morning at 6am (CST):
The National Weather Service warning for the La Crosse, Wiscsonsin area includes the statement “there could be roof failures”. I take no joy in saying this, but based on my experience and reason, there WILL be building collapses. They may all look like “roof failures” but there will be many different causes… when Grandpa pulled stumps with his tractor and chain, we found out if the stump was stronger than the chain and tractor or we found a weak link in the chain.
It only takes one weak link in a chain of a Building’s Load path to cause a failure.The advisory statement is below, but notice that in addition to blowing and drifting snow making it difficult to drive or see, the wind load on buildings already burdened with snow (old and then an additional 6″ or more) then exposed to 30mph gusts on mid-day Sunday will cause many large agricultural building failures. In the regions affected, the chain in each building’s load path will be tested this Sunday. I hope the weak links will hold, but I believe many of the buildings will not hold that are either old or were under-designed or do not have proper bracing in them.
Please be safe and spread the word to those you know and love.
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service La Crosse WI 326 AM CST Thu Mar 7 2019 ...Snow, Wintry Mix Likely Saturday... .Another winter storm is taking aim on the region for the weekend with the promise of snow to a wintry mix. Snow looks to move into southeast Minnesota early Saturday morning, spreading across north-central Wisconsin for the afternoon. It would then continue through the night, moving northeast early Sunday morning. A brief period of freezing precipitation is possible before the main area of snow moves in, and possibly as it exits. Currently 4 to 8 inches of snow are expected, the bulk of which would fall during the afternoon and evening hours. If freezing precipitation is realized, a light glaze of ice would be possible. Wind could be a factor during the late night hours of Saturday into Sunday morning...drifting and blowing the fallen snow. Travel will be impacted. Be prepared for slippery to hazardous driving conditions, especially for the afternoon and evening hours. In addition, with the snow expected to be heavy in nature, and considerable snow having already fallen in February, there could be roof failures.