Tracking cold air that sets the stage for wintry precipitation next week

TODAY: Friday is shaping up COLD, with temperatures nearly 5 degrees colder than Thursday. Starting with temperatures near 30 under continued clouds and a cold west wind, temperatures will struggle to remain near 30 this afternoon. Some glimpses of sunshine may be seen early this morning, as there's been an overnight break in the clouds, but more are expected to fill in from the northwest. Winds will be sustained near 20 mph, and gust at times near 30, keeping wind chills in the low 20s, if not teens. A flurry or two will be possible, but no accumulations are expected.

TONIGHT: Cold air drops us into the low 20s and upper teens tonight, setting up the coldest morning all week for Saturday.

EXTENDED: Clouds continue Saturday, as do the chances for isolated flurries. We'll stay cold, with a high near 30. Sunday, winds turn more southwesterly, and we warm into the upper 30s, adding more sunshine along the way. Monday, the clouds return, and we'll be tracking the potential for rain and snow. Temperatures will start relatively warm on Monday, in the upper 20s as we're pulling in warmer air and more moisture ahead of a trough that passes Monday. This system will likely bring snow from the south west, and either undergo, or already be in the process of a transition to rain. Precipitation amounts should be limited, and focused south. Stay tuned for more on this event. There's now more confidence in a push of cold air into next week, as high temperatures are forecast to drop into the 20s by Wednesday, and teens by Thursday, where a chance for snow appears at the end of the 7 day forecast.