Analysis of the week and the month ahead.

Today is Sunday 1/28. I can't believe January is almost over. Enjoy today as it will be the last warm day for a while. Today's high will be 51 with sunny skies. Winter returns tomorrow. There's a slight chance of light snow tomorrow between 9:00am and 2:00pm.

Next, all eyes turn towards the Thursday system. This piece of energy is still off the coast of the state of Washington. It will be sampled tomorrow evening and then reliable snow maps will be posted Tuesday. Until then, stay tuned. So far the NWS gives us a 50% -> 80% chance of rain and snow. The high temperature for Thursday is forecast to be 39 so one would think this to be mainly a rain event but again, the exact track of the storm determines whether or not we are on the warm side, the cold side or right in the middle. So far, the current thinking from the NWS is that central Indiana (including us) will be on the warm side of the storm.

.LONG TERM /Wednesday through Saturday Night/...

Issued at 305 AM EST Sun Jan 28 2018

Conditions will start out dry very early in the extended period
with warm advection on Wednesday. However, the ridge will start
to break down by Wednesday afternoon as a low pressure system
tracks across Ontario. Rain will start moving into the forecast
area by Wednesday evening, gradually transitioning to a rain/snow
mix and then snow (north) on Wednesday night.  It won`t be until
Thursday night when the cold air on the back side really settles
into Central Indiana and precipitation falls as snow across the
entire forecast area. But by then, the best moisture will already
be out of the area, limiting snow totals.

Temperatures will be above normal on Wednesday with highs in the
mid to upper 40s as central Indiana falls into the warm sector of
aforementioned system. After a day of temperatures close to normal
on Thursday, below normal temperatures will return for the second
half of the extended period. Overnight lows will dip into the
teens on Thursday and Friday nights.

The big story is going to be the return of the cold polar air. Temperatures are likely to trend below normal for much of February. Here's a look at February 5th:

Here's a look at the day before "Single's Awareness Day" which also goes by another commercially driven name:

All in all, February is shaping up to be a cold month with several chances at snow. Stay warm, bundle up, dress in layers and remember to check your car battery. Extremely cold weather uses a lot of cold cranking amps (CCA's). What are CCA's? 

Cold cranking amps explained.