A QUIET END AND BEGINNING: As we end 2015 and begin 2016, both days look dry with sunshine with temperatures in the upper teens through the 20s today and a few degrees warmer on Friday. Heading into the first weekend of the New Year, temperatures will slowly rise a few degrees as some Pacific air tries to move into the state. With the snow cover on the ground, we should see temperatures remaining in the 20s and 30s which may melt some of the snow and could lead to some fog during the overnight hours. Time will tell however.
BACK TO WORK: As most head back to work and back to school, the weather remains quiet with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 20s and 30s. Winds turn out of the south on Tuesday which will warm readings a few degrees and melt a little more of the snow at that time. This is ahead of a storm system that will be moving through the southwest and ejecting into the Plains by the middle of the week. We will see an increase in clouds and perhaps a few flurries or sprinkles as early as Wednesday with a better chance of precipitation moving in by Thursday. The system is shown to move through the state into the following weekend as well. With the slow movement, we may see some decent amounts of precipitation (mostly snow but could change). This is a system that will need to be watched over the next couple of days.
EXTENDED PERIOD: Further into January, the GFS shows a push of Arctic air toward the middle of the month with a chance of some snow. It also is showing several systems coming from the west and northwest with more chances of precipitation as well. Temperatures look to be at or below seasonal levels with some moderation ahead of systems but mainly cooler than average through the period.
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