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Three storms will affect the Boston area in the final days of February, the first one today, a second one Sunday, and a third on Monday. The 2 biggest ones will produce mainly rain in the Boston area. The first one will bring some snow to areas N & W of Boston, but the most serious snow will occur in central & northern New England.
The low pressure area that is storm #1 will cross New England from SW to NE during today. The track of this low will be just northwest of Boston. 6 to 12 inches of snow will occur in the ski areas of northern New England down as far as the Lakes region of central NH. Amounts will drop off to a few inches in southwestern NH. Up to an inch or so of snow is possible mainly at the end of the storm around Route 495 and possibly a coating into the 128 belt by Friday evening. Before that, precipitation in the Boston area will be mainly rain, and may fall heavily at times, with 1 to 2 inches of rain quite likely during the morning & early afternoon Friday, before tapering off and becoming more showery. With low pressure cutting NW of Boston, the immediate Boston area will get into the warm sector of the storm, and will probably see a brief spike in temperatures (see below for details). A few thunderstorms are possible in areas that bust into the warm air as the leading edge of colder air behind the storm will be quick to sweep in.
Storm #1 will wind down in terms of precipitation tonight with a few lingering snow showers. However, a period of very strong NW winds can be expected as cold air rushes into the region behind the departing low pressure area. Gusty winds but dry weather will continue through Saturday, along with colder conditions.
Storm #2 will cross the region Sunday, and will be in the form of weak low pressure passing just to the south of the area. Colder air in place means that this system should be a snow-producer, however it does not look like a major storm.
Storm #3 will follow quickly on the heels of #2, and will bring periods of rain & gusty winds Monday as low pressure passes well NW of Boston, putting the entire region on the warm side of it.
Look for a colder, drier start to March on Tuesday behind the 3rd in the series of storms.
Boston area forecast for the next 5 days…
TODAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain, heaviest in the morning into midday. Rain becoming showery in the immediate Boston area, with even some thunderstorms possible, from midday through mid afternoon. Periods of rain will mix with snow far NW of Boston, near and outside of 495, where some minor accumulation is possible. This rain/snow line will start to push southeastward toward Boston very late in the day. High ranging from the upper 30s well NW of Boston to the lower 50s near and just south of Boston. Falling temperatures late in the day. Winds variable 5 to 15 mph well NW of Boston, southeast shifting to southwest 5 to 15 mph but gusting to 30 mph especially in the afternoon closer to and south of Boston, then shifting to northwest in most areas by the very end of the day.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with snow showers and minor snow accumulation early, then clearing. Low 20 to 25. Wind northwest 15 to 25 mph gusting 35 to 45 mph at times. A few gusts to 50 mph are possible.
SATURDAY: Sunshine followed by increasing clouds. High 33 to 38. Wind northwest 10 to 20 mph early, becoming variable around 10 mph later in the day.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Snow mainly after midnight. Low 22 to 27. Wind north 5 to 15 mph.
SUNDAY: Cloudy. Snow in the morning with the potential for 1 to 3 inches of accumulation. High 30 to 35. Wind northeast 5 to 15 mph.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Temperature rising through the 30s. Wind east 5 to 15 mph.
MONDAY: Cloudy with periods of rain, especially in the afternoon. High in the 40s.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy and windy. High in the 30s.