Saturday December 21 2024 Forecast (5:21AM)

128 Comments

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 21-25)

Welcome to winter! The solstice occurred at 4:20 a.m. and right on cue much of the region now has a fresh snow cover and this with a very cold air mass inbound. This arrives today behind the departing low pressure area. A disturbance can create a few snow showers in the region today, and some ocean-effect snow showers can visit Cape Cod both today and Sunday, but overall it’ll be a generally dry weekend with well below normal temperatures. High pressure builds in for a more tranquil but still quite cold day on Monday. A weak low pressure area makes its way through the region early to midday Tuesday with some light snowfall likely. Behind this it remains chilly and a few ocean effect snow showers may be around eastern areas on Christmas Day.

TODAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Temperatures fall slowly to 22-29. Wind N increasing to 10-20 MPH, higher gusts this afternoon.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Additional snow showers possible Cape Cod. Lows 11-18. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny except partly cloudy with possible snow showers Outer Cape Cod. Highs Highs 22-29. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 10-17. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 24-31. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Clouding up. Lows 15-22. Wind variable under 10 MPH.

TUESDAY (CHRISTMAS EVE): Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow or snow showers. Highs 27-34. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY (CHRISTMAS DAY): Partly sunny. Chance of light snow showers in eastern areas. Highs 30-37. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 26-30)

High pressure will become the dominant force in our weather holding off unsettled weather producing systems. The temperature moderation will be held in check – maybe back to about normal.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 31 – JANUARY 4)

Low pressure may bring some precipitation right around mid period (the first or second day of the new year). No temperatures extremes indicated through mid period. Significant cold may arrive by late in the period.

128 thoughts on “Saturday December 21 2024 Forecast (5:21AM)”

  1. Good morning and thank you TK.

    I measured 6.5 inches on the ground, allowing for settling, compaction and a bit of melting during the lull.

    However, at 2:30 I measured 3.0 inches and that was also what was on my car roof which I cleared. At 4, I went out and there was another inch on the car which I cleared. At 10 when I measured 6.5 in the yard, I also measured another 3.5 on the roof of my car, which would make it 7.5 inches total.

    So the old fashion way or the wipe away method???
    take your pick. Either way it was quite an over achiever.

    1. An overachiever to say the least! Too bad my new “neighbors” on the lower South Shore missed out on most of the snow. Here in Quincy just got in on the action late. My first snow event here looks quite impressive considering. The snow came down quite hard during and after dinner into the early evening. I now have to realize that Quincy isn’t “quite” Boston’s Logan during snow events. A few miles can make a difference. 🙂

    1. One of these years though, I would love to see Boston get out to that “quick start” ahead of Worcester for a change. Like THAT could ever happen. 🙂

  5. Boston’s 4-inch streak ends at 1,028 days according to Jacob. Personally I stopped counting. So glad it’s over! ❄️ 🙂

  8. Just landed in Boston! And the entire forecast is relevant to me personally :). Really appreciate you delivering the snow Eden and Dara asked for there TK! Happy solstice!

  11. 25 here this morning. Cold, but not bad.
    Sure looks and feels like Winter on its first day.

    My street finally got plowed and it needed it big time!!

    It’s so funny, Boston was essentially the jack pot and more specifically JP.

  12. I wish there were an esay way to deternine how much of the snow was synoptic and how much was ocean effect

    I am guessing that here in JP 1/2 or more was OE.

    It was a rather impressive OE event for this area. One of the most impressive ones I have seen.
    Tk warned that the ocean effect could be significant.

    1. My guess is 90% ocean effect.

      Your area really made out on the convergent side of the coastal front.

      So happy this happened.

      1. I know it was a good portion, but I watched the radar.
        If I deduct some snow amounts from well to the SW, say Millis, Franklin etc which was about 3 inches, I’d get say about 60% OE. I’d go with that figure.

        I’d be curious as to TK’s thoughts on the matter. 🙂

  13. Well, now that I’ve thrown my glasses on …..

    There must have been one last ocean effect shower that was cold enough for snow.

    It was flurries because I can’t even say it meets a feather dusting. It’s several hundred snowflakes over a large deck.

    Oh well. Maybe we’ll get those Christmas Day ocean effect snow showers.

  15. Officially 9.4″ on top of Blue Hill – 1.17″ liquid.

    Officially 1.5″ here at the StormHQ World Headquarters Compound, approximately 10 miles SE of Blue Hill on the north slope of Cary Hill in the City of Champions.

  16. Thanks Tk . Some patches of snow around ( as minor as it gets , ice was the issue this morning but salters did a good job .

    1. Exactly.

      I gave up heading westbound on 139 after about 5 miles. It kept oscillating from patches of snow to a minor dusting.

      But, it was funny to watch a lot of cars in marshfield with decent snow on them, so it must be much further away.

      1. Must be Tom because we certainly missed out on it . I am really rooting for a minor event on Xmas Eve to look festive , but not enough that Travel would be impacted.

  17. Thanks, TK!

    Happy Winter Soltice!

    KBOX in Norton reports 1.7″ down here. It didn’t start snowing in Taunton till around suppertime or later last night.

    Light flurries now.

  18. Thanks TK.

    2″ in Coventry CT and we woke up to it snowing again this morning with an additional coating on everything. 9″ now on the season.

    We are up at Stratton VT now where they received 3″ overnight and 4″ from the Thursday system. 60 trails open. It is snowing lightly and COLD here with a temp of 15 at the base and single digits at the summit.

    It was white the entire ride up here but there was only a light coating of snow with grass sticking through in the CT River Valley most of the way from Hartford to Greenfield.

    1. ha ha ha Mark, I know you speak in jest, but I assure you
      we really did receive that much. At times, it was snowing like hell here. I mean really coming down!!! Hadi lives about a mile from me and we have never met. We were really in the jackpot zone.

      1. Yes, just joking. I do believe you guys…I was watching the convergence on the radar over you and it really did look like it was coming down good there for most of the day.

        1. I know. yes, it certainly was. We had about an hour lull where there was nothing but a few flakes and the temperature snuck up to 33 and there was a bit of melting/compaction/settling. The absolute worst of it was in the 4-5 PM hour and I was out driving in that. What a mess! Some of the worst driving conditions I have ever seen and I once drove from Stowe, VT to Waterville Valley NH in a blizzard, so I know what bad conditions are.
          No, I was not driving during the Blizzard of 78. I can’t imagine any worse driving conditions than that.

          1. Thanks Mark. I see that Quincy received 4.0 inches. I don’t know if Quincy has an “official” weather station.

    2. Thanks TK. Ironic that Maine has no snow where we are heading. Hoping the system delivers enough Xmas eve. Looks potent enough.

      JP-Really frustrating they won’t update it. Can you submit it to them. Thanks

  21. I’ve been thinking about this since yesterday afternoon and it’s just an opinion.

    I’ve never met SSK in person but I’ve been friends with him on facebook for a good while and I’ve also seen some of his non weather comments on the blog.

    My feel is that SSK is a good person and I get that sometimes for those who love snow, his style of writing can leave for interpretation that he’s egging folks on.

    But I really don’t think that’s the case.

    So, SSK, my feedback to you is to understand there are snow starved folks on the blog and where you and I often will have to report rain because of where we live, just consider what words your choosing to express that with.

    Similarly, I think some could help by not seemingly taking to such heart what SSK posts. I don’t mean that as an insult SSK. I value your posts, but I don’t look at them as an attempt to sour the snow mood or whether something was a non factor or whatever.

    Anyhow, I’m rambling now, but I guess I wanted to express support for SSK. That’s all.

    1. SSK is fine. His rain comments don’t bother me in the slightest and I am a true snow lover!! I just chuckle and move on. 🙂

    1. Amazing. There was really a sharp line with this system.

      My sister-in-law lives in S. Weymouth and was telling my wife
      yesterday afternoon that it was Raining there as well.

      We got plenty of snow here yesterday. 🙂

  23. Unless something changes, I am not the least bit impressed about Tuesday. Not even for a healthy dusting. We shall see.

    I’d like a surprise with that like redevelopment just South of Long Island for instance would be very nice. I know it’s not going to happen. 🙂

    1. Yes, it’s been looking a little less of an event with each passing day.

      A few flurries are surviving through the dry air currently.

    1. Now that would make my day. I’ll bet anything it is GONE baby GONE on the 12Z run. 🙂 🙂 🙂

      taking a break and Getting hot chocolate? OR bored on the
      trip up the lift????? 🙂

  30. I find it interesting that NYC received nearly 2 inches (1.8 to be exact) and yet much of the South Shore 200 miles to the NE, received very little or nothing based on the posts here.

    Tom, was Quincy (4.0”) the only South Shore location to get any of the snow?

  31. Tom : I would like to thank you for having my back here , I really appreciate your post , Tom you are a valuable poster here & a very experienced one & your support really means a lot . I know my posts bother a certain few here which I will not name publicly, but I am really not sure why. I definitely do not like conflict , I definitely don’t come here to stir the pot or throw egg on your faces , I 100% mean that . And as I’ve said before , I do not hate snow !! I want a big blizzard like we all do . Yes , some of my posts are hunch based & I always say that, but a lot of my hunches have panned out .yesterday I was posting realtime conditions from my area & when I posted it was uneventful, well it was , but keep in mind I was stating this for my area only !!!! Yes I’m aware of what the weather was doing in other areas , yes Tk I read your posts , but again when I posted in Hanover it was a non event ( at that time ) I was completely furious that I was called a troll, me really !! Arod I hope you continue to post here , but if you don’t you don’t & I believe you owe me an apology ( I do enjoy your posts ) I will not be disrespected by anyone here & I will try my hardest not to disrespect anyone here , but keep in mind this is a weather blog & not all of us want the same things . Some like the heat ( some don’t ) some like it cold ( some don’t ) some want snow everyday ( some don’t ) one thing we all have in common here is a love or fascination in changing weather . I know we have a lot of folks here wanting snow ( it’s been tough ) moving forward I can try to use my wording better . But just let me say in closing I am no troll, I do not come here to stir the pot & I want to get along with most folks here , but if we see something we don’t like or agree with let’s just scroll by it . I have been part of this blog for many , many years & I am very grateful for it , but I am here for the long run. I hope everyone enjoys Christmas week , thank you again Tom for your post ( someday we will make it to the Mug for breakfast!!!

    1. I understand and appreciate Tom’s post, a different perspective is ALWAYS welcome. And I have always values Toms view. I also understand why some are upset. I prefer to talk directly to a person in order to work through issues. Heaven knows TK can verify that. Out of respect, I asked you last year if we could talk when we had the identical discussion on here. You blocked me. I’ll ask again if we can talk.

      1. I like you Vicki & respect you on here , but I would ratter just leave it here on the blog . Like I said I will do my best to use better words , I hope you can understand. This is taking up space on the blog & would like to move forward

        1. My post was in response to your saying you don’t understand why. It’s hard to move forward without understanding how all feel. I wish you luck

  32. Dave, :re your question above, I am sitting in the lodge at Stratton while the kids are skiing. I stubbed my toe hard on one of the 45 Amazon boxes in our bedroom and it has been hurting like hell. Went to get an xray the other day and it turns out I broke it! So I am out of commission for a few weeks. Dr said skiing is OK if I can get the foot in the ski boot because the foot will be very snug in there and I couldnt do any further damage to it. But it still hurts enough now just to get a hiking boot on so I am going to give it more time to heal.

    2. Feel better Mark . Boy I can totally understand the bedroom as I cannot move in mine as it’s present central , hope it heals quickly .

    3. Thank you both. This is like de ja vu all over again from last year at this time when I fractured my other foot. I am even at the same chair at the same table in the ski lodge as this weekend last year. At least I did that one skiing and not stupidly in my bedroom like this time around!

    6. darn, I feel ya an injury can ruin a ski season, Ankle sprains ( my nemeses) I remember my last would have been full ski season in New England back in 2019 when my thumb tendon in my wrist was cut, couldn’t ski after that (ended my season just as it was beginning)

    1. I know this was for Phillip but it’s much appreciated. I may well have known about this but If so had forgotten. Thank you

    2. Thanks Longshot! That is quite a mouthful to say the least, lol. 🙂

      And thanks to the “volunteer” here in Quincy providing that snow measurement to the NWS. I wonder if he/she views this blog perhaps? I look forward to more data (snowfall) in upcoming events this winter. I get the impression that there is no “official” weather station in the Quincy area. Thanks again. 🙂

  36. Is this the day that TK was going to “dip his toes into the water” or something like that? I thought I saw it mentioned in a previous blog.

  38. Sue:

    I have been meaning to ask: Is your son “Captain Bus” for the 2025 football season? I think you had said that the vote would be announced at the end-of-season football banquet.

    1. Hi Captain! He is indeed Captain Bus for the 2025 football season. I was so so happy for him as he works so hard yet is so very humble. Thank you for asking!

      1. I will never forget a photo of a young Bus crouching down to watch plays between the legs of older players. You knew his innate passion right then and there.

  40. Since it’s a quiet weather day, I have been thinking about some of our discussion today and yesterday. WHW is a family….thanks to TK and the countless hours he invests. As with any family, it is natural to have a clash here and there.

    First and most important, Arod, I hope you are reading and will continue to post. I meant it when I said it would not be winter without you here. And I am sure I am far from alone. It’s always fun to open the blog and see your name. You are a valuable member of the whw family…..in winter and in the few times you pop on in other seasons. Seeing your name makes me think of snow…even in the warmest months.

    Second, while I always try to be respectful, I know very well that I have strong opinions. Please, if I bug anyone, please let me know. I sincerely mean that and promise to listen.

    1. Well Vicki, since you ask where do I begin?

      Just kidding. I am so grateful that this blog brought us together. And now you are even friends with my mom and our friend Mary. So many good things have come out of this blog and I hope it continues.

      Arod, I echo Vicki’s words. Please continue to post.

      TK…thank you for ALL you do!

      1. Hahahahahaha. You may be close to the truth. And I too am so grateful for the friends made here. And I love chatting with your mom and Mary. Now to fix your moms wordle FB issue.

  41. Interesting and perhaps I have a bit of wishful thinking going on, but recent model runs are hinting as some redevelopment
    of that clipper type system for Tuesday. Wouldn’t that be a hoot!!!

  43. Thanks TK. Very interesting snowfall distribution with that storm yesterday. A true “thread the needle” for the immediate I-95 corridor around Boston in between “too warm” to the southeast and “too dry” to the west.

    Next 10-14 days: very far from a “torch” in the Northeast. Barely even getting to normal as TK has said. But, still a very Pacific-dominant pattern across the CONUS with more significant warm anomalies in the middle of the country. Not a pattern that’s likely to be conducive to any significant snow chances in SNE.

    Beyond that: Completely different story. The stuff we’re seeing days 11-15 in all of the global ensembles right now is pretty much the stuff of legends in terms of classic Eastern US winter storm patterns. You can never guarantee these things this far out, but if there’s not a couple of major East Coast winter storms 1/2-1/15, I’ll be very surprised.

    1. Follow-up: when I say days 11-15, since that largely overlaps with the “uneventful” period: it’s changes that begin to occur right around that day 10-12 range which should set the stage for colder weather and likely multiple major storm chances in the first half of January.

    3. Thanks WX , I really would like to get at least one major snow storm down here on the south shore as it’s been an awful longtime. The kind where we can give plenty of warning to the public because the storm will shut everything down , a nice drawn our system like a Friday night till Saturday night type deal , I don’t ask for much lol .

  44. Down to 20.3 at 6 pm.
    It was a quick walk from church to the car with a noticable wind chill! 🙂

    Our church is on the Attleboro side of Norton and there is definitely more snow in that area than at our home in the west end of Taunton. The NWS ~ Norton reported 1.7″. Their office is on the other end of Norton, near Easton and Mansfield.

    Congratulations to Captain Bus, you and your family! 🙂

    One more question, Sue, if I may: Totally respecting your privacy, does your son attend Whitman-Hanson HS?

      1. What an incredible shot, Sue!!!!
        He looks like a incredible player!

        Three players are trying to tackle him and he’s still on his feet!

        Best of luck to Captain Bus!!!

          1. That’s it. The photo you shared above. You absolutely cannot look at it without feeling Bus’s true passion for the sport.

            Sue, it’s a photo that is media ready. How long ago was this. And it is still one of the first examples of Bus I think of.

  47. Hey folks,

    Working on getting us set up for a get together. Looking at a Saturday in Jan/Feb. Please send me an email letting me know if you plan on attending, something around or within Legacy Place. Once we finalize numbers I’ll send email with details. Anyone from the blog is invited!
    hkasrawi@gmail.com

  48. Since it’s almost midnight I doubt anyone will read this;
    Drove up to portsmouth. Hingham bad zero snow. Drove through weymouth… random spotty snow on grass… went over the fore river bridge and boom quincy with its snow. The line of the haves and have nots was about as sharp as a drawn line. Like I said: I don’t mind having no snow. Prefer it. It is funny seeing people comment on busts from different perspectives. Some people saying they got way more than forecasters predicted. Some saying they got way less. All of them, as usual, ignoring any nuance or the fact that the maps tend to have a lot of dialogues and caveats surrounding them. It will never not be tiring to see people on social media not realizing just how difficult it is to predict the exact outcome of precipitation in this region. The fact we have some precision is pretty much magic.

    Anyway, portsmouth is lovely. Strawberry Banke is fun to go into if you love history. The ice skaters in period clothing is fantastic!

    1. When I drove from Hampton Beach back inland a few miles yesterday I noticed there was a very sharp line between lots of snow stuck to trees and little (a line between a sticky and less sticky snow). That was pretty fascinating.

  49. https://x.com/Souza101Matt/status/1870700860948504595 Parents sent this photo of the house, first time I didn’t help decorate it in 30 years. I know most here would be asleep its 422 in the afternoon here in Australia. Its certainly proven a bit hard for me not being in Massachusetts for the first time for Xmas season especially seeing how mother nature is providing some of the best early season skiing conditions in years and that many in southern New England could see snow on the ground for Xmas for the first time in several years. Meanwhile I am watching a bushfire to the north of my area in the Grampian national park ( I am far away from it but when ever that wind is coming in from the north the smoke comes with it smells like campfire) Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the snow.

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