Weather forecasters discuss the science behind the storm

ASHWAUBENON - Depending on your location, this latest storm could bring a lot of snow, or just a little.

So how do the meteorologists predict when and where the storm will hit?

At the National Weather Service office in Ashwaubenon, 14 meteorologists work around the clock tracking storms across Northeast Wisconsin.

Six computers provide six different outcomes to an approaching weather system.

"Each computer model will have a slightly different simulation, and solution to how a storm affects the Midwest," said Jeff Last, National Weather Service meteorologist.

"The models give us a scenario of what might happen, and the forecasters use their experience to decide whether or not, that model is on to something," said Last.

FOX 11's Director of Meteorology Pete Petoniak says his job seems simple.

"People want to know how much snow we're going to have in their backyard," said Petoniak.

Petoniak has been tracking this latest storm.

"Most of the snow will stay to the southwest portion of the viewing area," said Petoniak.

He says two systems are coming together, and there will be a big difference in snow totals.

"You can go 40 miles and go from basically one inch, to six or seven inches," said Petoniak.

Petoniak says computer models have improved. One model recently followed a storm all the way from Japan. 

"You could see something was happening and it was probably going to impact the central portion of the U.S. and it did hold up and actually did give us some snow as well," said Petoniak.

But if you ask any meteorologist, they will probably say forecasting the weather in the Midwest can be a challenge. 

"Including those storms that consolidate over this part of the country. Lake Michigan has a big affect on our weather as well," said Last.

"There's a lot of churning in our guts, sometime we're kind of saying, you know," said Petoniak.

"And that's why we'll always have human beings making weather forecasts," said Last.

Meteorologists say the winter season may be winding down.

They say the spring severe weather season is just a little more than a month away.