Freezing Next 3 Nights, Snow Cover Expanding, Southern Snow Storm Coming

Temperatures today have been 35-40+ degrees colder than the same time yesterday as a strong cold front swept through before midnight yesterday.  A fast-moving surface low laid down a blanket of snow and ice from Kansas to New Jersey.  This latest snow cover is farther to the south of the last storm, and the closer the snow cover gets to us, it limits the effect of any daytime heating.  Here's the satellite view of the snow cover with the white arrows pointing out the northern snow from the previous storm with the bottom arrows highlighting the latest storm. The yellow shows cloud cover.

With the snow cover closer to us, that allows the Arctic air to penetrate farther to the south without much moderation.  But wait.  Another storm is coming late week with a southern snow threat. (Alas, not us!) This map is valid for late Thursday.

Look at how much farther to the south the snow cover goes.  Dallas 4-6", Little Rock 8-12".  That will probably mean the cold for us will keep getting colder for the next 10-14 days.  Today's storm is exiting to the NE after leaving Washington D.C with half a foot of the white stuff.  The new system is diving down the West coast on a track farther to the south than the current system.

With the upper flow coming down straight out of Canada, the freeze line has sunk down to Jackson & Birmingham. Despite sunshine tomorrow, highs will not get out of the 40s, some 20 degrees below normal/average.

Not only is this very cold air, it's extremely dry too with dew points here in the teens & 20s.  NWS has the North Shore in a moderate (24-28) while even the South Shore could reach freezing.  Precautions (dripping water) should be taken for pipes on the North Shore, but not for the South Shore.

Remember the old pipe rule, IF temperatures get to 28 or lower for 4 hours or longer, then some exposed pipes could freeze.  Here's the next 7 days...Burrr!!!

Our local NWS office pointed out...IF this next storm tracks farther to the south, north & central LA/MS could see frozen precipitation.  With our dew points getting so low, I would not be surprised to see some sleet break out across the North Shore or even the South Shore for Thursday night into early Friday.  No matter which track our next storm takes, it'll lay down a snow cover closer to us.  That likely means the next front/air mass could be colder.  

If you're looking for snow, the above is Cincinnati with nearly a foot.  Dayton has 8" along with Columbus.  And Ohio State is playing Texas in Dallas this weekend.  The scenes around Dallas might make the Buckeyes feel right at home!  Stay tuned!