DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 19-23)

The weather pattern remains active, which is typical as we transition from winter to spring. In fact we mark the “official” transition with the occurrence of the vernal equinox Friday morning at 10:46 a.m. EDT. Before we get to that, we’ll see a sun / cloud mix today as high pressure slides offshore and we experience a slight temperature moderation off yesterday’s late winter refrigerator chill. A weak low pressure area will pass north of our region tonight and may produce a brief light snow shower mainly north of I-90, but any that do occur will have no impact as they occur with limited available moisture and last a very short time. Friday’s weather will feel a tiny bit more like the season that’s incoming as we warm up a little bit more, but sunshine will give way to clouds as the next in a series of disturbances approaches – this one another low heading for a path north of our region, sending a frontal system through late day and evening. Milder air and more available moisture means that much of the region will see a period of rain, but not too heavy. This exits our region overnight and sets up a fair weather day Saturday with a sun / cloud mix and temperatures fairly typical of late March. Sunday, the next frontal boundary comes our way as the next in a series of lows passing to our north does so. Timing is a little in question on this, but at some point we are likely to see wet weather move in. It may wait until midday or afternoon to do so. Details to be worked out. It looks like a milder day, at least initially. Once the front goes by, however, we see another temperature drop. This may not occur until sometime late Sunday or Sunday night, again depending on frontal timing. Monday looks like a breezy, chilly early spring day as some areas may see a few snow flurries with an upper low moving across the region behind the recently-passed frontal boundary.

TODAY: Partly sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. A brief snow flurry possible mainly southern NH / northern MA. Lows 32-39. Wind S up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Sun followed by clouds. Late day rain arrives west to east. Highs 45-52. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with evening rain. Breaking clouds and patchy fog overnight. Lows 38-45. Wind SW to W up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Sun / cloud mix. Highs 48-55. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly to mostly cloudy. Lows 40-47. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain, mainly midday and afternoon and favoring northern areas first, southern areas later. Highs 52-59, cooler South Coast. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, shifting to N from northwest to southeast late-day.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 30-37. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind N 10-20 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 24-28)

Brief rain / mix chance later March 24 and / or early March 25, and another chance of some precipitation toward the end of the period, otherwise dry weather with near to below normal temperatures.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 29 – APRIL 2)

Overall pattern looks mostly dry and on the cooler side of normal with one brief interruption from a passing disturbance or storm system, favoring mid to late period.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 18-22)

High pressure brings dry weather but below normal temperatures today, though wind will be much lighter than yesterday as the high center moves overhead. The high will slip off to the east Thursday with continued fair weather but a few more clouds and a temperature moderation. A weak low pressure system will pass to our north Thursday night and early Friday, its weak cold front coming through early Friday with maybe a brief shower of light rain or snow. Another system approaches later Friday and passes by that night into early Saturday. Milder air in place at that time means any precipitation will likely all as rain, but this will be a minor impact system. A cold front will cross the region Saturday night into Sunday with another rain shower chance, introducing more wind and a shot of colder air for on Sunday.

TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 35-42. Wind W up to 10 MPH becoming variable.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 22-29. Wind variable to S up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 33-40. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. A brief snow shower possible early. Highs 45-52. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain overnight. Lows 38-45. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with a chance of rain early, then a sun / cloud mix. Highs 50-57. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers overnight. Lows 40-47. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Chance of rain showers until midday. Highs 48-55 but may fall in the afternoon. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 23-27)

Brief rain / mix chance later March 24 and / or early March 25, and another chance of some precipitation toward the end of the period, otherwise dry weather with near to below normal temperatures.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 28 – APRIL 1)

Overall pattern looks mostly dry and on the cooler side of normal with one brief interruption from a passing disturbance or storm system, favoring later in the period.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 17-21)

From the NWS, there are flood warnings for minor flooding through today on the following rivers in MA and RI:

Sudbury River at Saxonville affecting Middlesex County.

Pawtuxet River at Cranston affecting Kent and Providence Counties.

Taunton River Near Bridgewater affecting Plymouth and Bristol
Counties.

Wood River at Hope Valley affecting Washington County.

The rain and strong wind gusts from the storm are behind us as the low pressure area responsible for it moves through eastern Canada as a large, strong storm system. This keeps us in its circulation today and we may see a sprinkle of rain this morning and a few snow flurries this afternoon as colder air moves in behind the storm. High pressure builds in tonight and Wednesday with fair, chilly, but more tranquil conditions. The high slides to the east Thursday, a day which will feature some sun, more clouds, and slightly milder air. A weak disturbance passing by on Friday morning may produce a few snow flurries for the final hours of winter, before the vernal equinox at 10:46 a.m. EDT marks the start of spring. The rest of Friday will feature dry weather but may carry quite a bit of cloudiness. Another disturbance moves our way via the Great Lakes on Saturday, and its warm front may produce some early-day rainfall, based on current expecting timing. The passage of the warm front would allow a milder afternoon that day.

TODAY: Lots of clouds early including the chance of a brief sprinkle of rain from west to east into mid morning, then a sun / cloud mix with a slight chance of a passing light snow shower from midday on. Temperatures decline from the 40s to the 30s. Wind W 15-25 MPH, gusts 30-40 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, diminishing overnight.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 36-43. Wind W up to 10 MPH becoming variable.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 22-29. Wind variable to S up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 33-40. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. A brief snow shower possible early. Highs 45-52. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 38-45. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy with a chance of rain early, then a sun / cloud mix. Highs 50-57. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 22-26)

A cold front moves through Sunday with lots of clouds, maybe some rain showers, and a falling temps. Watching one disturbance for potential precipitation later March 24 or March 25, otherwise a generally dry and chilly late March / early spring regime is expected for the balance of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 27-31)

Watching an early to mid period precipitation potential in an otherwise mostly dry, chilly weather pattern to wrap up the month of March.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 16-20)

Intensifying low pressure tracks through the Great Lakes and across eastern Canada today and tonight. We’ll have a stormy Monday to start the week as a result. The storm’s warm front will move through our region early this morning with a batch of rain, some of it heavy, that will then taper to scattered rain showers later in the morning into this afternoon in the warm sector of the storm system, when we’ll see stronger, gusty southerly winds. A couple areas of widespread rain showers and possible embedded thunderstorms will cross the region from late this afternoon well into tonight prior to the storm’s cold front crossing the region from west to east, which will put an end to the rainfall in the pre-dawn hours, possibly just after Tuesday’s dawn on Cape Cod. As the storm continues into Atlantic Canada, our weather for St. Patrick’s Day will feature a gusty westerly wind, colder air, and generally dry weather, although a secondary cold front and some low level moisture from the Great Lakes can trigger a few snow showers during the day. The cold air delivered by this front will make Tuesday night feel a bit like mid winter, especially with windy conditions in the evening. High pressure builds in from the west on Wednesday, with fair and chilly weather but less wind. As this high slips eastward off the coast later in the week, we’ll see a temperature moderation but also more cloudiness at times, especially by Friday as a disturbance passes by to our northwest. This can trigger a couple rain showers in the area to mark the start of spring. The vernal equinox occurs at 10:46 a.m. EDT on Friday.

TODAY: Cloudy. Widespread rain showers until mid morning and returning again mid to late afternoon with just scattered rain showers between those times. Highs 57-64 except 50-57 South Coast. Wind SE 5-15 MPH early, then S 15-25 MPH with higher gusts.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with widespread rain showers and embedded thunderstorms, ending from west to east overnight. Breaking clouds toward dawn from west to east. Lows 35-42. Wind S 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-55 MPH, with isolated gusts 55-65 MPH possible east of I-95, favoring southeastern MA and RI, shifting to W from west to east late evening and overnight, diminishing slightly.

TUESDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Chance of a snow shower. Highs 38-45. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-35 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, diminishing overnight.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 36-43. Wind W up to 10 MPH becoming variable.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 22-29. Wind variable to S up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 33-40. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of a rain shower. Highs 48-55. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 21-25)

March 21-22 weekend looks unsettled with a colder trend and a chance of some rain / mix / snow, but no major storminess indicated. Details TBD. Trend is for a drier, chilly pattern next week.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 26-30)

Precipitation threat early period then another surge of cold air follows with the overall pattern still chilly and on the drier side late month.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 15-19)

Low pressure will impact our weather over the next 3 days as it travels northeastward from the Midwest through the Great Lakes and across eastern Canada. The preliminary impact comes today in the form of cloudiness as a warm front crosses the region, but with not enough moisture to produce any precipitation. The main impact comes from pre-dawn Monday through late Monday evening as we get into a stronger southerly air flow with abundant subtropical moisture ahead of the storm’s cold front, providing a stronger, gusty wind and waves of rain showers, some of which can be on the heavier side. Isolated damaging wind gusts (and some resultant power outages) are possible. Rainfall combined with melting snowfall from the mountains coming down the streams and rivers can cause some flooding on those (which can persist into mid week, especially larger rivers). Thunderstorms can occur as the cold front sweeps eastward through the region, putting an end of the rain portion of the event later Monday night. Behind this system we’ll still feel its impact on Tuesday in the form of a gusty wind and colder weather, though it will be a dry St. Patrick’s Day. Chilly and dry weather is expected Wednesday as high pressure moves in. Some clouds return Thursday as milder air makes an attempt to return on the back side of high pressure and ahead of low pressure and a warm front moving out way from the Great Lakes.

TODAY: Limited sun / lots of clouds. Highs 42-49. Wind variable to SE up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers arrive overnight and become widespread. Temperatures steady in 40s South Coast but rise to 50s elsewhere. Wind SE to S increasing to 10-20 MPH with higher gusts overnight.

MONDAY: Cloudy. Widespread rain showers until mid morning and returning again mid to late afternoon with just scattered rain showers between those times. Highs 57-64 except 50-57 South Coast. Wind S 15-25 MPH, gusts 30-50 MPH (possibly higher in some higher elevation and coastal areas).

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with widespread rain showers and embedded thunderstorms, ending from west to east overnight. Breaking clouds toward dawn from west to east. Lows 32-39. Wind S 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-55 MPH, strongest in higher elevations, shifting to W from west to east late evening and overnight, diminishing slightly.

TUESDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 40-47. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-35 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 27-34. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 22-29. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 20-24)

The Vernal Equinox occurs at 10:46 a.m. on Friday March 20, marking the beginning of spring. Unsettled weather is possible that day and into the weekend with a couple of disturbances / low pressure areas passing by, though major storminess is not indicated. This may wind up with a shot of cold air to end next weekend. We watch for the next storm system that may impact the region toward the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 25-29)

Some up and down temps indicated for late month with another storm system potentially about mid period with a precipitation threat. A lot of detail to work out in this medium range forecast with uncertainty and seasonal volatility as factors.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 14-18)

Some of you will wake up to a fresh coating of snow this morning that will then melt quickly as the sun rises, though that sun will be interrupted frequently by a lot of cloudiness moving west to east across the sky today as the wind picks up. This is all associated with low pressure passing north of our region that will intensify as it heads toward Atlantic Canada. Other than a few sprinkles of rain or flurries of snow, we’ll have a dry day today along with the wind and limited sun. The wind will relax tonight as the storm pulls further away, but our active pattern continues and after we see some clearing of the sky tonight, the clouds will start to roll back in from the west on Sunday from a warm front advancing northeastward our way. This front’s precipitation will remain generally north and west of the WHW forecast area with no more than a brief bout of light rain or snow potentially clipping north central MA and southwestern NH. The front as parented by low pressure heading into the Great Lakes late this weekend – a storm that will have quite a broad circulation and become quite strong as it moves into eastern Canada during Monday. Its trailing cold front to our west will be moving our way during the day Monday and won’t pass through our region until the early hours of Tuesday. Ahead of it, a moderate to strong warm and moist southerly air flow will bring us periodic rain showers, most numerous from pre-dawn to mid morning Monday, with another more numerous cluster later in the day, and one final line that can included embedded thunder moving west to east across the region associated with the cold front. Impacts from this system include potentially damaging wind gusts, as well as some flooding of streams and rivers as heavier rainfall (combined with melting mountain snow to the north) runs over still partially frozen ground and fills the river system fairly quickly. Flood issues on larger rivers can last longer and persist up to a few days after the storm has departed. And the weather after its departure will be breezy, chilly, and dry for Tuesday (St. Pat’s Day) and Wednesday.

TODAY: Lots of clouds with intervals of sun. A passing light rain or snow shower possible, favoring the hilly terrain north and west of Boston through midday. Highs 43-50. Wind W to NW 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-45 MPH except 45-55 MPH in higher elevations and exposed areas.

TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 25-32. Wind NW to W diminishing to under 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Sun followed by clouds. Slight chance of brief late-day snow / mix north central MA and southwestern NH. Highs 42-49. Wind variable to SE up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers arrive and become widespread. Temperatures steady in 40s South Coast but rise to 50s elsewhere. Wind SE to S increasing to 10-20 MPH with higher gusts overnight.

MONDAY: Cloudy. Widespread rain showers until mid morning and returning again mid to late afternoon with just scattered rain showers between those times. Highs 57-64 except 50-57 South Coast. Wind S 15-25 MPH, gusts 30-50 MPH (possibly higher in some higher elevation and coastal areas).

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with widespread rain showers and embedded thunderstorms, ending from west to east overnight. Breaking clouds toward dawn from west to east. Lows 32-39. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to W.

TUESDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 40-47. Wind W 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear to partly cloudy. Lows 27-34. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 40-47. Wind W 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 19-23)

Fair weather and below normal temperatures March 19. Unsettled episodes March 20-22 with some rain / mix / snow showers but no major storminess indicated. Fair weather returns for the end of the period. Spring arrives with the occurrence of the vernal equinox at 10:46 a.m. EDT on March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 24-28)

Up and down temps but averaging near to below normal for the period with at least one and possibly two late-season bouts of rain / mix / snow possible (March 24 & 27 continue to be dates to watch).

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 13-17)

Today’s weather showcases the quick-moving nature of weather systems in our current weather pattern. Last night’s disturbance that produced some light mixed precipitation and snow departed and was followed by a push of colder air with gusty west to northwest winds, which are still blowing notably in higher elevations and exposed areas as we start the day today, but these will quickly diminish and the chill of early morning will be lost to lighter winds and several hours of strong sun as it rises into the sky. However, this afternoon, you’ll notice a wind, now shifted to southwest, picks up a little once again as we lose the sun to quickly-increasing cloud cover from the west, associated with the approach of a warm front. This front can bring a quick episode of light snow and mixed precipitation mainly north of the I-90 belt this evening, but other than a quick coating of snow on grassy / unpaved surfaces, impact will be negligible. During the overnight hours into Saturday morning, the low pressure area that parents the warm front will be passing to our north, and its cold front will follow, bringing some rain and snow showers to the region in the late evening / overnight hours. There may be brief clearing of the sky in some locations ahead of the front and again behind it. As we get into Saturday morning and through the day, the low pressure area now entering Atlantic Canada will intensify significantly, resulting in a windy day here. Upper level low pressure crossing our region will promote lots of clouds at times as well, but there will also be sunnier intervals. The wind will settle down Saturday night and the sky will clear out, resulting in a chilly overnight / early Sunday. During the day Sunday, similar to Friday we’ll see sun give way to clouds as another warm front approaches out region. The parent low for this one will be a large system and will be heading northeastward into the Great Lakes. I think any precipitation with the warm front later Sunday will be less widespread than the one moving through our region later today, and most of it will pass to the northwest of the WHW forecast area – maybe just clipping north central MA and southwestern NH. Our main impact from that storm system comes during Monday as the low pressure area moves through the Great Lakes and into southeastern Canada. Its cold front will be well to our west early Monday but a plume of tropical moisture drawn northward into our region will bring a healthy dose of showery rainfall. It won’t be until later that evening that the cold front finally makes its way through from west to east, itself bringing a band or two of showers and even the potential for thunderstorms. Heavier rainfall with this system falling on still partially frozen ground can lead to some stream and river flooding issues not only on that day but lingering toward the middle of next week even after the system is gone. Tuesday (St. Patrick’s Day) will feature dry, breezy, chilly weather in the storm’s wake.

TODAY: Sun followed by clouds. Evening mix / snow arrives west to east, favoring areas north of I-90. Highs 38-45. Wind NW to W 5-15 MPH with a few higher gusts early to mid morning, diminishing to under 10 MPH then shifting to SW and increasing to 5-15 MPH with a few higher gusts afternoon.

TONIGHT: Cloudy early with a period of snow / mix likely north of I-90 and a chance of mix / rain I-90 southward, then variably cloudy with passing rain / mix / snow showers late evening into overnight hours. Lows 32-39. Wind SW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to W.

SATURDAY: Lots of clouds with intervals of sun. Highs 43-50. Wind W to NW 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-45 MPH except 45-55 MPH in higher elevations and exposed areas.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 25-32. Wind NW to W diminishing to under 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Sun followed by clouds. Slight chance of brief late-day snow / mix north central MA and southwestern NH. Highs 42-49. Wind variable to SE up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers arrive and become widespread. Temperatures steady in 40s South Coast but rise to 50s elsewhere. Wind SE to S increasing to 10-20 MPH with higher gusts overnight.

MONDAY: Cloudy with widespread rain showers in the morning and scattered rain showers afternoon. Highs 57-64 except 50-57 South Coast. Wind S 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with rain showers and possible thunderstorms during the evening hours. Clearing west to east overnight. Lows 32-39. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to W.

TUESDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 40-47. Wind W 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 18-22)

Fair weather and below normal temperatures March 18-19. Unsettled episodes March 20-22 with some rain / mix / snow, but no major storminess indicated. Spring arrives with the occurrence of the vernal equinox at 10:46 a.m. EDT on March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 23-27)

Up and down temps but averaging near to below normal for the period with at least one and possibly two late-season bouts of rain / mix / snow possible (March 24 & 27 dates to watch).

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 12-16)

Our active weather pattern continues with several weather systems to contend with through the start of next week. Today, we’re back in a wedge of warmer air after yesterday’s back-door front pulled a reversal in response to low pressure passing to our north and moved back as a warm front, causing a nocturnal temperature rise overnight, along with showers and even some embedded thunderstorms in some areas. The cold front trailing this low will move across our region today and an additional disturbance will create a wave of low pressure on it to move through the region late today and this evening. This scenario creates additional periods of rain in our region today that will mix with and change to sleet and snow as colder air arrives, enough so that some minor accumulation can occur, especially on unpaved surfaces, by this evening. With the temperature continuing to go down a little bit more even as this system ends and we see clearing later tonight, this will result in some slippery travel on untreated surfaces that remain wet. We get very little break with just some sun early Friday before clouds return ahead of the next low pressure area, this one a smaller system coming eastward from the Great Lakes. The center will pass to our north Friday night and early Saturday, and we get its warm front first, with some rain and snow possible later Friday into Friday evening, especially north of I-90, while its cold front follows with rain and snow showers overnight into early Saturday morning. Improving weather follows during the day Saturday, and with the next system moving into the Great Lakes during Sunday we’ll see clouds once again return as its warm front approaches. This one should have limited moisture, initially, so that only a touch of light precipitation favors areas well northwest of Boston later Sunday. However, things change as that front goes by during Sunday night as a significant influx of subtropical moisture is drawn up the East Coast. Intensifying and larger scale low pressure moving through the Great Lakes into eastern Canada will drag a cold front our way during Monday, with all of the aforementioned moisture flowing northward ahead of it. This means a significant rain event for our area, along with very mild air during the day on Monday. We’ll have to scrutinize this system more as the time draws nearer to pinpoint potential flooding issues and even the chance for some wind damage.

TODAY: Cloudy. Areas of fog this morning. Periods of rain mixing with and changing to sleet and wet snow from west to east later. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere, occurring early to mid morning, followed by a steady temperature fall from west to east to the 30s by mid to late afternoon. Wind W 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to NW from west to east.

TONIGHT: Cloudy early with sleet to wet snow, accumulating a coating to 1 inch. Partial clearing late. Watch for black ice on untreated surfaces. Lows 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, diminishing overnight.

FRIDAY: Sun followed by clouds. Late-day mix / snow possible favoring north central MA / southwestern NH. Highs 38-45. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy evening with snow / mix / rain most likely in southern NH and northern MA and a few rain showers to the south. Lows 31-38, coldest southern NH / northern MA. Wind variable 5-15 MPH becoming W with higher gusts overnight.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy early with rain and snow showers possible, then a sun / cloud mix. Highs 43-50. Wind W to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, diminishing.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Evening mix potential well north and west of Boston. Highs 45-52. Wind variable to SE up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers arrive and become widespread. Temperatures steady early then rising through 50s except remaining steady South Coast. Wind SE to S increasing to 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.

MONDAY: Cloudy with widespread rain showers. Chance of a thunderstorm. Highs 57-64 except 50-57 South Coast. Wind S 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 17-21)

Fair weather and below normal temperatures behind the storm system March 17-19. Next low pressure system looks more minor and brings a precipitation chance March 20-21 to mark the arrival of spring (equinox occurring at 10:46 a.m. EDT on March 20).

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 22-26)

The pattern for the early days of spring continues show signs of typical volatility with up and down temps and a couple periods of unsettled weather.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 11-15)

The volatility of March will be on display over the next 5 days. Today, a back-door cold front is in the process of slicing across the region from northeast to southwest and will come to a stop this morning somewhere around southern RI / eastern CT, with the majority of the region spending the majority of today’s hours on the cool side with a northeast wind making it much cooler than yesterday’s late spring preview temperatures, while the cool-down is more modest in the small area that remains on the front’s warmer side. We’ll see both an increase in clouds from the west in response to an approaching trough, but as the day goes on, more ocean-formed stratus clouds will invade the sky at lower levels from northeast to southwest and a few patches of drizzle can occur in the NH Seacoast region and eastern MA from this low level maritime air flow. Tonight, the frontal boundary is going to be pushed back to the north and east in response to low pressure moving through the Great Lakes, as a stronger south to southwest air flow overtakes the region. Areas of rain showers will accompany this transition, and these will persist Thursday as that low’s cold front moves through the region from west to east during the day – creating an “upside-down” temperatures profile for the day – warmest in the morning, followed by a drop. The air incoming is cold enough that when a wave forms and moves up along the frontal boundary, we can expect to see a mix over to wet snow, with even some minor accumulation likely in portions of the region Thursday evening before clearing arrives from west to east. This chilly air mass will be in place on Friday, a day that starts with sun but ends up with clouds as the next disturbance heads our way via the Great Lakes. This low is going to pass to our north Friday night and early Saturday, so we’ll get a warm front / cold front combo. The warm front will produce a shield of snow and mixed precipitation, but the bulk of the steadiest should pass just to the north of the area, with the greatest chance to see it in northern MA and southern NH Friday late-day and evening. The cold front will swing through in the early hours of Saturday with rain and snow showers, followed by drier, but breezy weather during the day. Had enough quick change? Well, another low pressure system will approach our region from the west again during Sunday, again destined for a track to our north, dragging its warm front our way with more clouds and a chance of rain, which may start as mixed precipitation, as early as the late afternoon hours of Sunday, though the majority of that day will be precipitation-free.

TODAY: Sun gives way to clouds. Afternoon drizzle patches eastern coastal areas and a late-day rain shower possible western areas. Highs 45-52 except 53-60 western RI and eastern CT. Wind NE 5-15 MPH except SW up to 10 MPH western RI and eastern CT.

TONIGHT: Cloudy. Occasional rain showers. Slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Patchy fog. Temperatures steady 53-60 western RI and eastern CT and rising to 53-60 elsewhere. Wind SW to S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts overnight.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Numerous rain showers mixing with or changing to wet snow later in the day from west to east. Highs 55-62 early, then falling from west to east into the 30s by the end of the day. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to NW from west to east.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy early including the chance of mix to wet snow with minor accumulation possible, then clearing. Lows 32-39. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Sun followed by clouds. Late-day mix / snow possible favoring north central MA / southwestern NH. Highs 38-45. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy evening with snow / mix / rain most likely in southern NH and northern MA and a few rain showers to the south. Lows 31-38, coldest southern NH / northern MA. Wind variable 5-15 MPH becoming W with higher gusts overnight.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy morning with rain and snow showers possible, then a sun / cloud mix. Highs 43-50. Wind W to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, diminishing.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Evening mix potential north and west of Boston. Highs 45-52. Wind variable to SE up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 16-20)

Low pressure passing to our north produces a stronger southerly air flow but accompanied by abundant moisture with numerous to widespread rain showers expected for at least part of March 16, followed by a push of drier and colder air weather St. Pat’s Day on March 17 and fair, chilly weather continuing during the middle of next week before the next trough and low pressure brings unsettled weather with a precipitation chance for the day of the Vernal Equinox (10:46 a.m. EDT) March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 21-25)

The early days of spring show signs of typical volatility with up and down temps and a couple periods of unsettled weather, the details of which will be sorted in the days ahead.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 10-14)

Today we get a preview of mid spring with a healthy southwesterly air flow due to high pressure to the south and low pressure passing through the Great Lakes into southeastern Canada. This air flow off the ocean water to the south of New England of course will keep the South Coast / Cape Cod / Islands cooler than areas that experience a true land breeze, which is typical and notable for this time of the year – and you’ll see that reflected in the wide-ranging specifics on the temperature expectations for today. Abundant sunshine can be enjoyed by all, regardless of air temperature at your specific location, but don’t get used to this weather because changes are coming, and quickly. Tonight, clouds increase both from the west associated with the approach of the trough that drives the low pressure area mentioned in the first line of this discussion. At the same time, the front attached to the low, which by tonight will be well east of our longitude, will be pushed southward and pivot southwestward via the Gulf of Maine, thanks to high pressure build into east central Canada behind it, and will cross our region as a back-door cold front overnight. This sets up a cloudy and uniformly chilly day on Wednesday. The region’s high temperatures for the day will occur at about midnight tonight, after which it’ll be in the 40s everywhere, with no big temperature range, no sun, and patchy drizzle along with the chance of a passing rain shower. Another low pressure area will be moving through the Great Lakes at that time, and it will serve to pull that frontal boundary back to the northeast at night, when the temperature will start to rise again from southwest to northeast into Thursday morning, when that day’s high temperatures will occur. One band of showers can come through Wednesday late evening with a trough, and the main band of precipitation will come through on Thursday morning and midday from west to east with a cold front. This boundary has a sharp enough temperature contrast with it so that what falls as mainly rain showers can end mixed with wet snow from west to east across the region during the day late morning to early afternoon Thursday. I don’t expect much of any clearing that afternoon as chilly air arrives, but any that does occur will be brief and mainly at night, before the next low pressure system dives our way via the Great Lakes on Friday with clouds re-thickening and a chance of some rain, mix, and snow arriving from west to east. This system passes through and departs Saturday with a trend back to drier weather after an unsettled start.

TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 68-75 Boston west southwestward to northeastern CT and northwestward through interior northeastern MA, central MA, and interior southern NH, ranging down a narrow band of 60-67 between that and 53-60 tip of Cape Ann MA and across the South Coast and Upper Cape Cod with 45-52 Lower Cape Cod and Islands. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Clouding over. Patchy drizzle NH Seacoast and eastern MA coastal areas by morning. Lows 38-45 except 43-50 south central MA to eastern CT. Wind SW shifting to NE 5-15 MPH from northeast to southwest.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Patchy drizzle. Chance of rain showers, especially during the afternoon. Highs 43-50, mildest southwest of Boston. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers likely. Areas of fog. Temperatures rise to 50-57. Wind shifting to S 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, may mix with or change to wet snow especially higher elevations of southern NH and central MA during the afternoon. Highs 52-59 early, then falling. Wind S shifting to NW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly to partly cloudy. Lows 31-38. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. Late day or evening mix / snow possible from west to east. Highs 38-45. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Occasional rain / mix / snow likely. Lows 30-37. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy start with a chance of rain / mix, then breaking clouds. Highs 43-50. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 15-19)

Additional unsettled weather opportunities which can include some mix / frozen precipitation as the pattern is somewhat colder.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 20-24)

The vernal equinox (start of spring) occurs at 10:46 a.m. EDT on Friday March 20. A volatile weather pattern with up and down temps and unsettled weather on frequent occasion will mark its early days.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 9-13)

A push of warm air brings the feel of spring and obliterates most of the remaining snow cover today and Tuesday as high pressure sits to our south and low pressure moves well to our north. As this low head into far eastern Canada, high pressure building in east central Canada will send its front southward and the cold water of the Gulf of Maine will help accelerate this process so it comes through as a back-door cold front Tuesday night and early Wednesday, returning chilly and raw air to our region, along with lots of clouds. At the same time, additional clouds would be coming in from the west anyway as low pressure enters the Great Lakes. This will drag that boundary back through as a warm front Wednesday night, combined with low level moisture from the ocean it will result in drizzle and rain showers, putting us briefly back into a wedge of warmer air early Thursday before a cold front moves through from west to east. This front will be accompanied by widespread rain showers that may mix with or turn to wet snow especially in higher elevations as the front goes by and returns colder air to the region from west to east. This leads to a chilly Friday, and any clearing is reversed as another system heads our way from the west, bringing the chance of snow/mix/rain by Friday evening. Details on that system are to-be-determined.

TODAY: Patchy clouds otherwise lots of sun. Highs 57-64 I-95 belt westward, 50-57 elsewhere except 43-50 Cape Cod and Islands. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Patchy fog. Lows 36-43. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 65-72 I-95 belt westward, 58-65 inside I-95 except 50-57 Upper Cape Cod / South Coast and 45-52 Lower Cape Cod / Islands. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clouding over. Patchy drizzle NH Seacoast and eastern MA coastal areas by morning. Lows 38-45 except 45-52 south central MA to eastern CT. Wind SW shifting to NE 5-15 MPH from northeast to southwest.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Patchy drizzle. Chance of rain showers, especially during the afternoon. Highs 45-52, mildest southwest of Boston. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers likely. Areas of fog. Temperatures rise to 50-57. Wind shifting to S 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, may mix with or change to wet snow especially higher elevations of southern NH and central MA during the afternoon. Highs 52-59 early, then falling. Wind S shifting to NW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Mix / snow showers possible favoring eastern areas in the evening. Lows 31-38. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Partly sunny to mostly cloudy. Late day or evening mix / snow possible from west to east. Highs 38-45. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 14-18)

Additional unsettled weather opportunities which can include some mix / frozen precipitation as the pattern is somewhat colder.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 19-23)

Overall pattern leans cold with near to above normal precipitation. The vernal equinox (start of spring) occurs at 10:46 a.m. EDT on Friday March 20.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 8-12)

A cold front moves through the region this morning with rain showers and mild air. The air behind this front is not really that chilly, so we stay mild through the day as it starts to clear out west to east this afternoon. That mild air hangs around and is even reinforced Monday and Tuesday as another low pressure area traveling well to our northwest and north brings the frontal boundary back through as a warm front later Monday, and we may have the luxury of waiting until sometime Tuesday night for the boundary to again slip to the south, allowing that day to be the mildest of the short-lived stretch. However, I am not completely convinced that we won’t see that front sneak more quickly in via the Gulf of Maine as a back-door front, spoiling the party on Tuesday for at least northern and coastal areas. Something we’ll have to continue to monitor during the next couple of days. Wednesday, it’s back to reality as the frontal boundary by then is most certainly to our south and high pressure in eastern Canada delivers some low level chilly air as another storm heads for the Great Lakes at the same time. This system will try to drag that frontal boundary back through as a warm front, but that is held up until sometime that night or early Thursday morning, at which time we briefly enter the warm sector before a cold front plows through the region from west to east during the day Thursday. Additional unsettled weather can be expected as those fronts move through our region with more detail to come in future updates. Lastly, I hope you remembered to adjust any clocks needing manual adjustment, as we are now on Daylight Saving Time. Enjoy the later sunsets starting today!

TODAY: Mostly cloudy with rain showers morning. Increasing sun west to east afternoon. Highs 52-59 except 45-52 Cape Cod / South Coast. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts possible, shifting to W.

TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 47-54 South Coast, coolest Cape Cod, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind W under 10 MPH shifting to SE.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 37-44 evening before a slow rise occurs overnight. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH shifting to SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 46-53 Cape Cod / Islands, 53-60 South Coast, 60-67 elsewhere. A sharp temperature drop is possible in southern NH and eastern MA before the end of the day. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH, may shift to N or NE at least in southern NH and eastern MA during the day.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 38-45. Wind shifting to NE 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs 45-52. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows 38-45 evening but can rise slowly overnight. Wind E to SE up to 10 MPH shifting to S overnight.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with rain showers likely, followed by clearing west to east in the afternoon. Highs 50-57. Wind S to SW 10-20 MPH shifting to W.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 13-17)

Volatile mid March pattern. Additional unsettled weather opportunities which can include some mix / frozen precipitation as the pattern is somewhat colder.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 18-22)

Overall pattern leans cold with near to above normal precipitation. The vernal equinox (start of spring) occurs at 10:46 a.m. EDT on Friday March 20.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 7-11)

The low pressure area that went by our region early yesterday left behind a layer of cold air at the surface, and if you are used to the late winter / early spring weather in this area, you know that those cold layers are often very tough to dislodge once they are established. This will be the case today, even as a formidable low pressure area tracks from the Great Lakes into southeastern Canada. Its warm front is going to struggle to erode the cold layer. Higher dew points in place over our snow cover is producing fairly widespread fog underneath a layer of low clouds. The warm front that extends from the aforementioned low pressure area will take until this evening to finally make its way across the entire Woods Hill Weather forecast area, doing so first near the South Coast and eastern Connecticut, and lastly in the NH Seacoast region. While it’s a rain-free warm frontal passage, there will be some patches of light drizzle with the fog as a result of low level moisture in place prior to the approach and passage of the front. Clouds probably never break and sun is not seen anywhere today, but if this was to happen it would not occur until late-day and favor areas to the west and southwest of Boston. Clouds remain dominant tonight, but we’ll see a temperature rise across the region as we are finally into the warm sector of the low. Its cold front will sweep across the region during the morning on Sunday with clouds and rain showers. This is the same system that produced the severe thunderstorms and tornadoes from the Plains to the Great Lakes yesterday. Thankfully for our area, the conditions will not support severe weather, just rain showers. As the front goes by, the wind shifts to westerly and drier air arrives. I mentioned previously that the source region for the air behind the cold front isn’t really cold, so it’ll be a mild afternoon on Sunday. The active weather pattern then sends another low tracking eastward, set to pass to our north early in the coming week. Its warm front goes by the region by Monday evening, but the the daytime up to that point will be decent, with some high and mid level clouds sharing the sky with the sun, and relatively mild air – not much different than what we’ll have on Sunday, though the coast may end up cooler with more of an onshore wind developing ahead of the warm front. As the second low pressure area also travels across southeastern Canada, its cold front won’t sweep as cleanly across our region as the first low’s cold front does on Sunday. During Tuesday it will become more west-to-east oriented while held back by high pressure to our south, and this will promote warmer air to become more dominant. During this time, high pressure will also build in eastern Canada – a source of colder air waiting to pounce. This will happen as the cold front sags to the south and passes through our region. My forecast question was the timing on this front – whether it would hold back and allow a warmer day Tuesday, or come southward more quickly and cut off the warmth sooner. This is still something I am working out for the more detailed aspects of Tuesday’s forecast, and for now I am just generalizing with thinking that the front will cross the region “during the day”, but late enough in most areas for 60+ high temperatures. Earlier this week, I discussed doubt about Wednesday being a warm day as was shone by much of the medium range guidance, which often under-estimates the strength of high pressure in eastern Canada and often over-estimates the ability for warm air to surge into New England at this time of year, especially when you have remaining snow cover (and we still will have some, even though we lose much of it prior to then). At the same time, the still-active pattern sends another low pressure disturbance in our direction via the Great Lakes, and this likely means we combine that system from the west with moisture and colder air from the north and northeast, meaning that Wednesday ends up resembling yesterday and today here. Obviously, there will be some additional details to work out with this since it is still several days away…

*** FINAL REMINDER: This is the final day of Standard Time for this cycle, and the switch to Daylight Saving Time takes place tomorrow (Sunday) as 2:00 a.m. EST becomes 3:00 a.m. EDT. Remember to switch any clocks that do not do so automatically before you retire tonight!

TODAY: Cloudy. Areas of drizzle and fog through midday. Highs 39-46. Wind calm, then eventually S up to 10 MPH from southwest to northeast.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Rain showers arrive west to east overnight. Temperatures rise slightly to 46-53. Wind S to SW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with rain showers morning. Increasing sun west to east afternoon. Highs 53-60 except steady 46-53 Cape Cod. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts possible, shifting to W.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 45-52 South Coast, coolest Cape Cod, 52-59 elsewhere. Wind W under 10 MPH shifting to SE.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 37-44 evening before a slow rise occurs overnight. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH shifting to SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 50-57 South Coast – coolest Cape Cod, 58-65 elsewhere, but a quick temperature drop is possible in southeastern NH and northeastern MA during the afternoon. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH may shift to N-NE in southern NH and northern MA during the afternoon.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 38-45. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Temperatures steady 38-45. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 12-16)

Volatile mid March pattern. Early period low pressure tracks close to or just north of the region with a potential brief temperatures spike and rain showers followed by a quick temperature drop late next week. Afterward additional unsettled weather meeting colder air can mean a potential variety of precipitation – timing and details TBD.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 17-21)

Overall pattern leans cold with near to above normal precipitation. Regardless of the weather pattern, the Vernal Equinox (start of spring) occurs at 10:46 a.m. EDT on Friday March 20.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 6-10)

For all the explanation, in the end the atmosphere was 1 to 2 degrees “milder” and therefore the more prominent frozen (sleet / snow) portion of the event was far less dominant, and rain with pockets of freezing rain were far more dominant, with sleet / snow well to the north finally making its way into about the Route 2 corridor during the pre-dawn hours today. Here in Woburn I have maybe 0.2 inch of a mostly sleet and slightly snow combo, with a little bit left to go, but make no mistake that in the areas coated or have a small accumulation of snow and sleet, there is some slippery travel to deal with this morning, and even worse, a solid glaze of freezing rain in the higher elevations of south central and central MA and some adjacent areas. These conditions will be slow to improve today as we remain overcast and chilly even as the precipitation tapers off, leaving an overcast with areas of fog and drizzle in its wake as a wave of low pressure departs to the east. We stay on the chilly side of the frontal boundary this wave was riding along into Saturday too, and it won’t be until sometime in the afternoon that the boundary will finally lift through as a warm front in response to stronger low pressure heading through the Great Lakes region. Temperatures Saturday, while milder than today, probably fail to reach 50 across most if not all of the area. We can also see some patchy drizzle lingering in the morning, and I cannot even rule out a quick episode of rain with the eventual passage of the warm front. The low moving through the Great Lakes then crosses southeastern Canada Sunday and drags its cold front through our region. That will be a slightly milder day, breaking 50 across the interior while the South Coast / Cape Cod stay in the 40s with a southwest wind off the ocean. We can expect some passing rain showers associated with the cold front, but clouds will also break for sun at times, especially once the front goes by during the afternoon hours. So, if there is a “pick” to the weekend for better weather, it goes to Sunday. Once that cold front clears the region, in comes a push of drier air, and with the source region for the post-frontal air mass not being too cold, I’m expecting Monday to be a little milder to warmer still with fair weather across the region. Tuesday’s forecast becomes a little more tricky. With the next front from the west still some distance away, you’d figure we’re in the clear for a milder / warmer day with fair weather, but it’s not that simple. There will be a high pressure area building in eastern Canada, and these can be under-simulated by model guidance and many times end up a little stronger than shown several days in advance. If this is the case, the ability of a frontal boundary to our north to be forced southward becomes easier, and this may put somewhat of a cap on the warm up that day if the boundary comes through and winds shift to north or northeast. This will be something I’ll be looking closely at the trend for over the coming few days.

Another reminder that the switch from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time takes place on Sunday (2:00 a.m. EST becomes 3:00 a.m. EDT).

TODAY: Overcast. Areas of fog. Precipitation (mainly sleet / snow north and mix / rain south) tapering off from west to east by midday with patchy drizzle and freezing drizzle remaining thereafter. Minor additional snow and sleet accumulation mainly north of Route 2 into mid morning with some additional icing potential in higher elevations of south central MA early morning. Highs 32-39. Wind NE to N 5-15 MPH, a few higher gusts in the 20-25 MPH range Cape Ann & Cape Cod MA.

TONIGHT: Cloudy. Patchy drizzle / freezing drizzle. Foggy areas. Areas of black ice. Lows 30-37. Wind calm.

SATURDAY: Cloudy start with areas of fog and patchy drizzle, then breaking clouds with partial sun at times midday on. Highs 42-49, coolest South Coast. Wind calm early, eventually S to SW up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. A rain shower possible overnight. Temperatures rise slightly to 45-52. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Variably cloudy with a rain shower possible in the morning, then increasing sun from west to east. Temperatures steady 45-52 South Coast and highs 52-59 elsewhere. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Sunny to partly cloudy. Highs 45-52 South Coast, coolest Cape Cod, 52-59 elsewhere. Wind W to SW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear to partly cloudy. Lows 37-44. Wind SW to W up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 53-60 except cooler in coastal areas and may drop to the 40s afternoon. Wind variable to W 5-15 MPH may shift to N or NE during the day.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 11-15)

Leaning unsettled early to mid period with the potential for rain/mix/snow and colder conditions before a trend back to fair weather later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 16-20)

Additional cold and potentially unsettled weather again early period before a trend to variable temperatures but still a somewhat unsettled pattern.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 5-9)

A frontal boundary that has been instrumental in our weather so far this week will continue to play a role as we face another messy late winter weather event. It will start slowly today as clouds thicken across the region and a ribbon of precipitation, falling as rain, stretches eastward across eastern CT, RI, into southeastern MA with time, falling pretty lightly any time from midday on. It is tonight that this area of precipitation will solidify and drift northward to encompass the entire region in response to an eastward-moving low pressure area that will pass just south of our region during the first half of the day Friday. With high pressure in eastern Canada supplying cold air, we’re looking at a variety of precipitation. I’m expecting mainly rain for the South Coast, and while the front edge of the precipitation may be in the form of rain as it heads northward, its meeting with colder air will result in a flip to sleet and pockets of snow the further north you go, with this frozen precipitation variety, dominated by sleet, mostly north of I-90, while along and just south of I-90 more of a mix of sleet and rain is expected, but pockets of freezing rain can occur as well, and this is most likely to be seen in higher elevations from northwestern RI through south central MA due to the land elevation forcing the cold air layer to be more shallow, with precipitation reaching the cold surface as rain, rather than ice pellets. It is this area that has the greatest chance of ice accretion that can lead to very slippery travel and some tree branches coming down (increasing the power outage risk). The wildcard on this system is how much snow vs. sleet in parts of northern MA and southern NH, mainly from the Route 2 corridor northward. Right now, I would expected a general coating to 2 inch snow and sleet combination accumulation north of I-90, with 2 to 4 inch potential, more dominated by snow, along and north of the Route 2 corridor, especially away from the coast. I cannot rule out an accumulation exceeding 4 inches in a few locations that stay snow longest. It’s very important to note that the marginal temperature aspect of this particular set-up means that 1 or 2 degrees one way or another means the difference between a few inches of snow and a lot more sleet with just a coating of sleet/snow, so the forecast ranges are vulnerable and only based on best info at the time of this writing. I’d lean toward the lower side of the ranges. Precipitation tapers off and ends from west to east during the morning and midday hours on Friday. Behind the system, we’re to be left with chilly air trapped at low levels, patches of drizzle or freezing drizzle, and areas of fog, and this can persist into early Saturday morning before a change takes place. This will occur as yet another low pressure area tracks northeastward through the Great Lakes into southern Canada, and an increasing southwesterly air flow gradually scours out the low level cold air. Saturday’s weather will eventually turn out milder, though clouds may remain dominant much of the time. This low’s cold front will slide across the region during Sunday morning and midday with a rain shower risk, followed by some clearing. The air behind that front will not be particularly cold, and will be of modified continental origin rather than the chilly eastern Canadian / maritime air we just experienced, so a milder feel can be enjoyed later Sunday through Monday as drier weather returns to the region.

The switch from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time takes place on Sunday (2:00 a.m. EST becomes 3:00 a.m. EDT).

TODAY: Fog patches and patchy black ice early to mid morning, otherwise any early sun fades behind thickening clouds. Light rain arrives midday on eastern CT, RI, and into southeastern MA. Highs 40-47. Wind calm early, then E up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Overcast. Areas of fog. Rain overspreads the region but changes to sleet and snow north of I-90 with pockets of freezing rain and sleet to the south except remaining mainly liquid rain South Coast. Greatest chance for freezing rain higher elevation areas of southern MA into northwestern RI. Lows 30-37. Wind E to NE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts overnight Cape Cod.

FRIDAY: Overcast. Areas of fog. Precipitation (mainly sleet / snow north and mix / rain south) tapering off from west to east by midday with patchy drizzle and freezing drizzle remaining thereafter. Total snow and sleet accumulation ranging from patchy coatings south of I-90 to a solid coating to 2 inches I-90 belt to the Route 2 corridor, with 2 to 4 inches more common north of the Route 2 corridor including isolated 4 to 6 inch amounts in interior southern NH and north central MA. Highs 32-39. Wind NE to N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts Cape Cod and eastern coastal areas.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Patchy drizzle / freezing drizzle. Foggy areas. Areas of black ice. Lows 30-37. Wind calm.

SATURDAY: Cloudy start with areas of fog and patchy drizzle, then breaking clouds with partial sun at times midday on. Highs 43-50, coolest South Coast. Wind calm early, eventually SW 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. A rain shower possible overnight. Lows 35-42. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Variably cloudy with a rain shower possible in the morning, then clearing. Highs 47-54, coolest Cape Cod. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Sunny to partly cloudy. Highs 43-50 South Coast, 50-57 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 10-14)

Watch for a sneaky back-door cold front potential early in the period, but right now leaning toward a strong enough southwesterly air flow to keep that from happening, with above normal temperatures, but modified much cooler air South Coast. A mid period cold front sweeps through with rain shower chances, may mix with snow at end, then a return to seasonably chilly air for mid March later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 15-19)

Pattern volatility but a trend to colder than normal while we watch for an end-of-spring bout or two of precipitation, which can include frozen precipitation.