9:12AM

SUMMARY…
Arctic high pressure approaches then crests overhead today with bright sun, cold, and diminishing wind. High pressure moves offshore to the east tonight, southerly flow develops, temperatures rise, and clouds increase. A cold front approaches from the west with milder southerly flow ahead of it, but rapidly developing low pressure along the Mid Atlantic Coast will move northward and link up with the front, bringing an increasing risk of rain, first to the west, then swinging eastward through Sunday night. Some of the heaviest rain from this system may coincide with part of the AFC Championship Game in Foxboro MA between the Patriots and Colts. The center of low pressure will pass across eastern MA overnight and rocket away into Maine and eventually southeastern Canada. Rain will shut off rapidly from southwest to northeast before cold enough air arrives to switch it to snow in all areas of central MA and southern NH south and east, with the exception of some of the higher elevations in southwestern NH. Monday, the MLK Jr holiday, will feature sun and clouds, windy, and cool weather, though the air mass behind this system will not be as cold as some of the recent cold we have seen here. High pressure to the west and low pressure still exerting influence on this area from Canada will bring a bright but chilly and gusty day Tuesday. I’m a little conflicted on how to look at what happens from Wednesday through Saturday of next week. Current thoughts are that low pressure coming out of the Great Lakes will fall apart Wednesday which will be a variably cloudy day with spotty light snow at moist, and a second low pressure wave will develop offshore Thursday which may end up a cloudier day here but precipitation getting near the South Coast but staying offshore for the most part. If this scenario were to play out, Friday would likely end up fair, breezy, and chilly. Long way to go to work out the details from midweek on. Computer guidance will have some difficulty as we are entering a transitional pattern.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Sunshine rules but some high clouds appearing in the western sky by later in the day. Highs upper 10s to middle 20s, coldest hills in northwest suburbs, least cold Cape Cod. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts this morning diminishing to nearly calm this afternoon.
TONIGHT: Increasing clouds. Temperatures rising toward 30. Wind light SW early, SW 5-15 MPH later.
SUNDAY: A hint of sunshine parts of eastern MA around sunrise otherwise cloudy. Rain developing midday and afternoon mainly central MA and southwestern NH with scattered rain showers to the east. Highs 40-45. Wind S 10-20 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Overcast with rain, possibly heavy, pushing west to east across the region through late evening, then rapidly ending southwest to northeast overnight. Breaking clouds following. Lows around 35. Wind S 10-20 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to SW overnight.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 35-40. Wind W 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Low 18. High 33.
WEDNESDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of light snow or snow showers. Low 21. High 31.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow or rain near South Coast. Low 22. High 35.
FRIDAY: Partly sunny and windy. Low 23. High 33.

7:32AM

An arctic cold front will fly across southeastern New England this morning and early afternoon accompanied only but some passing clouds and possibly a snow shower in a few locations. Behind it, the gate to a frigid air mass will be open and that air will come in late today through Saturday as high pressure builds in. This high gets offshore by early Sunday and a return southerly flow warms it up, but another cold front approaches quickly and low pressure forms along it as it slows down while passing by. This will bring a slug of rain into the region Sunday afternoon and night which may end as snow showers early Monday. Windy and colder weather returns during Monday. Next week, 2 cold and dry days Tuesday and Thursday will likely sandwich a day of light snowfall as a weak low pressure area passes through from the west on Wednesday.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Slight chance of passing snow showers. Highs 30-35 through midday then falling through the 20s. Wind W 5-15 MPH shifting to NW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Clear. Lows from near 0 northwest of Boston to 10-15 Cape Cod. Wind NW 15-25 MPH and gusty.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Highs around 20. Diminishing NW wind.
SUNDAY: Clouding up. Rain developing PM, may start as mix far NW. Low 15. High 40.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy with rain or snow showers early. Partly to mostly sunny after. Temperatures fall through 30s.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 30.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow. Low 15. High 25.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 15. High 30.

7:43AM

Low level moisture today along an inverted trough between low pressure well offshore and another well to the northwest of southern New England, enhanced by ocean moisture, with periods of light snow/freezing drizzle in eastern MA and coastal NH. This exits tonight. Arctic cold front passes during Friday with a strong shot of cold air later Friday into Saturday. High pressure moves overhead later Saturday then offshore by Sunday with a quick warmup but as another cold front approaches so will a develop low pressure area along it. This will bring rain to the region Sunday night into early Monday (will watch for an end as snow in parts of the region if cold air returns fast enough), then a return to windy/cold weather later Monday into Tuesday as intensifying low pressure moves away into eastern Canada. Cold air lasts into the middle of next week as the overall cold/dry pattern dominates.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Spotty light snow/freezing drizzle coastal NH through eastern MA and RI. Highs around 30. Wind light NE shifting to NW.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows around 20. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Slight risk of a passing snow showers. High around 35 through midday then falling into the 20s. Wind W 10-20 MPH shifting to NW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Low 0. High 25.
SUNDAY: Clouding up. Rain at night. Low 20. High 45.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly cloudy with rain AM. Partly cloudy with isolated snow showers PM. Temperatures falling from 40s to 20s.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 15. High 25.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Low 15. High 30.

3:36PM

The cold air is back again and though the core of this latest cold shot will be tonight across southeastern New England, it will remain on the cold side for a few more days. As high pressure slips away to the northeast and low pressure passes far south of the region, they will combine to produce enough of a northeast to east wind to bring ocean clouds and snow showers, which have been around southeastern MA all day Tuesday, a little more northwestward into the remainder of coastal eastern MA, some short distance inland, and similarly in coastal to slightly inland southeastern NH through Wednesday night or early Thursday. By later Thursday, a shift in the wind back toward the north then west should push the clouds and snow showers back out to sea. However, once Friday comes, a cold front will arrive from the northwest and may spawn its own snow showers followed by increasing wind and a drop in temperature.

Looking ahead to the weekend, it appears to be a split decision with lots of sun but cold air Saturday, then some increase in clouds but milder on Sunday. By Sunday night, some light precipitation is possible as a cold front moves in from the west. We’ll have to keep an eye on low pressure off the Mid Atlantic Coast at the same time but it is quite likely that this area will not link up with the front and will pass harmlessly offshore early Monday, which will turn out to be a windy and colder day for southeastern New England. High pressure moves in by Tuesday, based on current expected timing, for cold but tranquil weather.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TONIGHT: Ocean clouds and occasional snow showers across southeastern MA edging northwestward toward Boston. Mostly clear elsewhere. Lows 0-5 interior valleys, 5-10 elsewhere except 10-15 coastal areas. Wind light N to NE.
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly to mostly cloudy. Occasional snow showers with minor accumulation possible especially eastern coastal areas of NH and MA as well as across all of southeastern MA. Highs in the 20s. Lows in the 10s. Wind NE to E 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Partly to mostly sunny. Highs around 30. Wind N to NW 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Partly to mostly sunny and windy. Chance of snow showers morning and midday. Low 20. High 30.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Low 10. High 30.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds. Chance of rain/mix showers at night. Low 20. High 45.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Partly cloudy and windy. Chance of snow showers early. Low 20. High 30.
TUESDAY: Sunny. Low 5. High 25.

7:35AM

Sorry for the late post…

It’s one and done. Done minor storm system today and we’re done with unsettled weather for the week. The combination of an approaching cold front from the northwest and a wave of low pressure passing south of New England will produce a variety of light precipitation (rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow) today. This exits tonight and then a push of cold air arrives from Canada on a gusty northwest wind Tuesday. High pressure hangs around with dry and cold weather Thursday and keeps another storm to the south and east of the region Thursday and Friday, with one cold air renewal at the end of the week before it starts to turn milder over the weekend, especially Sunday, when we get into a west southwest flow and milder air mass between low pressure over the Great Lakes and high pressure which will then be centered to the south.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Overcast. Episodes of precipitation, mainly mix to rain south of Boston, snow and sleet with pockets of freezing rain to the north, trending to be patchy light rain most areas with mix further northwest this afternoon. Many times it may not be precipitating at all. Little in the way of any snow and sleet accumulation where that occurs. Highs in the 30s. Wind SW 5-15 MPH becoming variable.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Mix ends as snow northwest to southeast with minor accumulation possible. Watch for icy spots forming on untreated surfaces. Lows in the 20s. Wind shifting to NW 10-20 MPH.
TUESDAY: Clearing morning. Sunny afternoon. However there will be ocean clouds from the north with snow flurries from Plymouth to Cape Cod. Temperatures steady in the 20s. Wind NW 15-25 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 30.
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 15. High 35.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 15. High 30.
SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 15. High 35.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Low 25. High 45.

7:33AM

Good morning all! Forecast looks fine so far, so here’s a short little update. We will see patchy high cloudiness today that will filter the sun at times as it turns a little warmer aloft, but down here at the surface it starts out quite cold after a triple-C night and recovers back toward 30 by late day as a southwest wind gets going. This southwest flow will actually allow temperatures to rise tonight as clouds move in ahead of a low pressure wave and approaching cold front. The front passes through during Monday and the low pressure wave passes south of southern New England, but it will be a weak combination of systems with limited moisture, mild enough for rain ending as a mix of rain/snow Cape Cod, Islands, and immediate South Coast of MA and RI, a mix of rain/sleet/snow ending as snow elsewhere south of Boston, maybe some brief mix around Boston going to snow, and snow elsewhere to the west and north. But this precipitation will be patchy and on the light side, so look for very small accumulation where the frozen stuff falls, on the order of less than 1 inch, except possibly a little over 1 inch from near I-495 westward in the region north of the Mass Pike, if the system delivers enough moisture.

Beyond that, cold air gets pulled in a little stronger Tuesday and hangs around at midweek as low pressure develops off the East Coast again but stays south and east of New England later Thursday into Friday, pulling down one more shot of cold air on Friday into Saturday before a moderation arrives later Saturday.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Sunshine filtered at times by high cloudiness. Temperatures rise toward 30 by late. Wind W to SW 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Increasing clouds. Temperatures rise to 30-35 except 35-40 South Coast. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Periods of light rain to mix south, mix to snow north. See above for accumulation. Highs 35-40 early then cooling slowly to 30-35. Wind SW 5-15 MPH becoming variable then N to NW.
TUESDAY: Clearing. Temperatures steady in 20s during day.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 30.
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 15. High 35.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 20. High 30.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 35.

8:06AM

WHAT’S UP FOR THE WEEKEND…
Lots of dry air and typical January cold in place for this weekend as high pressure dominates, though with the center of the high to the southwest of southern New England and broad low pressure in Canada, this will allow for a gusty breeze at times today. This gradient and resultant wind will relax Sunday. Sunshine will be brightest today and filtered at times Sunday as high cloudiness crosses the sky in response to some warming aloft.

WORK WEEK WORRIES?…
By Monday, low pressure will organize southwest of the region and pass out to sea to the south at night and early Tuesday, but close enough for a light snow and mix precipitation event late Monday and Monday night. Dry and chilly weather returns during Tuesday and lasts through at least midweek. A second, more potent storm is expected to form off the East Coast later in the week, though early indications from most reliable information show this system staying south and southeast of New England late Thursday and Friday. Will watch, in case…

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Bright sun. Highs in the 20s. Wind W 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 10-18, touch colder some interior valleys. Wind light WSW.
SUNDAY: Filtered sun. Highs around 30. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Cloudy. PM light snow/mix. Low 15. High 35.
TUESDAY: Clearing. Temperatures fall into 20s.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Low 10. High 30.
THURSDAY: Clouding up. Low 15. High 35.
FRIDAY: Clearing. Low 20. High 30.

3:27PM

A quick breather as the temperature actually goes up tonight following the short-lived but very sharp shot of Arctic air. But another cold front will come charging across southeastern New England Friday morning from west to east, accompanied by strong wind gusts and snow showers with minor accumulation, but possibly enough to briefly slick-up some roads. By late Friday, we’re into the cold again, though not to the degree of which we just saw. The weekend will be dry and cold. The early and middle portion of next week continue to look cloudier and possibly unsettled as a series of low pressure areas try to get going to the south. It’s still very early, but the trend at this point is to keep them on the weak side and to the south, but close enough for some periods of snow/mix at least in southern and eastern areas of southern New England sometime during the Monday through Thursday period. You won’t find much detail in the extended portion of the outlook below due to the uncertainty in details and timing of low pressure waves.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TONIGHT: Increasing clouds. Temperatures rising into the 20s. Wind SW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with snow showers crossing the region west to east during the morning, accumulating a coating to as much as 1 inch, except possibly a few amounts over 1 inch over central MA and interior southern NH. Partly to mostly sunny afternoon. Highs around 30 early then falling through the 20s. Wind SW 15-35 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to W.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 5-10 remote suburbs north and west of Boston, 10-15 elsewhere. Wind WNW 10-20 MPH gusting to 30 MPH.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Highs 20-25. Wind W 10-20 MPH gusting to 30 MPH.
SUNDAY: Sun and high clouds. Low 10. High 30.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Chance of light snow/mix South Coast. Low 25. High 35.
TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Periods of snow/mix possible. Lows 20-30. Highs 30-40.

7:29AM

A pure Arctic air mass arrives today with the passage of a cold front this afternoon. This front may produce snow squalls that can briefly reduce visibility and cover roadways with snow. It’s uncertain if everybody will see these or they will be more scattered in nature, but be prepared for sudden changes in visibility and road conditions if you will be driving. Before that arrives some moisture coming off the waters just south of New England may bring a few snow showers to Cape Cod and the Islands this morning. The core of the coldest air will pass through southeastern New England tonight and Thursday along with strong and gusty wind, with very low wind chills resulting. Protect yourself if you plan to be outside at all. A second disturbance and front will push through the region early Friday with another risk of snow showers and possible snow squalls. The push of cold air behind this will not be as strong as what comes just before it, but winds may end up stronger, so again it will be a low wind chill day. The cold continues but slowly eases during the course of the weekend and early next week. By Monday and Tuesday we’ll have to keep an eye on some offshore unsettled weather which will at least spread some cloudiness into the region and perhaps some light snow or mixed precipitation. The overall pattern is now cold and dry, however.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Sun and passing clouds. Chance of snow showers Cape Cod and Islands morning and midday. Chance of snow showers and possible heavier snow squalls this afternoon. Any squalls could briefly bring heavy snow with reduced visibility and a quick covering of the ground. Highs around 25 through early afternoon then falling into the 10s. Wind W 5-15 MPH through midday, shifting to NW and increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts to 35 MPH during the afternoon.
TONIGHT: Clear. Lows from around -5 to +5, coldest northwest of Boston, least cold Cape Cod / Islands. Wind NW 15-30 MPH with higher gusts. Wind chill of -10 to -25.
THURSDAY: Sunny. Highs 15-20. Wind NW 15-25 MPH and gusty. Wind chill -10 or colder at times.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with snow showers likely AM. Mostly sunny with isolated snow showers PM. Low 10. High 30 but falling again later.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 5. High 25.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 30.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow/mix south. Low 20. High 35.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow/mix. Low 25. High 35.

7:27AM

COMMENTARY/DISCUSSION…
“The coldest air in years is coming!” etc etc. … Overstated by the media, as usual. Yes, it’s going to get very cold. The air came from Siberia, straight over the North Pole, across Canada, and will plunge into the Northeast at midweek. But it is far from the coldest air in years. For some areas, perhaps the coldest temperatures since 2011 will be realized. But it’s not like 2011 was all that long ago. And last Winter was a cold one, much more sustained cold than we have seen so far in this fairly young Winter. I’m just saying, we really need to look beyond the sensationalist headlines that dominate weather-related news stories. After all, shouldn’t be we worried about that 2000 mile-wide swath of snow that’s coming across the Midwest? Oh wait, that’s just a fancy description for a weak clipper low pressure system. Never mind! ………. In reality, that clipper will be making a run at southern New England today and tonight but transfer most of its energy to a developing offshore low, and the already weak system will only deliver patchy light snow at best with no significant accumulation. An arctic cold front will sweep across the region Wednesday and may set off some snow showers and heavier snow squalls. We’ll have to watch for briefly very low visibility and slippery roads where any heavier squalls occur. This front will introduce a pure Arctic air mass which will last through Thursday, ease up slightly Friday, which may see a few more snow showers and squalls as a reinforcing arctic front arrives, keeping it quite cold through Saturday (though not as cold as Thursday). A little moderation will take place by Sunday and Monday. We may have to watch for the approach of a front and/or low pressure system by Monday, but I’m not sure how the set-up will be just yet.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Cloudy. Periods of light snow possible midday and afternoon with a dusting to a coating some areas. Highs in the 20s. Wind W to SW under 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Periods of light snow possibly early, and a slight chance of brief moderate snow parts of Cape Cod with up to 1 inch. Lows in the 10s. Wind light W.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Scattered snow showers and a chance of heavier snow squalls midday-afternoon. Highs in the 20s. Wind W 5-15 MPH shifting to NW and increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts 30-40 MPH.
THURSDAY: Sunny. Low 0. High 18.
FRIDAY: Partly sunny. Chance of snow showers/squalls. Low 10. High 25.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 5. High 20.
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 10. High 30.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Low 20. High 35.

11:30PM

Some of the cold and dry weather predicted long ago for January will be with us this coming week as the pattern was finally able to shift and allow some Arctic air to make the journey from Siberia over the North Pole and through Canada, entering the northeastern US in a couple of shots during this week. A series of disturbances will deliver the cold air, the first being a trough Monday afternoon, then a clipper low pressure system later Tuesday, another trough on Wednesday, and a cold front on Friday. The strongest shot of cold air will be over southeastern New England on Thursday. Some moderation will arrive by later in the weekend.

Before all this gets underway we get rid of the weekend storm overnight as a cold front sweeps through southeaster New England putting an end to the rain and brief push of mild air.

OVERNIGHT: Rain showers end west to east followed by clearing and emergence of a bright full moon. Temperatures cooling through the 40s. Wind W increasing to 15-25 MPH with higher gusts.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Isolated snow showers and a possible heavier snow squall midday through mid afternoon. Temperatures falling through the 30s. Wind W 15-30 MPH gusting as high as 40 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows in the 10s. Wind W 15-25 MPH and gusty. Wind chill falling below 10.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. Periods of light snow afternoon and evening with accumulation of a coating to 2 inches possible. Highs in the 20s. Wind light W.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Scattered snow showers. Isolated snow squalls. Low 10. High 20.
THURSDAY: Sunny. Low 0. High 15.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Scattered snow showers. Isolated snow squalls. Low 10. High 25.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 5. High 20.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Low 10. High 30.

2:50AM

The weekend storm is doing generally as was expected. A minor to locally moderate snowfall from Boston north and west, some icing inland valleys, and rain overtaking most locations during Saturday night. As low pressure tracks northwest of New England Sunday it will drag mild air into the region, though some of the colder air may remain trapped in valleys of north central MA into southern NH, though even there it will be above freezing so the icing threat will end. As for precipitation, expect episodic rain showers during Sunday with a risk of a cluster or line of heavier downpours later in the day as a cold front sweeps eastward. This front will clear the region at night and set up a windy, colder, dry Monday. A clipper system from Canada will traverse the Great Lakes and pass across southern New England Tuesday night, exiting by early Wednesday, producing a light snowfall. Windy and much colder weather will follow for Wednesday and Thursday as we get a shot of pure Arctic air. A second disturbance and front is expected to pass through the region Friday with a snow shower threat, followed by a reinforcing cold shot next Saturday (a bit less cold than the midweek delivery).

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Cloudy with periodic rain showers and a few late day heavier downpours possible. Patchy fog. Highs in the 50s except 40s some interior valleys in north central MA to southern NH. Wind SW 5-15 MPH gusting 20-25 MPH, except light wind inland valleys.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with lingering rain showers early, followed by clearing west to east. Lows 30-35. Wind W 15-25 MPH and gusty.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Temperatures 30-35 early then falling into the 20s. Wind W 15-25 MPH gusting 30-35 MPH.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. Afternoon and evening light snow. Low 15. High 25.
WEDNESDAY: Clearing. Low 15. High 25.
THURSDAY: Sunny. Low 0. High 15.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Low 10. High 25.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 5. High 20.

7:02PM

There is not a whole lot of change between the last blog and this one. So revisiting what was talked about in the previous blog, with a little fine-tuning.

Low pressure will track through the Great Lakes this weekend. Its warm front will provide overrunning for increasing clouds during the day Saturday and then mix/snow breaking out during late afternoon and evening from south to north across the area. Enough cold air will be in place for some accumulating snow to start out, with the least chance over Cape Cod. Warm air will be coming in aloft rather quickly, so expect a change to sleet, rain, and freezing rain fairly quickly. Temperatures should warm enough for sleet going to rain in the coastal plain and across southeastern MA into southern RI, but enough cold air may allow sleet and especially freezing rain to occur for much of the night from northern RI through interior eastern MA into southern NH with the exception of the Seacoast area which will also likely change to plain rain. There is a good chance of some icy conditions impacting travel where temperatures remain cold enough to support freezing rain. By later Saturday night to the early hours of Sunday, enough warm air should be in place in all areas so that the precipitation winds up as plain rain, with pockets of freezing rain holding on longest in north central MA into interior southern NH. The warm front may waver around the region allowing southeastern MA and RI to warm significantly for a period of time. Toward the end of Sunday, the cold front from the low pressure area will sweep eastward into the region with rain showers to start, some possible snow showers at night, and a colder/drier trend getting underway. A stronger northwesterly flow on Monday will transport cold air into southeastern New England along with dry weather. At this time it still appears that a clipper low pressure system will come from south central Canada across the Great Lakes and then across the Northeast later Tuesday through early Wednesday with some risk of snow. It should be fast-moving system and not have time to produce too much snow. This will be monitored. Expect a shot of wind and very cold air, the coldest for the season so far, by the middle of next week.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 15-20 inland, 20-25 coast. Wind W 5-15 MPH, diminishing late.
SATURDAY: Increasing clouds. Light snow or mix possible by late day southern MA and RI. Highs around 30 interior MA and southern NH, 30s elsewhere. Wind light variable.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Mix to rain Cape Cod and Islands, snow to sleet then rain southern RI and east coastal MA, snow to sleet and freezing rain interior MA, northern RI, and southern NH except sleet to rain Seacoast region. Snow accumulation less than 1 inch immediate coastal areas, 1-2 inches from central and northern RI through most of eastern MA, 2-4 inches Merrimack Valley through north central MA into most of southern NH. Temperatures 25-30 interior valleys, 30s elsewhere, rising to around 40 coastal areas at night. Wind NE to N under 10 MPH interior MA and southern NH, NE to E 5-15 MPH increasing to 10-20 MPH elsewhere.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain tapering off early from west to east but occasional rain showers possible during the day. Highs in the 40s northwest of Boston, 50s Boston area southeastward. Wind E to SE 10-20 MPH briefly shifting to S over southeastern MA, then shifting to SW all areas 15-25 MPH with higher gusts during the afternoon.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Low 20. High 35.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. PM snow. Low 15. High 30.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with snow showers AM. Sun and clouds PM. Low 20. High 30.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 15.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 5. High 25.

5:39PM

A new year is here, and it is now January. The weather will be behaving in an expected way for the month we have entered, with some cold air and a couple of storms passing through.

First, some cloudiness tonight caused by warming air aloft will keep temperatures from dropping too low, and a little less cold is expected on Friday compared to the last 2 days. It will be a bright day as high pressure continues to have influence on the weather here in southeastern New England. Low pressure moving across the southern US will turn northeastward through the Midwest and head into the Great Lakes by Saturday and Saturday night. Its warm front will provide overrunning for increasing clouds and then mix/snow breaking out during Saturday evening from south to north across the area. Enough cold air will be in place for some accumulating snow to start out, with the least chance over Cape Cod. Warm air will be coming in aloft rather quickly, so expect a change to sleet, rain, and freezing rain fairly quickly. At this time the expectation is that areas from the Boston area northwestward will accumulate 1 to 4 inches of snow, least southeast and most to the northwest, before the changeover. Temperatures should warm enough for sleet going to rain in the coastal plain and across southeastern MA into southern RI, but enough cold air may allow sleet and especially freezing rain to occur for much of the night from northern RI through interior eastern MA into southern NH with the exception of the Seacoast area which will also likely change to plain rain. There is a good chance of some icy conditions impacting travel where temperatures remain cold enough to support freezing rain. By later Sunday morning to midday Sunday, enough warm air should be in place in all areas so that the precipitation winds up as plain rain. Toward the end of Sunday, the cold front from the low pressure area will sweep eastward into the region with rain showers to start, some possible snow showers at night, and a colder/drier trend getting underway. A stronger northwesterly flow on Monday will transport cold air into southeastern New England along with dry weather. At this time it still appears that a clipper low pressure system will come from south central Canada across the Great Lakes and then across the Northeast later Tuesday through early Wednesday with some risk of snow/mix. Though at this stage it does not look like a big storm, we should monitor it as there will be some potential travel impacts. Expect a shot of wind and very cold air, the coldest for the season so far, by the middle of next week.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, gusting around 20 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 35-40. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusting around 25 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 15-20 inland, 20-25 coast. Wind W 5-15 MPH, diminishing late.
SATURDAY: Increasing clouds. Light snow or mix possible by late day southern MA and RI. Highs around 30 interior MA and southern NH, 30s elsewhere. Wind light variable.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Mix to rain Cape Cod and Islands, snow to sleet then rain southern RI and east coastal MA, snow to sleet and freezing rain interior MA, northern RI, and southern NH except sleet to rain Seacoast region. Snow accumulation less than 1 inch immediate coastal areas, 1-2 inches from central and northern RI through most of eastern MA, 2-4 inches Merrimack Valley through north central MA into most of southern NH. Temperatures 25-30 interior valleys, 30s elsewhere, rising to around 40 coastal areas at night. Wind NE to N under 10 MPH interior MA and southern NH, NE to E 5-15 MPH increasing to 10-20 MPH elsewhere.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Ice to rain north central MA and southern NH, rain elsewhere, all tapering off midday from southwest to northeast. An additional passing rain shower possible west to east afternoon. Highs in the 40s. Wind E to SE 10-20 MPH briefly shifting to S over southeastern MA, then shifting to SW all areas 15-25 MPH with higher gusts during the afternoon.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Low 20. High 35.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. PM snow. Low 15. High 30.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with snow showers AM. Sun and clouds PM. Low 20. High 30.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 10. High 20.

3:51PM

2014 ends tonight. As 2015 gets underway and people ring in the New Year hopefully in their preferred way, inside or outside, one thing is for sure, it will be chilly outside around southeastern New England. Certainly far from the coldest New Year’s Eve we’ve had around these parts, but given the recent mild pattern, it will feel quite cold for anybody out there, so if you are going to be one of them, bundle up!

As expected, high pressure took control on Monday and continues to dominate the weather making it dry and somewhat colder than we have seen recently. This will continue through early Saturday but will then give way to a rapidly-approaching low pressure area from the southwest late Saturday. The timing of this system appears as if it will be similar to the thinking on the previous blog update, late Saturday through early or the mid part of Sunday, and the track is still expected to be one that takes a primary low pressure area into the Great Lakes but develops a secondary near southeastern New England. Though it will be cold enough for snow in many areas at the outset of this system, warmer air coming in both at the surface and aloft will change it to rain. We will have to watch for a brief period of icing especially inland as some cold air may be trapped at the surface there Saturday night and Sunday morning. At this time, we are still too far away from the event to have any real confidence on details of this, so this possibility will be revisited and fine-tuned. Once we get to late Sunday, low pressure will be heading away and being replaced by windy and colder conditions which will last through Monday. By Tuesday, a small but possibly vigorous low pressure area may sweep through the region from the Great Lakes, bringing the chance of snow or mixed precipitation, however this fast-moving system would not have enough time to produce any large snow amounts. Look for more cold and windy weather behind that system as we’re finally able to tap some of the cold air in Canada and drag it down here. This does not look like the start of a long-lasting cold snap, however.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TONIGHT – NEW YEAR’S EVE: Partly cloudy with temperatures falling slowly through the 20s during the evening to near 20 many areas and upper 10s inland valleys by midnight. Overnight lows 15-20. Wind light SW.
THURSDAY – NEW YEAR’S DAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-35. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 15-20. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-35. Wind W 5-15 MPH
SATURDAY: Increasing clouds. Snow/mix arriving late day or night, changing to mix/rain overnight. Low 20. High 35.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with mix/rain morning. Mostly cloudy to partly sunny with rain to snow showers afternoon. Low 30. High 45.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 25. High 35.
TUESDAY: Clouding up. PM snow or snow showers. Low 20. High 30.

Thank you all for reading and contributing during 2014 and previously as well! Looking forward to 2015! Have a safe and happy New Year!

From the WHW Crew (TK and a small supporting cast who prefer to remain nameless).