Wintry Week Upon Us
Wintry Week Upon UsWSAZ Blog Listing
Wintry Week Upon Us
Topic Author: Chris Bailey
Posted: 3:13 AM Jan 12, 2009
Replies Posted: 11 comments
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Good Monday morning everyone and welcome to a wintry week across the tri state! We have been talking about this week as the switch to some wicked winter weather and that still looks to be the case as we have several snow chances to go along with bitterly cold temps.

Some parts of the region picked up light snow last night and this was likely enough to cause some slick spots on some roads so be on watch early this morning if traveling.

Let's get the rest of the outlook started by breaking it down day by day.

Today will feature a southerly wind flow ahead of our clipper that will be moving in Tuesday. A mix of sun and clouds will be with us by afternoon with the chance for a few early flurries or leftover snow showers. Temps today will generally be in the 30s by can make a run at 40 if we can get enough sunshine... especially in the south and west.

The clipper looks a little slower in getting in here as it moves into western Kentucky late tonight and through the tri state during the day Tuesday. A band of light snow will be along and just ahead of this front...

GFS Tuesday Morning


Temps to start out Tuesday will be in the lower 30s and there could be a brief spike right before the front moves through. A touch of arctic air quickly moves in as the front passes. Winds will crank up during this time as temps fall through the 20s winding up in the teens by late evening. It is during this time that northwesterly flow will kick in with widespread snow showers and squalls breaking out.

GFS Tuesday Evening


That is a setup that can lay down an inch or two. I also want to mention the storm developing off the Carolina coast. That is something I was pointing out as a possibility a few days ago before any of the models showed this. I am wondering if the models are just latching onto a trend to bring this storm closer to the east coast as a major storm? It won't have a direct impact on us... but it could alter the clippers behind it. Just something to watch for.

Wednesday will feature another strong clipper heading toward the region from the northwest. After a very cold start temps will spike up into the low 30s Wednesday afternoon just ahead of our arctic blast. The models continue to struggle with the track of this clipper. The European model continues to come a little farther south with each run and is now just north of Cincy with the track...

Wednesday Evening


That would be a good track to lay down snow across the tri state and would also have a very nice little northwesterly snow event once the low passes by.

Now... the GFS is a little farther north at the same time...



Even with the northerly track... the model spits out some snow around here as the front moves through Wednesday night and with snow showers Thursday. The GFS Ensembles are leaning toward the European track!  I will take the European in this fight!

This brings us to the bitter cold moving in for Thursday and Friday. Highs Thursday may not get out of the teens and lows by Friday morning will head toward being a few degrees on either side of 0!



Again... that is some impressive cold across much of the country. Check out those 20s deep into the heart of Florida.

Temps Friday afternoon will struggle into the low and mid teens. Winds will be a player as well Thursday and Friday giving us sub 0 wind chills.

A weak system may try to bring some light snow and flurries to us Friday night and Saturday as we await another clipper to impact the region at some point this coming weekend. The models are more robust with this storm as they try to develop something else out of it.

While the cold may relax a day or two early next week. The pattern is locking in and looking to become more stormy as a split flow develops in the jet stream to take us through the rest of January and likely into the first of February!

There you have it my friends! How much snow will you see this week? An inch or two? Several inches? As I mentioned in my last post... if I could tell you exactly how much snow you would get I would have made enough money to retire from this biz a long time ago! Just sit back and relax and enjoy a wintry week!

I do want to remind you once again about winterizing your home or car before the bitterly cold temps hit later this week. It's a good time to check everything out to make sure it will be able to handle the arctic blast.

I will update as I can through the day so check back. Until then... have a great Monday and take care.

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Posted by: Josh Hey Chris, do you think that the bulk of our snowfall amounts for this winter will be seen in February and early March like last year, or are whe going to miss out on the "Big" snow once again.

Posted by: Sgtmaj Chris, I do not think that poeple do not relieze how these clippers will effect the weather. Everyone has to remember we need the cold first before you see snow. After the third clipper hit here on the weekend please watch out.The GFS and Euro have a very interesting situation unfolding for next Monday. Even the JMA as a storm hitting the coast and intensifying very close to our area. It reminds of the 79 storm that hit Philadelphia. The storm look innocent on the models but exploded when it hit the coast. This might be quite the interesting storm given the implication of the Inauguration Tuesday. What this might mean for us is snow and more snow. Winter is not over by no means. I feel it only the beginning of things to come.

Posted by: Dallas Yes indeed, the weather track for tuesday is a tough one. I'm confused as if its going to start as rain OR snow. As temps will rise throughout the day. But in all judgment. The wednesday into thursday storm WILL be a killer. Thanks chris for keeping me in the know! Your the best!

Posted by: Chad What happened...the other stations are now saying a mix of rain and snow TUE. Where is the several inches of snow we were goin to get with this system. Do hold your breath for snow in Huntington

Posted by: Thank you Just wanted to thank you for the very informative blog. We look to your blog for realistic, dependable weather information. Thanks again.

Posted by: tom Hey Chris, winter storms? none of the other weather sites saying nothing like you guys!

Posted by: who knows Seems like everytime you say we are going to get a big snow storm it goes around us. So I will believe it when I see it. This has been talked about for over 2 wks.

Posted by: Lynn As you said, if this were an exact science, you'd be retired by now... However, I enjoy reading your blog. I find it very interesting to watch the models and to see your intrepretation of them. Thanks for explaining it so well. I enjoy learning new things. I am interested in how it plays out, but am praying that nobody suffers ill effects from the bitter cold.

Posted by: Angela Well weather.com is saying that tomorrow will be in the mid 30's here, and rain/snow mix, with a possible of 1 inch of wet snow...from what your saying its going to drop in the 20's by late afternoon, does that also cover southern counties....dont forget us down here....

Posted by: Where's the BEEF? Ya know, I am begininng to wonder. So basically after all the doom and gloom over the last month or so; we got an inch and a half of snow last Thursday and we are going to have a couple nights of cold air this week? Single digits streatches happen every winter around here - nothing new. We HAVE had tons of rain and 40's - which is want those of us from around here have been saying since mid November!! Winter STORMS?!?!? Really Chris.

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