Issued: 8pm on Sunday, February 1st 2026
Technical Forecast Discussion
Key Messages:
- Temperatures will jump into the upper-20s and lower-30s Monday and Tuesday.
- The chance for snow returns Tuesday evening, but totals are still quite uncertain, especially as we may see above freezing temperatures on Tuesday.
- Snow may return once more Friday morning, but may not last if temperatures, similarly, move above freezing.
Short-Term Forecast (Sunday 02/01/2026 through Tuesday 02/03/2026):
The large trough that has sat over the region recently will finally weaken and push eastward tonight and tomorrow. While we will be in between the transition of a trough and broad, weak ridge, warmer winds will travel from the southwest and allow our region to warm slightly. Temperatures won’t warm exponentially but will climb into the upper-20s and lower 30s, possibly breaking above freezing Monday and Tuesday. High-pressure will continue dominating the region into Tuesday, but a relatively weak cold front associated with a surface low will pass over the state during the day. The arrival of this low just above Michigan in Canada will bring the chance for snow flurries Tuesday evening as a band of moisture from the Gulf travels northeastward up into the state. This chance of snow may bring additional snow on the ground and snowpack, but snow totals are not in agreement at the moment. The general consensus seems to be around just roughly 1″ but easily could be more or less as we get closer to Tuesday. However, as temperatures may get above freezing on Tuesday, we may see significantly less snow by then, much less any accumulation.
Long-Term Forecast (Wednesday 02/04/2026 through Saturday 02/07/2026):
High-pressure will rapidly follow into Wednesday as this cold front pushes out of the region. Clouds will dissipate for the most part; however, temperatures will dip back into the upper-20s once again Wednesday and Thursday thanks to the cold front on Tuesday. Multiple different broad troughs will situate itself over the state through Saturday, continuously bringing cold air down from Canada. Another low will sweep over the state once again on Friday, a warm front will engulf the state and warm temperatures into the mid-30s. However, these slightly warmer temperatures won’t be properly felt because of this approaching low bringing significantly gustier winds of around 20 mph at times. Moisture will follow this low and bring the chance for more snow Friday morning. Similarly to Tuesday evening, depending on how much the air warms into Friday, any accumulation we could see may not last for too long. However, the trough aloft will begin to strengthen Friday evening into Saturday, and, as a cold front associated with the low from Friday passes through, temperatures will plummet back into the low-20s Saturday as a much stronger wave of cold air punches down into Ohio. While high-pressure will fill in Saturday right after the low, temperatures may feel worse as winds may be fairly breezy. Stable conditions are expected to develop by Saturday.
