Winter Weather Summary January 5

[CaptinCrunch]

Winter Weather Summary
POSTED: January 5, 2004 4:29 p.m.


Lake Effect Snow Over the Next Few Days

An area of low pressure is currently leaving the Northeast and away from New England. Rain has ended across most of New England, New York state and New Jersey, but spotty drizzle is persisting in the wake of the rain. Across New York state, where cold air is coming in behind the system, temperatures are near or just below freezing, resulting in some icy spots. The concern for icy patches would be higher across a larger portion of the Northeast if not for two things, the recent warm weather and gusty winds which will dry many wet spots. However, a few isolated icy patches can't be ruled out as we head through Monday night. A secondary cold front shifting through the Great Lakes and into the Northeast over the next 24 hours will produce some flurries. As far south as Tennessee, flurries could occur over the next 24 to 36 hours. However, the bigger story will be the fresh shot of cold air and lake-effect snow that will result. Already Monday night, lake-effect snow will kick into gear downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario. Meanwhile, the lake-effect has already begun across portions of northern and southwestern lower Michigan, as well as the U.P. of Michigan, where persistent bands could bring as much as 6 inches of snow through Monday night. Some lake-effect will also fall across Ohio and areas west of the Appalachians. The snow is expected to continue on and off through Thursday morning across parts of New York, as bands shift back and forth. The most persistent bands of snow could bring as much as 3 or 3 1/2 feet of snow through Thursday morning across interior southwestern New York as well as areas between Utica and Watertown.

Another storm system will affect the northwestern United States late Monday and Monday night. Snow across western Washington and western Oregon will accumulate at least 1-3 inches with 3-6 inches possible across southwestern Washington and northeastern Oregon and as much as one foot of snow in the Oregon Cascades. Snow will likely affect travel in Portland late Monday and Seattle Monday night.