Posted 10:15 AM EST Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Our unusual quiet weather pattern continues. I say unusual because January can, and often does, bring the worst weather winter can manage to produce. Other than a couple of instances of snow back in December, the Valley has been pretty lucky. We’ve not had any issues with ice, wind, or bone-chilling cold temperatures so far.
While we have high pressure in place to keep east-central Ohio dry, a layer of warm air aloft will keep moisture in the mid-levels today. Clouds will dominate with maybe a few breaks in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures this afternoon will top out in the upper-30s to near 40°.
Wednesday will bring the start of a brief warming trend behind a warm front that will lift through the region. It won’t be 60° or anything but we will warm to the mid-40s Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday will be the sunnier day with clouds increasing on Thursday ahead of our next cold front.
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
The weekend will introduce a change toward a colder weather pattern that will likely extend through the end of the month. A strong low pressure system is forecast to move into the northwest Great Lakes trailing a couple of cold fronts. The first front will sweep through the region on Friday and the second on Saturday. Both of these features will likely produce precipitation in the Valley.
Temperatures, especially during the daytime hours on Friday, should be warm enough to support rain chances. As temperatures turn colder Friday night we can expect some scattered snow showers. The second front on Saturday will usher in even colder air (although not arctic cold). That also can support scattered snow showers on Saturday.
Although there will be opportunities for snow showers here in the Valley, this doesn’t look to be an efficient snow maker. I would expect any accumulation locally to be light and impacts minimal.
Temperatures, however, will become colder and will likely stay colder through the end of the month. It won’t get crazy cold, though. Temperatures should revert back to around average Saturday and Sunday.
NEXT WEEK
It doesn’t look to be all *that* cold through mid-week next week. Temperatures should hover around average and it’s going to seem much colder mainly because we’ve been warmer than average for quite some time.
The better chances of us seeing some below-normal cold might develop in the last week or so of the month. Even then we’re not looking at any harsh cold but we could see nighttime lows in the low teens and daytime highs in the low-20s.
Of course, along with colder temperatures comes the opportunity for snow. But, there just doesn’t appear to be any big storms in the making for our area at least through the next 10 days or so. The lowers the odds of any heavy snows. I won’t say there can’t be an impactful snowstorm, but the chances look pretty slim.
Thanks for reading the Valley’s only local weather outlook. Be safe (and kind) out there.
