Forecaster’s note: Yes, I do realize that “Yule” technically applies to the Winter Solstice, which came three days ago, December 21 at 12:47 p.m. to be exact. I had a writeup planned, but we’ve had some continuing technological difficulties. Merry Christmas. Updated 12/25 7 a.m.

Christmas Eve

As we wait in anticipation of a massive warm front fueled by moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, which I estimate to arrive tomorrow, today, we will see partly sunny skies and a high temperature in the low 30s. Low temperatures for Santa Claus’s flight over the area will be in the mid-20s.

Christmas Day

Rain begins advancing into the area early Christmas morning. If it arrives early enough, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it be of the freezing variety, but this won’t be that much of an issue since almost everyone’s closed for Christmas anyway. It will warm up significantly, pushing the 40-degree mark for most of the area, even Mount Alton’s MOS forecasts are reading 39, and they’re usually one of the coldest spots in the region.

Boxing Day

As the storm passes Friday night, temperatures will drop back into more wintry levels for the weekend, beginning this Saturday, and will likely bring some trailing snow. GFS-MOS is not predicting this to be cold enough for lake-effect snow for the time being, though the wind direction appears perfectly oriented. Scattered snow flurries, possibly wet. High temperatures Saturday will reach the mid-30s. Low Saturday night in the mid-20s. Sunday’s weather will be nearly identical to Saturday’s, with scattered snow and highs in the low-to-mid-30s.

~JMF