A significant shift in our weather pattern is bringing some unseasonably warm air into the region this week.  Right now it looks like we have five solid days of 30 degree weather in store for just about the entire area as the jet stream begins to lift to the north allowing some of that warmth in.  While this mild spell is going to make venturing outside a little more comfortable for us, it’s also eat into our snowpack a little, especially on Thursday when rain seems very possible across the area.  Rochester, for instance, currently has an official snow depth of 4 inches and right now it seems like the majority of that may be washed away by the weekend.  Look for highs in the low to mid 30s from today through Friday with sunshine and gusty winds through Wednesday followed by a little light rain during the day Thursday and mixed rain and snow showers Thursday night through part of Friday.  There is a chance that we may get some of that snow back Saturday as a storm system moves in from the southwest, but the track of that storm is very uncertain and it’s entirly possible that we may miss out on the whole thing.  Colder air will return Saturday and linger through all of next week, with or without snow on the ground.

Warm air is surging northward, bringing us a taste of early March weather this week.