Quiet Monday; winter storm midweek

The final day of January is a quiet one, to help ease us back into the week. Temperatures climb into the low 30s this afternoon under partly sunny skies.

Tonight and Tuesday morning are also quiet. Rain starts the second half of Tuesday.

The focus of the forecast is Tuesday afternoon through Thursday, as a winter storm is ahead. There are three main parts to the storm.

Temperatures Tuesday afternoon are in the 40s, so precipitation starts as rain before becoming wintry later in the night. The overnight hours are part one: the rain to snow transition could mean slick roads before snow piles up.

Eventually on Wednesday, all precipitation turns to snow. It will continue snowing through the entire day. Snow totals in the 6-8" range are not out of the question for the day Wednesday.

Snow still seems likely getting into Thursday, so there will be additional accumulations that day. Another concern Thursday is gusty winds, up to 35 mph. Blowing and drifting snow could become hazards during the day.

After snow tapers off Thursday night, the rest of the week and weekend is quiet, but cold temperatures return.

Today: Partly sunny. High 32.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Low 26.

Tuesday: Increasing clouds. Breezy. Rain by evening. High 42.

Wednesday: Snow. High 30.