Cortland Weather Outlook: Friday, January 1

Your Cortland County weather forecast for Friday, January 1, 2021:

After a quiet start to New Year’s Day, an icy evening is ahead.

Clouds will thicken this morning as low pressure tracks northeast through the Ohio River Valley. There should be no precipitation during the daytime hours though.

A steady southeast wind will blow out ahead of the low at 5-10 mph. Top gusts, coming late in the afternoon or early this evening, will be 25-30 mph.

Temperatures will reach a high in the mid 30s this afternoon, but will drop below freezing shortly after sunset. At the same time, precipitation will work in from the west.

The precipitation may start out with a little snow or sleet, but should quickly become freezing rain as warmer air moves in aloft. The freezing rain should persist for several hours.

Locally a quarter-inch of ice accretion will be possible. Higher elevations, which will stay cold longer, have the best shot at seeing this amounts of ice.

Travel will be treacherous and a few isolated power outages cannot be ruled out.

Temperatures will warm back above freezing after midnight, turning the precipitation to plain rain. Showers will continue through the overnight and into early Saturday as temperatures steadily climb through the 30s.

Here is a look at the weather for the next several days:

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with morning rain showers. Morning temperatures climb into the low 40s. Afternoon temperatures drop to the mid 30s.

Sunday: Cloudy with a period of snow, mixing with rain possibly. Morning lows in the mid 20s. Afternoon highs in the mid 30s.

Monday: Cloudy. A few rain and snow showers. Morning lows near 30. Afternoon highs in the mid 30s.

Tuesday: Cloudy. A few flurries, maybe with some rain mixing in. Morning lows in the low 30s. Afternoon highs in the mid 30s.