Saturday Morning Flurries, Active Pattern Will Continue

Well WABBLES, it finally looks a *little* bit like Winter out there! We’re starting our Saturday morning with flurries flying but rain returns Sunday through much of next week as an active pattern will continue.

Today

Folks who find themselves waking up at sunrise this morning may see a few more falling flakes as you look outside. This isn’t expected to be much impact and any additional accumulations should be North of the WABBLES region (and it should only be a dusting anyway). Nonetheless, it is snow and that’s something we haven’t seen very often this Winter.

This quick burst of snow flurries will be short-lived, and in fact the snow remaining on the ground will be as well, as the system responsible will finally push out of out midst and we’ll see temps creep above freezing during the late morning hours. High-pressure and drier air in the wake of the passing trough will result in a lull in precipitation for the remainder of the day Saturday, although clouds will likely hang around until tonight. Otherwise expect temperatures to top out in the mid-summer 30’s today before falling back into the 20’s overnight.

Surface Pressure Analysis. High-pressure will move in behind surface-low. (SPC)

Sunday

A surface-low crossing the Midwest begins to influence the weather Sunday and we will see a local warm-up as low-level flow becomes more southerly. Believe it or not, temperatures will actually climb into the 50’s on Sunday. The skies will briefly clear Sunday afternoon but moisture surging northward into the Ohio Valley will fuel widespread moderate-heavy rain beginning locally overnight Sunday through Monday.

The heaviest rainfall and associated flooding potential is expected to remain South of WABBLES where more favorable dynamics will be in place, but another inch of rainfall is possible. Wind gusts will increase Sunday night as well, possibly as high as 30mph in advance of a cold front, and this strong southerly flow and increasing cloud cover will help keep temps in the mid 40’s Sunday night.

Moisture will increase, nosing into the Ohio Valley. (GrADS/COLA)

Wind gusts will strengthen as another front approaches (NWS)

Next Week

Rain will continue through the morning on Monday as a cold front slides on through. Temperatures may be able to climb as high as 50°F before the front passes Monday evening. Overnight lows will return to the mid 30’s.

There is still a bit of uncertainty regarding specific details but an active pattern will continue next week with a series of upper-level waves and a stalled surface front bringing repeated chances for rain/snow (sound familiar?). None of the snow chances are expected to be impactful but some flurries are possible by midweek.

GFS forecast model showing possible rainfall accumulation through Tuesday morning. The heaviest rain will be South of WABBLES but an inch or so is still possible locally. (College of Dupage)

Enjoy your weekend WABBLES, and maybe keep that umbrella close by for the next week at least.