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!

Winter's First Visit

After a long hot summer (hottest on record) and a very warm fall, winter will make its first appearance this weekend. A strong low pressure that is bringing the first snow storm of the season to the country will create a deep trough over the Northeast. As this occurs the coldest air of the season will arrive on strong flow out of the northwest. This deep trough will move progressively through and will be replaced by a ridge of high pressure. This will allow temperatures to recover to seasonable levels by the middle of the short holiday work week.

A strong area of low pressure is moving through the upper Midwest. Heavy snow with blizzard conditions are affecting Northern Minnesota. A strong cold front is moving through the Mississippi River Valley with showers and some thunderstorms near the Great Lakes Region. Before the cold moved through the local area, southerly winds brought record high temperatures (74) to the Cleveland area!

On Saturday the strong front will sweep through the area during the morning hours. Overnight temperatures near sixty (60) will be the highs for the day as temperatures will fall during the day. Rain showers will arrive early and then mix and change to snow after the noon hour. Overnight the snow showers will continue with an inch or two possible for most areas with more accumulations possible in the snow belt. Sunday lake effect snow showers will continue with additional minor accumulations possible for most and several inches possible for the snow belt.  The snow showers will end for most overnight Sunday; Monday will be dry. High temperatures will only reach the upper thirties (30's) for Sunday and Monday.

On Tuesday high pressure will be moving east as a storm system begins to organize over the Central Plains. Depending on the amount of return moisture and warm from the Gulf of Mexico severe weather may be possible from Kansas south to Texas. High temperatures across Northern Ohio will be in the middle forties (40's).

On Wednesday the storm system will be moving through the Mississippi River Valley region. Showers and possibly severe thunderstorms will be accompanying the cold front. Locally high temperatures will approach fifty (50) as rain overspreads the area.