Tornado Outbreak

Tragically a tornado outbreak did occur on yesterday Sunday November 17. Approximately 70 tornadoes tore through Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee leaving death and destruction.  Our prayers go out to the many victims.  By the time the storms reached Northeast Ohio, they were not as intense but brought very high winds to much of the area. This weather was caused by the well advertised strong low pressure and front  which has cleared much of the eastern USA leaving much cooler air in its wake. Temperatures have fallen to the lower 40's in the area; while cool are not nearly as drastic as the early predicted low 30's. Temperatures will slowly moderate into the upper 40's by Thursday before the first in a series of cold fronts moving through the area potentially leading to much colder temperatures for early next
week.

The current number of tornadoes is approximate until field surveys confirm the actual numbers.

The next front is slated to approarch the area on Thursday and it will be the first in a series of progressively colder airmasses. 

Both the GFS and ECMWF models are forecasting very cold air arriving into the region on Sunday. There is a potential for significant snowfall beginning Saturday night for Northeast Ohio. More details later this week. 

Beyond that period, the Pacific and Arctic oscillations are pointing towards a ridge in the west and a trough in the east which may facilitate a period of colder than normal temperatures for the eastern half of the nation.