BLOG: It's Cold Out

You think it's cold outside...you are right!

And we are not just talking about the normal chill that sets in come December. Since the beginning of the month, a huge push of Arctic air has invaded the entire region. Highs have been running about 10-15 degrees below average. For example, today our average high falls to 48 degrees while we are forecasting a high in the mid 30s. In fact, since the beginning of the month, we have been averaging a high of 41.6 degrees (and that includes a really warm December 1st at 62 degrees).

We will only top out in the mid 30s again tomorrow before the cold eases a bit this weekend. Expect highs in the 40s Saturday and then maybe even the low 50s Sunday, but that's just as a new storm moves our way. The break from the cold will be short, though, because a new round of true Arctic air comes our way behind that storm for the rest of next week. It is entirely possible that it could be even colder than what we have been dealing with this week.

Now, to the storm. Clouds will start taking over Saturday, then the storm will arrive either late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. There is the chance that this storm could start as a messy mix. However, the track the storm is going to take will draw in much warmer air, causing any possible mix to change to rain for most of the storm (for most of the state...western Maryland may not spend as much time in the warm air). This storm will continue to strengthen as it moves through and after the low passes, it will yank down another round of bitterly cold, Arctic air. That means that the storm could end as some snow before it gets out of here early Monday. Gusty northwest winds will continue throughout Monday, bringing in rounds of snow showers with the cold air.

We will continue to watch the progress of this mainly rain storm, because a slight change in path could change what's coming out of the sky greatly. Stay tuned...