Ringing in the New Year the Right Way...

In the mountains, anyway.

A relatively strong cold front associated with a trough dropping out of Canada will provide an Arctic blast unseen so far this winter. Along with it, light snow showers are possible Monday night into Tuesday. With the cold air in position and the trough situated in the Eastern US, several shortwaves will pass through between Tuesday and Wednesday evening...resulting in several waves on energy. This, combined with a strong northwesterly (upslope) flow, will result in numerous snow showers for the mountains of East TN and Western NC...as well as for Piedmont locations along the VA/KY border. When all is said and done, several inches of snow are likely across a broad area. High pressure begins to build Thursday as the trough exits...thus ending the snow and bitter cold. And boy is it going to be cold! Valley locations may not hit freezing Wednesday...with those above 2500 FT likely not getting out of the twenties. Some mountainous locales may not get out of the teens! Wind chills will be problematic...as wind increases from the northwest as shortwaves rotate through. Winds from the WNW to NW from 15 to 25 MPH are likely Tuesday and Wednesday across the area...with higher gusts, especially across the mountains.

Total accumulation from this may be quite excessive in some areas. I'll post a snowfall map later tonight.

12/30/07-4:46 PM