DAYS 1-5 (FEBRUARY 21-25)
Lots of unsettled weather in the forecast now as the pattern shifts away from what had been a mild and dry one to a colder, wetter one. Today, a low pressure wave passing just south of our region has spread a swath of rain (South Coast) and snow (elsewhere) across the region to start the day, resulting in some minor snow accumulating mainly on unpaved surfaces where it’s snowing. This will taper off as that wave moves away this morning. A cold front will sweep eastward across there region from late afternoon through evening with another period of precipitation, shorter duration but a little heavier, so some additional snowfall accumulation is likely in southern NH and northern MA, especially away from the coast, with more of a mix/rain situation in the I-95 belt and eastward from there. But this exits quickly tonight and with partial clearing, temperatures drop below freezing, so watch for icy conditions on any untreated surfaces, even where rain fell. Wednesday will be a dry day, but with clouds re-thickening as a small area of high pressure gives way to another approaching low. This is the start of a 1-2 punch of precipitation, the first Wednesday night into early Thursday, the second late Thursday to very early Friday. The precipitation profile will be complex as 2 low pressure waves moves just south of our region. The first one starts as snow most areas, mix South Coast, then transitions to rain South Coast but sleet and freezing rain elsewhere as the surface is cold but it warms up aloft. Expect some tricky travel in many areas and especially untreated surfaces for the Thursday AM commute. Another round of precipitation, again predominantly sleet and freezing rain except rain closer to the South Coast where it stays above freezing, comes at the end of the day Thursday into the early hours of Friday before tapering off. As the second low pressure wave moves away, an arctic cold front will come through the region on Friday morning, perhaps with a few snow showers at times during the day, even behind the front, but most notably a turn to much colder and windy weather through Friday evening. Bitterly cold Friday night and early Saturday and only a modest recovery keeping it well below freezing for high temps Saturday, but with less wind, and sunshine, so feeling more tolerable with a higher sun angle at this time of year. Next low pressure area wastes no time moving in so it may be snowing again by sometime Saturday night…
TODAY: Overcast through mid morning with a period of snow, accumulating a coating to 1 inch on unpaved surfaces I-95 northwestward, with mix/rain to the south. Mostly cloudy afternoon – rain/snow showers return from the west late-day, snow showers mostly north of I-90 with rain showers south. Highs 38-45 by midday but may fall a bit in the afternoon. Wind NE to E up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy evening with snow showers of 1/2 to 2 inches north central MA and interior southern NH and up to 1/2 inch northeastern MA to NH Seacoast, with rain showers mostly south of I-90. Partial clearing overnight. Watch for black ice formation! Lows 23-30. Wind N under 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Early sun, then clouding over. Highs 36-43. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Snow/sleet/freezing rain likely, except possibly just rain South Coast. Lows 27-34. Wind N to NE 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Cloudy. Sleet/freezing rain except South Coast rain early morning. Additional snow/sleet/freezing rain may return late in the day. Temperatures steady 27-34. Wind NE up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Snow/sleet/freezing rain, maybe just rain for a while South Coast. Temperatures steady 27-34. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny with scattered to isolated snow showers. Temperatures steady 27-34 early, then falling to 15-22 by late-day. Wind NE backing to NW increasing to 15-25 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 5-12. Wind NW 15-25 MPH early, diminishing overnight. Wind chill below zero especially evening.
SATURDAY: Sun followed by increasing high clouds. Chance of snow at night. Highs 22-29. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 2)
Low pressure impacts with snow/mix and maybe some rain (precipitation types to be sorted out when storm tracks are better known) February 26, February 28, March 2). Temperatures near to below normal.
DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 3-7)
Additional unsettled weather including wintry precipitation opportunities around March 4 and March 6-7. Temperatures near to below normal.