FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2018 6:02 A.M.
Colder air is moving into the area early on this Groundhog Day and rain has changed to snow in many parts of the area, temperatures have fallen to 30 in the Clifton area ranging down to 20 further inland, winds are gusty out of the northwest. As of now it appears that the precipitation has stopped in the Clifton area with no snow accumulation however in the higher elevations well inland up to 4 inches of snow has been reported. Be careful heading out early this morning because any wet roads or sidewalks may freeze and become slippery.
Cold Arctic high pressure will be building into the area today and despite skies becoming sunny temperatures will fall through the 20s this afternoon, gusty northwest winds will make it feel even colder.
After a frigid night tomorrow will be sunny with lighter winds with highs still be only around freezing.
Milder on Sunday but a low pressure frontal system will likely give us snow changing to rain and then back to snow before ending on late at night, we make pick up an inch or two of snow with more falling inland.
Fair and cold Monday and Tuesday.
Still another disturbance will give us a chance of snow or rain late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Not sure if the groundhog will see his shadow but I think cold winter weather will be with us for a couple of weeks and then get warmer after the middle of February. Too early to know how March will turn out.
THE FORECAST:
TODAY – FEB 2 – Becoming mostly sunny and windy, temperatures falling through the 20s, winds gusting to 30 mph.
TONIGHT – Mostly clear and very cold, low near 10.
SATURDAY – FEB 3 – Mostly sunny, high in the low 30s.
SUNDAY – FEB 4 – Snow likely in the morning then changing to rain, high in the low 40s, snow likely at night with light snow accumulations.
MONDAY – FEB 5 – Mostly sunny, high in the upper 30s.
TUESDAY – FEB 6 – Partly sunny in the morning then increasing cloudiness, high in the upper 30s, chance of snow late at night.
WEDNESDAY – FEB 7 – Snow or rain in the morning then rain likely, high in the mid 40s.
THURSDAY – FEB 8 – Mostly sunny, high in the mid 30s.
MARINE FORECAST: A gale warning will be in effect from 1 p.m this afternoon until 10 p.m tonight for northwest winds gusting to 35 knots, seas 3-6 feet.
OUTLOOK – Small craft conditions Saturday morning; no advisories expected Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning; small craft advisories expected Sunday afternoon through the day on Monday; no advisories expected Monday night through Tuesday.
JANUARY 2018 CLIMATE SUMMARY.
The month’s temperature averaged just below normal with temperatures much below normal for the first couple of weeks and then milder than normal for the last half of the month. The high temperature was 63 degrees on the 12th, with the coldest a frigid 1 degree above zero on the 7th. Precipitation was below normal with 2.83 inches falling. Snowfall was slightly below normal with 8.6 inches accumulating with the biggest snow of 5.5 inches falling during the strong storm on the 4th.
Happy Groundhog Day!