FOR MONDAY, A LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE FOR MOST OF THE REGION....

A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will begin just before dawn Monday and continue
most of the day. Precipitation amounts will generally be light, but the combination of stubborn cold air and the variety of precip types will make for slippery, trecherous travel for much of the day.

Intellicast.com: 7am Monday projected surface map

PLEASE ALLOW EXTRA TRAVEL TIME MONDAY!

Aside from the travel problems of Monday, the rest of the week looks benign. A warm-up is likely by the weekend into early next week, with temps rising into the 40s, possibly to near 50.

COLD REMAINS ENTRENCHED THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK

1. After a very cold day Saturday, temps rebound into the low 30s for Sunday, as the strong Arctic high pressure starts its retreat.

Intellicast hourly temps for Sat 1/10

2. By Monday, low pressure will influence our weather with a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Potential for slick travel Monday, but the retreating cold air mass will ensure that snowfall accumulations stay on the meager side.

Meteorologist Joe Cioffi on Facebook: Monday's storm snap shot

3. Tuesday and Wednesday are dry and chilly. A stronger, more organized storm will emerge out of the southern states by late in the week, offering a shot at a significant winter storm for the region. Bares watching.

7online.com/weather

4. In general, the overall pattern will turn less favorable for extreme cold as we approach next weekend and the following week, as a strong Pacific jet stream reasserts itself and eventually scours out the remainder of the Arctic air across the lower-48 states. A return to a more wintry regime should ensue after the 25^th.

Climate Predictions Center- 8-14 day temp probability 

BITTER COLD WILL PLUNGE INTO THE AREA FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK

The upcoming seven days will be remembered for its extreme temperature swings; on Sunday, much of the region will see temps in the upper 50s and lower 60s, but by Monday, the mercury will settle back into the 30s.

A fast moving storm with limited moisture will scurry through the region on Tuesday night, offering the shot at an accumulating, light snowfall. More importantly, this system will represent the beginning of a very sharp downturn in our temps by Wednesday. After highs near 30 on Tuesday, blustery conditions are likely, with readings only into the low 20s on Wednesday; single-digits and teens  will be common at night Wednesday night.

Thursday should be the coldest day. Temps will remain steady near 20,  as a sprawling arctic air mass tightens its grip over much of the mid-west and eastern states, as far south as the Northern Gulf Coast!

NOAA: Forecasted Highs Thursday 1/8/15

Intellicast.com

By Friday, our temps will start to recover somewhat, but they will still remain well-below average through at least Saturday.

WARMING UP WITH RAIN BY LATE THIS WEEKEND...

1. After a cold New Years' Day, temps will run closer to 40 for both Friday and Saturday.

2. Rain should break out Saturday evening and continue for much of Sunday before ending Sunday afternoon. Temps overnight Saturday night into Sunday will spike into the 50s for most places near the coast, with 40s further inland.

3. Renewed cold shot of air comes in by Monday, with an even sharper plummet in temps by mid-week; potential is there for temps not to rise above 20 during the day either wednesday or thursday.

7online.com/weather

4. Significant wintry precip will remain elusive during the next week or so. Storm systems continue to either move to our west (which draws in warmer air just like this upcoming weekend) or they move too fast by way of an active northern Pacific jet stream.

TUMBLING TEMPS AS WE TURN TOWARDS 2015!

NOAA New York on Facebook and Twitter. 

1.  Sunday is mild, but then an arctic cold front crosses the region.  Before the temps drop, light rain arrives Sunday afternoon and evening before tapering off for most areas.

2. Most of Monday is dry, but clouds will fill back in again late in the day. Some light snow could clip  the city and coastal regions on Tuesday, with coatings to an inch of snow in some spots. Outside of Sunday's rain and Tuesday's possible light snow, conditions will be dry through the week.

3. Temps are at their coldest from Tuesday to Thursday, before readings start to moderate by week's end.

7online.com/weather

4. No significant winter storms through at least Friday and probably through January 5th.  Although the overall pattern will feature colder air,  a fast jet stream should keep any disturbances moving through swiftly; these storms will not have time to strengthen, gather moisture and deliver copious amounts of precip.  This is quite a departure from the forecasted active, stormy winter that most circles (including here) were advertising for the eastern states in the various pre-season winter outlooks.

VIDEO: SANTA'S SOAKING SLEIGH RIDE ON WEDNESDAY

watch now

DECK THE HALLS WITH WILD AND STORMY

The weather will remain fairly tranquil through Saturday night. Temps will stay in the 40s and the pesky breeze of Thursday will relinquish on Friday.

By Saturday night, we'll see clouds increase and light rain starting to spread in by Sunday morning. After a brief period of light rain Sunday, skies will generally remain cloudy through Wednesday; however, no real significant rain will take shape until sometime later Monday or even Tuesday.

By Tuesday, a powerful storm will be gaining strength over the midwestern states. This system has a  fairly high potential to produce moderate to heavy rains for Tuesday night into much of Wednesday before it ends Wednesday night. As the storm passes through, very mild air will get drawn north and up the eastern seaboard; the dramatic clash of winter and fall air masses will lead to a few thunderstorms Wednesday!  Strong southerly winds will be felt on Wednesday, with speeds approaching 40mph (perhaps higher) and remaining gusty through Christmas day.

Meteorologist Joe Cioffi on Facebook: GFS evolution of storm Tues/Wed

After starting out quite mild on Wednesday, temps will plummet some 20-30 degrees lower by Wednesday night and Thursday on the heels of a strong northwesterly wind and the departing storm.  A few snow showers could develop from time to time for Christmas day, with perhaps a dusting of snow in isolated pockets.

7online.com/weather

The major storm for next week will lead to significant travel delays, particularly across the mid-west. In addition, it is this storm which will likely serve as the catalyst to produce a prolonged cold, stormy pattern from Christmas to New Years Day and possibly beyond.

more over the weekend.