MONDAY WEATHER BRIEFING

Good morning! I am back at it after some time off for Christmas.This will almost certainly go down as the warmest December on record in Youngstown but before the year is out we will have a small taste of wintry weather today and again on Thursday.On the weather map this morning we have a major storm system across the South. It is producing more severe weather with multiple Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings up as of this writing.On the north side of the system, there is an area of rain, snow and mixed precipitation. That blob is heading our way and today's bit question is....what type of precipitation will wee see this morning and early this afternoon?? It will just be rain later but in that window around midday we will have some sleet and even freezing rain around the Valley.15 hour futurecast:While I do think some rain can fall with temperatures almost right at 32 late this morning and early this afternoon, the IMPACTS are not likely to be significant locally. This is not an ICE STORM. Road temperatures are above freezing. I would expect most things to be just wet. There can also be some SLEET mixed in for a time.A reminder: sleet is a snowflake that melted and then refroze on the way down. Like tiny hailstones. Sleet does not typically cause travel headaches unless it is especially heavy.To the east of I-79 and also in NW PA, temperatures at and just above the ground will stay at 32 or lower longer and so freezing rain is more of a concern. That's why Freezing Rain Advisories are up for those locations.Caution is advised if you will be on I-80 or I-79 east and north of Mercer County today.TUESDAY: Just plain rain with rising temperatures tonight and early Tuesday. But Tuesday afternoon we expect nothing more than a passing shower, along with mild temperatures.WEDNESDAY: A pretty uneventful day with cooler (but still above-average) temperatures. There might be a shower around.NEW YEAR'S EVE AND DAY: Colder, more seasonable air will arrive at the very end of 2015. The Great Lakes are wide open for business so I would expect some flurries locally and lake-effect snow showers in the snow belts. Temperatures will be mainly in the lower and mid 30s during the day. At midnight: upper 20s.LONG RANGE: Seasonable weather will hang around for a few days and then the pattern will (once again) favor mild temperatures. No extreme cold seems to be on the way during the first half of January.WEATHER FOR WEATHER GEEKS: This evening's video will take a deeper dive into the weather for New Year's and we will check in on the latest trends for January and even February. Love snow or have a business that depends on it?? Be sure and watch tonight's video! It'll be online around 7:30-8:00.CONNECT: FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube