MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0281
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0632 PM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...MUCH OF CO...NERN NM...WRN KS...TX/OK PANHANDLES
   
   CONCERNING...BLIZZARD 
   
   VALID 262332Z - 270330Z
   
   HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY BUILD SWD AND EWD THROUGH THE
   NIGHT. RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES AN HOUR ARE LIKELY...WITH RATES NEAR 3
   INCHES OVER HIGHER TERRAIN. STRONG NLY/NELY WINDS WILL CAUSE
   CONSIDERABLE RESTRICTIONS IN VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW. 
   
   BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED ACROSS MUCH OF CO. RECENT
   OBSERVATIONS REFLECT ONGOING BLIZZARD WITH SIGNIFICANT RATES OF
   ACCUMULATION IN ADDITION TO WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. IMPRESSIVE
   SURFACE PRESSURE RISES HAVE BEEN NOTED ACROSS MUCH OF CO FOLLOWING A
   STRONG COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE...AND EXPECT THIS TREND TO CONTINUE TO
   PROGRESS SWD AND EWD THROUGH THE NIGHT AS THE VIGOROUS UPPER LOW
   DRIFTS SWD. VERY STRONG UPPER DIVERGENCE WILL AID IN VERTICAL MOTION
   IN AN ENVIRONMENT ALREADY CONDUCIVE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL. MOISTURE FROM
   THE SYSTEM TO THE EAST CONTINUES TO BE DRAWN INTO THE SYSTEM...AND
   STRONG WARM ADVECTION...NOTED ON VAD WIND PROFILE DATA...ATOP A
   SUBFREEZING ARCTIC AIRMASS AT THE SURFACE CONTRIBUTE TO RATES OF
   ACCUMULATION. ADDITIONALLY...FORECAST SOUNDINGS TOWARDS 06Z SUGGEST
   RATES MAY BECOME CONVECTIVELY ENHANCED...ESPECIALLY NEAR NERN NM AND
   THE TX/OK PANHANDLES WHERE WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL EXIST.
   
   ..HURLBUT.. 03/26/2009
   
   
   ATTN...WFO...DDC...GLD...AMA...PUB...BOU...ABQ...
   
   LAT...LON   36430163 35770328 36260486 37180580 38240591 38870468
               38490217 37820151 36880142 36430163