Break in the Brutal Cold?

It is more of the same for the weather around here, but there are subtle changes underway that hopefully will take hold and create large implications for the local area in the future. Yesterday and overnight a snow storm affected the Southern states from Texas to Virginia. The heaviest snow missed the major cities but a large area was impacted by the snowfall. Further north a weak area of low pressure is moving through the Ohio Valley with an area of light snow. Once this system moves over the East Coast the attention turns to the evolving upper air pattern. The pattern appears to be very active and indications point to a strengthening Atlantic ridge moving west to near Florida.   This could have a major affect on our local weather.

Yesterday and last night a major winter storm affected the states from Texas to Virginia. The heaviest snows feel for areas north of I-20 with some locations receiving nearly one foot of snow. The center of the major metropolitan areas of Dallas and Atlanta escaped heavy snows but snowfall did occur on their fringes.

Currently a weak area of low pressure and light snow is moving through the Ohio Valley. Snow amounts are generally an inch or two but lake-affect snows have pile up to more than six (6) inches near and around Chicago.

On Friday large arctic high pressure will be in control of the weather for the entire Eastern half of the nation. This will provide clear but cold conditions for many areas. Friday morning lows will be below zero (-5 to -10) with high temperatures only recovering to near the ten (10) degree mark. Saturday morning low temperatures will fall a few degrees below zero (0) again. High temperatures during the day Saturday should reach near twenty (20) degrees.

On Sunday a low pressure system will approach the area from the west. Return flow out of the Gulf of Mexico will allow temperatures to rise to near freezing but also supply ample amounts of moisture. Snowfall will develop during the day and last during the night. Snow fall amounts may be in the three to six (3 to 6) range depending on the eventual track of the low pressure system. Temperatures on Monday look to remain in the low thirties (30’s) as there is a lack of Arctic air behind this system.

On Tuesday a return to more seasonable temperatures may be in our cards. A developing low pressure system near Texas should send much more seasonable air into the region. High temperatures may rise into the lower forties (40’s) with any precipitation that does fall being in the form of rain. The system should track to our north and west keeping our local area on the warm side of a system for a change. This system may be warm and dynamic enough to cause severe weather to break out over the Southeastern States. This evolving and complicated weather pattern warrants watching as changes will have a major impact on the area. 

Record Cold in Cleveland!!!

Cleveland’s Record Cold              

The Cleveland Area has smashed record lows five (5) of the previous seven (7) days. Today was the most extreme as temperatures officially dropped to negative seventeen (-17) this morning. That is the coldest Cleveland reading ever for February and only three (3) degrees away from Cleveland’s all-time record low set in 1994.  This has been a week to remember or forget. The current cold pattern began on this past Saturday when an Alberta Clipper dropped 4-8 inches of snow across the area and allowed air originating in Siberia to settle in. The temperatures will moderate into the weekend as a low pressure will travel up the Ohio River valley spreading snow across the area. Cold air returns next week but should not (hopefully) be as brutal as what we just endured.

Currently arctic high pressure is moving to the east of the area after allowing temperatures to plummet well below zero across the entire area. Afternoon high temperatures should rise into the teens (10’s) A storm system will begin to organize over the  lower Mississippi Valley areas initially generating frozen precipitation before warmer area moves in and changes the precipitation to rain overnight. 

Light snow will quickly spread into the area on Saturday morning as a weak area of low pressure tracks through the Ohio Valley.  Snowfall amounts of 2-5 inches seem reasonable by the time the snow ends. The heaviest snows will fall on locations furthest south and east. Temperatures should rise all night and high temperatures will approach the freezing mark.  Across the lower Mississippi Valley returning moisture and warmth will support thunderstorms that have the potential to turn severe with large hail, strong winds, and a few isolated tornadoes.

On Sunday another arctic front will move through sending temperatures crashing.  

The core of the cold air will be moving through on Monday with high temperatures around ten (10) degrees. Overnight low temperatures will once again fall below zero (0).

On Tuesday another system will be approaching the area. Southerly flow ahead of the system should allow temperatures to rise to near twenty (20) degrees. Behind it yet another blast of arctic air will move into the area lasting into the end of the week.

The cold looks to hold through the end of the month. As March begins the models are split at how the weather pattern will or will not evolve. Previously all models were indicating a shift in the pattern that would move the trough and colder air to the Western part of the country allowing warmer and seasonable temperatures to develop over the Eastern half. Now some models are indicating that shift will not occur and the present pattern will remain locked in.  By next week it should become clearer what the month of March will hold. In the meantime February is potentially on track to become the coldest February on record of the area! 

Brutal February Cold!!!!!

The forecast word for this week is COLD!!!! After a weekend where temperatures were in the forties (40's) to near fifty(50) it will be a shock to the system. The first in a series of cold fronts moved through on Sunday and it will only get progressively colder the next five (5) days. This comes after the western ridge temporarily weakened and allowed some rain to affect the west coast. Now the ridge is strengthening and expanding  northward. This will cause the trough over eastern North America to sharpen and allow the coldest air of the winter season to affect many locations. Unlike the New England States, any snowfall for  Great Lake States will generally be light outside the favored snow belt locations.

Currently a ridge of high pressure is moving through the region clearing skies for the overnight hours. Temperatures only managed to rise into the lower twenties (20's) but overnight lows should not be too low as warm air advection will begin in advance of the next arctic front.

On Wednesday the next front will move through during the overnight hours. During the day temperatures will rise well into the thirties (30's) and precipitation may begin as light rain before changing over to light snow. Snowfall accumulation should be light if anything at all.

On Thursday, temperatures will fall most of the day with high temperatures occurring before sunrise. Overnight lows may be a few degrees either side of zero depending on cloud cover and winds. Friday the area will under high pressure and high temperatures will rise into  the upper teens (10's)

The next storm system will be tracking through the area during the day Saturday. With cold air already in trenched, snowfall will accompany the system. Amounts at this time are uncertain but may be a few inches. The low pressure will allow a double shot of arctic air to move through the area. Temperatures will plummet overnight probably reaching below zero for Sunday morning low temperatures; wind-chills may approach negative twenty (-20)!! High temperatures on Sunday right now appear to remain in the single digits. 

On Monday the brunt of the cold air will be east of the area as the next system will already be approaching the area. The area should experience southerly winds and high temperatures will rebound to near twenty (20) degrees 

Big Game Sunday Snowstorm

The local Cleveland area is still digging out of a snow storm that affect the area Sunday into Monday. Much of northeastern Ohio received eight (8) to fifteen (15) inches of snow. The heaviest snow occurred along the lake shore and as heavy snow bands setup during the day Sunday. Overnight the snow tapered off as temperatures rose to near freezing. A few hours of freezing rain occurred that created a glaze on the snow. During Monday morning colder air and snow rushed back into the area on the back side of the storm. The heaviest snow from the system fell near Chicago into southeastern Michigan and northwestern Ohio where snowfall amounts near twenty (20) inches occurred. Boston also received sixteen (16) inches of snow from the system as it moved quickly through. A quick moving low pressure system will track east just north of the area overnight before another arctic front moves through on Wednesday. The active pattern will continue through the weekend with a system affecting the area every couple days.

The heaviest snowfall from the February 1-2, 2015 snowstorm fell near the lake shore. Areas to the south saw a mix and transition to rain which reduced the snow accumulation

Currently the area is on the backside of arctic high pressure. This has allowed temperatures to rise into the middle twenties after a cold start in the single digits. A storm system near Iowa will track quickly east overnight spreading light snow into the area.

On Wednesday the weather will be active for the region. After a system tracks through during the early morning hours a brief calm period will allow temperatures to rise to near the freezing mark. During the afternoon hours another system will begin to affect the area with snowfall. The snow will continue during the evening and end overnight. Accumulations at this time look to be between two (2) and four (4) inches. Another shot of much colder air will move in for Thursday will highs staying in the teens. Along the west coast a strong system will begin to impact the area from Northern California northward with heavy rain. This will be the first time it has rain in some places since last Christmas.

Friday’s morning lows will once again be a few degrees on either side of zero (0) before temperatures rebound into the middle twenties. The weather on Saturday should be quiet before another system approaches the area. High temperatures on Saturday will rise into the thirties.

Overnight Saturday into Sunday another system will track towards the area. At this time the track is highly uncertain and the area may see more decent snowfall or very little at all.

Unfortunately the weather pattern does not appear to want to transition out of the western ridge and eastern trough anytime soon. At this time there is still a probability of below normal temperatures for the second week of February.