“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.'” — Alfred Lord Tennyson
Hope does indeed spring eternal when a New Year begins — at least if you trust the words of the 19th-century English poet best known for his efforts describing the ill-fated efforts of the famed Light Brigade in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War in 1854.
But it doesn’t appear Queen Victoria’s Poet Laureate was looking at the weather map for north central Ohio for the start of 2025.
Prepare to say farewell to the extensive mild, Pacific air that has infiltrated much of the country in the past several days.
It appears drastically colder air from the Arctic will invade the United States and could set up a stormy pattern with areas of substantial snow and ice for much of the first half of January.
That’s because the jet stream, which had been mostly west to east, will develop a large southward buckle, clearing the way for Arctic air to infiltrate in stages over the next week.
The true “Arctic Express” is expected to roar down the tracks next week, reaching north central Ohio later in the latter portion of that week.
Below-zero temperatures may be felt as the chill deepens into the country.
So, as the ball drops at midnight Tuesday, and people around the world sing the words allegedly first inspired by famed Scottish poet Robert Burns some 237 years ago, get ready for hat, coat and glove season.
After a damp morning and afternoon, north central Ohio can expect rain tonight before 10 p.m. and then rain and snow between 10 p.m. and midnight. The low will drop to around 30 and wind gusts could blast as fast as 36 miles per hour.
The chance of precipitation is 70 percent and new snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible.
The first day of the new year will offer snow showers, mainly before 8 a.m. It will be cloudy with a high near 34 with wind gusts as high as 32. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent and new snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible.
Here is your forecast for the rest of the week, courtesy of the National Weather Service office in Cleveland.
New Year’s Night
A chance of snow showers, mainly between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.
Thursday
A slight chance of snow showers before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. West wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday night
A chance of snow showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday
A chance of snow showers after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday night
A chance of snow showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday
A chance of snow showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 23. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Sunday
A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 25. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Monday
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
