Astronomical winter doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but Mother Nature is giving us a preview this weekend.
It’s going to be rather chilly when you head outside Friday morning. Image provided by Weathermodels.com
An arctic cold front crossed the region this evening, producing some snow showers and squalls as it moved through. Behind it, much colder air is going to settle in tonight on gusty northwest winds. By Friday morning, temperatures will be in the single numbers and teens across most of the region, with some subzero readings possible in areas with fresh snowcover. Despite some sunshine on Friday, temperatures will only get into the 20s and lower 30s as winds die down, but clouds will quickly return ahead of another weak system. That system will pass south of the region Friday night and early Saturday, keeping the bulk of the precipitation offshore, but a trough extending from the system may produce a few snow showers. Across eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod it should be mild enough for rain showers instead We’ll clear out Saturday night, then Sunday should be a decent day for early December, but another strong cold front moves through at night. This one will also produce some snow showers, and behind it we’ll turn rather cold again behind that front on Monday.
A couple of weak systems will impact our region this weekend. Loop provided by Tropical Tidbits.
Thursday night: Snow showers end in the evening, then becoming clear, except remaining partly to mostly cloudy across the Outer Cape. Breezy through the evening, winds start to diminish after midnight. Low 2-9. except 10-17 in urban areas and right along the coast.
Friday: Sunshine gives way to increasing afternoon clouds. High 22-29, a little milder across Cape Cod.
Friday night: Becoming cloudy, some snow showers possible after midnight, mainly south of the Mass Pike. Low 12-19 during the evening, a little milder in urban areas and right along the coast. Temperatures will slowly rise overnight.
Saturday: Plenty of clouds with snow showers likely inland, rain showers south and east of I-95. High 36-43.
Saturday night: Clearing. Low 19-26, a little milder across Cape Cod.
Sunday: Morning sun, then clouds return. High 33-40.
Sunday night: Plenty of clouds with some snow showers likely, some clearing late at night. Low 15-22.
Monday: Becoming mostly sunny, breezy. High 24-31, a little milder across Cape Cod.
That time has arrived. You know what we’re talking about. That S-word is in the forecast for part of the region. You know the one. It’s 4 letters and rhymes with blow.
Winter Storm Watches are in effect from Boston’s northern and western suburbs into Northern New England. Image provided by the National Weather Service office in Norton, MA.
The week starts off with high pressure giving us a breezy and cool Monday, but clouds move in Monday night, setting up a messy Tuesday. Despite the hype online for the past week, this will NOT be a big deal for a good chunk of the region, though it is the first one this season, so be prepared for lots of people that forgot how to drive in wintry weather (or never knew how to in the first place). That high will be moving off to the east, so while it’ll be chilly to start the day, we won’t have a lot of cold air in place for much of the storm. An upper-level disturbance will be moving in from the Great Lakes while low pressure develops off the Carolinas heading northeastward. These two won’t join forces until they are well past us, so a blockbuster snowstorm is not expected. In fact, this one will be moving fairly quickly, likely in and out in about 12 hours. We’ll see precipitation developing near or just after the morning rush hour. Temperatures should be cold enough for it to start as snow for most of the region, except for Southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape, and Islands. However, with the ocean still relatively mild (water temperatures are in the 40s to lower 50s), a quick change to rain is expected south and east of Interstate 95. How far inland that rain/snow line gets will be determined by the exact track that the developing coastal storm takes, but that is still a bit of a question mark at this point. Right now, we’re expecting the changeover to likely get as far inland as Interstate 495, but that is highly uncertain. Precipitation will fall moderate to heavy at times on Tuesday, especially south of Boston, but as the system pulls away from the region later in the day, colder air may allow the rain/snow line to quickly move back toward the coast, with much of the region possibly ending as some snow before midnight, except possibly the Cape and Islands. So, how much are we expecting?
Cape Cod/Islands: Rain Southeastern MA/RI (South and east of I-95): A coating. Boston-Providence (I-95 corridor): Less than 1″ Northern RI/MetroWest/North Shore: 1-3″ Merrimack Valley: 2-4″ Southern NH/NH Seacoast: 3-6″ Worcester Hills/Monadnocks/Central NH: 4-8″ (possibly 10″ in spots, especially in the higher elevations)
The Blend of Models is probably closest to our forecast for snowfall. Image provided by WeatherBell.
Once the system pulls away we turn drier and chilly for Wednesday as high pressure builds in. Another cold front moves through on Thursday, with a few snow showers or squalls likely accompanying it. Friday looks to be another dry and cold day as high pressure builds back in. The weekend looks unsettled at this point, but nothing significant. Another system will pass by to the south Saturday morning and afternoon with some snow showers inland and rain showers along the coast. At this point, any accumulations look to be light, but that can obviously change, so we’ll keep an eye on it as the week goes on. Another Alberta Clipper quickly follows for later on Sunday. For now, this one looks to be just a few rain showers, possibly snow or a wintry mix well inland, but again, a lot can change between now and then.
It’s going to get quite chilly behind a cold front Thursday night. Image provided by Weathermodels.com
Monday: Mostly sunny, breezy. High 36-43.
Monday night: Becoming partly to mostly cloudy. Low 20-27, milder across Cape Cod, temperatures start rising after midnight.
Tuesday: Cloudy with snow developing (rain Cape Cod and SE Mass), quickly changing to rain south and east of I-95, eventually changing to rain as far inland as I-495. High 32-39 north and west of I-95, 40-47 south and east, possibly warmer across Cape Cod.
Tuesday night: Rain changes back to snow before ending across much of the region, rain ending across Cape Cod, becoming breezy, especially along the coast. Skies start to clear out late at night. Low 23-30.
Wednesday: Sunshine and some afternoon clouds. High 33-40.
Wednesday night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 20-27.
Thursday: Intervals of clouds and sun, breezy, chance for a few snow showers or squalls. High 34-41.
Thursday night: Becoming clear, breezy during the evening, much colder. Low 7-14, warmer in urban areas and along the coast.
Friday: Mostly sunny in the morning, clouds start to filter in during the afternoon. High 23-30, a little milder across Cape Cod.
Saturday: Cloudy with a chance for snow showers inland, rain showers along the coast, mostly during the morning and early afternoon. High 34-41.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, chance for a few afternoon rain showers, possibly mixed with snow or sleet at the start well north and west of Boston. High 34-41.
Another dreary weekend is on the way for the region, and there may even be some snow for parts of the region.
Some much-needed rain is on the way for the weekend. Image provided by Weathermodels.com
Low pressure will head toward the Mid-Atlantic states tonight, sending some showers our way. Across the interior, well north and west of Boston, temperatures will be marginally cold enough for the rain to change to snow, especially in the hills of Worcester County and the Monadnocks, but also some of the lower elevations outside of I-495. We’re not expecting any accumulation, though it wouldn’t be a shock if there was a coating on some grassy surfaces. The showers should taper off towards daybreak. and Friday will just be a cloudy day with a few stray showers possible. The low over the Mid-Atlantic states starts moving our way Friday night, with some steadier and heavier rain moving in, and continuing for much of Saturday. Again, we’ll have some marginally cold air in place Friday night, so we could see more snow mixing in, with a coating possible on grassy surfaces outside of 495, and possibly a little more than that in the hills of Worcester County and the Monadnocks once again. Saturday will be a rather chilly day with northeast winds keeping temperatures in the upper 30s and lower 40s for much of the region. Combine that with the rain, and it won’t be a great day to be outside. The rain tapers off Saturday night, but as that system starts moving toward the northeast and passes offshore, it could possibly bring in some more rain on Sunday, especially for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. That system pulls away Sunday night and high pressure briefly builds in for Monday with some sunshine and milder conditions.
Accumulating snow should be confined to the hills, but there could be a coating on grassy surfaces across the interior. Image provided by WeatherBell.
Thursday night: Cloudy with some showers developing, possibly mixed with snow across the interior. Low 32-39.
Friday: Cloudy and becoming breezy with a few showers possibly, mainly in the morning. High 43-50, coolest along the coast.
Friday night: Cloudy and breezy with rain developing, mixed with snow across the interior. Low 31-38.
Saturday: Breezy with periods of rain. High 37-44.
Saturday night: Rain tapers off the showers. Low 33-40.
Sunday: Cloudy and breezy with more showers possible, favoring eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. High 44-51, coolest across southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.
Sunday night: Any showers end in the evening, becoming partly cloudy overnight. Low 34-41.
Monday: Partly sunny. High 56-63, cooler across Cape Cod.
Remember how great Friday was with sunshine and temperatures near or above 70? Yeah, there aren’t any days like that in this week’s forecast.
Temperatures will be 10-15 degrees below normal for much of the upcoming week. Image provided by Weathermodels.com
A frontal system is stalled out south of New England this morning and a wave of low pressure will ride along it, bringing us some precipitation. With enough cold air in place, we’ll see the precipitation start as snow this morning, mainly from the Mass Pike northward, eventually changing over to rain. With the high sun angle, and warmer ground, we’re not expecting any accumulation, except maybe in the hills of Worcester County and into the Monadnocks. Otherwise, it’s just a chilly rain today, gradually ending tonight as a cold front moves through, possibly allowing the rain to change to snow before ending. A few rain or snow showers are possible Tuesday, otherwise, drier and chillier conditions are expected for Tuesday into Wednesday with high pressure building in. Temperatures start to moderate on Thursday as the high moves offshore, but clouds will move in ahead of another system moving out of the nation’s mid-section. This will bring us some more rain Thursday night into Friday. Another slow-moving system follows for the weekend with more rain.
For now, Saturday is looking wet. Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Monday: Cloudy with snow developing north of the Mass Pike, changing to rain during the afternoon, rain likely south of the Pike, possibly mixed with snow at the start. High 38-45.
Monday night: Cloudy with a few rain or snow showers. Low 30-37.
Tuesday: Any lingering rain or snow showers end in the morning, becoming partly sunny and breezy in the afternoon. High 39-46 early, temperatures may drop in the afternoon.
Tuesday night: Clear skies. Low 23-30.
Wednesday: Sunshine and a few clouds. High 40-47.
Wednesday night: Clear during the evening, becoming partly cloudy overnight. Low 25-32.
Thursday: Becoming mostly cloudy with showers possible late in the day. High 47-54.
Thursday night: Cloudy with a chance of showers, possibly mixed with wet snow in southern New Hampshire. Low 35-42.
Friday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers early, then becoming more likely by evening. High 50-57.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with rain likely. High 48-55.
Sunday: More clouds than sun with additional rain possible. High 49-56
Spring began this morning, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to put your winter gear away.
Saturday is shaping up to be the nicest and mildest day of the weekend. Image provided by WeatherBell.
A cold front is making its way toward the region this afternoon, and we’ll see some rain developing ahead of that front tonight. Rain will continue overnight, ending Friday morning as the front moves across the region. We’ll clear out quickly Friday afternoon, with gusty northwest winds ushering some cooler air into the region. High pressure then builds in for Saturday with a milder day, but we’ll see clouds quickly returning ahead of a weak cold front. That front may produce a couple of showers late Saturday afternoon or evening, but most of us will remain dry. Behind it, colder air moves back in for Saturday night and Sunday, despite clear skies. Clouds move right back in Sunday evening, as another system quickly heads our way. This system is a little more complicated. While we’re looking at a chilly, wet day on Monday for much of the region, there may be just enough cold air in place for the rain to start as snow, mainly well north and west of Boston. If it starts before daybreak, we could even see a little accumulation in spots, mainly southern New Hampshire. Any snow should change over to rain during the morning, with periods of rain and showers likely for much of the day.
Could there be a little snow for parts of the region Monday morning? Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Thursday night: Mostly cloudy with areas of fog, rain developing after midnight. Low 37-44.
Friday: Showers end in the morning, skies start to clear out from west to east in the afternoon, becoming breezy. High 43-50.
Friday night: Clear skies with diminishing winds, some clouds may start to move back in towards daybreak. Low 31-38.
Saturday: Partly sunny, breezy, just a very slight chance for a late-day shower. High 53-60.
Saturday night: Becoming clear. Low 23-30.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, breezy, clouds start to return by evening. High 40-47.
Sunday night: Becoming mostly cloudy, chance for rain towards daybreak, possibly starting as wet snow well north and west of Boston. Low 27-34, temperatures start rising after midnight.
Monday: Mostly cloudy with rain likely, possibly some wet snow early in the day across southern New Hampshire. High 43-50.
Winter officially ends later this week, but that does not mean that we are done with wintry weather.
Astronomical Spring begins with the Vernal Equinox at 5:01am Thursday. Image provided by EarthSky.org
The week is starting off on a wet, but mild note as a cold front approaches the region. Rain will taper off to showers this morning, ending this evening as the cold front moves through. The airmass behind the front isn’t that cold to begin with, so although we’ll turn cooler, it won’t be that bad. High pressure builds in for Tuesday with some sunshine and temperatures that are closer to where they should be in mid-March. By Wednesday the high will move off to the east, with a wind off the still-chilly Atlantic bringing some cooler air back in along with some clouds. Another system will also be approaching from the west, but this won’t get here until later Thursday, which happens to be the first day of Spring. The Vernal Equinox occurs at 5:01am Thursday, marking the official end of winter. This front will bring in some rain late Thursday and Thursday night. A wave of low pressure will ride up along the front early Friday, bringing in just enough colder air for the rain to change to snow across the interior before ending. Will there be any accumulation? It’s possible, but it’s still a bit early for that, as we’re not even completely convinced yet that the rain will even change to snow. More details on this system will be forthcoming in our Weekend Outlook on Thursday. High pressure builds in with drier weather later Friday and early Saturday, then another weak system passes by to the south later Saturday and Saturday night with some clouds and possibly a shower or two. Drier weather should return on Sunday.
A low pressure system may bring in a little snow around here on Friday. Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Monday: Rain during the morning, possibly heavy, tapering off to showers during the afternoon. High 52-59.
Monday night: Showers ending from northwest to southeast. Low 32-39.
Tuesday: Gradual clearing. High 50-57, cooler across east-facing coastal locations.
Tuesday night: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 32-39.
Wednesday: Sunny in the morning, clouds start to move back in during the afternoon. High 51-58, cooler across east-facing coastal locations.
It’s still astronomical winter, but March is meteorological spring. In terms of the weather, we’ll experience winter and spring at various times this week.
Temperatures will be about 10 degrees below normal today. Image provided by weathermodels.com
We start the week off with high pressure building in, bringing us plenty of sunshine today, but temperatures will remain quite chilly. As we head into Tuesday, the high slides offshore, and a developing low pressure system in the nation’s midsection will send a warm front our way. This will result in a milder day on Tuesday, but also more in the way of cloudcover and possibly a shower or two late in the day. That system will draw nearer on Wednesday, bringing showers in during the day, with some steadier rain at night, some of which could be heavy. We’ll also have gusty southerly winds, resulting in a very mild day, despite the clouds and rain. A cold front trailing the system will move through on early Thursday, bringing in an end to the steady rain, though a few more showers are still possible during the afternoon. An upper-level disturbance moves across the region Thursday night and early Friday with a few snow showers possible. Another weak system quickly follows on Saturday, but this one will only produce a few snow or rain showers. High pressure builds in for Sunday with dry and colder weather once again.
Temperatures should get well into the 50s on Thursday. Image provided by WeatherBell.
Monday: Plenty of sunshine. High 26-33.
Monday night: Clear during the evening, clouds start to filter in overnight. Low 14-21.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, clouds thicken up late in the day with a stray shower possible, becoming breezy in the afternoon. High 42-49.
Tuesday night: Becoming mostly cloudy. Low 33-40 during the evening, temperatures start to rise after midnight.
Wednesday: Cloudy and breezy with showers likely, steadier rain possible late in the day. High 50-57.
Wednesday night: Windy with periods of rain, tapering off late at night. Low 43-50.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, a few more rain showers possible. High 52-59.
Thursday night: Partly to mostly cloudy, breezy, chance for a few late-night snow showers. Low 23-30.
Friday: A mix of sun and clouds, chance for a morning snow shower, windy. High 36-43.
Saturday: Intervals of clouds and sun with a few rain or snow showers possible, breezy. High 40-47.
The pattern will turn less active for much of the week across the region.
Winds could gust in excess of 50 mph across the region today. Image provided by WeatherBell.
The storm that brought a variety of weather to the region on Sunday will move into Atlantic Canada today where it will slow down and continue to strengthen. It will continue to produce strong winds across the region into Tuesday, but today is when they will be strongest, with gusts upwards of 50-60 mph possible this afternoon. High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are in effect for nearly all of the region. We’ll see only a few breaks of sun today, but they should be more common on Tuesday as high pressure tries to start to build in. It will do so on Wednesday with more in the way of sunshine, and less in the way of wind. Clouds move back in late in the day ahead of a low pressure system moving off the Southeast coast. There is still some uncertainty with the track this storm will take, but it looks like it will stay far enough to the south to spare us from a major snowstorm. However, there is still a chance for some light snow, especially south of Boston, on Thursday. How far north the snow gets and how much falls will be determined by the exact track the storm takes. We may write a special blog about the storm on Wednesday, if needed. After that, high pressure builds in for Friday and the weekend with dry and chilly weather once again.
For now, it looks like a potential storm system on Thursday will stay mainly south of the region. Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Monday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine, windy. High 22-29, wind chill 10-15 in the afternoon.
Monday night: Becoming clear to partly cloudy, windy. Low 8-15, wind chill 0 to -10 overnight.
Tuesday: Sunshine and some afternoon clouds, still windy. High 18-25, wind chill 5-10 in the afternoon.
Tuesday night: Becoming clear with diminishing winds. Low 5-12, wind chill 0 to -10 overnight.
Wednesday: Sunny in the morning, then clouds start to move in during the afternoon. High 23-30, wind chill 15-20 in the afternoon.
Wednesday night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 6-13.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a chance for some light snow, mainly south of Boston. High 25-32.
Thursday night: Any snow ends in the evening, becoming partly cloudy late at night. Low 15-22.
Friday: Partly to mostly sunny, breezy. High 28-35.
Saturday: Sunshine and some afternoon clouds. High 29-36.
Another messy storm is heading our way for the weekend.
A complex storm will bring a variety of weather to the region this weekend. Loop provided by Pivotal Weather.
The system that brought us a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain earlier today will pull away and high pressure builds in with clearing and colder weather tonight into Friday. If you’re heading out this evening use caution as any untreated surfaces may ice up pretty quickly. Clouds start to move back in Friday night as another storm heads our way, and this one looks quite complicated.
Many of the models show the potential for a significant ice storm across the interior this weekend. Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Low pressure will move out of the Ohio Valley and head towards New England. We’ll see snow developing ahead of the storm Saturday afternoon, continuing into the evening hours. However, warmer air will start to move in aloft, with snow changing to sleet and freezing rain by early Sunday, and eventually plain rain along the South Coast and into parts of Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A secondary area of low pressure will then develop, and pass right across southern New England, while what’s left of the original system crosses Northern New England. The question becomes, how far north does the warmer air get, both aloft and at the surface. The warmer air aloft may get as far north as central portions of Vermont and New Hampshire, resulting in snow changing to sleet and freezing rain. Before the changeover takes place, we could be looking at 2-4″ of accumulation south of the Mass Pike (less near the South Coast), with 3-6″ to the north, possibly more across southern New Hampshire if the changeover is a little slower to occur. At the surface, the cold air may remain locked in across most of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and even interior portions of southern New England, with temperatures not getting above freezing. As a result, we could be looking at a significant ice storm, especially from the hills of northern Rhode Island and northeastern Connecticut, across central Massachusetts and into much of southern New Hampshire, away from the Seacoast. Across eastern Massachusetts, temperatures may be warm enough for just plain rain for the bulk of the storm after the initial burst of snow. as the storm pulls away, some colder air may move back in, allowing for the precipitation to possibly change back to snow before ending Sunday night, then high pressure builds in with cold and dry conditions on Monday.
Light to moderate snow accumulations are expected, but that’s not the biggest concern with this storm. Image provided by Weathermodels.com.
Thursday night: Clearing, breezy. Low 18-25.
Friday: Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds, breezy. High 26-33.
Friday night: Increasing and thickening clouds. Low 9-16.
Saturday: Cloudy with light snow developing in the afternoon. High 25-32.
Saturday night: Snow changing to sleet and freezing rain, possibly all rain near the South coast. Low 21-28, temperatures start rising after midnight.
Sunday: Sleet and freezing rain across the interior, rain inside of 495 and south and east of I-95, possibly changing back to snow late in the day, breezy. High 27-34 north of the Mass Pike, 35-42 south of the Pike.
Sunday night: Snow or rain ending before midnight, some gradual clearing late at night, breezy. Low 15-22.
The active pattern will continue for most of the week with a few more chances for wintry weather.
Sunday’s storm dropped 3-7 inches of snow across the region. Image provided by the National Weather Service office in Norton, MA.
We’re starting the week out with high pressure in control, giving us sunshine and chilly conditions today. Many places will get above freezing allowing for snow to melt, but as temperatures drop this evening, icy conditions will likely develop on untreated surfaces, so keep that in mind if you are heading out this evening. Clouds will start to move in on Tuesday ahead of another low pressure system. This one will bring snow into the Mid-Atlantic states, but likely passes well south of New England. However, the precipitation field surrounding the storm could get far enough north Tuesday night to bring a little light snow into the South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands, possibly as far north as parts of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. We’re not looking at much snow, just a dusting to perhaps an inch, so it’ll be more of a nuisance than anything else if it happens. High pressure brings drier air in for Wednesday, then things get complicated.
Some “nuisance snow” is expected near the South Coast Tuesday night. Image provided by WeatherBell.
Low pressure will move into the Great Lakes late Wednesday, then into the St. Lawrence Valley Wednesday night and Thursday. We’ll see snow developing ahead of the system Wednesday night, but as warmer air moves in aloft, a change to sleet and then freezing rain is likely. The question becomes – does a secondary area of low pressure develop and pass south of New England early Thursday? If it does, that will keep the cold air in place in the surface, resulting in sleet and freezing rain continuing across the interior, with a change to plain rain south of the Mass Pike. If it doesn’t, then the warmer air eventually moves in at the surface, with a change to plain rain across most of the region before the precipitation ends by midday Thursday. High pressure builds in with drier air for Friday and the first part of Saturday before things get complicated once again.
The models all have different ideas about what will fall from the sky on Thursday. Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Another low pressure system will move out of the Great Lakes and into the St. Lawrence Valley later Saturday and Saturday night. We’ll see snow developing late Saturday, likely changing to rain at night. This time, we likely will see a secondary low pressure area develop, but the question is, where does it track. Does it pass south of the region, allowing some colder air to move back in with a change back to sleet or snow? Does it move right across the region, resulting in more rain for much of Sunday? At this point, it’s far too early to try and pin down these type of details, but it does look like, for now at least, that Sunday won’t be a nice day around here.
The models don’t agree on what will happen on Sunday either. Images provided by Pivotal Weather.
Monday: Partly to mostly sunny. High 28-35.
Monday night: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 7-14, north of the Mass Pike, 15-22 south of the Pike.
Tuesday: Morning sun, then increasing clouds. High 28-35.
Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, chance for a little light snow near the South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands. Low 9-16 north of the Mass Pike, 17-24 south of the Pike.
Wednesday: Intervals of clouds and sun. High 26-33.
Wednesday night: Cloudy with light snow developing, changing to sleet and freezing rain late at night, possibly all rain south of Boston. Low 18-25, temperatures start rising after midnight.
Thursday: Snow, sleet, freezing rain, or rain ending by midday, some clearing towards evening. High 36-43.
Storm HQ 