As the New Year begins, residents in Ohio and Pennsylvania are seeing a weather pendulum swing from the severe chill and lake effect snow to a more tranquil and warming pattern as we head into the weekend. According to the National Weather Service Cleveland OH, a weak clipper system is moving east across the region this afternoon, trailing off by the end of today, paving the way for high pressure and calmer skies by Saturday.
In the short term, lake effect snow is continuing to dust NW PA today with additional snow accumulations forecasted to be 1 to 3 inches. Ohio zones, having already experienced an arctic frontal visit, will catch a break with only an inch or less of snow expected through the morning. This is good news for those still out and about clearing up after holiday celebrations, or simply looking forward to safer travel conditions. "The Ohio Lake Effect Snow Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories will likely expire on time at 7 AM EST," noted the NWS in their morning discussions.
However, with the impending clipper, travel may become hazardous again, albeit briefly, given the subfreezing surface temperatures in the lower 20s this afternoon. Tonight through Friday, the primary snowbelt regions should stay on alert for another round of lake effect snow, with the heaviest accumulations predicted in the higher terrain of inland Erie County PA, where predictions point toward a 4 to 6-inch snowfall.
Looking forward to the weekend, we're eyeing an uptick in temperatures alongside a decline in snow chances. After Friday night's last huddle of lake effect snow, Saturday will roll in with dry weather and daylight highs in the mid to upper 20s. The National Weather Service says a new disturbance may clip the area Sunday into Monday, but it's likely to be less troublesome than previous systems, spouting lighter accumulations. "Highs will be in the mid to upper 20s this weekend with lows in the teens expected," the forecast discussion revealed.
Long-term outlooks are hinting at a benign weather pattern and a welcome increase in temperatures through Tuesday. By midweek, we could see diurnal numbers pushing into the 40s. Despite a brief visit in the form of light snow showers on Monday, warmer days are clearly on the horizon for the region. "High temperatures in the low to mid 30s Monday will give way to highs in the 40s Tuesday and Wednesday," forecasters from the National Weather Service Cleveland OH conclude.
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