Our first snowfall of the season is almost here. A strong low moving out of the Gulf of Mexico and a cold front coming in from Canada will have the perfect ingredients to produce snow showers for the early part of the work week. As of now, things are calm and quiet as high pressure sits overhead. Clouds have cleared and wind speeds are light, allowing temperatures to fall with most locations dropping below freezing. Precipitation is non-existent on the MaxTrack.
Today will feature mostly cosmetic changes to the forecast with the increase of cloud coverage through the afternoon. Rain showers will begin to arrive in the Lakes region right after dinner time tonight. Showers will become widespread over the entire forecast area by early Monday morning. Most will be light to moderate with some localized heavy clusters embedded. 0.25” to 1.50” of rainfall is possible until the rain/snow changeover. Timing seems to be holding for the snow to begin falling middle to late morning for the I-75 corridor and early to middle afternoon for eastern and southeastern counties. Snow will continue from that point in scattered rotations overnight through Tuesday afternoon. Models are suggesting the heaviest will finally exit the state mid-afternoon Tuesday. Although, with continued stratiform behind the system, therefore light showers or flurries will continue for a while, probably late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Amounts are still in alignment with the highest amounts being in eastern counties. Trace amounts to 3” of snow possible in the I-75 corridor, Lakes Region, and Southeast counties except for high terrain. High terrain spots will likely pick up more. The northeastern counties look to get the most this go around with 2” to 4” of snowfall possible. Road will be impacted between Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening. Most notably, the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes. Have a winter weather plan ready for this time frame and only be on the roads if you need to. Take it slow and allow extra time to get where you are going. Roads will be warm enough to melt snow at first, but conditions will become worse overnight into Tuesday morning. Remember that bridges, overpasses, shoulders, and turn lanes usually collect snow first, and keep it longer.
