Weather Outlook for December 4, 2012

Wednesday will be notably cooler, though turning bright in the afternoon for all but the northern tier. A frosty start to Thursday will yield to a mellower, though still cool afternoon.

Clouds will return on Friday and will clutter the sky for much of the weekend too with a few showers, though mornings will be mild and afternoon readings will rise above seasonal levels. An important disturbance will scoot across the region early next week with widespread showers that may end as snow showers in the northwest quarter of the Commonwealth late Monday or Tuesday.

There are no signs of frigid weather or significant snow through mid-month. Expect a see-saw pattern as winter unfolds with occasionally bouts of very cold air tempered by longer spells of mild weather. Unlike past winters, there is a higher than average risk of one blast of bitter cold weather (sub-zero) between the end of December and the middle of January. Snowfall will be piecemeal with above average precipitation expected in February and especially in March.