Cold air continues to funnel in at midweek after we started the week with mild air and rain. Most of the region will struggle to get above freezing here on Jan. 24. The only areas that have a chance of breaking that mark will be in southern Illinois, far southern Indiana, northern Kentucky and southern Ohio.

We do not expect any precipitation with this cold air, and of course, we do not expect temperatures nearly as cold as air masses behind our most recent frontal passages. Winds return to the southwest on Jan. 25, and we should see another milder surge of air to finish the week. Temperatures begin to climb some on Thursday, but generally stay near to slightly above normal.

On Jan. 26, we see warm with sunshine and above normal temperatures. Strong winds at 15-30 mph will mean we still feel a pretty good chill, even though actual air temperatures may run toward the lower to middle 40s again. This surge and strong wind set up will be in advance of our next system, which still looks strong.

Our next system looks to be a strong front that comes out of the Southwest Corn Belt going into this weekend. When we first saw this system more than a week ago, we had concern about it being a slow mover that could dump a lot of precipitation over our region. Those concerns have eased a little bit. We still expect rain storms, but nothing that should be cause for alarm.

Scattered light showers develop over far eastern Illinois and western Indiana overnight on Jan. 26; and honestly, may start as a bit of fog and drizzle. Then rain will move across the region on Jan. 27-28. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky will have rain on Saturday; it reaches Ohio by Sunday, bringing rain totals of a quarter-inch to one inch with 90 percent coverage. However, the upper end of the range – half-inch to one inch rain totals – looks to be limited to areas south of I-70.

The map at left shows the potential set up for the evening of Jan. 27. Moving into Jan. 28, cold air starts to advance in on the backside of the front into northern Indiana. There is not a lot of moisture still hanging around at that time, so snow is not expected, at least right away on Jan. 28.

Through Sunday midday and afternoon, we won’t rule out some light snow developing. But at this time, we are backing away from concern about serious accumulation. However, there is plenty of lingering moisture on Jan. 28 in Ohio, and we think the cold air can catch that moisture.

Therefore, we are on the lookout for up to 2 inches of snow accumulation over the eastern part of Ohio later Sunday, and a higher propensity toward some snow in central and western Ohio Sunday afternoon, as well. Strong northwestern winds will make for a cold finish to the weekend.

Some lake-effect snows may develop on Jan. 29 over north central and northeast Indiana across into west central Ohio with minor accumulation possible. However, the rest of the region should see clouds give way to sun and the strong northwestern winds will keep temperatures sub-freezing over a large part of the Eastern Corn Belt. Cold air holds through Jan. 30.

We finish the 10-day period with wind shifting back to the southwest for midweek next week, which will allow temperatures to moderate some for Jan. 31. We do not expect a big move above normal, but a return to normal for Jan. 31 is likely.

A clipper races through next Feb. 1, and brings a quick burst of snow, along with colder air.

The extended period brings another strong system up from the southwest out of the central plains for Feb. 3 and early Feb. 4. This system has liquid precipitation potential up to 1 1/4 inches and coverage at 100 percent of the region. This system may have some rain to start, but its current projected track would signal that we need to be on the lookout for some significant snow, as well. Time will tell.

Behind that event, we put together several dry days, but could see another strong system for Feb. 6-7, bringing the potential for snow. This would be the start of a potentially very active month of February.

Ryan Martin is Chief Meteorologist for Hoosier Ag Today, a licensed Commodity Trader and the Farmer Origination Specialist for Louis Dreyfus Company’s Claypool Indiana Soybean Crush Plant. The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World.