Weather - CBS 3 Springfield - WSHM

Today's Forecast

• 25°
• 5°

Before we talk about the cold, how about this! 2012 will go into the record books as the warmest year on record for the Pioneer Valley. The complete recap from meteorologist Mike Skurko can be found on the CBS3 Pinpoint Weather Blog.

The core of the frigid air is about to retreat as areas reached for zero this morning and highs struggle to reach above 25 today.

The cold snap will ease this weekend. We'll remain dry, and high temperatures by Sunday will be back to a more seasonal mid-30s, with lows in the middle-teens. If you don't like snow, there's good news for you. It'll be snowstorm-free for the next 7 days.

Area ponds and lakes are unsafe as we haven't had an extended period of below freezing weather and our first arctic blast is coming to an end. Clear ice isn't safe for a person until it is 4 inches thick. A minimum of 6 inches is needed for ATV's and snowmobiles. Remember there may be weak ice adjacent to an area that meets the minimum safety standard. Now is the time to talk about ice safety as some areas are snow covered with weak ice beneath.

Pinpoint Forecast

THURSDAY: Mainly sunny.  High 25.

TONIGHT: Not as cold. Clouds and stars. Lows 10 -15.

FRIDAY: Becoming windy. Wind chills in the 20s. High 32.

THIS WEEKEND: Dry start, flurries to finish. Lows teens, Highs 25-30.

Forecast prepared by Meteorologist Nick Morganelli