Good evening, folks. I wanted to drop by for a quick update on the pattern ahead. It’s one that is going to take on a harsh look for much of the country as we roll into early January. It’s one we’ve talked about potentially developing for a while now, and confidence is high in the overall setup.
We have a fast moving system in here by Wednesday evening. This will produce gusty showers and usher in colder air. A strong northwesterly wind flow will then touch off snow showers and flurries across central and eastern Kentucky. There’s a chance to put some snow on the ground Thursday night and Friday…
The mountains of West Virginia will get hammered in this setup, and southeastern Kentucky can pick up an inch or so in spots.
The next system moving in here for New Year’s Eve can start as a mix of some rain and snow. Notice how the same GFS run shows this potential as it adds to what is shown above…
The longer range setup into next week looks to begin a harsh winter pattern for much of the country. Major blocking showing up across Greenland and Alaska forces bitterly cold air into much of the country. With the southeast ridge being pressed south and east and trying to fight, it can lead to a storm track just to our south. This shows up on the European model by the middle of next week…
Watch that bitter cold press in over a three day period…
The European Ensembles for the exact same time are in lock step…
The European Model shows the first potential winter weather maker developing by Wednesday and Thursday of next week…
I will have another update later tonight. Take care.
Okay…for some reason I could not post to the previous Tuesday Afternoon Update post, even after several attempts…?
Now, I was wanted to add that January’s arctic air intrusions often favor a much better shot at wintry precip as the troughs tend to push the SE Ridge farther east and can dig farther south than December.
To add a little hope to most people’s current winter gloom, January often proves to deliver the WINTER GOODS to lower Midwest and south…we shall see…let’s get the “blocking party” on!
WV mountain area could get double smacked. Jeepers.
Excited!!!
Hmmm. Interesting.
I am not fully bought in.
Although if I had to trust any model it would be the Euro.
CB did not really say anything about much snow, except for the WV mountains, but see your point. IMO best to take the average of the main models.
Those maps look like a major over running event to me..