Temperatures returning closer to average into the mid-week

After a quick break from the extended cold pattern to end the weekend with temperatures reaching the 50 degree mark in some locations, we got a reminder that it’s early December to begin the week on Monday. With a wave of energy sliding through the Ohio Valley and colder air being pulled in, light snow fell during the morning hours with enough to cover the ground in most locations here in Central and Eastern Kentucky. A few spots measured around 1″ plus snow totals and there were a few slick roadways for a time during the first half of the day. Once the snow wound down, clouds stuck around with afternoon highs only in the low to mid-30s with the snow making  things look festive for the holiday season for those that saw it.

High pressure to our south will begin to drift northeastward on Tuesday hopefully bringing some drier air and a bit more sunshine to the area, although we know about how stubborn the low clouds can be to scour out given the recent weather pattern. One thing that should help is a breezy southwest wind, which should help drive afternoon highs back into the low-40s, which will be a nice recovery after starting the day in the low 20s for morning lows. It should be a pretty decent December day, especially if we can get some sunshine back into the area.

Heading into the mid-week, the first in a series of clipper systems will dive southeastward through the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley. Look for another breezy to windy day with gusts 25 to 30 miles per hour or higher, which will help to push afternoon highs back into the upper 40s. We are looking at a few scattered showers ahead of this system with everything falling in the form of rain with temperatures well into the 40s. As has been the case of late, colder air will move in behind the departing wave so look for a few snow showers Wednesday night and into Thursday with temperatures back down into the 30s for afternoon highs.

Another wave of energy may cruise through the area to close out the week on Friday with a low end rain/snow shower chance and afternoon highs still into the 30s. Heading into the weekend, the data is now suggesting a secondary wave that may rotate through Saturday night and into Sunday. First off this would keep temperatures a bit “milder” for Saturday with highs in the upper 30s thanks to a southwest flow ahead of the wave. What starts out as a rain/snow mix should change over to light snow as much colder air plunges in behind the departing wave. This will be legitimate cold air for the middle part of December with afternoon highs struggling into the mid to upper 20s. This will push early morning lows well down into the teens so it is going to be cold so keep that in mind for any holiday plans you have might have on tap for the weekend. This colder stretch should carry over into early next week so keep the winter coats handy.