Identification of Blowing Snow Events over the Northern Great Plains with GOES-16

Blizzards and other lesser blowing snow events are a common high-latitude hazard over the Northern Great Plains (NGP) of the United States. While these events are often associated with the juxtaposition of strong winds with falling snow, many events are caused by winds lofting already fallen snow. Coined 'ground blizzards', these blowing snow events are unique in that they often occur under clear skies. This facilitates the use of satellite data to detect and characterize these events. Historically, this has been problematic because blowing snow plumes are visually similar to the high-albedo, snow covered surface. Detection with older geostationary satellites was primarily limited to plumes with sufficient vertical extent to cast shadows courtesy of large solar zenith angles. Alternatively, polar-orbiting satellites have be used to detect plumes using near-infrared bands, but infrequent overpasses has limited the operational usage of these sensors.

GOES-16 and its Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) have changed the game for operational detection of blowing snow. With improved temporal, spatial, and radiometric resolution over its predecessors, GOES-16 is now used operationally by regional National Weather Service (NWS) offices to detect the hazard. A multi-sensor analysis of a blowing snow (blizzard) event on 24 February 2019 is presented. Composite RGB imagery from GOES-16 is used to discriminate this hazard from scenes with clouds and surface snow/ice. With aid of meteorological observations, time-lapse photography, radar, and additional satellite data, fine-scale variability in plumes is identified and related to GOES-16 composite imagery. This will highlight the advantages of using this platform not only for forecasting, but for future efforts including blowing snow model evaluation and elucidation of physical processes occurring within the boundary layer.