Current Forecast Meet the Forecaster

Issued: 12am on Thursday, January 1st 1970

Technical Forecast Discussion

Short term (Sunday 1/20 through Tuesday 1/22)

The upper level trough that carries the system through the region on Saturday looks to become increasingly more negatively tilted as it moves to the east. Temperatures at this time will allow for persisting precipitation to fall as snow. Moisture will completely empty from the region Sunday night, but precipitation should stop before that around early afternoon as there will be a lack of forcing to pair with the moisture available. On Tuesday, Upper level ridging moves in and as it strengthens will produce high pressure that rests over Indiana and parts of Western Ohio. Ridging will also bring in warmer air as temperatures will rise to the upper 30s. Another negatively tilted trough approaches Tuesday. Looking at vorticity and velocity values, proper forcing won’t be available until the latter half of Tuesday and from there, rain is likely.

Long term (Wednesday 1/23 through Saturday 1/26)

A low pressure system begins to enter the region on Wednesday. The area will briefly be within the warm sector on Wednesday before the cold frontal boundary passes over Athens. This system will be pushed by an upper level trough with a shortwave trough embedded within it. Rain showers will be likely sometime Wednesday as precipitation forms ahead of the frontal boundary. Moisture will still be available Thursday, so precipitation could continue depending on how much energy remains from the previous day. Reorganizing of the upper level trough allows for high pressure to form in the Plains and move in on Friday. On Saturday, localized low pressure pops up around upper level troughing as it becomes organized again leading to a possibility of precipitation on Saturday