Posted 10:30 AM EST Thursday, January 28, 2021
Guidance continues to point towards a messy winter storm late this weekend into early next week. A strengthening low pressure system will develop in the Midwest and travel through the Ohio Valley. Confidence is increasing that this system will produce a prolonged period of wintry precipitation types for east-central Ohio beginning late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
At this point, there are several factors that need to be worked out – namely the exact track of the low, temperature profiles, and timing of the system. These unknowns will determine precipitation amounts and types we could end up seeing locally. While snow looks to occur at the beginning, all types of wintry precipitation will be possible as warmer air wraps into the system as it travels across the region Sunday afternoon/evening.
The pattern also looks favorable for lake-enhanced snow showers occurring after the system exits Monday/Tuesday.
The bottom line? There are decent odds of seeing at least a few inches of snow from this system but it will not occur all at once. Temperatures warming above freezing Sunday and Monday afternoons would bring wet snow/rain and compact/melting snow. Factors such as snow amounts, precipitation types, and timing will come into focus over the next 24 – 36 hours.
I’ll continue to keep you updated. Be safe out there.
Thank you Joe!