Get Ready For a Cold Period Next 10-14 Days...

There has been a lot of chatter regarding the potential for some frozen precipitation here over the weekend as a big upper air pattern will bring Arctic air into the lower 48 states.    Take a look at several graphics.

All of the above are 500 mb (18,000') charts with the top graphic from this morning, the middle two valid Thursday morning and the bottom valid for Jan. 17th.   Let's discuss.   The top shows an approaching trough that will bring us tomorrow's cold front.  Note how that trough closes off an upper low just to our north for Thursday.   That should keep clouds hanging over us well into Friday after the over night front passes through.  But focus on the pattern shift from the top graphic (Today's flow) to the bottom one valid 12 days from now.  Clearly the current flow that is keeping out the Arctic cold will shift to a big dive into the United States that will bring down the coldest air of this Winter season.

Fortunately, the super cold (40-50 below) air of several weeks ago has moderated to only 20-25 below. Still, that chill is coming our way and we need to get ready for what Winter is supposed to be like...COLD!

The line of showers currently in Texas should arrive here between 3-7 AM with temperatures staying mild (60s) for most of tonight.  We could see some brief clearing during the morning tomorrow before wrap around clouds return starting the big cool down later in the day.

You can start to see the coma shape clouds over Texas that is the start of the wrap around process as the upper low closes off.  I will leave my potted plants outside tonight to get a good soaking and then decide if I need to bring them into my He-Shed for this weekend.  The FOX 8 7 day forecast is calling for light freezes on the North Shore, but not for the South Shore.

For you "Snow Geeks", IF everything came into alignment, our chance for the white stuff would happen Sunday night into Monday.  RIGHT NOW, it looks too warm for that to happen.  It will be our coldest week in a long, long time so get your heavy weather gear ready.  Stay tuned!