Posted 9:17 AM EST 12/17
Updated 10 56 AM EST to cancel the Winter Weather Advisory
Winter weather continues today as scattered snow showers associated with the system’s cold front swings through. Snow showers will remain possible until around lunchtime locally or shortly after. Accumulation will be light and most areas will see less than an inch of additional snow today.
The Winter Weather Advisory will remain in place this morning and should be allowed to expire on time late morning. There is still a threat for another round of light freezing rain yet. [Update 10:56 AM: The Winter Weather Advisory for Columbiana, Tuscarawas, Jefferson, Harrison, Guernsey, Coshocton, Carroll, Muskingum has been canceled]
A second reinforcing cold front will drop south through east-central Ohio tonight. This could trigger another round of light snow showers locally with little in the way of accumulation.
Temperatures today will top out in the mid-30s but turn colder tonight behind the front with lows near 20°. It will turn breezy today with a gusty northwest wind. Gusts can reach 20/25 mph at times.
Wednesday will bring dry weather back to the Valley but temperatures will be much colder with afternoon highs in the mid-20s. Temperatures locally will remain on the cold side through the end of the work week.
QUIET WEEKEND WEATHER
Dry conditions are expected over the weekend. Temperatures around the Valley will warm a bit and most areas should get to the low-40s Saturday and Sunday.
CHRISTMAS OUTLOOK
It’s been a few days since I last updated the prospects for a White Christmas in the Valley. Since the storm is winding down today, I took some time to check. Odds for snow around Christmas Day look mighty bleak – at best.
Long-range climate modeling has been very consistent in keeping a strong zonal (west-to-east) flow that will allow for a strong Pacific jet and above-average temperatures through the latter part of December. This doesn’t bode well for those hoping for snow over the Christmas holiday.
As a result of the updated climate data, I’ve lowered the odds of snow on Christmas.
That zonal flow is likely to break down in early January. Should this trend pan out, conditions are likely to turn more wintry to start the new year.
