A Beautiful Christmas

Today’s Discussion:

Forecast has been close to very good these last few days. Mild, but not “blow torch warm” as some have been trying to prognosticate the last week or so.  We got some light ice and rain this morning too. Now, going forward there are some adjustments that I will be making. Nothing significant.

Christmas Day does look sunnier now, but cooler. The temperatures will struggle to reach 40 as a strong area of High pressure builds in from the NNW. This High will induce a northerly flow of cold air into our area. This is nothing like a week ago, but it is relatively cold air. This will set the stage for some minor freezing rain early Monday morning. It is nice that many people do not have to work or go to school. But for those who are going to out very early Mon, be careful and watch for some possible ice.  With this strong high, a cold air damming situation (like last Sat, just not as cold) will set up. Monday temperatures will struggle to climb out of the mid and
upper-30s by late in the day. A cool, damp day.

Monday night temperatures will slowly climb to the mid-40s but only after midnight. So, yes, a forecast of 43 for a high on Monday is misleading … might be at midnight when most are in bed … it won’t be mid-afternoon. Cold air will get stuck in the valleys of Central PA as it always does in these patterns.  

The warmest day will be Tuesday after the cold front moves through: Front removes old stale cold air stuck in valleys and new air warms as it rushes down from the mountains to our west and the sun comes out. All 3 lead to a mild to warm day before the cold air builds in Tuesday night.

​Cold Wed then we set the stage for a new weather system to bring in a little snow then ice then rain. This storm could develop into quite the snowstorm for Maine.  Some stronger cold air with strong winds impact us Fri into Sat, before another system comes with threat for snow/ice/rain again on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.