At this time of year many of us want to get outdoors and begin to enjoy the milder weather. That was certainly true last year but this March has been the complete opposite. Just when we can see the ground again another storm is on our doorstep and is poised to bring most of us snow later tonight and Tuesday. Heavy snow for some, a wintry mix for others and perhaps rain for a few will all be on Tuesdays weather menu as we brace for the last storm of the winter. I say that because Wednesday is astronomical spring and although we may see more snow before this month is done it will be springtime snow as winter comes to a close early Wednesday morning.
As for the immediate future we have a storm system that will redevelop on the New Jersey coast and move slowly northeastward Tuesday. The center of the storm is projected to be just east of Boston by Tuesday evening. Snow will overspread the area from southwest to northeast later tonight and pick up in intensity during the early morning hours of Tuesday as the storm strengthens. By the Tuesday morning commute we should have a few inches of snow on the ground with periods of heavy snow continuing. The forecast gets complicated as the low approaches. Although far interior sections will see mostly snow, along and inside of Route 95 may have a period of a wintry mix, with a chance of rain right along the immediate coast for a brief period. Any mixing or changeover would occur mid to late morning but as the low moves to our east we will see a transition back to all snow as it becomes colder. Although the precipitation becomes lighter for a time during the midday hours we have to watch for another burst of heavier snow later in the afternoon and evening before winding down by midnight. That means the evening commute will also be impacted, if the burst of snow occurs.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect throughout the forecast area until 8 pm Tuesday.
If you are along and west of the Route 495 belt snow may accumulate 9 to 13 inches there, 6 to 9 inches along and west of Route 95 and generally 4 to 6 inches inside of Route 95 to the coast with the lowest amounts on the coastline. Any slight shift in the storm track will impact these totals, especially closer to the coast.
Temperatures tonight will not be anywhere near as cold as the last few nights, with the lows ranging from 26 to 30 degrees. Highs on Tuesday about 34 well inland to near 38 on the immediate coast. Lows Tuesday night will tumble to around 25 degrees.
Winds start to ramp up later tonight, gusting to 25 or 30 mph after midnight from the east. Easterly winds continue Tuesday, with gusts to near 40 mph on the coast. Winds back to the north by Tuesday night and continue gusty.
A cold and blustery day will greet us for the first day of spring on Wednesday. Although we will see periods of sun a snow flurry is also possible well inland. Highs will struggle to reach 40 degrees and with gusty northwest winds it will feel much colder as wind chills run in the 20s.
Believe it or not we have to watch another coastal low as it slides south of New England on Thursday. There remains the possibility it touches us with a period of light snow Thursday or Thursday night.
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