Dry conditions, seasonably cool temperatures, and mostly sunny skies are expected on Tuesday. Our next storm system will bring back the potential for wintry precipitation, including freezing rain, on Wednesday. Dry weather and above average temperatures return to end the work week.
Tonight will bring a chilly night to the Valley. Temperatures will drop to the mid-teens overnight but the light spot flurries this afternoon will have ended.
High pressure will keep us dry on Tuesday. We will even get into a decent amount of sunshine tomorrow afternoon after morning cloudiness clears. With the added sun and lack of clouds, temperatures will get a bit warmer too. Afternoon highs should approach the mid-30s.
Despite Tuesday’s sunshine and dry weather, I would hold off on the car wash. Our next storm system is approaching and will bring another round of messy winter precipitation to the Valley for Tuesday night and Wednesday. This system will bring a variety of winter weather impacts to the Valley.
TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY
Low pressure will move out of the southern Plains and travel northeast through the central Great Lakes through Wednesday. This storm system will spread precipitation of varying types through the Valley through the bulks of Wednesday.
It is a just a little too early yet for exact details due to a few model issues with timing, precipitation should start out as snow around sunrise Wednesday morning. Those snow showers will transition to a mix of freezing rain and sleet and then change to all rain around lunchtime as a warm front lifts through the region. Rain showers will continue into Wednesday night before ending around midnight.
IMPORTANT: This is an early forecast. There are timing differences in the modeling and these differences will have an impact on precipitation types and when those occur. I will have a better handle on timing in Tuesday’s update.
LOCAL IMPACTS
Although timing remains an issue, this will be close enough that chances are good it will affect the Wednesday morning commute. Snow will be the primary issue in the early morning, then freezing rain and sleet on top of accumulating snow will be the issue mid-morning. Rain and slop will be an afternoon issue.
You all know the drill – slick roads and highways, especially bridges and overpasses. Untreated roads will be especially hazardous. The icing on outdoor walkways and stairs can be treacherous as well.
SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATION
This one will be a stronger storm than we saw on Sunday. It will bring more snow and heavier ice accretion. It will, however, move through the region quickly. Warm air moving in during the afternoon will limit snow accumulation to a few inches.
The period of freezing rain will be a bit longer too and that means more ice is expected to accumulate on roads and hard surfaces. Trees and power lines will also see increased ice so the threat for power outages is higher than it was on Sunday.
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY
Our low will get shoved out of the region as it moves northeast into Quebec on Thursday. Drier air will quickly move in behind a weak cold front effectively shutting down precipitation by early Thursday morning. High pressure will build over the Great Lakes region to bring decreasing clouds and dry conditions Thursday and Friday. Daytime temperatures should hover around the low 40s on Thursday, mid 40s or better on Friday. Thursday would be a good time to wash the car/truck.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
The next weather system arrives over the weekend with low odds for snow showers Friday night as the system approaches. Precipitation in the form of rain becomes likely by Saturday afternoon. Rain showers chances will remain elevated through Sunday before the system moves off Sunday night into Monday.
Temperatures through the weekend will be downright mild. Expect afternoon highs around 50 on Saturday warming to the mid-50s on Sunday. Temperatures will drop back to the 40s by Monday.
