February 27, 2005 (1:45AM)

Folks, looking at the current water vapor loop, all of the pieces are in place for what will likely become a KU-type storm system:

1. There is a clearly defined 50/50 low currently in place which in turn is generating quilte a strong confluence zone over Southeastern Canada and the Northeastern US.

2. Very long fetch of tropical moisture via the "Pineapple Connection" is stretching all the way from the South Pacific into the Gulf of Mexico (thanks nino).

3. Thumblike ridge projection on the NW US coastline up into British Columbia which in turn is causing a shortwave to scream into the upper plains.

4. Another powerful vortmax, this one headed along the lower plains.

Everything seems to be there for a major storm and this thing already looks very healthy on Satellite and Radar.

In layman's terms, there is a major storm system in the works which will affect our area and most of the Northeast quadrant of the US on Monday and Tuesday. Chances for substantial snowfall look very good at this point. More details on precipitation types will be discussed on Sunday. The storm system will take a classic Noreaster track right along the coast and will intensify very rapidly. Some areas near the big cities in the I-95 corridor will see very heavy snowfall rates during the day on Monday.

S.B.