DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 17-21)
We’ll have a wet St. Patrick’s Day today as a strong but slow-moving cold front moves west to east across the region and a wave of low pressure moves up along it, slowing its progress even more. It won’t be until tonight that we get rid of the rain from it, and sometime early Tuesday morning when we start to see clearing take place. But tomorrow does turn out to be a dry day with sun eventually returning, albeit with a gusty breeze as well. High pressure brings fair and more tranquil weather for Wednesday, but an increase in high clouds will be an indicator of the next approaching low pressure area. Spring arrives at 5:01 a.m. EDT with the occurrence of the vernal equinox on Thursday, but expect a mainly cloudy day with nighttime rain as low pressure and its frontal systems move into the region. This will bring a period of rain into Friday, which may end as mix/snow for some areas, especially interior higher elevations, as cold air arrives. A new low forms offshore and intensifies while pulling away via the Gulf of Maine, so expect a few lingering sprinkles of rain or flurries of snow with a gusty chilly breeze and breaking clouds Friday afternoon. The first full day of spring will feel a bit more like winter again…
TODAY: Overcast. Rain likely. Highs 53-60. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Rain ends evening. Patchy fog. Lows 33-40. Wind shifting to NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy start, then partly to mostly sunny. Highs 51-58. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 33-40. Wind NW to N diminishing to under 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 48-55 coast, 55-62 inland. Wind N up to 10 MPH shifting to E.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 35-42. Wind E under 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Cloudy. Highs 46-53. Wind SE 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain likely. Lows 38-45. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Cloudy morning with rain possibly ending as mix and/or snow, especially interior higher elevations. Partly sunny with a passing light rain or snow shower possible afternoon. Temperatures steady 38-45, may fall slightly. Wind N to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 22-26)
Upper trough and associated surface low / frontal system brings clouds and a brief precipitation chance later March 22 to early March 23. Cooler trend. More unsettled weather heading into next week – details TBD.
DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 27-31)
Cooler and unsettled pattern indicated for the end of March.