Apologies for the lack of updates recently. Winter weather has come in full force a few days ahead of the actual Winter Solstice. We’ll see possibly record-tying or record-breaking cold Friday in some parts of the area, our first measurable snowfall in the city this season, all while temperatures swing about 30ºF from now through Sunday. The medium term shows a continuance of average to below-average temperatures in the upper-30s and low-40s.
Rest of today – we had some passing snow showers this morning, and there will be another chance for snow showers this afternoon. The main story will be the wind, cold temperatures, and low wind chills. A wind advisory is in effect for today with a high wind warning in place for tonight. Sustained winds of 20-30mph are expected, with wind gusts between 40mph to as high as 60mph possible later. Combined with high temperatures only in the mid-20s, this will result in wind chills of between 0-10ºF in the city.
Friday – slightly colder than today with highs in the mid-20s, with a very cold start to the morning as overnight lows drop into the teens. Winds will slowly abate through the course of the day as the high pressure center depicted above moves east over us, lessening the pressure gradient. Overnight Friday, a warm front approaches and brings the possibility for 1-2″ of snow.
Saturday – the snow will continue into the first half of Saturday with the possibility of 1-2″ additional inches of accumulation before temperatures warm and winds turn towards the southwest. There is some question as to whether some period of freezing rain will occur before a transition to all rain from south to north in the afternoon hours. High temperatures rebound nicely into the upper-40s in the wake of the warm front passing through.
Sunday – a cold front will follow the passage of the warm front mentioned above, but that shouldn’t happen until late Sunday. Ahead of that cold front passing, temperatures will continue to warm into the low-mid 50s as rain continues to fall. That snow won’t stick around long!