Residents in parts of Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania woke up to a thick, chilled blanket of freezing fog this morning, leading the National Weather Service in Cleveland to issue a Freezing Fog Advisory until 9 AM. Areas affected include Crawford, PA, Inland Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Mahoning Counties, where visibility dropped and surfaces turned slick as temperatures hovered in the upper 20s to 30 degrees.
The foggy conditions are attributed to the area being sandwiched between high pressure to the east, and low pressure developing to the southwest. In areas where the fog became persistent, travel hazards increased, particularly where temperatures remained below freezing. A combination of cloudy conditions and temperatures near the seasonal norm are expected throughout today, as the region sits in a transitional zone between weather systems.
Looking ahead, Friday might bring spotty showers thanks to a front passing to the north combined with slight isentropic lift, however, the chances are slim, with only a 20 percent probability of precipitation. As the main low pressure system moves northeast from the Mississippi River Valley on Friday night, the likelihood of rain will increase, with the forecast expecting near-normal high temperatures in the 50s.
Going into the weekend, high pressure takes over once the low pressure system and its damp entourage exit the region. Temperatures will take a slight dip to the 40s on Saturday in the wake of the low pressure system moving out, but Sunday looks to offer a reprieve with temps rising back toward normalcy. By next week, high pressure remains the dominant weather influence, ushering in dry conditions and temperatures that are expected to be near normal.
Meanwhile, the maritime conditions should remain relatively uneventful – at least through Saturday – as the latest forecast doesn't anticipate the need for any special marine warnings or advisories. Light onshore flows will persist through today before a transition to southwest winds taking the stage tonight into Friday. However, boaters may want to brace for increasing winds on Sunday as they are predicted to strengthen to 10 to 20 knots, potentially requiring Small Craft Advisories to be put into effect.
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