Maybe snow.
Maybe rain.
Likely both.
The National Weather Service office in Cleveland wants to call your attention to the possibility of a “significant winter storm” arriving in the middle of next week.
The agency published a graphic today offering a “heads up” on a system expected to arrive on Tuesday, Feb. 1, and hang around for a few days across north central Ohio, including Richland, Ashland, Crawford and Knox counties.
“Forecast models are indicating the potential for a large winter storm which may impact the region Tuesday night through Friday morning,” according to the forecasters.
“(It) could be a long duration weather system,” they said.
Fueling the mess is a low pressure system from the south that will bring moisture from the gulf. A high pressure system from the northwest with the jet stream could supply the cold temperatures.
The exact track and timing of the system is the great unknown. The warmer side could provide heavy rain and potential flooding. The colder side could be heavy snow and/or a rain mix.
As of now, the NWS is calling for rain showers before midnight Tuesday and then rain and snow showers afterward. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
On Wednesday, expect snow showers before 10 a.m., rain/snow between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., followed by rain after 2 p.m. The high will be around 41 and there is a 90 percent chance of precipitation.
On Wednesday night, rain showers are expected before 1 a.m. and then snow showers. The low is expected to be 27 and the chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
There is a 70 percent chance of snow on Thursday with a high near 36. Snow showers will continue Thursday night with a low around 8.
As we ponder all of this, let’s share a laugh with a really bad weather joke:
TV meteorologist tells his audience, “I would like to tell you tomorrow’s forecast is a high of 98 Degrees. … But I hate boy bands.”
Enjoy what looks like a dry weekend.
