Arctic Front and THON Week

Focus City: State College, PA and other portions of the Commonwealth

Average:
High: 33°F; Low: 16°F
Precip:
2.64” liquid
11.1” snow

Short term (CWS/ NWS Seven-Day Forecast):

Hope you all enjoyed the recent snow… more is on the way but not as much. First, we have high pressure in control for the next day or two. A powerful arctic cold front will be making its way southeastward from southern Canada tomorrow night and Friday. Less than an inch of snow is expected with the front despite a short-wave trough forming on the leeward side of the Appalachians. The recent snow was caused by a short-wave trough. Due to the absence of a second high pressure system, the cold spell will be short-lived but powerful: near-average temperatures expected for Saturday and Sunday. Winds will kick up overnight Sat. and last through Sunday, bringing wind chill values to the single digits. A system is coming for the middle of the week. Ahead of it, warm air will start creeping into the area, increasing temperatures for the middle of the week.

Long range (Beyond the Seven-Day):

The GFS and Euro pick up on a coastal storm for the first half THON weekend. While many are dancing for 46 hours in the Bryce Jordan Center fighting pediatric cancer, rain and snow will probably be falling: the 540-Dm 1000-500 mb Thickness line, which statistically coincides with the surface freezing line, bisects the Appalachians. A nor’easter is expected for that Monday the 20th, followed by a similar set-up to this weekend’s storm, which may occur on the 24th. Have a good weekend!