The main forecast challenge for this go-around will be the temps. Namely, how low do actual air temps go tonight and how low are wind chills on Wednesday morning?
We should see mostly clear skies overnight, with temps falling into the single digits. Given how cold we were this morning, it’s very possible we could have temps near zero by morning. What will keep us from truly bottoming out will be the stiff north winds, which are expected to continue through the night. Wind chills by morning are expected to run in the -13 to -18 degree range, so try to limit your time outdoors as much as possible, and dress in layers to preserve your body heat if you must go outside.
Despite sunny skies for most of the day Wednesday, temps will stay cold, with highs struggling to get to 20 degrees. North winds will persist, running in the 12-18 mph range with higher gusts. Wind chills will modify from the -13 to -18 range in the morning, to near 10 by afternoon.
Our next forecast challenge comes in the Wednesday night & Thursday timeframe, and that has to deal with a light snow chance. Right now, the GFS continues to be the most bullish model with snow chances, everyone else is on the light side. The forecast is trending toward this being a light event and right now, we’re not seeing much to change our thinking. At most, the area sees 1-1.5″ of snow by the end of the day Thursday. Lows Wednesday night, with increasing clouds, will be in the mid-single digits. Highs Thursday, upper teens to near 20.
Skies will clear out Thursday night, with lows once again near 5. A warming trend starts Friday, with highs getting to near 30. We’ll break above freezing Saturday, and warm up from there next week.
and then