NOTE: Today’s update contains forecast changes from yesterday…
Scattered snow showers and flurries from an upper level system will exit to the east this morning. The rest of Friday should be pretty uneventful with more clouds than sun. While it will still be a cold day it won’t be quite as cold as the last several days. Most neighborhoods will get to the upper teens this afternoon.
The next system arrives tonight and the overnight model runs have made this a fairly organized snow event for east-central Ohio. While I do not believe we will get a ton of snow from this, it will be an efficient snow maker – enough to have an impact on the region tonight and into Saturday.
This morning’s hi-res model runs keep most of the moisture with this system right through east-central Ohio late this evening and tonight. With such cold arctic air in place, snow will be easy to produce.
TIMING
We should have no weather issues today other than cold. Snow showers will approach the Tuscarawas Valley late this evening and overspread from the southeast around 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Hi-res FutureCast radar through midnight:
Snow showers will continue overnight and begin to taper off Saturday morning. As another round of cold air spreads into Ohio from the northeast, snow showers will change over to lake effect snow showers Saturday afternoon.
At this time it is very difficult to forecast where these lake effect bands will set up and how far south they might reach. Snow showers will be possible through the day on Saturday.
SNOW ACCUMULATION
Here is another element of the forecast that I’ve changed – primarily to cover the possibility of lake effect snow bands Saturday afternoon and evening but also because this will be an efficient snow maker.
Tonight’s snow will be synoptic (widespread) snow – Everyone will get snow this evening and tonight. Snow will change to lake effect Saturday afternoon.
THE FORECAST CAN CHANGE LATER TODAY as the hi-res models work with additional data. Winter Weather Advisories may be issued. Stay up to date and be aware that the forecast may change.
IMPACTS
Snow tonight and Saturday will be light and fluffy – easy to blow and move around. Normally, we figure about a 10/1 snow to liquid ratio but this will be much higher – perhaps as high as 25/1. It will accumulate on roads, highways and walkways.
Remember also that road salt doesn’t work very well when temperatures are this cold. Trucks will need to plow snow off the roads, so expect slick spots.
Gusty winds on Saturday will blow snow around reducing visibility.
NEW YEARS EVE & NEW YEARS DAY
There is just no relief in the near term from the brutal cold temperatures and wind chills. While I’m not expecting any additional snow over the holiday, the cold will have an impact on your weekend and holiday.
Temperatures on Sunday and Monday will not get much better than the mid teens for highs. Wind chills will be in the single digits.Nighttime lows will drop to around zero with sub zero wind chills.
We have at least another full week of brutal cold before any relief comes our way.
The cold will have a greater impact next week as everyone goes back to work and school.
