A second reinforcing cold front will sink south through Ohio today. Temperatures will not vary much from where they are this morning across the Valley and a brisk west wind will set up. Expect a cold Wednesday with afternoon highs around 23° or so. A gusty west wind will bring wind chills in the low teens this afternoon.
Cold air off the Great Lakes will set up lake effect snow bands. Already early this morning, heavy snow and thundersnow are being reported in northern Ohio. A few of these bands can reach far enough south to bring a quick hit of snow here in the Valley. Locations in the northern half will be more likely to get in on a band of snow showers.
A robust snow squall is possible through mid-afternoon locally. A squall can bring reduced visibility and a quick half-inch of accumulation today.
Skies will gradually begin to clear late in the day and continue tonight. Those clear skies will allow temperatures to drop to the low teens by sunrise Thursday morning.
Thursday will bring a sunny but cold day with afternoon temperatures around 30°.
FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND
While it will be cold the next couple of days, an extended period of quiet weather with warming temperatures will get underway over the weekend. Friday will be the coldest day of the near-term with highs in the mid-30s.
Temperatures Saturday and Sunday will warm to the mid-40s. With practically no chances for precipitation through the weekend, folks will have no weather issues to contend with while shopping for Christmas.
LOOKING AHEAD – CHRISTMAS FORECAST
An extended period of dry weather with mild temperatures are likely next week. That’s not good news for those who want snow on Christmas.
Generally speaking, high temperatures next week can run in the mid to upper-40s leading up to Christmas. It is not impossible to reach 50° on Monday. And, there are no signals for any storms, snow or otherwise.
For the longer term, however, the mild temperature and quiet weather regime will shift to a colder and more active weather pattern during the first weeks of January.
