Record Warm to End

The local area is closing out what will be a record warm year on a very seasonable note. Temperature since December 21 have generally been above normal; a cold front passage yesterday brought temperatures down to normal levels. Over this weekend and into the beginning of the work week above normal temperatures will return as a deep trough develops over the Western US. This trough will expand to cover much of the County by the middle of next week allowing below normal temperatures to spread east.

Currently the local area is experiencing seasonably cold air after a cold front moved through yesterday evening. Lake effect snow overnight produced one to four inches of snow for areas from Cleveland eastward. Lake effect showers have been diminishing through the day will minor additional accumulations for areas where they have persisted. Temperatures today have been steady around thirty (30) degrees.

On Saturday a storm system will move through the Great Lakes region forcing a warm front north of the area. Light rain and snow showers will develop during the day with no accumulations expected. High temperatures are expected to approach forty (40). On Sunday conditions will be dry with high temperatures approaching forty (40) once again.

On Monday a major storm system will be taking shape over the Central Plains. Warm air will be pumped north from the Gulf of Mexico with local high temperatures approaching fifty (50). Severe thunderstorms will be possible across the lower Mississippi Valley as snow and ice spreads across the Northern Plains.

On Tuesday the storm system will move into the Great Lakes Region. The local area will remain in the warm sector with showers over spreading the area. High temperatures will be be in the fifties (50's).

On Wednesday an arctic front will sweep through the local area early in the day. High temperatures will be reached early with temperatures falling into the twenties. Lake  effect snow showers will be possible with accumulations to be determined closer to the event. This will be the beginning of a period of below normal temperatures for the local area and much of the Country.

Arctic Blast and Snow!

The cold air is on the doorstep as anticipated .A strong storm system is spinning  north of Lake Superior and will rotate a trough of low pressure through the area bringing with it very cold air. This cold air will generate heavy lake effect snows downwind of the Great Lakes. Another storm system will move through the second half of the weekend with a general snowfall. There will be little time for the air to moderate as a colder air mass than the one set to arrive this week will arrive for the middle of next week. Welcome to winter! 

 Today was a quiet and dry day across the area. Sunshine was plentiful before noon and allowed high temperatures to approach forty (40). A cold air mass is set to arrive tomorrow morning and temperatures will not rise much if at all above thirty (30) Winds out of the west and southwest will focus the snowfall up the shoreline from Cleveland. Overnight the winds are expect to veer to the west and later northwest pushing the lake effect snow bands into much of Northern Ohio.

Friday appears to be the snowiest day of this event. Lake effect snows, at times heavy,  are expected to affect areas from Lorain County and east. During the overnight the snows will move back up the shoreline as winds back to the west and then the southwest. Saturday should be generally dry once the lake effect snows come to an end. Expect high temperatures on Friday and Saturday to be around thirty(30).

Snow fall amounts for this snow event will be the heaviest in the prime snow belt where more than a foot of snow will be possible. Across Cuyahoga County snowfall may range from 4 to 12 inches.

On Sunday a storm system will approach the region from the west. At this time the track and strength is uncertain. In general a synoptic snow is expected during the day with some areas possibly mixing with or changing over to a cold rain. High temperatures will be in the thirties (30's). Monday should be quiet as this system departs from the region leaving temperatures in the lower to middle thirties (30's).

On Tuesday the next arctic front will be on our door step. Temperatures will either rise early and then fall or fall all day into the 20's. Wednesday appears to the be coldest day of the period with high temperatures possibly not rising above twenty (20)!

Above is the preliminary November 29-30, 2016 tornado outbreak. Approximately forty-two tornadoes touched down during the the two days causing the deaths of five individuals.

Calm Before Winter's Arrival

The Cleveland area is currently experiencing very seasonable conditions for the beginning of meteorological winter. November 2016 was the second warmest November on record and it has helped make Fall 2016 the second warmest on record. This past November was also the FIFTH consecutive month that the area has experienced a top ten warmest month.  This very warm stretch of weather is about to come to a crashing halt, at least for the time being, if the predictions for next week are accurate. The present weather conditions were brought on by a very vigorous system which help generate deadly tornadoes and wild fires across the South. A vigorous slow moving storm system fanned wild fires around and into Gatlinburg, TN causing destruction and killing several people on Monday. On Tuesday the system produce severe thunderstorms from Louisiana to Tennessee which generated numerous tornadoes and five deaths. On Wednesday the storms push further east and generated more tornadoes from Florida through North Carolina. At this present time more than forty (40) tornadoes have been confirmed.

Currently seasonably cool air has arrived. Conditions today were cloudy with scattered lake effect rain and snow showers. High temperatures reached the lower forties (40's).  Conditions will be similar tomorrow with the showers decreasing through the day; high temperatures will be around forty (40).

On Sunday a weak system will be approaching the area.  Warm air advection will generate light rain or snow showers across the area during the afternoon and evening hours. Amounts of either will be light so no major issues area expected. High temperatures will once again be around forty (40).  A major piece of energy affecting the NW States with rain and snow will bring major weather changes to the entire Country by the end of the week.

On Monday conditions locally will be quiet with temperatures in the forties (40's) Arctic air will begin to plunge into the Inter Mountain West as the strong storm system creates a deep trough. Additional energy along the gulf coast will create a low pressure near Texas which will bring rain and possible thunderstorms to the Gulf States.

 On Tuesday the low pressure will be moving through the Ohio Valley. Its track and timing at this time is uncertain As it moves north arctic air will continue to spread south and east.  The local area will be wet and experience high temperatures in the forties (40's).

Wednesday will be the transition day for the area. Rain and mild conditions will continue as low pressure approaches and moves through the area.  Depending on the track the cold front will move through either Wednesday night or Thursday night. Either way high temperatures will be in the forties (40's).

Arctic air will either be over the area or will arrive to the area on Thursday.  Once the strong cold front moves through lake effect snow will be generated downwind of the Great Lakes. This has the potential to be a major snow event where the bands set-up.  Thursday temperatures may begin in the thirties but will ultimately fall from there. Winter will be making its arrival known!