![\"GOES-13](\"https:\/\/cimss.ssec.wisc.edu\/satellite-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2016\/04\/160402_goes13_visible_surface_weather_Upper_Midwest_anim.gif\")
<\/a>GOES-13 Visible (0.63 \u00b5m) images, with hourly surface weather symbols [click to play animation]<\/p><\/div>A vigorous clipper-type shortwave moved rapidly southeastward across the Upper Midwest on 02 April 2016<\/strong><\/a>; there were widespread convective elements associated with this system as seen in GOES-13 Visible (0.63 \u00b5m) images (above),<\/strong><\/em> which produced moderate to heavy snowfall at times (and even thundersnow) creating brief white-out conditions (time-lapse<\/strong><\/a> video from the AOSS rooftop camera in Madison, Wisconsin). A sequence of visible images from the polar-orbiting MODIS, VIIRS, and AVHRR instruments (below)<\/strong><\/em> provided another detailed view of these convective elements. This disturbance produced strong winds<\/strong><\/a> and accumulating snowfall<\/strong><\/a>; more information can also be found here<\/strong><\/a> from the NWS Chicago.<\/p>\n MODIS, VIIRS, and AVHRR visible images [click to enlarge]<\/p><\/div>A pronounced warm\/dry signature of middle-tropospheric subsidence (yellow color enhancement)<\/em> was evident on GOES-13 Water Vapor (6.5 \u00b5m) images (below),<\/strong><\/em> which appeared to be along or just ahead of the areas of stronger wind gusts at the surface.<\/p>\n GOES-13 Water Vapor (6.5 \u00b5m) images with hourly wind gusts in knots [click to play animation]<\/p><\/div>This area of middle-tropospheric subsidence was located along the leading edge of a strong (110-120 knot) 500 hPa jet, as indicated by the NAM40 model isotachs (below)<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n GOES-13 Water Vapor (6.5 \u00b5m) images with METAR surface reports, surface fronts, and NAM40 500 hPa wind isotachs [click to play animation]<\/p><\/div>The convective elements were relatively shallow, with cloud-top infrared brightness temperatures only in the -20 to -30\u00ba C range (cyan to darker blue color enhancement)<\/em> as seen in 4-km resolution GOES-13 Infrared Window (10.7 \u00b5m) images (below)<\/strong><\/em> and also in 1-km resolution MODIS, VIIRS, and AVHRR infrared images<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n GOES-13 Infrared Window (10.7 \u00b5m) images, with hourly surface weather symbols [click to play animation]<\/p><\/div>The 24-hour snowfall amounts ending at 12 UTC on 02 and 03 April are shown below, from the NOHRSC<\/strong><\/a> site. There was a narrow swath of snowfall in excess of 3 inches just north of the track of the surface low (surface analyses<\/strong><\/a>), from northeast Minnesota across Wisconsin to southwest Lower Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>