Big Step Toward Winter About to Occur

Major step toward winter about to be taken.

The upper level pattern has adjusting step by step, and now it is about to take a much bigger step. Right now, a cold front (very strong one too!) is moving into the western edge of Central PA. Showers accompany that front with some gusty winds and falling temperatures. Snow showers are being reported in the mountains of western PA already. So late this afternoon/evening expect clouds, showers, winds to pick up and temps to fall. Do not be shocked if you see a snow flake or two after 8 pm.

Tonight into Monday morning will feel like a shock to our system. Strong gusty winds will make it feel like winter, with temps in the 30s for the most part. Snow showers and even a snow squall is possible leaving a coating to 1” snow possible even in the valleys. Not everyone will get this. Some could get more, esp. if a band of snow sets up off Lakes Huron and Erie. That cannot be forecast until it is developing. This is not really a big deal, but when you’ve had the warm fall we’ve had, it will feel like BIG deal.

Things calm down Tuesday with sunshine, but cold temperatures. Wed another system approaches with some wet weather for Thanksgiving.  Expect showers/periods of rain late Wed night into Thanksgiving morning. It will stay seasonably chilly. “Black” Friday looks pretty nice, as the sunshine will return with seasonal temps.

The change this weekend is pretty big, as we go from a regime of dry and very warm to one that is wetter and colder. Instead of well above average and occasionally cooling to average, we will now see temperatures stay near average and cool to below average. Again, this was expected and as the pattern evolves, snow will become a more common word, esp. as we head into December.

Have a blessed warm afternoon … get out there before its gone!