Good Wednesday, everyone. We have a fairly nice weather day out there, but that changes in a hurry this evening as a cold front moves in. That front will introduce much colder temps and an increasing threat for snow showers that can put down some light accumulations across the region.
Winds today will be very gusty as clouds roll in this afternoon. Showers zip in from west to east from late afternoon into the evening. That same storm will then turn the corner and develop into a semi-surprise blizzard across New England…
As that system strengthens, it helps increase the northwesterly wind flow into our part of the world. That cold wind coming over the warmer Great Lakes waters will mean snow showers and flurries for much of central and eastern Kentucky late Thursday into Friday…
Light accumulations are a good bet, with the east and southeast potentially picking up an inch or so of snow. I can see the high ground picking up a few inches. Areas of West Virginia will pick up a lot more than that…
The New Year’s Eve system continues to trend a little colder, leading to more of a rain and snow mix across the region. Notice how the snow map increases when we add Saturday and Saturday night into it…
Another system follows that up with rain and gusty winds later New Year’s Day into Monday. Heavy rainfall and some thunder will be possible with this system.
After that goes by, look out, the country goes into the deep freeze with a pattern frozen dreams are made of. Blocking trying to link up over top with a trough trying to cutoff to the east of Hawaii, allowing for a coast to coast bitterly cold trough to develop mid and late next week…
I’ve been trying to get you guys ready for this for the past few weeks. It’s a pattern that I’ve talked about potentially going above and beyond my winter forecast in terms of cold and snow.
I’ve talked about the pattern arguing for winter storm systems to develop and pass just to our south. Now the models are beginning to show this. Here’s the European later next week…
The Canadian also has a nice look…
And the bitter cold coming in behind that…
I want to stress a few things here. This isn’t one of those ” the models show” deal with the overall pattern. This is going to be a headline making winter weather setup across much of the country in the coming weeks. In terms of snowfall, it’s also not just a model shows this or that… It’s about the pattern favoring this region for winter weather events and now the models are seeing the potential.
I’m not just talking about next week either. This is a pattern that can repeat itself through much of January and into early February, and can wreck a winter forecast. 😉
I will have updates later today. Make it a good one and take care.
Let the games begin.
Not hoping that CB’s snowfall forecast is wrong to discredit his work in any way but I am fine if the pattern ends up “blowing up” the accumulation forecast way beyond what was initially predicted.
Besides, what other meteorologist out there goes ahead weeks before a pattern takes shape and admits that his/her forecast may be wrong even before it has happened!
Thanks for your dedication and hard work:)
I just don’t want road crippling snowfall this year. A few inches here or there is okay but no major winter storms.
Bah humbug!!! I would take snow everyday of the winter if Mother Nature provided it. Just no crippling ice.
Exactly! Perhaps we can get a few major thumping snows out of the upcoming pattern. Rodger in Dodger
Agreed… and hopeful that the outcome will become more than model talk!
As far as snow goes – Go Big Or Go Home! 6 inches or more or none. That’s what I’m talking about!
Bring back those 70’s please?
Hope this cold is sustained through February and the busy pattern keeps throwing Lows to the south if us. Could be in for some wild rides.
My kids got snowboards for Christmas and are ready to try them out! Send the snow our way 😉 Thanks for all you do, Chris!
LET’S ROCK N’ ROLL!!!!!
Time to invest in sleds yet?
The new runs this morning already showing all rain for ky for all storms.
CPC forecast says next 8-14 days below normal temperatures above normal precipitation for our region.
Let it come, some people act like it doesn’t snow here in Ky. We had our share of it in all the years I’ve lived here in ky { 50 plus years}. It just we don’t get it more often like we used too. LET IT SNOW!!
Agreed! I am only in my 30s and have lived in KY all my life too but the 2000s decade was much less snowy than the 90s…the older generation people mostly state that our recent “bad winters” are nothing compared to the 70s and before!
We miss many more than we GET. When all the factors come together, we can get smacked by Old Man Winter though. Rodger in Dodger
I like the teleconnection signals for the NAO and EPO, both forecast to be moderately to strongly negative then trending upward by the end of next week. A modest signal for a snow event somewhere in our region, especially if the advertised storm system can coincide with these signals. The AO is trending toward neutral, maybe even slip into AO-. For me, that’s an offsetting signal but does at least promote cold air not being so easily removed as a storm system approaches our region.
However, it is a tossup as to whether the cold will stick around for the rest of January. Some of the data is suggesting above normal temperatures for the second half of the month. Perhaps a better look at the data in about a week to see if that trend is still in place.
It rarely stays below normal cold for much more than ten days. If we can get cold with at least two 3’+ snows in a ten-day period, TOUCHDOWN! Rodger in Dodger
Sure why not, I’ll kick the ball, or at least try to. Why should this year be any different than the last 18?
We’re looking forward to some snow chances in the new year!
Good to see some positivity on the blog today. Take care all.
Thanks Chris.
Yes please
Looking ahead to some big snows in the coming weeks. Maybe a foot or more!