Dry weather is forecast for Sunday under weak high pressure. Another system Sunday night into Monday will bring precipitation chances, gusty wind, and colder temperatures.
Although we will remain dry today, clouds will be slow to break much leaving us with only occasional sunshine. Nevertheless, temperatures will warm and we see a day of above average temperatures for a change. It’s been three weeks since we last had temperatures that were above normal. All-in-all, it will be a good day to work on your outdoor holiday decorating.
The dry weather won’t last long. A storm system that is bringing blizzard conditions to the Plains will shift east into Illinois and Indiana this afternoon. This system will continue its eastward trek and bring rain back to the forecast tonight.
The east-central Ohio region will remain on the warm side of this system as it travels northeast. As the system continues northeast on Monday, we will eventually end up on the backside. With colder air funneling in, rain showers will transition to snow.
Current model projections keep snow showers on the light side here in the Valley and accumulation here will not be much of an impact on travel. I expect most places will end up with less than an inch of snow. For those who travel north for work and school, take note that snow from this system will be primarily lake effect. Expect high snow accumulations as you go north.
One item that will impact your day on Monday will be wind. A tight pressure gradient will allow for a gusty west wind. These will get started early Monday morning and continue for much of the day. Gusts to 30 mph will be possible at times.
The warmest part of the day will be during the morning. The storm system will drag a cold front across the region and temperatures will take a downward trend during the afternoon.
TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
As our storm system exits northeast, drier weather can be expected on Tuesday. Clouds will hang tough through the period allowing for peaks of sun now and then. Temperatures will once again settle well below average behind the cold front. Highs on Tuesday and Wednesday not doing much better than 30°/32°.
Occasionally a band of lake effect snow may wander south enough to bring a quick snow shower but odds for any impactful accumulation will be low. There may be some hefty snow along the primary snow belt around Cleveland and east, but down here in east-central Ohio snow will be hit-or-miss.
Breezy conditions will continue through mid-week as well although winds will not be as gusty as they are on Monday. With the colder air in place, the wind will have an impact on wind chills.
A gradual warming trend will get underway on Thursday and temperatures may get all the way to the mid-30s area slowly moderating to the mid-40s by Friday.
Generally, we should enjoy a period of dry weather toward the end of the work week.
LONG RANGE
Some modeling brings the next storm system through the Great Lakes on Saturday. For now, this looks like a mainly rain event for the weekend, but it’s a week out and anything definite at this point would be moot.
Temperatures look to warm again by next weekend before they take the dive to that colder trend that’s been advertised in my earlier long-term outlooks.
