Good morning!
Skies are cloudy early on this Friday morning and the light snow has ended after producing a dusting to 1/2 inch of snow. Temperatures range from the mid 20s in Clifton down to the upper teens further inland, winds are light.
The disturbance that caused the snow is now moving offshore and a weak high pressure will move into the area. It will be milder despite having mostly cloudy skies, high temperatures will reach around 40 which will probably melt the dusting of snow we had overnight.
A significant winter storm will affect the area Saturday afternoon through Sunday and a winter storm watch has been posted. We should see snow develop in the afternoon and continue through midnight before mixing with sleet and freezing rain which will continue Sunday morning. The precipitation should change to all snow before ending Sunday afternoon as colder air moves into the area. As of now total snow and ice accumulation will be between 4-6 inches with higher amounts inland.
Whatever falls over the weekend will freeze solid as frigid Arctic air moves into the area, temperatures by Monday morning will fall to the single digits and with the wind it will feel like 10-15 degrees below zero. Daytime highs on Monday will only be in the teens.
After a frigid Tuesday morning it will become milder in the afternoon with highs approaching the freezing mark under mostly sunny skies.
Another disturbance will give us a chance of rain on Wednesday and a chance of snow on Thursday.
THE FORECAST:
TODAY – JAN 18 – Mostly cloudy, high near 40.
TONIGHT – Partly cloudy, low in the mid 20s.
SATURDAY – JAN 19 – Partly sunny in the morning then becoming cloudy with snow developing in the afternoon, high in the mid 30s. Snow in the evening then mixing with freezing rain and sleet after midnight.
SUNDAY – JAN 20 – Snow, sleet and freezing rain in the morning then a chance of snow in the afternoon, temperatures in the low 30s in the morning dropping to the low 20s in the afternoon. Much colder at night.
M.L. KING DAY – JAN 21 – Sunny and frigid, high only in the mid teens.
TUESDAY – JAN 22 – Mostly sunny and not as cold, high near 30.
WEDNESDAY – JAN 23 – Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain, milder with highs in the mid 40s.
THURSDAY – JAN 24 – Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow, temperatures in the upper 30s in the morning dropping to the upper 20s in the afternoon.
MARINE FORECAST: TODAY – Westerly winds to 8 knots, seas 1 foot.
OUTLOOK – Small craft advisories expected for Saturday; Possible gales Sunday and during the day on Monday; no advisories expected Monday night through Tuesday.
Have a nice day!