7:39AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 16-20)
Low pressure departs and intensifies as it moves away via the Gulf of Maine and southeastern Canada today through tonight, and this will, combined with a large high pressure area moving across east central Canada, will cause plenty of wind and drag in cold air, returning the feel of mid winter to southeastern New England as we move through Friday and into the weekend, setting up a winter weather event as low pressure moves across the region mid weekend. There are not really any changes to the outlook on this system as discussed in yesterday’s blog. I’ll be leaning toward the lower sides of the preliminary snow amounts mentioned yesterday, not because there is the threat of a flip to rain after the precipitation arrives in the form of snow, but because the narrow width of the precipitation shield and the speed of its movement will simply prevent all that much from falling, even though the bulk of it will be in the form of snow, only changing toward its end from southwest to northeast. This system departs Sunday with another bout of windy, cold, drier weather lasting through MLK Jr. Day Monday.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Cloudy through mid morning with rain/snow showers ending west to east. Variably cloudy midday-afternoon with isolated snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind variable becoming NW increasing to 15-30 MPH with gusts 35-50 MPH during the afternoon. Wind chill in 20s by late-day.
TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 10-17. Wind NW 15-25 MPH gusting 30-45 MPH. Wind chill falling below 0.
FRIDAY: Sunny. Highs 18-25. Wind NW 15-25 mph, gusting over 30 MPH at times. Wind chill often below 10.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 5-12. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, gusting over 20 MPH at times. Wind chill often below 0.
SATURDAY: Increasing cloudiness. Highs 23-30. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Precipitation arriving early evening as snow west to east, turning to rain South Coast to I-90 belt and coastline and mixing with rain interior areas north of I-90 before ending pre-dawn. Snow accumulation 1-3 inches in areas that turn to rain, 3-5 inches in areas that mix with rain, with an isolated 6 inch amount possible higher elevations north central MA and/or southern NH.
Temperature rising into the 30s. Wind NE 5-15 MPH evening, E-SE 10-20 MPH overnight.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with patchy drizzle, areas of fog, and a risk of rain showers early morning. Variably cloudy with isolated to scattered snow showers thereafter. Highs 38-45 morning. Temperatures falling through the 30s afternoon. Wind variable 5-15 MPH morning, NW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts afternoon. Wind chill in the 10s in the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Isolated snow showers early. Lows 10-17. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts. Wind chill near to below 0.
MONDAY (MLK JR DAY): Sun and passing clouds. Isolated snow showers possible. Highs 22-29. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts. Wind chill often 10 or under.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 21-25)
Slight change in the outlook as it looks less likely an ocean storm will be located close enough to the region for impact at mid period, and more likely a low pressure area will approach and impact the region around January 24-25 with snow/mix threat, but even this system may end up being very minor and have minimal impact. Before that, dry and very cold.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 26-30)
Coldest weather eases somewhat. Additional storm threat with snow/mix/rain threat middle to end of period.

7:17AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 15-19)
Low level moisture will cause patches of clouds and fog early today, but a bubble of high pressure approaching brings drier air and turns the weather quite nice, making today the pick of the week if you seek mild and fair conditions. If you do, enjoy it while you can, because things are about to change in a significant way. Low pressure cuts across central New England tonight and early Thursday, producing a some snow and rain showers (snow showers with minor accumulation southern NH and perhaps far northern MA, rain showers to the south). This will be a minor system, but as it exits, it intensifies while moving away, and will be a cog in a machine that will transport much colder air into the region Thursday night through Friday, as a large high pressure area moves across southeastern Canada. But our active pattern sends another low pressure area in our direction for the weekend, and with cold air in place, this one is going to start as snow for all by late Saturday or Saturday night. The big question with this system is how much warm air moves in aloft, and how quickly, dictating a change to rain. There’s still some uncertainty how quickly and how far north this snow to rain line will end up. At just over 3 days away, the initial call is that light to moderate snowfall accumulations will occur and rain will become involved in most of the region before the precipitation exits around dawn Sunday. This system will move quickly enough to prevent heavy snow accumulation and significant rainfall. Cold air does return as that system exits, so whatever is on the ground is destined to freeze up solid by the end of the weekend…
Forecast details…
TODAY: Patchy clouds/fog early otherwise sunshine dominant. Highs 45-52. Wind variable under 10 MPH then W 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clouds return. Snow/mix showers southern NH and far northern MA with scattered coatings of snow. Rain showers to the south. Lows 30-37. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered rain showers morning. Variably cloudy with isolated snow showers afternoon. Highs 40-47 morning. Temperature falling into the 30s afternoon. Wind SW 5-15 MPH early, shifting to NW and increasing to 15-30 MPH with gusts 35-50 MPH. Wind chill falling into the 20s.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 10-17. Wind NW 15-25 MPH gusting 30-45 MPH. Wind chill falling below 0.
FRIDAY: Sunny. Highs 18-25. Wind NW 15-25 mph, gusting over 30 MPH at times. Wind chill often below 10.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 5-12. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, gusting over 20 MPH at times. Wind chill often below 0.
SATURDAY: Increasing cloudiness. Highs 23-30. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Snow arriving evening. Snow turning to rain South Coast to I-90 belt and mixing with sleet/rain to the north overnight. Light to moderate snow accumulation possible. Temperature rising into the 30s. Wind NE 5-15 MPH evening, SE 10-20 MPH overnight.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with patchy drizzle, areas of fog, and a risk of rain showers early. Variably cloudy with isolated to scattered snow showers afternoon. Highs 38-45 morning. Temperatures falling through the 30s afternoon. Wind variable 5-15 MPH morning, NW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts afternoon.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 20-24)
Dry, windy, and very cold January 20. Dry, less wind, very cold January 21. Watching potential ocean storm in the January 22-24 period which should be mostly offshore but may bring the risk of some snow to southeastern areas as temperatures remain below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 25-29)
Continued colder than average late January with mainly dry weather January 25-26 weekend and a potential storm threat following that.

7:28AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 14-18)
We’ll be in the firing line of low pressure areas during the next 5 days with 2 passing by and 1 approaching by the end of the period. The first is actually a double miss, one passing south, one passing north, during tonight, but a trough bridge between the 2 will bring rain showers, though those may be mixed with sleet and/or snow in southern NH as the air will be marginally cold enough there to support some frozen precipitation. We’ll have a slightly stronger low passing eastward across central New England early Thursday, mainly a rain producer for our area, with this time the snow being to the north of the forecast area. Behind that second system we get a delivery of much colder air which you will feel for sure, along with wind, by Thursday night and Friday. By Saturday we’re still cold but the wind will have settled down, but clouds will be on their way back in ahead of a winter storm threat, which arrive Saturday night – slightly slower timing than expected previously. On tomorrow’s blog update we’ll re-visit this threat in more detail, but for now expect a snow/mix/rain scenario for the mid portion of the weekend. Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers except sleet/snow showers possible southern NH and around the MA/NH border. Lows 32-39. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 44-51. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Chance of rain late but possible mix southern NH. Lows 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Cloudy start with rain showers except mix/snow showers northern MA / southern NH. Clouds/sun midday-afternoon. Highs 38-45. Wind variable becoming W to NW increasing to 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 11-18. Wind NW 10-20 MPH and gusty. Wind chill near to below 0.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 22-29. Wind NW 10-20 MPH and gusty. Wind chill below 10 at times.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 8-15. Wind N 5-15 MPH. Wind chill near 0.
SATURDAY: Increasing clouds. Snow except snow/mix/rain south arriving at night. Highs 25-32. Wind NE up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 19-23)
Winter storm moves out January 19 replaced by windy/cold weather through January 20, then dry and more tranquil weather for January 21. Continued cold but may have to watch storminess evolving south of the region by the middle of next week.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 24-28)
One or two low pressure systems may impact the region, snow/mix favored over rain. Uncertain how the pattern evolved specifically so will re-evaluate this on coming updates.

7:21AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 13-17)
A wave of low pressure on a frontal boundary to the south will toss some cloudiness into the region today over the top of ocean-effect cloudiness coming in on an northeasterly surface flow due to high pressure in eastern Canada. There will be enough low level moisture to produce some rain or snow showers over Cape Cod and a few snow showers for the North Shore, especially Cape Ann, during the day today, with a few flakes back toward I-95 over eastern MA as well. Moisture associated with the wave to the south will stay away. Another disturbance heading eastward from the Tennessee Valley will pass south of New England Tuesday night while a system in the northern jet stream tracks from the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Valley. A trough of low pressure connecting these systems will bring some light precipitation, mainly rain but possibly a bit of sleet, to the region late Tuesday. A small bubble of high pressure brings dry weather for the day Wednesday, but the pattern of quick-moving systems means the next low pressure area will be approaching later Wednesday and will cross the region Wednesday night and the first half of Thursday with some precipitation, favoring mix southern NH and northern MA and rain southern MA southward, although this looks like a minor system, precipitation-wise. After it gets by it will intensify and drag down colder air from Canada later Thursday into Friday as high pressure builds across southeastern Canada. Enough cold air will be in place so that when the next in a series of low pressure areas comes along Saturday, everybody will likely start at snow. It remains to be seen if the precipitation will stay snow everywhere. The early indications on the low track is that it will be further south than some of our previous systems, but close enough so that a rain/snow line may be involved. It’s too early for amounts and details of rain versus snow or timing of precipitation, but that will be fine-tuned as it gets closer. The updated detailed forecast follows…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Snow showers possible near eastern coastal areas favoring Cape Cod (may mix with rain there) and Cape Ann MA. Highs 35-42. Wind N to E up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 26-33. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers except sleet/snow showers possible southern NH and around the MA/NH border. Lows 32-39. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 44-51. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Chance of rain late but possible mix southern NH. Lows 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Cloudy start with rain showers except mix/snow showers northern MA / southern NH. Clouds/sun midday-afternoon. Highs 38-45. Wind variable becoming W to NW increasing to 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 11-18. Wind NW 10-20 MPH and gusty. Wind chill near to below 0.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 22-29. Wind NW 10-20 MPH and gusty. Wind chill below 10 at times.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 18-22)
Winter storm threat January 18-19 in which the track of the storm will determine a rain/snow line. Early idea is that everybody starts as snow Saturday, greatest impact Saturday night but a mix/change line favors the areas south of I-90, and storm makes an exit during Sunday with windy and cold weather following for the remainder of the MLK Jr Weekend through Monday January 20. Fair, cold weather January 21 and we may be watching another storm threat by January 22.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 23-27)
Snow/mix/rain threat at start and end of period. Fair weather between. Temperatures near to below normal.

4:30AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 12-16)
Quick update this morning as I’m making no changes to yesterday’s discussion. Our brief shot of anomalous warmth is about to end, but the overall mild pattern still hangs on for a while, although you will feel some January chill again before the conclusion of this 5-day period. Showers and perhaps a thunderstorm will traverse the region early this morning before exiting west to east by later morning. This will be replaced with drier but windy weather for the balance of the day, but since the temperatures hung in the 60s overnight, we’ll still have that warmth around this morning before we slide back to the 50s this afternoon. High pressure to the north of New England will help cooler air filter into the region tonight and Monday, and its position will allow winds to come around to east and perhaps create a few rain/snow showers favoring Cape Ann and Cape Cod by later Monday The active pattern continues as then we will be impacted by 2 low pressure systems before this 5-day period is over, the first being a disjointed system with energy passing by both to the north and to the south of southeastern New England, setting up a risk of rain showers late-day and evening on Tuesday. The second system looks slightly more potent and should have a stronger low pressure area heading from the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes toward northern New England by Wednesday night and Thursday with an episode of rain. Depending on timing of end of precipitation and arrival of cold air during Thursday, we may have to watch for a flip to snow showers before that system departs. Being several days away it’s too soon to know for sure how that will play out. Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy through mid morning with showers and possibly a thunderstorm, some which may have powerful wind gusts. Clearing midday and afternoon. Highs 60-67 morning, cooling to 50s afternoon. Wind SW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to W.
TONIGHT: Clear. Lows 27-34. Wind NW 10-20 MPH early, diminishing overnight.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. A few rain/snow showers possible Cape Cod & Cape Ann. Highs 35-42. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 35-42. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 44-51. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain likely. Lows 37-44. Wind SE 10-20 MPH.
THURSDAY: Cloudy morning with rain, possibly ending as snow showers. Clouds/sun afternoon. Temperatures 37-44 early then slowly falling. Wind W to NW 15-25 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 17-21)
Fair, chilly January 17. Storm system likely impacts the region January 18-19 with rain/mix/snow, details to be worked out. Fair, seasonably cold weather returns January 20-21 behind that storm system.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 22-26)
The active weather pattern will continue with one or two precipitation threats and colder air around, so additional snow/mix will likely be involved with these threats.

8:46AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 11-15)
I joked on the Woods Hill Weather Facebook page yesterday that it would be a “back to the 60s weekend”, referring to 2 days of high temperatures reaching or exceeding 60 degrees, and that indeed will be the case. I was concerned that a frontal boundary would slip down the coast from the northeast and change things up for some areas on Sunday, but that front will remain to the north and the boundary from the west will be charging east, eventually putting an end to the 2-day warm-up. Today will be a rain-free day, although you probably already have noticed damp surfaces starting yesterday and continuing today. This is due to the warmer, relatively humid air making contact with colder surfaces and the moisture condensing there. It’s the same process you see when you get water condensation on the outside of a cold glass of the beverage of your choice. So any wet ground today is not due to rain, but due to that. The only real rain threat comes in the form of numerous showers and possible thunderstorms Sunday morning, from west to east, as the cold front sweeps through. We’ll have to keep a close eye on this activity as winds not too far above the ground will be very strong, and any convective shower or thunderstorm activity can bring some of these winds down to the surface, potentially producing damaging gusts. It will remain breezy behind the front as it clears out rapidly by Sunday afternoon, and the temperature will go down, though this is not an arctic air mass invading so we won’t have one of those temperature nose-dives this time. After this goes by, high pressure shifts eastward through the Maritime Provinces of Canada and as a result a little weak easterly flow sets up here and may produce enough low level moisture for a few rain/snow showers on the Capes (Cod & Ann). The active pattern continues as then we will be impacted by 2 low pressure systems before this 5-day period is over, the first being a disjointed system with energy passing by both to the north and to the south of southeastern New England, setting up a risk of rain showers late-day and evening on Tuesday. The second system looks slightly more potent and should have a stronger low pressure area heading from the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes toward northern New England by Wednesday night, returning a chance of rain to the region. Forecast details…
TODAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 60-67. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Passing rain showers overnight. Lows 53-60. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SUNDAY: Cloudy morning with numerous rain showers and possible thunderstorms moving west to east across the region. Mostly sunny afternoon. Highs 60-67 occurring by midday then cooling to the 50s during the afternoon. Wind SW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts, potentially strong and locally damaging gusts during the passage of showers/storms, shifting to W 15-25 MPH by afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 27-34. Wind NW 10-20 MPH early, diminishing overnight.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. A few rain/snow showers possible Cape Cod & Cape Ann. Highs 35-42. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Lows 35-42. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain likely at night. Highs 42-49. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 16-20)
The storm system that arrives late Wednesday will exit at the start of this period with a rain shower risk early January 16 followed by wind and falling temperatures. Fair, colder January 17 setting up the potential for a winter storm of snow/mix/rain during the January 18-19 weekend, timing and details to be determined, followed by clearing and colder weather to end the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 21-25)
The active weather pattern will continue with one or two precipitation threats and colder air around, so additional snow/mix will likely be involved with these threats.

7:32AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 10-14)
Only change to this forecast is to report that high pressure in eastern Canada will be slightly weaker than previously expected, allowing parent low pressure to track north of New England this coming weekend, so we push that warm front through today, and hold the boundary to the north until Sunday when the passing low drags it back across as a cold front, allowing for high temperatures near or above 60 in much of the region this weekend before a cool-down. Don’t look for complete clearing behind that system as the frontal boundary won’t get that far to the south and additional, though disorganized energy will be moving along that and across nearby Canada as well early next week.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 44-51. Wind S up to 10 MPH shifting to SW and increasing to 10-20 MPH.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Temperatures steady 43-50 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Isolated rain showers late-day favoring central MA and southern NH. Highs 56-63. Wind SW 15-25 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Scattered rain showers. Lows 50-57. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with rain showers likely morning. Partly sunny afternoon. Highs 58-65 by midday, then turning cooler. Wind SW 10-20 MPH and gusty, shifting to W.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Partial sun. Highs 38-45. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Risk of rain or snow showers. Lows 30-37. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Risk of rain or snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 15-19)
Two low pressure systems potentially impact the region in a fast-moving west to east jet stream pattern. First one should track north of the region with warm front / cold front combo producing brief mix to rain then rain later January 15 to rain showers which may end as snow showers January 16 as colder air returns. Fair, chilly January 17-18 then next system threatens with rain/mix/snow by end of period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 20-24)
Pattern remains active, but more cold air is going to become available nearby in Canada and we will need to start watching for an increasing risk of ice/snow becoming involved with passing low pressure systems.

2:51AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 9-13)
High pressure brings fair, cold weather today. A warm front crosses the region Friday with cloudiness and no more than brief light rain/sleet favoring northern MA and southern NH, but more notably starts a significant warm-up, which will peak Saturday night after record-challenging high temperatures during the day Saturday which will not go down much that night. We’ll end up with rain-free conditions for a good part of the warm-up too as the ribbon of rain associated with an approaching frontal boundary will hold off until Saturday night, preceded by only a few rain showers late that afternoon. Low pressure will be heading into the Great Lakes during Saturday, with a strong southwesterly air flow between it and high pressure which will have shifted off the coast and strengthened a couple days after delivering our dry and cold start to this period. But another sprawling high pressure area across eastern Canada, supplying much colder air, will squelch that low pressure area as it attempts to enter Canada, basically turning it into a series of weakening low pressure waves rippling along that frontal boundary, which will sink through here during Sunday. The race between the end of the precipitation and air cold enough to support sleet/ice will be won by the precipitation, so just expected rain to come to an end, then drying as the temperature goes down during Sunday after a very mild start. By Monday, we’ll be in a colder air mass, and it looks dry at this time, but that frontal boundary will not be too far south of the region and some cloudiness may hang about as a result, so not going to go for complete clearing. Forecast details…
TODAY: Sunshine and high clouds. Highs 26-33. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, gusting over 20 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clouding over. Lows 18-25. Wind W up to 10 MPH shifting to S.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with spotty light rain/sleet favoring northern MA and southern NH morning. Mostly cloudy afternoon. Highs 43-50. Wind S up to 10 MPH morning, SW 10-20 MPH afternoon.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Temperatures steady 43-50 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Isolated rain showers late-day favoring central MA and southern NH. Highs 56-63. Wind SW 15-25 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Scattered rain showers evening. Rain likely overnight. Lows 50-57. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SUNDAY: Cloudy. Rain likely morning. Highs 55-62 morning, falling steadily thereafter to 38-45 by late-day. Wind SW 10-20 MPH and gusty, becoming variable 5-15 MPH, then NW 10-20 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Breaking clouds. Lows 28-35. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Partial sun. Highs 38-45. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 14-18)
Two low pressure systems potentially impact the region in a fast-moving west to east jet stream pattern. Current idea is that the first will be very weak and may pass largely south of the region January 14-15, and that the second one’s low center will pass north of the region with a warm front / cold front combo producing a period of rain then rain showers as it should be too mild to support frozen precipitation January 16-17. Timing and tracks may change and will fine-tune with future updates.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 19-23)
Pattern remains active, but more cold air is going to become available nearby in Canada and we will need to start watching for an increasing risk of ice/snow becoming involved with passing low pressure systems.

7:29AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 8-12)
A compact storm intensified and moved very rapidly southeast of New England overnight, concentrating most of its snow shield across Cape Cod and sparing everyone else. With this largely non-event offshore and on the way out, we look ahead to the upcoming active pattern and basically summarize yesterday’s discussion. An arctic cold front crosses the region this afternoon with the risk of a few snow showers and snow squalls, so be on the look-out as those can quickly reduce visibility and in some cases coat the ground with snow. Wind and cold will be the story to end the day and through tonight. Thursday, as many have been since November, will be the coldest day of the week. A warm front cross the region Friday with a touch of rain or inland sleet possible as we quickly lose the cold both at the surface and aloft. Saturday’s weather will remind you of a spring day as we get into a gusty southwesterly wind flow and very mild air, with some high temperature records challenged. Boston’s record high for the date is 62 and there is a risk of reaching that. A strong but slow moving cold front will push through the region Saturday night and early Sunday with a band of rain, which may end as sleet/snow for parts of the region if the cold air is in while the precipitation is still around. At the moment, leaning toward the precipitation to win the race.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Sun/cloud mix. Passing afternoon snow showers possible. Risk of a brief snow squall mid to late afternoon first west, lastly east. Highs 32-39. Wind W increasing to 15-25 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to NW late.
TONIGHT: Clear. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts, diminishing overnight.
THURSDAY: Sunshine and high clouds. Highs 25-32. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 18-25 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind SE under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain, possibly some sleet interior areas, favoring the morning hours. Highs 40-47. Wind SE under 10 MPH shifting to SW up to 10 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Temperatures steady 40-47 evening, rising to 50-57 overnight. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Variably cloudy. Risk of a passing rain shower. Highs 55-62. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain likely. Lows 48-55. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to N.
SUNDAY: Cloudy. Rain ending in the morning. Temperatures fall through the 40s into the 30s. Wind N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 13-17)
Two low pressure systems likely impact the region, about January 14 and 16, based on current timing, with rain favored over snow, along with mostly above normal temperatures, but a subtle shift can change these tracks and temperatures, so need to keep an eye on it.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 18-22)
Still looking at a similar pattern of active weather, probably needing to watch 1 or 2 additional low pressure systems bringing precipitation threats.

7:27AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 7-11)
A small, fast-moving, but intensifying low pressure area forming in the Mid Atlantic will track off the coast and pass just southeast of New England tonight and early Wednesday, producing a mini snowstorm for southeastern New England before exiting. In its wake, a shot of cold air will arrive, perhaps with some additional snow showers Wednesday, and it will be quite cold for Thursday. Although as has been the characteristic of early winter, this cold shot will be short-lived, and moderating temperatures will already be felt by Friday, leading to a rather warm Saturday as low pressure tracks through the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Valley and we end up in a moderate to strong southwesterly air flow. We may see a touch of light rain and sleet early Friday as a warm front passes, and then our warmer air arrives. A cold front will try to approach on Saturday but will be held at bay initially by strong high pressure offshore, and that may also keep rain chances down as well, keeping the wet weather mostly west and north of the region to start the weekend.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Sunshine followed by increasing clouds. Highs 33-40. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Snow arrives late evening from southwest to northeast but may start as rain/mix Cape Cod, steadiest overnight I-95 southeastward. Lows 25-32. Wind E 5-15 MPH near the South Coast, variable under 10 MPH elsewhere.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy with snow early morning, especially I-95 southeast, ending mid morning with accumulation a coating to 1 inch NW of I-95 and 1-3 inches from near I-95 southeastward. Clearing late morning. Sunny afternoon. Highs 32-39. Wind NW increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts 30-40 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts, diminishing overnight.
THURSDAY: Sunshine and high clouds. Highs 25-32. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 18-25 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind SE under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain, possibly some sleet interior areas, favoring the morning hours. Highs 40-47. Wind SE under 10 MPH shifting to SW up to 10 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Temperatures steady 40-47 evening, rising to 50-57 overnight. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Variably cloudy. Risk of a passing rain shower. Highs 55-62. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 12-16)
January 12 starts mild with rain then turns sharply colder with rain possibly ending as sleet and/or snow in some locations as the cold front held to the northwest earlier in the weekend moves through. Brief dry, colder weather January 13 then 1 or 2 additional low pressure areas may impact the region middle to end of this period with more unsettled weather.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 17-21)
Still looking at a similar pattern of active weather, probably needing to watch 1 or 2 additional low pressure systems bringing precipitation threats. Far too soon for detail.

7:32AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 6-10)
Lots of weather to track. Let’s get to it. First we have a low pressure area moving across the northern Great Lakes and southern Canada, with a trough extending down into New England today, and this may produce a touch of light snow at times except light rain Cape Cod area where it will be too mild for snow. This will be an insignificant system with no travel impact. A slightly stronger low will track rapidly eastward, passing south of the region late Tuesday and early Wednesday, and may produce a minor snow event mainly south of I-90, most of it occurring Tuesday night. Behind this system on Wednesday may come a few snow showers but more importantly will be colder air and a gusty wind. As high pressure drifts across the region Thursday it will be a cold but more tranquil day. But this high will be offshore by Friday and a warm front will move across the region with more cloudiness and some spotty light rain (and some interior area sleet) possible. Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Spotty light snow (brief dustings at most) at times except light rain Cape Cod. Highs 30-37. Wind S under 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 22-29. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 33-40. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. A period of snow mainly near and south of I-90 except rain or snow Cape Cod. Snow accumulation of up to 3 inches south of I-90, traces or coatings to the north. Lows 25-32. Wind E 5-15 MPH near the South Coast, variable under 10 MPH elsewhere.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with spotty light snow early, then cloud/sun mix with passing snow showers possible. Highs 32-39. Wind NW increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts 30-40 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts, diminishing overnight.
THURSDAY: Sunshine and high clouds. Highs 25-32. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 18-25 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind SE under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain, possibly some sleet interior areas, favoring the morning hours. Highs 40-47. Wind SE under 10 MPH shifting to SW up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 11-15)
The weekend of January 11-12 starts very mild and ends much colder, with a transition from one to the other taking place as a frontal boundary and wave of low pressure bring mostly rain, which may end as mix/snow for northern and western areas. Fine tuning to come. Drier/colder interlude will be followed by moderating temperatures and more unsettled weather later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 16-20)
A similar pattern, active weather, up and down temperatures, currently impossible to detail.

7:43AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 5-9)
Low pressure’s departure today included a little pre-dawn snow for parts of the region, but the precipitation pulled offshore before all that much could fall. Here at the WHW location in Woburn MA we received a dusting of snow, much of which has either melted on mild ground or is in the process of sublimating in a chilly wind, which will be gusty today as the sky trends sunnier with time after starting with clouds. We are in a weather pattern where systems will be moving right along. The next low will be a weak system being deprived of much of its moisture as it moves rapidly eastward just north of the Great Lakes with a trough extending through the Great Lakes region toward New England. At most this system will manage to produce a little insignificant light snow Monday before exiting, and making way for yet another low, this one with a bit more substance to it, coming out of the Ohio Valley, impacting the region by late Tuesday. The exact track of this system will determine precipitation type, but the early thinking is a track far enough south that colder air will be more dominant. This system, regardless of what it produces, exits during Wednesday and opens the door for a shot of windy/cold weather through Thursday.
The forecast details…
TODAY: A few rain/snow showers ending Cape Cod, otherwise a cloud/sun mix with clouds dominant to start and becoming dominant with time.
Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
TONIGHT: Clear evening, clouding up overnight. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. A couple periods of very light snow possible. Highs 30-37. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow possible late. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. rain/mix/snow likely. Lows 30-37. Wind variable 10-20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow likely early, ending as mix/snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind variable to N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 10-14)
Active pattern with 2 or 3 areas of low pressure potentially impacting the region with precipitation threats. Leaning toward milder with rain threat at first, colder with mix/snow threat later. Low confidence forecast.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 14-18)
The active pattern continues with variable temperatures but no big time extremes in temperature noted through the middle of the month.

7:57AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 4-8)
Low pressure approaches from the southwest today sending areas of rain into the region due to mild enough air both surface and aloft. As the low departs via the Gulf of Maine early Sunday, colder air will be working back in and precipitation will end as snow showers, with possibly a period of steadier snow closer to eastern coastal locations, but only minor accumulation is anticipated from this event. Quickly comes the next low pressure area, a clipper-type system diving through the Great Lakes but into a lot of dry air, so it will lose much of its punch and only produce spotty very light snow early Monday as it meets its demise. But in this active pattern, we get 3 low pressure areas to impact the region, and the third will travel from the Ohio Valley either over or just south of southern New England late Tuesday through early Wednesday. This system will have more moisture to work with, and with more marginally cold air in place, there will probably be a rain/snow line involved as well. The forecast details…
TODAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Rain, possibly mixing with or turning to snow portions of southern NH and northern MA. Lows 30-37. Wind N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY: Cloudy morning with snow or snow showers except rain ending as snow or snow showers southeastern MA/RI/eastern CT. Snow accumulation of a coating to 1 inch possible, mostly along and north of I-90, with a few over 1 inch amounts possible northern portion of the I-95 corridor. Partly sunny afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers, favoring the morning. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow possible late. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. rain/mix/snow likely. Lows 30-37. Wind variable 10-20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow likely early, ending as mix/snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind variable to N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 9-13)
Quick interlude of drier, colder weather to start the period and then a stretch of unsettled weather with a couple low pressure systems impacting the region with threat of rain/mix/snow, details to be determined.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 14-18)
The active pattern continues with variable temperatures but no big time extremes in temperature noted through the middle of the month.

7:00AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 3-7)
Two waves of low pressure impact southeastern New England during the next 3 days, producing episodes of rain, though along with rain-free times as well through Saturday. The first wave’s rainfall will occur mainly south of I-90 today and tonight, but in patchy form with many rain-free times. The second wave will eventually impact a larger portion of the region with areas of rain. It’s when the second wave starts to intensify just offshore early Sunday at the time cold air arrives that we will see a burst of snow or snow showers for at least portions of the region. For right now I am still of the general thought process that it will snow in most of the region at least a little bit, with a mostly minor accumulation occurring before the storm departs. Quickly on the heals of this departing system will come a clipper-type low pressure system via the Great Lakes with snow showers possible Monday. And as if that was not enough, yet another low will approach by later Tuesday, with at least marginally cold enough air in place for a winter weather threat. The forecast details…
TODAY: Cloudy morning with periods of light rain favoring southern areas, and less of a chance northern MA and southern NH. Partly sunny north and mostly cloudy south afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Some light rain possible south of I-90. Lows 33-40. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain, possibly mixing with or turning to snow portions of southern NH and northern MA. Lows 30-37. Wind N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with snow or snow showers except rain ending as snow or snow showers southeastern MA/RI/eastern CT. Preliminary accumulation estimate a coating to 1 inch southeastern MA/RI/eastern CT, and 1-3 inches elsewhere with higher amounts favoring higher elevations north and west of Boston. Partial clearing afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow possible late. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 8-12)
Low pressure systems will line up in a train along the fast-flowing jet stream for an unsettled stretch heading toward mid January. The first system will be impacting the region January 8 then moving out with a quick shot of dry/cold air for January 9. Additional unsettled weather with rain/mix/snow possible at times later January 10 through the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 13-17)
Two more low pressure systems potentially impact the region with precipitation threats during this 5-day stretch in mid month. Temperatures variable, averaging on the slightly above side of normal.

7:10AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 2-6)
Fast happenings in the weather department early this January, but we start out with a nice day today under the control of high pressure. Quickly, things go downhill tonight and Friday morning as one wave of low pressure comes across the region but with mild enough air for some light rainfall, mainly in central and southern MA southward, while the MA/NH border and southern NH may miss out on the initial rain. As this low strengthens while exiting via Maine and the Canadian Maritimes Friday afternoon and night, a quick punch of dry air will partially clear the area, but clouds will come right back in as a second, more potent and moisture-laden low approaches by early Saturday. This low is likely to make its away right across southeastern New England Saturday evening and quickly exit into the Gulf of Maine Sunday morning, but there will be a quick shot of cold air probably before the moisture has fully departed, so a switch to snow and/or snow showers is quite likely. For now, I’m not going with widespread snow accumulation, perhaps just some minor accumulation favoring northeastern MA and southern NH, but it’s a tricky situation based on exact timing, so it’s something needing to be closely monitored. Nevertheless, that system will be gone with fair weather back for Sunday afternoon, but quickly on its heals comes a clipper low with a risk of snow showers for Monday as colder air will be established at that time. Onto the day-by-day breakdown…
TODAY: Partly sunny early, then mostly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clouding over. Lows 30-37. Wind SW under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Cloudy morning with light rain favoring southern areas, and less of a chance northern MA and southern NH. Partly sunny afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clouding over. Lows 33-40. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain, possibly mixing with or turning to snow portions of southern NH and northern MA. Lows 30-37. Wind N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with snow or snow showers except rain showers ending as mix/snow showers southeastern MA and RI during the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 7-11)
There are some significant differences in medium range guidance which has the potential to drive a forecaster nuts, but I’ve found the best thing to do is to not make many changes to the previous forecast, so for now I am leaning toward another low pressure system to affect the area later January 7 or January 8 with a likely track through the Great Lakes and mix/rain favored over snow. Windy, cold weather would arrive behind this for January 9 with cold and tranquil weather for January 10, followed by a temperature moderation at the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 12-16)
A storm system may impact the region with rain/mix/snow early to mid period followed by fair weather later in the period. Low confidence forecast.