It's the "Bomb".

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by John Walsh

Story Created: Oct 26, 2010 at 11:47 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 26, 2010 at 11:47 PM CDT

   It is a storm for the record books.  A bomb, as they call it in meteorology circles.  A monster.  In fact the second strongest storm for the Great Lakes region in history and it's intensifying.   At 4pm the barometric pressure for International Falls, MN was 958 millibars or 28.28", roughly the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane.  Only the Great Blizzard of Ohio in 1978 with a pressure of 28.05 inches was bigger.   If you lived in the Great Lakes region in the mid 70s, or were an avid Gordon Lightfoot listener, you'll recall the storm the wrecked the freshwater freightr, the Edmond Fitzgerald.  The storm responsible for that had a pressure of  28.95 inches, just to led perspective.
    It's so big, that its effecting weather from the Great Lakes to the state of Mississippi, and from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast.  So far there have been 251 wind damage reports and 21 tornado reports mainly in the Upper Midwest from Tennessee to Michigan, but it looks like a long night for folks east of the Appalacians as well. 
   Behind the storm it's snow and wind with up to 10 inches possible in N. Dakota.  Vail Pass in Colorado was closed for a time when a tanker truck rolled over today  and  snow amounts totaled 24 inches in Silverthorne.  
   For Nebraska, this storm is generating some pretty stout winds, with gusts up to 54 mph in Grand Island.  Until this storm moves far enough east we will experience one more windy day.  Wednesday's winds will again be in that 25-35 mph range with gusts to 45.  Be patient.  The rest of the week will be calmer, though look for cold temps Wednesday night.  Many areas still have not seen a killing freeze but areas northwest of an Alma, to Kearney to Genoa line may experience just that. 

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