January moves into its final two days this weekend, closing as it opened--COLD! The bitterly cold readings are easing slowly with time. Daytime high temperatures warmed from 13 to 21 degrees Thursday to Friday, and even higher readings are on tap Saturday and Sunday. But while the mid to upper 20s predicted both days continue the recent temperature upswing, they will fall nearly 20 degrees shy of last weekend's unseasonable mid-40s.
Flurries continue fluttering earthward as Saturday gets underway. A modest lake-effect snow event is in place--but the depth of the day's cloud layer is shallow compared to those which have produced more prolific and heavier snows in the past. Barring the unexpected, accumulations appear likely to remain limited, both in depth and areal coverage. Winds are to become even less supportive of lake snow development as the day proceeds, allowing precipitation to taper to sporadic flurries this afternoon and evening.
Longer days, strengthening sunlight hits milder temperatures ahead
It takes a while to transition from one season's temperature regime to the next. But the astronomical groundwork for the move to spring is falling into place. Days are lengthening and the strength of sunlight is on the rise. Chicagoans can look forward to an additional hour and 15 minutes of daylight in the next 30 days--and to two hours and 45 additional minutes of sun two months from today. Though it may seem an eternity to the winter weary here, Chicago weather records reveal the average final 32-degree temperature occurs on or about April 19th at Midway Airport and April 26 at O'Hare Airport. And the majority of daytime highs reach or exceed 70 degrees in Chicago 50 percent or more of the time beyond May 23.
Winter woes from Mid-Atlantic westward into the Midwest
While chilly here, Chicago's weather problems pale in comparison to those of recent days along a 2,000-mile swath extending from New Mexico and Oklahoma east to the Carolinas and Virginia. There, heavy wind-driven snow accumulated to a depth of as much as 14" in spots. Snowfall Friday piled up quickly in North Carolina, reaching 9" at Asheville by nightfall. Storm tallies since Thursday include 14" at Gruver, Texas; 10" Enid, Okla.; 11" Ingalls, Kan., and 8" Henderson, Tenn.
Snow could fly Monday night and Election Day (Tuesday)
An eastbound disturbance off the Pacific may be the next to deliver snow to the Chicago area. The period in question is Monday night into Primary Day (Tuesday). Temperature changes at high altitudes offer forecasters clues on the potential extent/intensity of snowfall a weather system may produce. Projections from computer models in the Monday through Tuesday time frame is hinting at fairly impressive warming at high levels of the atmosphere (around 40,000 feet). It's a development which suggests air within the system is likely to be rising vigorously enough to support sticking snow. The system will be monitored in coming days as it proceeds toward the Midwest.
Flurries continue fluttering earthward as Saturday gets underway. A modest lake-effect snow event is in place--but the depth of the day's cloud layer is shallow compared to those which have produced more prolific and heavier snows in the past. Barring the unexpected, accumulations appear likely to remain limited, both in depth and areal coverage. Winds are to become even less supportive of lake snow development as the day proceeds, allowing precipitation to taper to sporadic flurries this afternoon and evening.
Longer days, strengthening sunlight hits milder temperatures ahead
It takes a while to transition from one season's temperature regime to the next. But the astronomical groundwork for the move to spring is falling into place. Days are lengthening and the strength of sunlight is on the rise. Chicagoans can look forward to an additional hour and 15 minutes of daylight in the next 30 days--and to two hours and 45 additional minutes of sun two months from today. Though it may seem an eternity to the winter weary here, Chicago weather records reveal the average final 32-degree temperature occurs on or about April 19th at Midway Airport and April 26 at O'Hare Airport. And the majority of daytime highs reach or exceed 70 degrees in Chicago 50 percent or more of the time beyond May 23.
Winter woes from Mid-Atlantic westward into the Midwest
While chilly here, Chicago's weather problems pale in comparison to those of recent days along a 2,000-mile swath extending from New Mexico and Oklahoma east to the Carolinas and Virginia. There, heavy wind-driven snow accumulated to a depth of as much as 14" in spots. Snowfall Friday piled up quickly in North Carolina, reaching 9" at Asheville by nightfall. Storm tallies since Thursday include 14" at Gruver, Texas; 10" Enid, Okla.; 11" Ingalls, Kan., and 8" Henderson, Tenn.
Snow could fly Monday night and Election Day (Tuesday)
An eastbound disturbance off the Pacific may be the next to deliver snow to the Chicago area. The period in question is Monday night into Primary Day (Tuesday). Temperature changes at high altitudes offer forecasters clues on the potential extent/intensity of snowfall a weather system may produce. Projections from computer models in the Monday through Tuesday time frame is hinting at fairly impressive warming at high levels of the atmosphere (around 40,000 feet). It's a development which suggests air within the system is likely to be rising vigorously enough to support sticking snow. The system will be monitored in coming days as it proceeds toward the Midwest.
I'm in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and just wanted to mention that as of 2 pm Saturday, we have received 7.5" of snow. It is still snowing moderately and occasionally mixing with ice pellets. The Winter Storm Warning will not expire until 1:00 a.m. Sunday.