Dangerously cold temps on the way...

Who is excited for the coming bitter cold?  More on that shortly...

I had a 3 day weekend with LOTS of errands done Friday, morning run with Columbus Westside Running Club, and deep cleaning Sunday. I had planned on running farther Saturday, but the trails were very icy so we all limited the group run to 5 miles. 

Lots of coffee needed this weekend.  We had guests Friday night, who became ill and headed home Saturday before they became more ill.  So Dawn and I deep cleaned.  Evan is about to start crawling so we wanted to really clean well.  We flipped the couches and moved lots of stuff to make the house less cluttered.  Not a fun task, but it is so nice when it is all done.

So yea, it is about to get VERY cold for Wednesday and Thursday. 

We have a crazy week of weather ahead... Today we will be breezy with building clouds and mild temps with highs in the lower 40s. Rain showers will start developing in the late afternoon and likely this evening. Cold air races in on the back side of the rain and we transition to snow by midnight, depending on location. Snow accumulations will generally be less than 1", but wet surfaces will turn to ice by Tuesday morning. Staying breezy Tuesday with some light snow showers and temps near 20 most of the day. Frigid air moves in for Wednesday and Thursday. A WIND CHILL WATCH has been issued for Wednesday and Thursday with wind chills between -25 and -35 possible with the coldest wind chills as cold as -40 possible. Expect this to be upgraded to a Wind Chill Warning as we get closer to the middle of the week. As far as the air temperatures, without factoring in the wind, we will have a morning low Wednesday around -3 with a high of 3 then down to -6 by Thursday morning with a high of 10. So dangerous cold, for the middle of the week, with frostbite possible between 10-15 minutes. A quick clipper system Friday could bring some light snow then we warm up more for the weekend. Highs in the mid 30s Saturday and looking dry most of the day then rain returns Sunday with highs in the mid 40s.

We may actually get into the 50s early next week!!! Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

Snow is gone, but VERY cold today. More rain/snow coming...

I wish I had a photo of me clearing the snow or spending time with family... but I shoveled when I got home and waking up at 1AM for 7 straight days wore me out.  I went down for a nap at 2PM when the kids did the same and I slept right until this morning.  So I missed the AFC/NFC championship games and more importantly: the total lunar eclipse.  I was heartbroken.  The final stages of the partial eclipse were still happening, so I did take up Summer to show her.  She wanted a telescope for Christmas, so I wanted to fuel her desire to appreciate science.  Anyway... I am back in the saddle again today and I THINK I will have Friday off later this week.  Above are the snowfall totals from the weekend event.  As expected, Northern Ohio saw the majority of the snow and Central/Southern Ohio eventually switched over to accumulating snow after the rain/ice. 

The clear skies and fresh blanket of snow has allowed the temps to plummet.  Winds are 5-10 mph, but cold enough for some dangerous wind chills and frostbite could occur in 30 minutes or less.

There is a Wind Chill Advisory through midday today.

If you did not shovel yet, I would hold off until later in the day again.  Not because of the snow blowing around, but because of how cold it is. 

So today: frigid and sunny. We have a few other weather events that could impact your week ahead.

Partly cloudy and increasing clouds later Tuesday with a high of 35. Rain moves in late Tuesday evening, but the daylight hours should stay dry. When the rain initially moves in Tuesday PM, there is a slight chance the leading edge could start as some freezing rain before we warm up more. Rain showers Wednesday with a high of 43, but falling temps later in the day will change the rain over to some brief snow showers later Wednesday. A few flurries and light snow showers are possible Thursday and Friday, but it doesn't appear to be much in the way of accumulation for Central Ohio for the end of the workweek. All models agreeing on another winter system next Saturday. With a high of 19 this will stay all snow... no rain. Right now accumulations look light, but we will keep an eye on it through the week. So stay tuned through the week and have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

Morning snowy run, shoveling out & looking ahead...

So I had to dress warm to shovel the driveway before work... Might as well go for a midnight run while I was dressed for the cold... Fun times! Today is day 60 of my running streak.

Well the storm came, just as advertised! Deep snow to the north, reports of more than a foot of snow in our northern counties, rain/mix Saturday for Central and Southern Ohio during the day and transitioned to snow overnight with snow accumulations of 4" for most of Central/Southern Ohio. I would hold off on shoveling until later, if you don't have to go out today.  The winds will be so brisk that you will have drifting snow through the afternoon.  Bundle up because it will be a VERY cold day.

With the rain and ice, as expected, turning to ice last night and then over to snow... we have ice on the roads, hidden under the snow.  Use caution! Winds are still strong this morning, but will slowly ease up today. Winds will be out of the north, so east-west roads will see the worst of the drifting snow. Temperatures are in the teens now and stay there through the day with mostly cloudy skies. 

 Clouds clear more tonight and we may be able to see the lunar eclipse tonight. Total eclipse will be between 11:41 PM and 12:43 AM Sunday night. Bundle up!

Our temps tonight will likely fall below zero due to the fresh snow and clearing skies and wind chills as cold as -15 or colder by daybreak Monday.

More sunshine Monday with light winds and a high of 11, with light winds. Increasing clouds Tuesday with rain returning Tuesday evening. Rain overnight into Wednesday then a surge of cold air on the tail end of that system and could see an inch of snow. Much colder for the end of next week with some light rounds of snow possible Friday and Saturday. Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

3AM forecast - Final update before the rain/snow/ice arrives

3AM Saturday weather update:

WINTER STORM WARNING for the Columbus metro area and Central Ohio through Sunday.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY & FLOOD WATCH for far Southern and Southeastern Ohio through Sunday.

SATURDAY: Snow/ice/rain likely, all snow & windy late. High 34.
TONIGHT: Snow showers likely, very windy. Low 16.
SUNDAY: Snow showers, very windy, cold. High 19.
MONDAY: Partly cloudy, frigid. High 15.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy, PM rain to mix late. High 37.
WEDNESDAY: Rain/snow mix. High 35.

The day is here and we are not cooling off this morning, so we are adjusting the forecast accordingly. We have snow moving in for Northern Ohio, rain and ice along the I-70 corridor, and rain showers for Southern Ohio for the daylight hours today. As temps cool tonight the ice band will shift to the south and we all transition to snow showers this evening and overnight. With the ice line lifting a little more north it is going to take down the snow totals for Columbus and push more of the snow into Northern parts of the viewing area. Areas that stay all snow will see 5-8" of snow and pockets of 8+" possible, if not likely. Areas that see any freezing rain or sleet will see significantly less final snow totals. Once we do transition to snow then Central Ohio could see 2"-6" of snow later tonight, but areas that stay mostly rain will not have much time with the snow, so limiting that snowfall total to 1"-3" for Southern and Southeastern Ohio.

Temps fall very quickly tonight with wind chills near or below zero most of Sunday into Monday morning. Some of the wind chills could be as cold as -10 to -20 late Sunday. Blowing and drifting snow will be an issue for rural areas on Sunday with a high of 19. Clouds parting some Sunday night will allow temps to fall near 0 and then we will struggle to reach the mid teens on Monday with a mix of sun & clouds.

Another winter system, weaker, returns late Tuesday into Wednesday. Highs will be in the mid-upper 30s for the start of the week. With the warmer air, it looks to start as rain late Tuesday then transition to a rain/snow mix next Wednesday. Then more cold air returns later next week. Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

A trip back to the family farm before the winter storm.

Have you heard about the coming snow storm??? More on that shortly...

Summer, Evan, and I went back to Darke County yesterday to see my grandma.  We had a nice time catching up and then we went back to my parent's house for some good food and more hanging out. We had to drive through some sleet, snow, and rain, but overall the roads were wet and only snow-covered when we were pulling into the driveway back in Columbus.  

The calm before the storm... Today we will have wet/icy spots on the roads early from the rain/snow on Thursday.  Patchy fog this morning then cloudy skies and a few flurries possible today.  Highs today getting into the mid 30s.  Cloudy overnight, but some light snow moving in for Northern Ohio. Saturday we start dry for most of Central Ohio with cloudy skies.  Rain/ice/snow moves in by mid morning.  Snow will stay north, rain stays south and the transition zone between the two will have periods of sleet and freezing rain.  This transition zone will fluctuate some during the day as temps warm and then cool, but generally setting up along I-70 and just south.  If we warm a degree or two then this line will shift north. 

 

"How much snow?" I figured you wanted to know... Where it stays all snow to the north 5-8" of snow likely with areas of 8+".  The transition zone will see a layer of ice, up to 0.5" for the prolonged icing areas, and then 3-6" of snow depending on how long you see the ice.  Southern Ohio will see rain most of the day and then transition to snow late with 1-3" of snow late.  Southern Ohio could also see localized flooding with all the rain and melting snow/ice.  

 

There is a Winter Storm Watch issued for the snow and ice and this will likely be upgraded to a warning later today. 

Most snow with this system will be done by daybreak on Sunday, but some lake effect snow possible, mainly north on Sunday.  The big story Sunday will be digging out and then bracing for MUCH colder air.  Wind chills will be below zero most of Sunday PM and Monday.  Some wind chills could dip as low as -20 Monday morning. Partly cloudy and highs in the mid teens Monday. More rain moves in later Tuesday followed by colder air Tuesday night and we transition to snow by Wednesday morning.  Have a good one! 

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

Disney on ice, snow, more snow, oh yea... and more snow...

Dawn's uncle got her (and Dawn and me) tickets to Disney on Ice. Summer was starting to feel under the weather, but she was SO excited when the characters came out on the ice.  So much fun over the weekend.

Summer and I had some fun in the snow as well.  We would fill up the sled with snowballs and she said that they were gifts for all of her friends.

Evan was loving life inside in his bouncer.  Summer liked the bouncer, but Evan LOVES it.

I... love running in the snow.... Check out the snow all in my hair.

I feel like a little kid when running in the snow. 

Fresh snow is fun,but packed snow can wear you out.  I did 6.5 miles on Saturday and it was fine, but the 8.5 miles on Sunday REALLY wore me out.  I did a 5k yesterday around my neighborhood, but I am going to cut back my miles the next few days to rest my strained muscles a little more.  I figured you lose about 10-20% of energy with the slipping.  All that depends on the shoes and traction. 

We have dense fog and frigid temps for your Tuesday morning, so use caution on the roads this morning for the potential for new icy spots.  We will see a little sun once the fog clears then clouds fill back in for later today and highs near 32.  More clouds tonight and spotty light snow by early Wednesday.  We will generally see a dusting or half an inch for the areas seeing the spotty snow by midday Wednesday then mostly cloudy and highs in the mid 30s. 

A low pressure system over Colorado today will head our way for Thursday.  We will need to watch the temps closely because a couple of the forecast models are cold enough for the rain/snow line to set up along I-70 for Ohio.  A couple other models are going about 2 degrees warmer and thus pushing that rain/snow line into Northern Ohio.  Areas that stay all snow could see up to a couple inches of snow, but any rain will quickly cut down on any snow accumulation.  Stay tuned because just a slight temp difference could mean little to no snow, or enough to shovel.  Timing looks to have the rain/snow arrive daybreak Thursday and move out to the east by Thursday evening.

Friday looks quiet, mostly cloudy, and dry for the most part.  Highs in the upper 30s.

 A stronger, more potent, low pressure system then moves in for Saturday and Sunday.  It is currently on the Pacific Coast and will cross the Rockies over the coming days.  Until it crosses the Rockies, the long-range forecast could still see adjustments from run to run.  Right now most forecast models are agreeing that around daybreak we will see the precip start moving into Ohio.  We will be on the rain/snow line again with this system with ice along that transition zone.  Things may change, but this is what it is looking like on this Tuesday morning: Rain showers for Southern Ohio likely most of Saturday. The ice, or transition zone between the rain and snow, sets up most of the day along or just south of I-70.  Then the northern parts of Ohio stay all snow with several inches of snow.  By Saturday night colder air pushes in and we all transition over to another couple of inches of snow for the entire area with strong winds.  A slight adjustment on trajectory or temps could greatly change this, so stay tuned.  Snow showers likely on and off Sunday then MUCH colder air for Sunday into Monday.

ALSO... Total lunar eclipse will happen Sunday evening.  The total eclipse will happen between 11:41 PM Sunday and 12:43 AM Monday. Fingers crossed that we can clear out some of the clouds because if we have clear skies then it will be viewable for all of Ohio. Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

Welcome back to winter! Quick look at the details of coming snow...

Pardon any typos... flying through this before a meeting...

This weeks run went from the 60s on Tuesday to wind chills in the single digits by Thursday morning! I know I may look and sound crazy, but I actually enjoy the really cold runs.  Maybe because I am alone in the world outside while everyone else is staying warm.   I am up to day 50 of my run streak.  At least 1 mile every day for 50 days... but most average around 3 to 4 miles.

Great weather to take the kids to COSI.  My parents bought us annual passes, so COSI is a GREAT way to keep the kids entertained on the cold days.  Summer loved playing dress-up.  I think doctor was her favorite. 

Evan went too, but I snapped this photo before we left of him and Dawn.  Twins?!?! Right???

Alright on to the snow...  Winter Weather Advisory for Central Ohio issued for Saturday until early Sunday morning. Far SW Ohio have a Winter Storm Warning(more snow)

Today we stay dry with a mix of sun & clouds, light winds, and highs in the mid 30s. Clouds will increase tonight with lows in the mid 20s. Then snow on the way... Snow showers will arrive around or just after daybreak on Saturday. The snow showers will continue through the day Saturday and into Saturday night. A few lingering flurries or light snow showers to the south early Sunday.

Confidence on the snow event is very high, but there is still a little uncertainty with snow totals. A couple of the forecast models are trying to bring in some dry air in the afternoon and cutting back on snowfall totals and a few others keep the moisture around with higher snow totals. Right now we are thinking 2-4" of snow by daybreak Sunday for Ohio's I-70 corridor and then a little more to the south and less to the north.

Since we still have more than 24 hours before this arrives, please check back in later today for the most up-to-date forecast. Not a crippling amount of snow, but enough for the roads to messy later Saturday for those that need to venture out. It will be a great snow to have some fun!

More sun returning Monday and Tuesday.  With the fresh blanket of snow, it could lead to some very cold overnight low temps Monday night if we manage to clear out all the clouds.  Another light wintry mix/snow possible next Wednesday into Thursday.  Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck michael

Runs with the kids, brief warm-up, snow on the way...

I went outside with Summer on Friday night to watch the Quadrantid Meteor Shower and I was able to see about 10 shooting starts including two bright ones.

Then after work I took her for a run while Evan got a nap. 

Saturday was family time with my family celebrating Christmas since my sister was down in Florida until last week.  She is back now and returning to finish up her degree at Kent after her year working at Disney for their college program.

Sunday was cleaning up and Dawn and Summer took a nap.  Evan was wide awake so I took him for a run and he was snuggled up warm and under a blanket and asleep as well shortly into the run.  It was nice getting all the sunshine through the weekend, but now the clouds are back with rain.... 

Today we will see cloudy skies and winds picking up.  We may have a spotty shower or two through the daylight hours, but rain showers are likely this evening.  At least our temps will be favorable and warming from the mid 30s to the mid 50s by the afternoon.  We stay in the upper 40s tonight with the rain showers and winds staying brisk.  Spotty light rain Tuesday with even stronger winds and highs in the mid 50s.  A cold front will push through in the early afternoon tomorrow and push the rain out and colder air to rush in for late Tuesday and the rest of the week.  We will see a few flurries Tuesday night and Wednesday with mostly cloudy skies. Partly cloudy and cold for Thursday and Friday.  Another system is looking more promising for light snow this weekend, mainly Saturday.  A few flurries may linger into Sunday. Right now it appears the snow will be fairly light, but worth watching... Stay tuned!

Here is a look at the temps for the week ahead along with the wind chills.  It will feel MUCH colder later this week so take advantage of the warmer temps today and tomorrow.  Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael

The start of 2019... warm and damp... for now...

Final run of 2018, with 935 miles total this year. Exactly 200 less than 2017, but another life was added to the family this year. Today’s wet run was spent reflecting. I’m blessed with a healthy family and the ability to clear my mind on these runs. I am not sure what 2019 has in store, but I foresee a lot of runs with the kids together in the stroller and always putting family first. Dawn has been supportive of me running while the kids nap or early once they wake up. Without her my running would be even less.

We managed to shoehorn in 1.01" of rain on the final day of the year and it bumped us up to the #1 wettest year ever recorded in Columbus, Ohio! Crazy!

I was blessed with a visit from my buddy Luke this week.  He and his son stopped by the house to visit.  Luke is a Lieutenant in the Navy and was stationed at Ohio State as a ROTC instructor the last past couple of years. He now will be heading out on a new destroyer this year, but has some schooling for his new role on the ship, so he is leaving today for his next chapter.  You may remember him from the wedding I was in earlier this year.  He and his wife are expecting a newborn in the middle of May.  I will miss seeing him around, but thanks to technology he won't be too far. 

The clouds will be sticking around today, but some sun is on the way! Mostly cloudy with temps in the 30s most of the day and topping out around 40. A weak disturbance tonight will bring a few sprinkles and flurries, mainly north, this evening and early tonight. Mostly cloudy overnight with lows in the lower 30s. Clouds will start breaking up early tomorrow and more sun by later in the day Thursday with highs near 40 again. Light winds the next couple days. Increasing clouds on Friday with scattered rain moving in later in the day to the south. Evening and overnight rain, mainly south, for the start of the weekend. The rain will move out quickly early Saturday then some afternoon sun. More sun Sunday as well with highs in the upper 40s for the weekend. More rain moves in later Monday and Tuesday and this looks like more of a soaking rain for all of Central Ohio. Winds also are looking brisk with this system. High temps still staying in the upper 40s for the start of next week. Our normal high for early January is 37, so a mild start to 2019.  No snow systems on the way in the near future, but I do think we will have big temp swings on the way for the end of the month... so there is some colder air on the way.  We just need to time it out with precip to get snow. Have a good one!

Best,
Andrew Buck Michael