Two storms to track this week

It wasn’t a bad day around the area, at least in terms of sunshine, but temperatures were cold all around the region, with most areas around 10 degrees below the normal.

Tonight will be a very cold night as wind chills drop to or below zero everywhere.

The cold weather stays with us through tomorrow, but at least there will be some sunshine. Beginning tomorrow night, warmer temperatures will make their way into the region. Lows will still be cold, but not quite as cold as they’ll be tonight. Highs on Wednesday will rise into the middle 40s, but there is a catch. The warmer temperatures are ahead of the first of two storm systems that we’ll be tracking over the next few days.

This first system does not have too much moisture to work with, and so it shouldn’t produce too much rain and snow. Behind this first system, it stays relatively mild, with temperatures close to the normal, instead of the bitter cold that we’re currently experiencing.

The second storm to approach the area is the one that has our attention. The storm arrives Saturday and gives us a good chance for snow. How much is still a matter of debate. The two major atmospheric models are vastly different in their snowfall total forecasts. The timing is pretty certain, after that Saturday arrival, the snow lasts into Sunday morning before ending. If the storm tracks further north – as the European model predicts – the snow totals will be very heavy for our area, especially in the southern coalfields.

If it tracks further south – as the GFS model predicts – then there will be much less snow. Over the next day or two, we should have a better grasp of the track of what will be a major weather maker for the East this weekend.