WINTER STORM FOR FLORIDA - DANGEROUS COLD FOR US - IMPROVEMENTS LATER THIS WEEK

RARE SOUTHERN WINTER STORM:  Think you can escape to Florida to escape the cold and snow?  Not so fast!  Winter storm WARNINGS out for the entire northwest Florida panhandle!  These winter storm warnings span from the gulf coast of Texas all the way up through the Carolinas.  Significant ice and snow will shut down many southern cities over the next couple of days.  You have to go way south of Orlando to get into any decent warm weather!  

DANGEROUS COLD CONTINUES:  Prolonged stretch of dangerous temperatures for the Hoosier state.  For tonight area thermometers reach the negative double digits in spots, with wind chills near -25.  Tomorrow highs will range from near 0 in snow packed northern Indiana to as warm as 14 (above zero) in southwest Indiana.  At least there will be some sunshine. :) Below zero again tomorrow night.  Still cold for Wednesday, but not as brutal.  

WARM UP BRINGS BACK SNOW CHANCES: As we begin to warm up closer to normal Thursday through the weekend, the jet stream will become zonal (west to east) and set up right over us with rounds of moisture aimed to move across the state.  We will have cold, arctic air to our north, and much warmer air to the south.  Indiana sits right in the middle.  Right now, it appears the best chance for moisture will be between Friday and Saturday night.  Right now, the models are in a bit of disagreement on the set-up of the jet stream, which will impact the forecast.  Right now the set-up favors the better snow chances to set-up across central and northern Indiana.  Be sure to check back for updates on this forecast, as the shady details become a bit clearer.  

The models are already showing a strong storm around the middle of next week which could be a whopper.  STAY TUNED!


SIDE NOTE:  If you notice a big decrease in the amount of weather updates on Facebook and the blog over the next several weeks, college is keeping me busy so I will not be updating as often.  Stay warm everyone!