National Weather at 830pm January 16 2005

[Jeb]

Storm departs, cold air rushes in Monday

8:30 P.M. ET 1/16/2005

 

Kevin Roth, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

 

 

 

Northeast

Ocean-effect snow blew into eastern New England Sunday afternoon in advance of a coast storm. Light snow fell throughout the AFC Divisional Playoff Game between the Patriots and the Colts. Snow from the storm should enhance the snow through early Monday morning before departing by noontime Monday. Accumulations of 3-5 inches are possible in Boston, southeastern Massachusetts and eastern Rhode Island. Accumulations of 5-9 inches are possible for Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Ocean-effect snow showers may continue through Monday evening over eastern New England.

 

Lake-effect snow squalls are expected in the favored snow belts off the Great Lakes through Monday. Accumulations may pile up over a foot in a few locations as some fresh arctic air spills in. Temperatures should run below to much below average throughout the first half of the week.

 

Midwest

Snow flurries and snow showers will fly over the Great Lakes, northern Indiana and Ohio tomorrow. Except for a few areas immediately downwind of the Lakes, however, amounts should be miniscule. Cold air actually will be the dominant feature. Highs in the Midwest will be far below mid-winter means, while readings on the Plains will be somewhat closer to seasonal norms. Maxima are expected to range from zero to 10 below in northern Minnesota to the 30s on the western high plains of South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. Southern Kansas and southern Missouri will see highs in the 30s, too.

 

West

Things will get back to normal west of the Cascades tomorrow (no more ice) as rain takes over again, probably quite a bit of it in western Washington. Steady rain is expected to develop in northwest Oregon, too, with showers reaching as far south as northwest California. Areas of snow, sleet and freezing rain are forecast to extend east of the Cascades across northeast Washington and northern Idaho. Snow levels in the Cascades will be rising; in northern Washington, for example, levels along the west slopes will start the day in the 4000- to 5000-foot range, but probably be 1000 feet higher by evening. California and the Southwest, meanwhile, will remain dry, probably for quite some time to come. Strong, gusty winds will plague the northern Montana Rockies and adjacent foothills, and blustery winds will whip over the Pacific Northwest coast. High temperatures throughout the West will be generally above seasonal means.

 

South

The South will be dominated by dry but chilly air tomorrow as the southern lobe of an arctic high bulls into the region. Highs will be generally 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal means, ranging from the 30s to the 50s, north to south, over most of the area. Extreme southern Texas and the southern half of Florida may see readings in the 60s; Miami may not make it into the low 70s.