WEATHER BLOG: Forecast For The Big Game

As a wave of low pressure, which is currently located in the Great Lakes, moves across the Northeast's interior Friday afternoon, it will produce a few snow showers in northwestern Pennsylvania and across upstate New York.   However, in areas as far south as Maryland, there will be nothing more than an uptick in the westerly winds. These winds should average 10-20 mph Friday afternoon, and most temperatures should manage to reach the lower 40s.

The pattern is going to remain rather quiet over the next couple of days. There will be an impulse of upper level energy sliding across the Northeast late on Saturday night and early Sunday. And, while we cannot rule out a shower of rain or snow in parts of the area, most places will probably be precipitation-free.

The weather will be dry for the Ravens' playoff game on Sunday, with most temperatures in the mid 40s. Bottom line: the weather will be about as NICE AS YOU COULD ASK FOR for an outdoor event during the early stages of January.

The "biggest challenges" in forecasting the weather over the next seven days come during the middle of next week. Right now, the various global models all are handling an upper level low pressure system in the southern tier of states differently. This feature is being held way back (primarily impacting the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys) next
Wednesday and Thursday by the European, while a ridge of high pressure dominates in the eastern third of the nation. Conversely, the domestic models are showing an almost completely different solution, pushing an area of soaking rain up the East Coast next Wednesday, mainly in the afternoon and at night. There is so much uncertainty at this time about how this whole scenario will unfold, and it is a good idea to just stick to the ideas we feel the most confident about: bitterly cold air will remain absent.

Have a good weekend !!!