Expect a Cold Start to November

This Weekend and Early Next Week 

So far, Port Columbus has recorded 14 days with measurable rain in the month of October. We will get a brief break in the unsettled weather this weekend before the next system rolls through here on Tuesday. High temperatures are well above normal today and will be in the mid-upper 70's on Monday and Tuesday. A weak front will cross through the area tonight which will drop highs back into the low-mid 60's for Sunday, however, it will be sunny tomorrow. The main front will cross through here on Tuesday afternoon and will bring the threat of showers and a few rumbles of thunder to the entire state. Widespread rainfall of less than a half inch will be likely with a few isolated spots getting a little bit more. It will be a gusty day before the front arrives as well. 

Halloween Forecast 

Things will get interesting by the end of the week around here. Highs will be in the 50's on Wednesday and Thursday with partly to mostly cloudy conditions. Many communities will trick-or-treat on Thursday night and that will definitely be the best night to do so. It will be chilly withs lows in the upper 30's to low 40's state-wide, but it will be dry. Friday will be cold and damp with rain showers and highs staying in the 40's. The models are trying to hint at some snowflakes around here by Friday night and into Saturday. 

Next Weekend Forecast Challenges

There is great agreement amongst the models in terms of the temperatures. It is likely that we will see temperatures staying in the mid to lower 40's on Saturday and Sunday and low temperatures dropping into the lower 30's to middle 20's! This has the potential be the coldest air mass of the season and will deliver us a killing freeze to officially end the growing season. Where the models disagree is whether or not snow will be a factor. The two major models (GFS and ECMWF) both suggest snow will be falling, but the amount is still uncertain. The GFS thinks that we will only see flurries and no real accumulations, however, the ECMWF is more bullish and tries to put down 1-2" in Central Ohio and more than 2" in Northeastern Ohio. It also shows a healthy snowstorm in the mountains of West Virginia and Pennsylvania with several inches in those spots. Due to the level of cold air with this system, we should see the first lake-effect event of the season in the usual snow belts of Northeastern OH. 

*****I want to stress that this is a forecast that is GOING to change as we get closer to the event. There is a high degree of certainty for the cold temperatures, but the locations and amounts of snow will take some time to pin down. Many factors will impact whether we can get snow out of this system, but, I wanted to let you know what is on the table. I will update you on any further developments and any new information I receive. Stay Tuned!