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If you were in eastern MA and parts of RI last night, you probably saw the bright lightning, heard the booming thunder, then heard and/or felt the wind which roared in on the heels of the departing storms. And that wind has kept up all night and all day today! Many locations have seen gusts over 50 mph with even some wind damage reported.
Here is a link to a list of wind gusts from various areas in southern New England: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&format=CI&version=1&glossary=0&highlight=off&issuedby=BOX&product=PNS
Also, a list of damage reports can be found here: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&format=CI&version=1&glossary=0&highlight=off&issuedby=BOX&product=LSR
Thanks to our friends at the National Weather Service in Taunton and the many spotters for the information.
This bout of interesting weather is likely a preview of an upcoming pattern that will feature several battles between airmasses, the next of which will take place Monday followed by another stretch of unsettled weather to end next week.
Along with the strong winds today, a few scattered light snow showers have been around, though most places have not seen them. Conditions will not really change that much through tonight. In fact, a second burst of stronger winds is now moving in after a brief, almost unnoticeable lull this afternoon. Expect lots of clouds, a few isolated light snow showers, and NW winds of 15-35 mph with gusts 40-50 mph (even a few 50+ gusts) through the evening hours, and a slight diminishing of wind and decreasing of clouds later at night.
Sunday, there may be some lingering clouds early as a final disturbance passes by, but unless you are an early-riser you would probably not even see these clouds. Expect most of the day to be dominated by sunshine, though a few scattered fair weather clouds may develop later in the morning into the afternoon. They will not be as widespread as today’s clouds. Gusty winds will continue especially through the early afternoon as we remain to the east of the axis of high pressure on the western edge of a strong gradient between this high just to the west and the low over the Canadian Maritimes.
By Sunday night, winds will drop rapidly to near calm but clouds will increase from west to east as low pressure moves toward the region. This low pressure area is expected to pass just south of New England on Monday, Presidents Day, with a snow event of about 12 hours duration, roughly 2am to 2pm for Boston, a bit earlier start & end to the west. At this point, I expect a general 1 to 4 inch snowfall from this event. This low pressure system will depart by Monday night, with skies becoming partly cloudy. There may be a few lingering snow showers Monday night and first thing Tuesday morning as an arctic cold front drops through the region from northwest to southeast. This front will deliver quite a shot of cold air for the second Tuesday in a row, with Tuesday expected to be a bright day, but with highs in the 20s and a strong northwest wind making it feel even colder.
High pressure from Canada will build southeastward across New England Tuesday night with clear skies, lighter winds, and very cold temperatures, but this same high will bring sunny skies for Wednesday with some recovery in temperature, back to the 30s in the afternoon, with continued lighter winds.
Thursday is expected to be a dry day, and slightly milder- fairly tranquil for this time of year. But that is not expected to last, as it now appears we will be in a battle zone between warmer weather over the southeastern US & very cold air in Canada, with a chance of rain and/or snow at times from Friday into next weekend.
Quick forecast for the Boston Area…
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with scattered light snow showers early. Partly cloudy late. Low 15-20. Wind northwest 15-30 mph with frequent gusts 35-45 mph.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. High 30-35. Wind northwest 15-25 mph with higher gusts.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Snow from around 2AM on. Low 25-30. Wind light variable.
MONDAY – PRESIDENTS DAY: Overcast with snow through about 2PM, accumulation 1-4 inches. Breaking clouds late in the day but still a few lingering snow showers possible. High 30-35. Wind north 5-10 mph.
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Low 15-20. Wind north 10-20 mph.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers early, then mostly sunny. High 23-28. Wind north to northwest 15-25 mph with higher gusts.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Clear. Low 10-15 . Wind northwest 5-15 mph.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny. High 35-40. Wind variable up to 10 mph.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 20. High 42.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY: Chance of rain and/or snow. Lows 25-35. Highs 35-45.