Good Monday, everyone. The holidays are now officially behind us and it’s full steam ahead into the new year. The weather pattern is kicking it up a notch or ten this week with thunderstorms giving way to arctic air and the potential for late week snow.
Let’s start with the threat for showers and storms out there today.
Winds will be very gusty from the southwest as temps surge into the 60s. Scattered showers will be possible with the main action coming this evening into tonight. That’s when thunderstorms flare up with high winds and heavy rainfall the primary threats.
Areas to our south may be in for a severe weather outbreak today, and a few strong to severe storms can reach Kentucky. The best chance is in the west and south…
Today’s risk area
Arctic air then moves in here Tuesday night into Wednesday as a front slams in from the northwest. Some light snows are possible just behind this boundary.
This is where things continue to get interesting. For nearly two weeks, I’ve been talking about the pattern targeting the lower Ohio Valley into the Tennessee Valley for winter weather in the first week of the new year. That certainly appears to be the case later this week into the coming weekend. The question is… To what extent? Some light stuff or a lot more? Both options are on the table.
Several days ago, the forecast models all had a threatening look. Those same models then lost the entire setup for a few days, even though I preach and preach how the models show something then totally lose it in days 4-7 then find it again. Sure enough, the models are doing just that.
Let’s start with the European Model as it keeps trending toward what it had a few days back. This model throws accumulating snow at us on Thursday, then brushes us with a bigger system it develops. Each passing run is stronger and farther north and west with the second system for Friday into Saturday…
Verbatim, that run shows a few to several inches possible from Thursday through early Saturday.
The Canadian model also shows the Thursday snow maker…
And, compared to earlier runs, is also going farther west and north with the Friday/Saturday system…
Man, the European and Canadian Models are very close to going big.
Speaking of going big, that’s exactly what the GFS did. It has a much weaker system for Thursday as it takes all the energy out at once, creating a much bigger storm for Friday and Saturday…
For fun, the snow map from that particular run…
The computer models and their snow maps will change a lot from run to run over the next day or so. We should start to see them figuring this out by Tuesday.
While I don’t put a lot of stock in any one model solution, it’s interesting to note how many GFS Ensemble members are “in the ballpark” with what he operational model has with this setup…
At this point, I cannot endorse any of the above models posted in this blog. We are having a discussion on each of them, but it’s really good to see the models showing winter weather in the exact areas I have been highlighting by looking at the pattern setting up.
We still have a bit before we know the extent of the winter weather. Will this become “threat” worthy? Possibly.
I will have updates later today. Make it a good one and take care.
It’s great to see the models coming back to a bigger system for the weekend!
I am cautiously optimistic.
Really hoping for some snow!
Thanks for your hard work Chris. The models tend to get us excited then disappoint us, then get us excited. You do an excellent job of encourging us not to get too hung up on them. The outlook certainly is looking more promising though. Here’s to snow and putting our new sleds to use!
Let’s play ball! We’re back in the game!
Please !!!
Yawn! Nothing to see here! Will be rain all the way to Michigan! These Models are nothing to look at until a day before! We will get our normal back side flurries! Will end up being Cold and dry!
Bjenks, you to?? I expected more from you than that! That’s weak, come on!!
I’m not biting. This is why there should b e registration required to post
Andy Rose, Sorry you didn’t get my humor. Just getting it out there so all the naysayers can’t say it first. You should know me, I want a big hit for all the state.
I figured it was an impostor that was the reason for my post. There is nothing that keeps somebody from hijacking a name.
Just wanted to say it first. I am with that Blowing Wind handle up ☝️there and being Cautiously Optimistic. The set up is there for all players, rain/sleet/snow/ice, across a broad path of the South. Can we say NW trend and old skool on this one. Just love tracking the weather here in KY.
There should have been a wink sign in front of Just to start that post. Sorry.
What does the timing look like for the first system on Thursday? Thursday morning, afternoon, evening, or night?
Dramamine please..Lol..So the 6z GFS has Atlanta GA getting a foot of snow ..Lol.. I’ll have maple syrup with my waffles this morning please..
Very surprised with the warm air battling, “other” forms of frozen stuff are not part of the potential. As long as none of that, a Win whatever happens.
http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfsp/2017010200/gfsp_asnow_us_26.png
Para looks good..
IF and a big if this second wave digs and becomes stronger then one would think a N/W track is possible and the ice word would come in to play..Think last night showed Atlanta with inch of ice..
Hey now! I like this serving of the model waffles. I’ll take mine with a side of snow. Sure do enjoy this time of year. So much fun to see how these systems play out. Chris, I really appreciate you showing all the different looks and explaining/mitigating the whole process.
Not knocking on CB word, I’ve been watching the weather channel and get there 5 day forecast but no avail they haven’t heard said anything about long range forecast just curious what they may say
I’ll take e13 or e14, thank you very much. GFS looks to be trending strong, 6z agrees along with para.
I would even settle for an e19!
Does Rolo still have a goat?
I was about to ask, Where is Rolo. Possible old skool thumping and no sign of him. Hope everything is ok.
It could go in threat mode can’t wait to see what happens
6z further South, IMO we should like that.
Agreed since you don’t want the inevitable NW trend starting too early
Local Mets here say all frzz. Rain for kentucky. Snow for southern ohio
Local Mets other the CB don’t want to be wrong and won’t start to talk about the potential till about 2 days out. Even then they are very conservative. Better to let people know what might happen so they can prepare especially older folks IMO.
Newest para almost same as 6z….2-3 inches..Could see higher amounts in Southern and SE ky if GFS is right and a little shift NW..
Ok one local met here just said thinks the accumulating snow will be confined to northern Florida.
Does he forecast weather on Neptune?
Where ever it is it can snow in FL and at the same time rain in KY and snow for Ohio. LoL
Models will continue to shuck and jive. Rodger would rather be north of the better hit on the models now and then let it strengthen and go more northwest in the last 12 hours. Potential is there. Would like to see GFS stabilize in today’s runs. Rodger in Dodger
Even the NWS is picking up on and mentioning the model runs from last night and that they might need to adjust the forecast. Will be intersting to see if the other local weather boobs even mention it on their noon forecasts.
Now looking like this might happen, though as I stated before…an extreme southern track usually stays southern (without much of a NW shift). I personally believe this will be a good hit for the Tennessee Valley, northern Georgia, North Carolina and possibly those of us in extreme southern Kentucky. If these models hold true through tomorrow, most of Kentucky will likely be left out of anything significant.
The main concern here is the Euro. From what I can tell, usually if GFS doesn’t agree to Euro 5 days out, it will cave within three days. So until the Euro shows a much stronger system, I’m thinking this will still probably be a light snowfall for TN/KY.
The sun came out here around 10AM and has now topped 60 already at the house. With such high humidity, it feels like a late April early May morning. I will enjoy this subtropical winter warmth before January realty sets back in.
Here’s to a nice day away from work and will be carefully watching for the potential of some ole school winter weather ‘acoming.’
New GFS runs look juicy for TN/SKY..who knows if and where it actually happens
Nice run for Tenn..This is really starting to get interesting if the Euro hops aboard..
New Canadian suppress storm down to gulf coast.
Hanging by every model run is like running after the wind…waste of energy.
Models will not have a realistic grasp on that storm system until after this current storm system is outta here, the cold air begins its invasion, and then the advertised storm system can be sampled upon arriving ashore.
We’re talking late tomorrow at the earliest. Till then enjoy the waffles and the entertainment value these models offer. And don’t get hung up on one particular run, or you may be hung out to dry.
Agreed
Well the 12z GFS just buried my backyard here in SE TN in about 12-14″ of snow!..Lol..These poor people down here will absolutely mob the grocery stores if that were even remotely to come true..
Can you make it go north and send it up here to KY?
They would mob the grocery store with 2-4 😉
Can you post the map?
GFS still looking good but other models are all over the place. Ugh! Rodger in Dodger
I personally believe the cold air will be to strong and prevent any storm at all from forming.
Personally i believe you only come on here to get people wound up
Your absolutely wrong
Me thinks EF5 just likes to stir the pot. I’m still hopeful!
Chris throw us a weather tweet update.Does this look like a milk and bread snow if it happens????