Forecast discussion: Like the previous low, the snow remained mostly along the coastline. Also, the storm stayed a little further out to sea, so the Cape and Islands only received about 5 inches, compared to the eight inches I had forecasted. Northern Rhode Island only received 1-3 inches, while the rest of the state received 3-5 inches.
With the low now far away from us, the next thing we need to worry about the next few days is some very frigid air. Arctic air coming down from Canada will engulf most of the eastern U.S., with well below normal temperatures. Our average high for this time of the year should be 37 degrees. By tomorrow afternoon, high temperatures will barely make it into the lower 20’s. Also, the evening temperatures will be bitterly cold. Starting tonight, our temperatures will fall into the single digits. It will remain this way right into Thursday evening.
By Friday, we may be out of the frying pan, but we may be going into the fire. The computer models are all beginning to agree on a low pressure system being in the central U.S. Friday morning. This low will slowly intensify and move just south of Southern New England Friday evening. Right now, the European and United Kingdom models show the low giving us some significant snowfall Friday night into early Saturday morning. However, the American model is beginning to diverge from the other models. In tonight’s run, the low does not even form until reaching the east coast, then staying well south of us. For now, I am still going for moderate snow to fall Friday night, before tapering off Saturday morning. But, if the models decide to slowly change the forecast track of the low, I will update you with the latest information by tomorrow evening.
High pressure will slowly build in on Sunday, bringing some drier weather. We will return to normal temperatures for the near end of January by Monday, although we may see some passing snow showers Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening.
72 hour forecast:
Tonight: Partly cloudy and very cold with an overnight low of 8. Wind chills will make it feel like 0 to 5 below zero.
Wednesday: Partly sunny and breezy with a high of 20. Winds will come from the west-northwest at 12-15 mph. Wind chills will make it feel like the single digits.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy and continued cold with a low of 7. Winds will come from the northwest at 6-9 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny and breezy with a high of 20.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy with a low of 6.
Friday: Cloudy with light snow starting in the late afternoon, and becoming heavier in the evening. It will be warmer, with the high reaching 23.
Friday night: Moderate snow with a low of 19.
Extended Forecast:
Saturday: Snow ends by mid-morning, but staying mostly cloudy and windy. Highs 25-28, lows 8-11.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs 25-28, lows 15-18.
Monday: Partly sunny with possible snow showers in the afternoon. Highs 34-37, lows 22-25.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with possible evening snow showers. Highs 37-40, lows 24-27.
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