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.