Wednesday, January 21, 2015

deterioration... (am.21.jan.15)>

It looks quite cloudy out there as the sky begins to brighten early this morning.  My current temp of 45.1F (7.3C) is also the overnight low -- which is of course an extremely mild low temp for the middle of the winter season.  There's been no precipitation... yet.

The upper-level circulation driving our approaching/developing storm system is centered over Afghanistan at the moment, and will shift into western Pakistan by this evening.  Moisture being drawn northward in advance of this system is going to be lifted and condensed during the next 12-18 hours or so, and that's going to trigger the onset of several waves of significant precipitation across our area.  A few light showers could start to develop by mid-day, but the better chance of some rather persistent moderate to occasionally heavy rains still looks like it will be between this evening and very early Friday morning.

Everything I am seeing suggests that temperatures are going to remain too warm for snow here in the immediate McLeod vicinity, but as always, we're going to have to watch the snow line carefully -- especially by Thursday evening.  Regardless, there will likely be a couple of feet (or more) of snow in the mountains above, which will be by far the most significant dumping of this winter season thus far.

Improving conditions are expected by late Friday, but some isolated rain/snow showers could occur around the area even into Saturday.  Get the forecast details on THE 7-DAY OUTLOOK tab above.