DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 7-11)
Low pressure southeast of the region will start to pull away as today progresses, but there will still be some rain around this morning and midday, with a drying trend from west to east getting underway from late morning on, so that Cape Cod is the last to see the rain come to an end this afternoon. As the low pressure area organizes and intensifies upon departure, we’ll see a strengthening northerly wind behind the system. Eventually, enough dry air will get in so that the low level moisture departs, as above the storm’s thicker and more extensive cloud deck departs. A sliver of high pressure approaches and moves into the region on Friday, and this will provide a good deal of sunshine for much of the region. The exception will be Cape Cod, and at times maybe parts of the MA South Shore, as the high’s axis being to the west, with low pressure still to the east, creates a north northeast wind off the water and pushes some ocean-effect clouds over those areas – most extensively across Cape Cod where sun may remain unseen or at least limited. As our next low pressure area starts to approach the region, the surface wind will turn more easterly as we head into Saturday, pushing the lower cloud deck back to the west and expanding it northward as well, so we may see that overtake the sky as a higher to mid level cloud deck from the approaching low moves in and thickens up. Other than the potential for a patch of drizzle in southeastern MA Saturday afternoon, I expect rain-free conditions through the daylight hours Saturday. Saturday night and Sunday morning, low pressure will move across the Northeast, with a parent low moving northwest of our region, and a redevelopment taking place right over southern New England Sunday morning. This will be a rain event for the region with the exception of a brief period of wet snow or mixed wet snow and rain in higher elevations of north central MA and southwestern NH Saturday evening. A quick enough evolution of low pressure Sunday morning can pull enough cold air back in to result in a mix at the end of the rainfall in similar locations. The balance of Sunday should feature lots of clouds, but drying conditions, along with a gusty westerly wind behind the departing low pressure area. Monday looks like a blustery and chilly day with a few passing sprinkles of rain or flurries of snow, as a strong area of low pressure lingers to our east.
TODAY: Cloudy. Areas of fog through midday. Rain and drizzle through midday – drying trend west to east with rain lingering longest Cape Cod. Temperatures steady 38-45 except rising to 45-52 RI and southeastern MA briefly before cooling again. Wind NE 5-15 MPH with higher gusts except variable to SW for a brief time Cape Cod / Islands before shifting to NNE 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Cloudy evening. Clearing overnight except clouds remaining MA South Shore to Cape Cod. Lows 32-39. Wind NNE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts especially eastern coastal areas in the evening.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny except partly sunny MA South Shore and mostly cloudy Cape Cod. Highs 42-49. Wind NNE-N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts coast.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind N 5-15 MPH early, then variable before becoming E up to 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Partial sun possible especially north and west of Boston early, otherwise cloudy. Highs 42-49. Wind E to SE 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Rain, which may begin mixed with wet snow higher elevations north central MA and southwestern NH. Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Areas of fog. Lows 38-45. Wind SE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts in coastal areas.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with rain and areas of fog during the morning. Rain ends midday followed by breaking but still abundant clouds in the afternoon. Highs 46-53. Wind variable 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, becoming W 10-20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH during the afternoon.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. A snow shower possible. Lows 30-37. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts around 30 MPH.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. A rain or snow shower possible. Highs 40-47. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts up to 30 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 12-16)
Dry weather March 12. Quick-passing system may produce rain/snow showers later March 13. Dry weather March 14. Next threat of unsettled weather comes late March 15 into March 16. Temperatures near to below normal March 12, near normal midweek, above normal late week.
DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 18-21)
Pattern as we head through the final days of winter and welcome spring (vernal equinox March 19) looks active with variable temperatures including a couple precipitation events that may include frozen or mixed.