Season’s First Snowflakes???

It is that time of the year again when the first snowflakes falling from the sky alerts us to the reality that summer is over until next year. It was literally only a few days ago the region was awash in brilliant sunshine and high temperatures well into the seventies (70’s). Today is the transitional day as the first cold front of a pair moved through late last night and today a surge of cold air will arrive behind the second front. That frontal passage will set the stage for an unsettled and cool weekend. The weather pattern is rather progressive and by early next week temperatures will be back at or above seasonal averages.

Currently a cold front is moving through the area signaling the arrival of cold air for this weekend. High temperatures today rose into the upper fifties (50's). Once the front moves through lake effect precipitation will begin overnight from Cleveland and points east. Most of the precipitation will be in the form of rain but snow and grapple will also mix in at times, especially late. No accumulations are expected. To the west of Cleveland conditions may be conducive for temperatures to crash over night with a hard freeze possible for many areas.

Over the weekend lake effect conditions will persist. During the daylight hours the precipitation will be in the form of rain as temperatures will be rise into the forties (40's). Overnight the precipitation will mix with snow and grapple, especially in the higher elevations to the east of Cleveland. The lake effect precipitation will come to an end late in the day on Sunday. Any snow accumulations will be minor, occur over the higher elevations and melt shortly after the heavy precipitation ends.

Just as soon as the cold air arrived on Friday it will depart on Monday. Cold high pressure will move east early in the day allowing much milder temperatures to move back into the region. After morning low temperatures near or below freezing temperatures afternoon temperatures will rise to near sixty degrees.  High temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday will be in middle to upper sixties (60's) under generally clear skies.

The next cold front will approach the area on Thursday as a low pressure system moves through the central Great Lakes. High temperatures will be in the low sixties (60's) before rain showers associated with the front move through. The air behind this front will lower temperatures a few degrees below normal on Friday. Looking ahead to next weekend temperatures appear to rebound and could be a few degrees above normal.