BLOG: Brush With Winter

Moisture, well in advance of an arctic front that is now stretching from the St. Lawrence Valley to Lake Erie then southward across the Tennessee Valley, and to the north of an upper level disturbance that is starting to develop low pressure near the coast of North Carolina, is resulting in steady precipitation across the area right now with some snow to the northwest and rain to the southeast.

This steadier precipitation will be ending 8-9 a.m., across most of the area, then we will have a couple of sprinkles and perhaps flurries midday and afternoon, basically light and spotty. This will be because the upward motion and energy will be concentrating itself near the strengthening low off that coast that will track northeastward to near the northern tip of Nova Scotia around midnight Saturday night. The upper level energy supporting the arctic cold front that will be sweeping across our area late Saturday afternoon and the first part will bring snow showers. We will also have an abrupt change to colder and windy weather beginning Saturday evening as the arctic front moves through and with falling temperatures and the snow showers, there could be a freeze up. The arctic front will push through around 6 p.m., and those who will be out and about Saturday evening should be aware of the possibility of the quick freeze up of the roads.

Sunday will be a windy day and the coldest day of the forecast period with temperatures no higher than the teens. Additionally, there will be an upper level disturbance moving across the area in the northwest flow that may heave enough moisture to produce a few flurries across our area….no accumulation though. Those winds will be routinely gusting to 35 mph. High pressure helping to deliver the cold air Saturday through Sunday night.