Beginning of an Active Pattern

This week’s arctic air mass is quickly fading in the rear mirror as a more zonal and active weather pattern is beginning to take shape. The  deep trough which allowed subzero readings through the northern tier of the country and provided the cold air for the snow in the Southeast is being replace by a broad trough centered over the eastern Rocky Mountains. This will allow the air to moderated over Northeastern Ohio while also allowing stronger systems to move through the Ohio Valley. Unfortunately, overall colder than normal temperatures will persist but the additional storminess will generate more wintry precipitation than recently experienced. The first indications of this change will be this weekend as a storm system ejects out of the West.  The low pressure will track to our north and west keeping the snow to our west and our area in the warm sector. A warm front will develop and move north of the area allowing temperatures to rise into the 40’s on Saturday. Light snow will fall overnight Friday before becoming rain during the day on Saturday. The front will push through the area Saturday night bringing colder readings and possible light snow.  The next, and what appears to be a much more major system, will not affect the area until Tuesday night into Wednesday. It will have the potential to affect the area with heavy snowfall if the current track of the low pressure to our south and west holds true.

Currently a low pressure system is organizing over the southern Plains. A warm front will develop and move to the north of Ohio. Light snows will develop in response and cross the area overnight.

Saturday with the warm front north of the area, Northeast Ohio will be in the warm sector with temperatures in the 40’s and rain showers. The front will move through overnight bringing a return to colder conditions. Precipitation at this time looks light so snow melt will not be major.

Monday will be the quiet before the storm. High pressure will be moving through the area providing sunny but cold conditions. Another cold front will be approaching the Great Lakes region from the north and west.  The energy for the major storm system next week will be moving through west Texas as this time.  By Monday’s update the track and strength of the storm system to impact the area midweek should be more certain. At that time I will layout the particular impacts for our region.