Forecast Last Updated at Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 7:06AM

Unsettled Week Ahead

We’ll see some sun and mild temperatures around early today. This afternoon, clouds will begin to increase as a clipper system drops in from the Mid-west. Rain and snow showers develop this evening, changing over to all snow overnight. Snow showers continue Monday as the low swings across the High Country and hops over to the Mid-Atlantic coast. Much colder temperatures set in behind the low as we are set up for an active week of unsettled weather. We will see minor bouts of snow much of the upcoming week.

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Sunday Hi: 45 Lo: 29 Increasing PM clouds; Snow showers Sun. night (beginning as light rain in valleys); Wind becoming SW 5-15 mph (gusty early), then NW 5-15 mph Sun. night

Monday Hi: 35 Lo: 18 Mostly cloudy; Snow showers; Cold; NW wind 10-20 mph, gusty

Tuesday Hi: 30 Lo: 16 Mostly cloudy; Cold; Snow showers & flurries; NW wind 15-30 mph, gusty

Wednesday Hi: 32 Lo: 26 Clear; Cold

Thursday Hi: 44 Lo: 29 Becoming cloudy; Late-day rain & snow showers, changing to snow showers Thur night

Further Out

Friday - Early snow showers & flurries; Then becoming clear; Cold; High in the upper 30s; Low in the lower 20s
Saturday - Mostly clear, becoming cloudy late; Afternoon/evening snow showers; Cold & Windy; High in the mid 30s; Low in the upper teens

Forecast Discussion

Overnight, a clipper system dove into the Plains from Canada and now sits over the Mid-west, and looks rather organized on satellite. This low with strengthen a bit more before sliding over the TN valley into the High Country Monday morning. Although it will strengthen, this system will not have much in the way of moisture to work with as there is no direct moisture flow from the Gulf of Mexico, this will keep precipitation amounts at a minimum for the region.

What this means for us is that after a brief mild period Sunday, we’ll see clouds increase in the afternoon. Rain and snow showers will develop just before midnight (maybe as early as 9pm), changing to all snow early Monday morning. As the low slides over the Appalachians early Monday, much colder air dives in behind it. By Monday afternoon, the cold NW flow will kick in with some gusty winds. We will continue to see off and on snow showers through Monday night, into Tuesday with a dusting to maybe ½” of accumulation.

Tuesday, high pressure builds over the Central Plains. The flow around this high supports the NW flow we’ll continue to see in the High Country. Gusty NW winds and snow showers will persist through Tuesday night as the high pressure slowly moves over the TN valley and Mid-Atlantic.

Wednesday, it seems we catch a bit of a break with the high pressure in place over us. This break is short lived as another clipper low dives into the Plains. This next fast moving system arrives Thursday afternoon with rain and snow showers. Overnight Thursday and into Friday morning, the precipitation changes to all snow as colder air slides in behind the low on gusty NW winds.

By Friday afternoon, the low will have kicked out to the Mid-Atlantic while we will still be under a cold and gusty NW flow. High pressure builds into the MS valley Friday night and into Saturday, helping to sustain our NW flow with off and on snow showers. Saturday, the high will be firmly in place over the lower MS valley while our next clipper system seems to take a more northerly track. We will maintain the NW’ly flow through the weekend with more clouds and snow showers on deck for Saturday afternoon and evening.

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