Today was another very cold wintry day with high temperatures running several degrees below normals and averages. A storm system is passing to our south and will continue to provide cloudy skies, especially south, and the chance for some snow showers or light snow. Light snow was reported in some of our furthest south forecast areas--but with minimal accumulations. The cold air will lose it's grip on it's area, just slightly, by Friday with temperatures rising into the mid 30's in most areas in the full sun. It will still feel very chilly though with some west/northwest wind. Beyond this, all eyes turn to the potential snowstorm for this weekend. The snowstorm potential stems from a potential phase between the northern and southern jet streams, which historically have produced very strong low pressure systems. The timing will need to be perfect, but forecast models have recently become more bullish with the potential snowstorm. We will continue to keep you updated on the potential with our local forecast products and forecast discussion, as well as further blog posts as details become more clear. Stay tuned! Featured image: 12z GFS model run, showing the storm system just off the Mid-Atlantic and northeast coast, affecting our area with only light snow.

Article and forecast by John Homenuk. Posted at 4:25pm December 16th, 2010.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with low temperatures dropping into the low 20's, and upper teens inland. Winds turning briefly out of the south at 4 to 8 miles per hour.

Friday: Mostly sunny and slightly warmer, with a high in the mid 30's. It should still feel very cold. Winds west and a bit breezy, at 8 to 14 miles per hour.

Need more? See New York Metro Weather's Long Range Forecast for the end of the week into the weekend or view our Technical Forecast Discussion for the more serious weather enthusiasts. For up to the minute details on forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Article by John Homenuk. 4:25pm December 16th, 2010.