1:51AM
DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 16-20)
Arctic cold keeps its hold on southern New England today with dry weather and gradually diminishing wind as high pressure moves overhead. The rapid progression of weather systems means that a low pressure area will approach the region Saturday, with a large area of overrunning snowfall as milder Pacific air attempts to dislodge the cold air in place, and it will be rather stubborn to go at first, meaning that a moderate accumulation of snowfall may occur in a good portion of the region Saturday morning. As surface temperatures are slow to warm while it does warm up more easily aloft, precipitation will change to rain that will likely freeze on existing snowcover and other surfaces. A plus may be that the precipitation may move out of the region before we have a chance to see much ice accretion. By Saturday evening and the early hours of Sunday, the milder air will finally overtake the region, but it won’t be around along, as a cold front will come chugging along, producing a period of rain showers Sunday morning and midday. If enough moisture hangs around behind the front, the precipitation could end as a mix or snow. What is more certain is that a fairly rapid temperature drop will result in a freeze-up of softened snow and any melt-water and rain water, so by Sunday night and early Monday it may be quite icy in some locations. Monday itself will be a dry and cold day as high pressure moves in. For the time being, it appears that Tuesday will also feature fair but chilly weather.
TODAY: Sun and a few clouds. Highs 15-23. Wind NW 15-30 MPH with higher gusts morning, diminishing during the afternoon.
TONIGHT: Increasing clouds. Snow developing west to east after 2AM. Lows 12-20. Wind light variable.
SATURDAY: Overcast. Snow in the morning changing to rain south to north except freezing rain away from the coast by midday before ending. Snow accumulation before change over 1-2 inches South Coast and Cape Cod, 2-5 inches I-95 corridor to the I-495 belt, 5-8 inches north central MA and southwestern NH. Temperatures rise slowly to around 32 north and near 40 south by the end of the day. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Spotty drizzle and a slight chance of rain showers. Patchy fog. Temperatures rise into the 40s. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog early. Rain showers likely morning and midday, may end as mix/snow from northwest to southeast afternoon. Highs 48-55. Wind SW 10-20 MPH morning shifting to NW with higher gusts afternoon.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows 15-22. Highs 27-34.
TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Lows 12-20. Highs 30-38.
DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 21-25)
Low confidence on timing but at the moment it looks like the best chance of a system bringing rain/mix/snow would be later December 22 to early December 23. Mainly dry weather would start and end the period, including the Christmas Holiday and the start of Hanukkah. Temperatures during this period will be closer to seasonal normals.
DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 26-30)
A fairly active Pacific jet stream pattern continues with one or two storm threats possible during this period. As is expected this time of year, precipitation type would depend on track and overall set-up, but odds would favor rain as it looks like milder air will dominate with a northward-displaced jet stream in this area.