Today’s record high gives way to cold

The official high in Dayton today was 66 degrees — a new record.

The air temperature has already begun to drop and will take a dramatic tumble to the freezing mark by midnight, according to Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson.

“We’ll quickly fall through the 40s and 30s this evening, finally getting to 32 about 11 p.m. or 12 a.m.,” he said.

The previous record high for Jan. 30 was 63 degrees, last hit in 1947.

More rain showers will accompany the front moving through this evening, and will change to snow showers around 10 or 11 p.m.

"Given how warm we have been the last two days there will be a lag between when we see snow fall and when roads start to get slick," Simpson said. "Definitely by sunrise we'll have some slick spots with very light accumulations expected." He said nowhere will get more than a half-inch of accumulation and the last snow showers will taper down heading into Thursday morning's commute. (Here are tips for driving in inclement or slick weather from Sgt. Mark Bowron, WHIO traffic reporter.)

Winds have relaxed a bit this afternoon, but they will pick up again this evening, perhaps gusting in the 30-40 mph range. It will still be a bit breezy tomorrow, and colder. Wind chills will drop into the 20s by midnight, and low teens to start the day tomorrow.

With a high in the mid to upper 20s and a 15-20 mph breeze at times tomorrow we will still be looking at wind chills in the teens all day.

“Tomorrow evening we’ll be tracking an area of light snow that will just graze the southern part of the area, it appears,” Simpson said. Dayton and Springfield may be just north of the snow, but Hamilton and Cincinnati could pick up a half-inch or so.

“I suspect we’ll see some flakes in Dayton with maybe a coating, and points north may get nothing,” Simpson said.

Even colder air arrives for Friday with a low of 9 degrees forecast Friday morning, and a light breeze that will produce a wind chill around -5 degrees to start the day.

Afternoon highs will only be in the upper teens with wind chills perhaps in the single digits even late. Friday will be dry and partly sunny.

More light snow arrives for Saturday, likely starting before sunrise. Everyone will get this snow, light but steady in the morning, then more off and on in the afternoon.

Accumulations are expected to be in between one and two inches.

The high temperature Saturday will be near 30 degrees, then low 30s again Sunday with partly sunny skies.

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