An active weather pattern will continue through the weekend but our first signs of Spring will also show up.
Clouds will stream into the region tonight ahead of a low pressure area moving into the Ohio Valley. A warm front ahead of the system will move in on Friday, with some rain developing ahead of it, though there may be enough cold air in place for a little freezing rain or snow as you get into parts of central and southern New Hampshire at the start. Much of the afternoon will feature some light rain and mild temperatures, but as the system passes by, colder air will start to work its way in, with rain changing to snow across southern New Hampshire during the evening, with the rain/snow line likely getting down to the Mass Pike before the precipitation ends a little after midnight. We’re not expecting much accumulation, just an inch or two, mainly north of Route 2. The bigger issue might be icy conditions developing on the roads. Temperatures will drop below freezing during the overnight, and the roads will still be wet from the rain, so they could ice up pretty quickly once the rain changes over, and before road crews have a chance to treat the roads. Keep this in mind in you will be out late Friday night.
High pressure builds in for Saturday with sunshine and colder conditions, but it will be short-lived. Clouds come right back in by Sunday morning as an Alberta Clipper makes its way across southern Canada. We’ll see this system spread in some light snow Sunday evening and night, but again, we’re not expecting more than an inch or two, and again it will be mainly north of the Mass Pike. In fact, there may not be any precipitation from this system south of the Pike. The snow ends Monday morning, then we’ll turn partly sunny and rather milder for the afternoon. However, a cold front trailing the system will move in by late in the day, possibly producing a few more rain showers.
We also have two signs that Spring is nearly here coming this weekend. First, Sunday is Groundhog Day. According to tradition, if the groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, and will go back inside and winter will last for 6 more weeks. If it doesn’t see its shadow, spring will arrive early. The most famous celebration of this day takes place in Punxsutawney, PA, where Punxsutawney Phil is brought out every year. He has only seen his shadow 20 times in the 138 years this has been recorded. Secondly, Monday is Truck Day. That is the day the Red Sox equipment truck gets loaded up at Fenway Park and begins the drive southward to Fort Myers, Florida. Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout of Spring Training on February 12.
Thursday night: Becoming mostly cloudy. Low 17-24 during the evening, temperatures start rising after midnight.
Friday: Cloudy with rain developing by early afternoon, possibly mixed with a little freezing rain or snow across central and southern New Hampshire at the start. High 37-44.
Friday night: Mostly cloudy with rain changing to snow from north to south during the evening, ending shortly after midnight. Low 24-31.
Saturday: Becoming partly to mostly sunny, breezy, and colder. High 30-37.
Saturday night: Clear during the evening, clouds start to move back in after midnight. Low 4-11.
Sunday: Becoming cloudy, some light snow or snow showers may develop by evening. High 28-35.
Sunday night: Cloudy with light snow or snow showers likely. Low 21-28 during the evening, temperatures rise overnight.
Monday: Plenty of clouds with some sunny breaks developing, a few rain showers possible late in the day, breezy. High 42-49.
Storm HQ 