Texas A&M Students Forecast Snow

Got your snow shovel ready, Brazos Valley residents? There’s about a 50 percent chance of the white stuff starting Friday afternoon, and that local forecast isn’t from the National Weather Service – it’s from students studying weather at Texas A&M University.

The unofficial forecasters, a mixture of graduate and undergraduate students, meet weekly to analyze weather maps and discuss patterns. Often, they come up with their own predictions. It’s a good practical learning experience, says John Nielsen-Gammon, professor of atmospheric sciences and State Climatologist who participates in the weekly discussions along with other faculty members.

“You need three things for snow: cold temperatures, moisture and lift in the atmosphere so the air can ascend,” Nielsen-Gammon says. “Today’s conclusion is that all three will likely happen this week, beginning Friday afternoon and continuing possibly through Friday night.”

“A fairly broad area is under threat of snow on either side of a line from Austin to Lufkin. Some areas will get just a few flakes, while others could see 1-3 inches, according to the students’ forecast.”

The last snowfall in the Brazos Valley came last year on Dec. 10, with some areas receiving several inches of snow.

The students make their predictions based on charts and computer models displayed on numerous screens in the Texas A&M Weather Center, a new room devoted to such forecasts that opened this semester, says Don Conlee, instructional associate professor in meteorology.

“Today’s crowd was about three times larger than usual because the students are really interested in the snow forecast,” Conlee adds. “This new Weather Center gives them a good chance to interact with their professors in a very informal setting and pick their brains a little, so it’s a great learning tool for them.”