Back To The Cold - A Bit Of Snow Too...

Good Evening!

After a frustrating weekend trying to figure out how to replace a vehicle, get back the money that was stolen from me when my bank card was compromised, and doing taxes that say I have to pay in a sizable chunk to Uncle Sam, this seems almost simple!  Let’s have a look and see what’s going on…

MORE CLOUDS AND SUCH:  We are in the typical winter pattern here in Michigan, with periods of clouds that accompany the lake effect snow bands as they work inland.  That snow is persisting as it has in fits and starts all day long at this hour.  Have a look at the Grand Rapids NEXRAD radar image:

As you can see, still some activity in the snow box.  That will taper off some as we get the nasty cold air coming in with the polar high in another day or two.

We’ll get a bit of accumulation, an inch or two, but it takes a while for it to add up as we get bands rolling through the area until late tomorrow, then we start to see some clearing as that high out west pushes in here and also pushes the deep freeze door open once again, because…

THE PAIN RETURNS:  While I would love to say that temperatures remain at least semi-bearable, that’s not the case.  Our next polar high is resting out west in the Dakotas.  Forecast data indicates that it’ll shift into drive and start moving this way, clearing the skies but bringing bitter cold temperatures with it.  When we lose our cloud cover, we lose the blanket effect it provides, trapping daytime heat down here close to us.   Wind Chill Advisories are up for all of Wisconsin and Minnesota, the northern half of Illinois, a good chunk of Iowa, and part of Missouri.  We get our turn tomorrow night, with temperatures dipping below zero over night, and wind chills, doing the -20 to -30 bit again for Tuesday.

A QUICK WARM UP?:  In looking at forecast data today, I see that for later this week, the computers are suggesting a high of about 31 for Thursday.  My take on that right now is, “Uh-huh, keep talking…”  It’s too early to hang my hat on that, regardless of the fact that models are saying we see an upper air pattern change that will push the Polar air back across the border, as ridging and milder air comes into the West off the Pacific.  I’ll check in on that as the models keep doing their thing, but for now I’m passing on it as a probable event.  The computers have had a tough time nailing things down this winter.

MAYBE A THAW IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO:  I am NOT expecting this to hold up at this point, but forecast models are indicating that we finally manage to get to and hold at or above freezing temperatures a week from Wednesday.  This is more of a “think Spring” statement than anything else, as this is outside the seven days that you have any business even THINKING about planning for.

Here’s the forecast for Jackson and surrounding areas including Parma and Michigan Center:

Tonight, mainly cloudy with some periods of light snow, little accumulation, lows near zero. Wind WNW 5-10 MPH keeps wind chills down as low as -10.

Monday, again, a lot of clouds with a couple of breaks for sun, continued cold, high 14. Wind WNW 4-9 MPH.  Wind chills still hover around 0.

Monday night, we start to see clearing as the polar high tracks in, lows could dip to -5, winds become WSW 4-7 MPH.  Wind chills up to -15.

Tuesday, mainly clear skies, cold.  Daytime highs only make it to around 15.  Wind turns S 5-10 MPH, keeping wind chills down around 0.

Wednesday, mostly sunny, continued cold, high 17.

Thursday, increasing clouds, warmer, high 29.

Friday, perhaps some light snow, cloudy, temperatures fall back to 18.

As soon as I am able to get a handle on all the non weather crap that I alluded to in the opening of this post, expect a shift back toward the at least semi-regular posting schedule.  Have a great day!  Blessings.