Cold and Snow Return

The cold outbreak that that began during Christmas broke as expected this past Monday. The thaw lasted much of the week with high temperatures peaking in the the 60's on Thursday.  A pacific storm system moving onshore in California earlier in the week brought devastating floods and mud slides to areas around Los Angeles. This storm system has brought a strong cold front east with cold arctic air returning to the eastern half of the Nation.

Today a strong cold front has continued moving east with an area of slow pressure tracking northeast along it. This combination has brought rain transitioning to freezing rain then sleet and then snow to the Ohio Valley. Local high temperatures in the morning were around sixty degrees before dropping sharply into the twenties.

Forecast snowfall amounts today will range from three to seven inches across much of the Cleveland area. Snow fall amounts will increase as you move east.

On Saturday the storm system will quickly move east and snow will end during the morning hours. Dry conditions will rule for the rest of the weekend. Cold air will remain over the area with high temperatures on Saturday and Sunday in the upper teens.

On Monday a clipper type system will approach the area from the northwest. Snow will spread across the day with accumulations likely. High temperatures will be in the twenties on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday high temperatures will be in the teens with generally dry conditions.

On Thursday high pressure will be moving east which should allow the start to a moderating trend. High temperatures should be in twenties with additional warming expected to close out the week. A storm system will be possible along the East Coast which could alter the speed of moderation.

Cold Holds into the New Year 2018

This last full week in December has felt like deep winter across the eastern half of the nation. A deep trough has been reinforced by a series of systems maintaining the cold air. Across the the western half of the nation temperatures have been generally above normal under a ridge of high pressure. This pattern will change very little over the next week with the coldest air in a number of years visiting many areas east of the Rocky Mountains. 

Today a weak clipper system is exiting the Mid-Atlantic after dropping a few inches of snow across northern Ohio overnight.  Today's high temperature will be around twenty (20).  Lake effect snow will mainly affect the primary snow belt today under westerly flow; several inches of snow are likely. As the flow becomes northwest the snow will push further inland and could produce a couple inches of accumulation for areas outside the primary snow belt. Overnight colder air will arrive with high temperatures in the low to middle teens (10's) on Sunday.

Monday and Tuesday the weather will be controlled by a large but frigid high pressure system.  The weather will mostly be dry though light snow showers and heavier squalls will be possible in the snow belt. High temperatures will be at most in the lower teens (10's) with low temperatures a few degrees on either side of zero (0). Wind chill advisories may be posted for the extreme cold.

 Wednesday another low pressure system will begin to affect the area as high pressure moves away. This system will generate more snow with a few inches of accumulations likely. High temperatures may be around twenty (20).

Thursday may see the arrival if the coldest air of the season. High temperatures locally may not reach ten (10) with low temperatures several degrees below zero; wind chills will likely be a factor.  After this surge of cold air a pattern change will be long over due and hopefully a warmer one will be on the horizon.