Clouds will increase & thicken Tuesday with highs in the 30s.
We become overcast Tuesday night with period of freezing rain in the northern half Wednesday morning with rain elsewhere with temperatures 31-36. Any icing would be light & brief, but watch for a few slick spots 3-7 a.m. in the northern half of the area.
Rain is likely Wednesday, ending as a brief bout of snow/sleet/freezing rain in the far southeast (little to no accumulation).
Highs Wednesday should reach 44-52 with southwest winds to 40 mph.
Wednesday night looks dry with 20s.
Even as clouds thin & clear Wednesday night to morning, clouds should increase & thicken Thursday with highs in the 30s.
A band of freezing rain should overspread the area Thursday night, followed by a change-over to rain.
HOWEVER, freezing rain may last for hours in the north with up to 0.10" glaze in Newton, Jasper, Pulaski to Fulton, Cass & Miami counties.
Amounts will be less & of shorter duration with southward extent.
Icy areas on roadways would tend to more impactful & last longer in the northern half with less impact with southward extent.
These icy areas would be Thursday night-Friday morning.
It then looks like all rain Friday with strong southeast winds to 40 mph turning to the southwest with gusts to 30 mph. This will make for a nasty day. Temperatures will be in the 40s with wind chills in the 30s. Rainfall may be heavy at times.
The surface air pressure will be low Friday. So, if you are prone to headaches & aches & pains overall, Friday may not be so good.
Meanwhile heavy wind-driven snowfall & ice will be occurring west & northwest of our area.
The rain may end as a period of snow Friday night as temperatures plumment to the 20s with northwest winds to 40 mph.
Some very minor to minor accumulation cannot be ruled out.
If there are any travel issues, they would be late Friday night-Saturday morning.
Typical of the systems expected this winter, this will be loaded with water. Here, 1.50-2.50" of liquid/rainfall is likely.
The high amounts of precipitation will result in the significant snow & ice accumulations west & northwest of the area.
The low streams & rivers in the area will be on the rise.
After this, other than a minor snow system, after January 10 it looks quite mild with mainly rain systems through January 25.
