On this last day of the human calendar, the coldest air of the season is poised to drop into the Plains and Midwest. A center of low pressure, now over the eastern Dakotas, will move rapidly to the east, pulling down Arctic air in its wake; by later today, it will surely feel like winter once again.
Strong north winds will accompany this potent cold front and highs will remain in the teens or single digits across the northern tier of States. Further south, the front will produce snow flurries across Kansas, Iowa and Missouri, but the air is too dry for any significant accumulation; however, as the storm moves eastward, its strong north winds will bring heavy, lake-effect snow to the northeastern snow belt.
Here in Missouri, we will reach the middle thirties ahead of the front but the Arctic blast should arrive by late afternoon, dropping us into the upper teens overnight. Tomorrow's high is forecast to be 21 degrees F and all discussion of global warming will be put on hold!
