2008 starts off on the cold side, but warmer air builds in by week’s end.

New Year’s Day – Becoming partly cloudy, breezy, and cold. Can’t rule out some flurries. High: 18
Tuesday night – Mostly clear and COLD. Low: 4
Wednesday - Mostly sunny. High: 28
Thursday - Partly cloudy with a slight chance for showers. High: 40
Friday - Partly cloudy. High: 48
Saturday - Partly cloudy. High: 56
Sunday - Partly cloudy. High: 53

Music: Auld Lang Syne – Friction Bailey (intro), Rocosaurus Rex (exit)  

Direct link to the audio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Another surge of cold air races into the area today, making for a chilly night for all those New Year’s celebrations.

Monday - Becoming partly cloudy. Maybe some morning flurries. Breezy. High: 31
New Year’s Eve – Partly cloudy and breezy. Low: 16
New Year’s Day – Mostly sunny, breezy, and cold. High: 21
Wednesday - Mostly sunny. High: 29
Thursday - Mostly sunny. High: 40
Friday - Partly cloudy. High: 48

Direct link to the audio

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

As I mentioned in today’s regular update, I’m going to take an intentional vacation from updating the site for a week. After nearly 3 years of doing this podcast 7 days a week (including a month of 2-3 podcasts a day during the Christmas season), I need a recharge.

BUT, before powering down, I wanted to give you a quick update on snow chances this weekend into Christmas.

Our next storm system continues to progress through the western part of the country. As it moves into the area, we will see precipitation break out Saturday morning. It still looks like we’ll start out as rain, change to sleet, then change to snow. The main question is the timing of the cold air. Some of the newest weather data hints that the changeover to snow will occur at the same time we see the maximum lift in the area. This could bring a burst of heavy snow before it leaves the area in the evening. In this scenario, 2-4 inches of snow with locally higher amounts are possible. If we hold onto the sleet a bit longer, those totals will be down.

I’m going to be conservative and forecast in the neighborhood of 1-3 inches of snow in Kansas City (and generally along the I-35 corridor). I think the sleet will hang on for the first part of that maximum precipitation potential, limiting snow totals.

As I mentioned, we have a series of storm systems that will effect us over the next week. The second moves in late Christmas Eve. This first storm will likely rob the second of moisture to work with, so only slight chance for flurries or light rain at this time. Still another storm heads our way toward the end of the holiday week.

I plan to be back on New Year’s Eve, if not before. Until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS and THANK YOU for making use of my forecast every day.

A warm Friday. Then chances for rain or snow move in for Saturday and for Christmas Day. Will we see a white Christmas?

Friday - Fog in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. High: 55
Friday night – Mostly cloudy. Low: 34
Saturday - Cloudy with a chance for rain or snow. Windy. High: 34 (steady or falling through the day)
Sunday - Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 28
Monday - Partly cloudy. High: 33
Christmas Day – Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance for rain or snow. High: 38

Music to head into the weekend
““Feel the Love of Christmas”
B.E. Taylor

Direct link to the audio

After nearly 3 years of doing this podcast 7 days a week, I’ve decided to take a deliberate week-long break. We’ll see if I can keep away from it all, but I plan to be back on New Year’s Eve!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download