Issued: 8pm on Sunday, January 26th 2025
Technical Forecast Discussion
Short-term Forecast (Sunday 01/26/2025 through Tuesday 01/28/2025):
The short-term period will remain under the influence of a broad area of high pressure, promoting tranquil weather conditions across the region. Tonight, partly cloudy skies will allow for efficient radiational cooling, resulting in a cold night. Winds will be light, and no precipitation is anticipated. On Monday, the high-pressure center will begin to shift eastward, bringing mostly sunny skies to Athens. Light southerly flow will develop on the backside of the high, allowing for a gradual warming trend during the day. However, overnight conditions will remain cold under clear skies, with little to no cloud cover to act as insulation. By Tuesday, a weak mid-level disturbance will approach the region, leading to increasing cloud cover through the day. Despite the cloudiness, moisture associated with this system will remain limited, keeping precipitation chances near zero. Winds will remain light and variable as the high-pressure system continues to dominate at the surface. The day will feel slightly warmer due to the southerly component in the flow, but the night will once again see temperatures drop significantly under partly cloudy skies.
Long-term Forecast (Wednesday 01/29/2025 through Saturday 02/01/2025):
A more active weather pattern is anticipated in the long-term period, beginning with the approach of a frontal system late Wednesday. Ahead of the front, a developing southerly flow will increase moisture advection into the region, leading to thickening cloud cover by Wednesday afternoon. By Wednesday night, rain chances will increase as the front nears, although precipitation amounts are expected to remain light at this time. Temperatures are forecast to stay warm enough to prevent wintry precipitation, but any early Thursday morning precipitation may briefly mix with sleet if cooler air aloft interacts with surface conditions. On Thursday, the cold front will sweep through the region, bringing a period of light to moderate rainfall. Behind the front, winds will shift to the northwest as high pressure builds back in. This transition will result in clearing skies by Thursday evening and a noticeable drop in temperatures overnight. Friday and Saturday will feature a return to drier conditions under the influence of high pressure. Expect mostly sunny skies during the day and cold overnight conditions as the high settles over the area, allowing for enhanced radiational cooling. While daytime temperatures may slightly moderate under sunny skies, nights will remain chilly. By late Saturday, another weather system may approach the area. However, confidence in its timing, strength, and impacts remains low at this time, as model solutions diverge. Stay tuned for future forecasts!
