So long, ice; hello, nice.
Well, for a couple of days, anyway.
A high-pressure front headed this way from the Midwest will produce some rain today - maybe freezing rain in higher elevations - but also a warm-up that could break a temperature record for the date on Saturday, AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Edwards said Thursday.
The regional record for Jan. 12 is 52 degrees, set in 2006. Mr. Edwards said the temperature will get close to that, if not exceed it.
Sunday will be even warmer, maybe even 60 degrees, but the record for the day is 69.
The normal for these days of January is 33.
Nice for hiking and biking, but skiing and skating, not so much.
The forecast calls for rain today and a high of 40, only a bit above the norm. Overnight tonight, the temperature will drop only to about 36, with morning clouds and clearing weather by Saturday afternoon, Mr. Edwards said.
The temperature will drop only into the low 40s Saturday night, with a couple of showers possible Sunday to go along with the even warmer day. Sunday night will stay warm, with the temperature dropping to 45 degrees, but after that it's back to normal, with temperatures only in the upper 40s. By Tuesday, it's back to the 30s.
Lackawanna State Park manager Dustin Drew said the 4 inches of ice on the lake there could dissipate a bit and make life tough on ice fishermen and others who look forward to winter.
"It would take a good week to melt, but when it starts to melt and refreezes, it's much less strong," he said.
The warmer temperatures should take care of whatever snow is left, making life miserable for people who like to ski or snowshoe.
"That's the way it goes," Mr. Drew said. "You can't fight Mother Nature."
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com