Cooler than normal temperatures will continue over the next several days. A cold front moved across the area last night with little fanfare, but the end result was to bring a reinforcing shot of cold air for the weekend. Low pressure ripples along the front to the south of New England today and moves out to sea harmlessly tonight. Although there was a chance of light snow or flurries today, from the system to our south, that chance is all but gone now as the most we see are some clouds from this weak disturbance. Skies will tend to clear overnight. High temperatures today 35 to 40 degrees, with tonight’s lows 20 to 25. These readings are some 5 to 10 degrees below normal, depending on your location. Northwest winds of 5 to 15 mph.
Saint Patrick’s Day is looking to be sunny and quite chilly as Canadian high pressure takes hold of our weather. If you are heading out for the parade in Boston be sure to bundle up. Highs will range from 34 to 38 degrees. Winds are expected to gust to 25 mph from the northwest, reducing wind chills into the 20s. Despite the sunshine it will feel like winter out there. Another cold night is on tap for Sunday night, even colder from recent nights, with the mercury tumbling to 16 to 21 degrees.
Monday is to start out sunny and cold as the high crests over New England. Clouds will be on the increase in advance of a storm system that is destined to give us stormy weather through Tuesday. Highs on Monday remaining well below normal at 33 to 37 degrees. Light and variable winds.
Monday night is when we think the action begins as low pressure approaches. One low over the Great Lakes will give way to a developing coastal low south of New England. As the energy transfers to the coastal low it is expected to blow up into a significant coastal storm. The track of the storm is forecast to pass across southeast Massachusetts and into the Gulf of Maine Tuesday. As is usually the case this time of year the forecast will be tricky. With enough cold air in place we should start out with a burst of snow Monday night, with a good chance of mixing with and changing to rain on the coast Tuesday. The interior sections, especially west of Route 95 and north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, may bear the brunt of accumulating snow. If the cold air holds in long enough throughout the interior there would be the possibility of several inches of snowfall there. Too early to nail it down any further at this time. The Tuesday morning commute will probably be a challenging one, again especially along and west of Route 95. A slight shift in the track and this changes the precipitation type and who gets accumulating snow. We will keep you posted on what will likely be an important storm for the area. Expect temperatures to remain generally in the 30s throughout the storm.
A couple of other impacts that need to be watched is the possibility for gusty winds and minor coastal issues. The tides are not astronomically high right now, but for those coastal areas that have taken such a beating this winter we could see additional beach erosion. It is purely speculative at this point. Stay tuned!
Precipitation winds down Tuesday night and a partly cloudy and blustery day will be with us on Wednesday. Highs only around 35 degrees.
Although most of us would like it to be over, winter is not finished here just yet. In case your wondering, the Groundhog was completely wrong as winter continues!
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