Good Sunday afternoon! Here is a look at what you should expect to see in weather conditions throughout the last week of January. After the Arctic cold last week, we finally should see temperatures resemble a more warmer pattern, although this will bring the risk for more active weather, including the risk of snow showers and snow squalls. There will also be a couple of days with stronger wind gusts, particularly from Monday evening through Wednesday.
MONDAY (1/27) – High temperatures will range from the upper-20s to low-40s. Expect increasing wind gusts throughout the afternoon and evening with strong winds possible Monday night, especially across the northern counties and Laurel Highlands, where 45+ mph wind gusts will be possible.
TUESDAY (1/28) – High temperatures will range from the low-20s to upper-30s. Snow showers and snow squalls will be possible across many areas along and north of I-80 and across the Laurel Highlands Tuesday morning and early afternoon. Snowfall accumulations of greater than 2 inches will be possible in the Laurel Highlands and NW PA. Be ready for difficult travel in heavier snow squalls. Elevated wind gusts will continue throughout the day state-wide, with gusts 20 – 40 mph, 45 – 50 mph in the Laurel Highlands and higher elevations.
WEDNESDAY (1/29) – High temperatures will range from the low-30s to upper-40s. Snow showers and snow squalls will be possible across many areas across northern, western, and central Pennsylvania. Be on alert for possible difficult travel in heavier snow squalls. Snowfall accumulations of greater than 2 inches will be possible in the Laurel Highlands and NW PA. Widespread wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph will be possible across the state throughout the afternoon and evening.
THURSDAY (1/30) – High temperatures will range from the low-to-mid 30s. A few lingering snow showers will be possible during the morning hours across the Laurel Highlands and northern Pennsylvania. Otherwise, a calmer day with state-wide wind gusts of 15 to 30 mph possible.
FRIDAY (1/31) – High temperatures ranging from the upper-30s to low-40s. Increasing cloud cover ahead of our next system. Rain showers could move into far western and southern Pennsylvania during the late afternoon/evening hours, marking the onset of a possible weekend winter system.
WEEKEND STORM RISK:
Regarding the weekend winter storm threat, there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the track and intensity of the storm system that could bring a variety of different precipitation types to the state. A storm system will be ejecting out of the southwestern United States later this week, tracking toward our area by the weekend. There will also be a retreating high-pressure system across southeastern Canada and the Northeast, which may allow for cold air to ‘lock in’ east of the Appalachian mountains, allowing for a freezing rain/sleet mix even with a more northerly track.
If you have travel plans next week or to attend the Groundhog Day ceremonies, it is still **too early ** to cancel and/or re-adjust travel plans. For more updates, stay tuned throughout the week! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
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