Monday, January 21, 2019

After Saturday’s Hall of Shame forecasting by the majority of local prognosticators, the cold air has settled in and calmed our weather for awhile.  Next system in line will be the remains of another large storm that blasted the Pacific northwest over weekend.  This system is diving into the southern  Rockies and then will slide eastward.  Unlike a couple of similar systems (the past two weekends), this one isn’t given much hope of regeneration.  The upper level parent trough is projected to remain, as we meteorologists say, positively tilted.  In this case, very strongly tilted.  That translates into normal people-talk as weak energy levels and very little development.

Tomorrow and Wednesday

The trough, however, will begin brisk southwesterly winds over the midwest and Ohio Valley tomorrow and transport moisture our way quickly.  Increasing clouds tomorrow with much warmer temperatures (into the 40’s).  Rain will return around midnight tomorrow night and continue into midday Wednesday.  Similar to Saturday night, the cold air behind this new system will be late to join the action.  In fact, the true blast of cold air won’t arrive until Thursday.  So there could be some snowflakes Wednesday afternoon, but no accumulation is expected.

Note:  The NWS is forecasting 1″-2″ of rain for us from this system.  That seems pretty high considering the upper support.  Probably closer to one inch than two.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Later this week

With wintry air again dominating our weather, little active weather is anticipated.  Computer models are hinting at a couple of very weak Alberta Clippers drifting into the area Thu-Sat with periods of cloudiness, but not much chance for any significant snow.

Note:  The GFS is developing a strong Clipper into the western Great Lakes by early next week. Although not posing much of a rain and/or snow threat for us, the clipper is gathering a very potent cold air mass in its wake.  It might be the coldest air mass we’ll see this winter and probably bring along some light snow along with it.  Of course, that’s a week away – a lot of model changes can happen in that time.

Stuff

I see the Courier Journal has gotten even smaller.  The USA Today section has gone off the digital world.  So, there’ll be less paper in the “paper.”  At least the dimensions of the physical paper haven’t shrunk, as they have in recent years.