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.

Comments will be open for 7 days…

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 16-20)

This 5-day forecast portion takes us through the final 4 days of winter and to the day we change seasons from winter to spring, but the most “spring-like” feeling weather is going to come today as a strengthening southerly wind overtakes the region. It starts out rather foggy in a good portion of the region however, as low level moisture has increased with a marine air mass driven into southern New England by the south wind behind a warm front. While the fog dissipates, the clouds will dominate, although it will stay mainly rain-free through the day with the exception of a few patches of light drizzle with the fog this morning and a possible passing sprinkle of rain in a few locations midday and afternoon. The mild air will push high temps to 60+ for most areas, but a modifying influence of the chilly ocean water will keep coastal areas, especially Cape Cod / South Coast, cooler. A slow-moving cold front will push into the region tonight and take most of the day Monday (St. Patrick’s Day) to pass by, slowed by an additional wave of low pressure. This results in widespread rain showers much of this time. Monday night, we dry out / clear out from west to east behind the front. Tuesday’s weather will be dry and breezy as high pressure builds eastward through the Great Lakes. Continued dry weather Wednesday will result from high pressure overhead extending into southeastern Canada, but also allow for a bigger temperature contrast from cool eastern coastal areas with an onshore breeze to much milder conditions further inland. Thursday’s weather will feature an increase in clouds as the next trough starts to approach from the west, but the early thought is that we’ll stay dry during the day and see a chance of some rainfall arriving at night. The vernal equinox occurs at 5:01 a.m. EDT Thursday March 20.

TODAY: Cloudy. Areas of fog and patchy light drizzle this morning. A passing sprinkle of rain possible midday on. Highs 51-58 South Coast, 59-66 elsewhere. Wind S increasing to 10-20 MPH, gusts around 30 MPH.

TONIGHT: Cloudy. Widespread rain showers. Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

MONDAY: Cloudy with rain showers likely through mid afternoon, diminishing west to east, then late-day breaking clouds, especially west of I-95. Highs 55-62. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to NW.

MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 52-59. 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: Mostly clear. Lows 35-42. Wind E under 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Increasing clouds. Chance of rain at night. Highs 46-53. Wind SE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 21-25)

The first full day of spring on March 21 might remind you more of winter with a chill northerly wind as a cold front moves offshore, rain that may end as mix/snow and some lingering rain/mix/snow showers behind that. The March 22-23 weekend will feature an upper level low crossing the region and while it will be precipitation-free most of the time, there can be some scattered rain/mix/snow showers with fairly cool weather dominant. Additional unsettled weather is a potential for later in the period as well.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 26-30)

Cooler and unsettled pattern indicated for late month.

Starting with the next update, the NOAA / NWS Staffing Discussion will be put up for the entire week, with comments allowed to be made for 7 days. Since the discussion is limited here, like what I did with the separate covid posts back in 2020 / 2021, one post per week will suffice. It’s easy to find on the side menu if you wish to add commentary at any time during the week!

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 15-19)

Early this morning, a layer of marine stratus clouds and some patchy fog made for a grey start to the day across much of the region. Exception: Merrimack Valley / southern NH, where this layer didn’t reach, and once the sun rose above it in the sky to the east, it’s filtered by high clouds above. But some advancement of the stratus deck into that region can occur early on, before we see a thinning / breaking trend with some partial sun in other areas today. I don’t have faith in complete clearing, but we’ll see how much sun can manage to make its way through the clouds as we go through the day. An increasing southerly air flow as a warm front goes by starts to pull more low level moisture into our region with time, and this will start to initiate lower clouds again coming off the ocean to the south. This will become more pronounced tonight and Sunday with a stronger southerly wind. We should be dry (as in rain-free) over most areas through the daylight hours of Sunday, with the exception of a few sprinkles and drizzle as a result of that increasing low level moisture as we head through tonight and Sunday. The trade-off will be unseasonably warm air, with many areas exceeding 60 for high temps on Sunday. However, the air coming off the chilly water closer to the South Coast will have a modifying effect in those areas, which don’t make it to 60. The large storm system that has been impacting the middle of the US (Texas, Plains, Midwest) with everything from tornadoes and thunderstorms to dust storms to a snowstorm, depending on location, will track through the Great Lakes into Canada as we head through the weekend. While additional severe thunderstorms occur from the Midwest to Southeast today, we’ll not have to worry about that, only waiting for the cold front’s rain band to move into and through the region Sunday evening into Monday. This will be a slow process, and a wave of low pressure forming on the front as it starts to push off the East Coast may even prolong the rain a bit longer here into Monday, before some drying arrives from the west. The timing of this will determine whether or not we see any breaks / sun before sunset on St. Patrick’s Day. High pressure builds Tuesday and Wednesday with fair weather. Tuesday will feature a cool northwesterly breeze. Wednesday will have less wind overall, but a cooling coastal sea breeze. While Tuesday’s temperatures are more uniform for highs, Wednesday we can see a larger contrast from coastal to inland areas.

TODAY: Early to mid morning overcast with areas of fog except partial sun far northern MA and southern NH. Mostly cloudy to partly sunny thereafter. Highs 49-56, coolest coastal areas. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. A patch of drizzle and areas of fog possible. Lows 44-51. Wind S up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. A passing light rain shower possible. Highs 51-58 South Coast, 59-66 elsewhere. Wind S increasing to 10-20 MPH, gusts around 30 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Widespread rain showers. Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

MONDAY: Cloudy with rain showers likely through mid afternoon, diminishing west to east, then late-day breaking clouds, especially west of I-95. Highs 55-62. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to NW.

MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 52-59. 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 becoming variable inland with coastal sea breezes developing.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 20-24)

The vernal equinox (astronomical start of spring) occurs at 5:01 a.m. EDT March 20. Our weather pattern during this period turns more unsettled, starting mild with one frontal system bringing some wet weather between late March 20 and early March 21. Additional rain/mix/snow showers possible with cooler weather after that.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 25-29)

Cooler and unsettled pattern indicated for late month.

NOAA / NWS Staffing Discussion (3/15/2025)

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 14-18)

Yesterday turned out nicer in terms of sunshine than I’d expected even in the short term. Marine stratus clouds have made a comeback overnight, but not enough to prevent a lot of the region from having the chance to see the lunar eclipse. Nice view from here in fact – glad I stayed up for it! The low clouds will break up again today for at least partial sun while some higher clouds drift across the sky above, and it’ll be a little bit milder than yesterday, though we still sit on the cooler side of a frontal boundary, which will finally lift through the region by early Saturday. This sets us up for an increasing southerly air flow ahead of a slow-moving cold front, which won’t arrive until Sunday night / early Monday. While much of the weekend itself is rain-free, we do run the risk of a passing rain shower any time Sunday, before a more widespread band of showers arrives at night into Monday with the front. We may even see some embedded thunder with it. Stronger southerly winds will occur Sunday after a more modest breeze Saturday. This air flow at this time of year keeps the South Coast cooler than the remainder of the region, and we’ll see that as well. A drying trend is expected to get underway from west to east by midday Monday, and we may see some clearing before the day is over on St. Patrick’s Day. This will be follows by fair weather Tuesday as high pressure builds toward the region.

TODAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind E shifting to S 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 45-52. Wind S up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of a passing rain shower. Highs 50-57 South Coast, 58-65 elsewhere. Wind S 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-35 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers likely. Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

MONDAY: Cloudy with rain showers likely through midday, then breaking clouds. Highs 55-62. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to W.

MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 52-59. Wind W 10-20 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 19-23)

The final hours of winter will be met with fair and milder weather as high pressure builds off the Mid Atlantic Coast. Vernal equinox – 5:01 a.m. EDT March 20. The mild air is good for both March 19 and 20 before a strong cold front arrives and flips it to a chilly pattern late next week with an initial band of rain showers and then a few scattered rain/snow showers thereafter.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 24-28)

Cooler and unsettled pattern indicated. Details to come.

NOAA / NWS Staffing Discussion (3/14/2025)

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 13-17)

A few areas saw a burst of snow showers last night, as indicated, leaving up to 1/2 inch, while most areas didn’t see much of anything. Any snow that did fall will melt away in short order today, although it will be a chilly and rather cloudy day today, north of a frontal boundary and with a light onshore flow. A warm front will amble its way northward tonight and Friday, still with lots of clouds, but perhaps with enough breaking to at least catch some of the early morning total lunar eclipse, which peaks at 2:55 a.m., and maybe also enough for some intervals of sunshine on Friday during the day. Our weekend, still looks the same – increasing southerly air flow as a big storm tracks from the Midwest through the Great Lakes into Canada. We stay rain-free most of the weekend, other than a few showers around during the day Sunday, until a more solid band of rain showers moves through the region Sunday night with the storm’s slow moving cold front. This front buckles a bit as a wave of low pressure moves up along it Monday, prolonging the wet weather here for several hours, before a drying trend begins later Monday – St. Pat’s Day.

TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Considerably cloudy / some breaks. Lows 35-42. Wind E 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind E shifting to S 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 45-52. Wind S 5-15 MPH, gusts 20+ MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, gusts 25+ MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of a passing rain shower. Highs 50-57 South Coast, 58-65 elsewhere. Wind S 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-35 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers likely. Slight chance of a thunderstorm. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

MONDAY: Cloudy with rain showers likely through midday, then breaking clouds. Highs 55-62. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to W.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 18-22)

Fair, cool weather heading into the middle of next week the some potential unsettled weather later in the week, coinciding with the start of spring. Vernal equinox: 5:01 a.m. EDT March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 23-27)

Active pattern. A couple storm systems threaten, and cannot rule out some mix/frozen precip being involved.

NOAA / NWS Staffing Discussion (3/13/2025)

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 12-16)

A cold front moved through last night, and while you wouldn’t have really noticed that at first even if you were outside, you’ll notice it today, as it’s 15 to 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. This cooler spell will last a couple days, and while the frontal boundary attempts to return as a warm front, high pressure to the north will thwart its progress for a while. A little overrunning enhanced by a weak disturbance aloft will trigger a band of precipitation tonight, which looks like it’ll take the form of a fairly narrow band stretching from west to east, also moving from west to east, starting as a mix or a bit of rain then going over to some snow. Wherever this is, a coating of snow can occur, but will melt away early Thursday once the precipitation moves out. The clouds will remain stubborn on Thursday, and we can only hope enough breaks work in to at least get a limited view of a total lunar eclipse, occurring in the post-midnight / pre-dawn hours Friday. I’ll update with exact times next blog if it looks like we have a shot to see it. Friday’s weather will feature a lot of clouds and a slightly milder air mass as the warm front does finally amble its way across the region, very slowly. This sets us up for a breezy, warmer weekend with a moderate to strong southerly air flow. This will be occurring ahead of a major Midwest / Great Lakes storm which produces severe weather in the South and a snowstorm in parts of the Plains to Upper Midwest. For us, we just see lots of clouds, and at most some spotty rain showers by Sunday afternoon, evolving into a more widespread rain shower event Sunday night as a slow-moving cold front approaches and moves in from the west.

TODAY: Sun filtered at times by high clouds through early afternoon, then limited by more high to middle clouds thereafter, also a few lower clouds around the eastern coastal areas. Highs 43-50. Wind N shifting to E 5-15 MPH, gusts 20-25 MPH.

TONIGHT: Becoming cloudy. A period of rain/mix to snow showers with minor accumulation, favoring the I-90 belt and up to about 25 miles south of it and 35 miles north of it. Lows 32-39. Wind E 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind E 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 47-54. Wind E shifting to S 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 45-52. Wind S 5-15 MPH, gusts 20+ MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, gusts 25+ MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of a passing rain shower during the day. Widespread rain showers at night. Highs 50-57 South Coast, 58-65 elsewhere. Wind S 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-35 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 17-21)

A slow-moving cold front pushes through the region with additional widespread rain showers for St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, with maybe a later-day drying trend. Fair, cool weather heading into the middle of next week the some potential unsettled weather later in the week, coinciding with the start of spring. Vernal equinox: 5:01 a.m. EDT March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 22-26)

Battle ground pattern, cold to north, mild to south, a couple storms systems can impact the region and the region may end up on the cold side of at least one of them with potential frozen precipitation.

NOAA / NWS Staffing Discussion (3/12/2025)

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 11-15)

High pressure provides fair, mild weather today, before a cold front crosses the region and brings March reality back for midweek. High pressure builds to our north and turns the wind north then east, with lots of clouds. As warmer air attempts to come back aloft first, overrunning can create a little snow / mix in the early hours of Thursday, which may end as a bit of light rain / drizzle. We have a lunar eclipse coming up in the early hours of Friday morning, and being optimistic I think we have a 50/50 shot at best at getting some breaks in the clouds enough to see it, but otherwise it looks like clouds are going to be dominant into late week as well, while a warm front struggles to get through here on Friday, which will still be a cool day. The front should push through later Friday and certainly by Saturday, and while it will be considerably milder, don’t look for complete clearing. It does look precipitation-free at least, for the end of the week / start of the weekend.

TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, gusts 20+ MPH.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to NW, gusts 20+ MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 43-50. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, shifting to NE.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clouding up. Scattered light snow/mix overnight – minor accumulation of snow possible on unpaved surfaces. Lows 32-39. Wind NE to E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Potential for lingering light mix / rain / drizzle early. Highs 39-46. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 43-50. Wind E to SE up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Temperatures steady 43-50. Wind SE to S 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind S 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 16-20)

A strong storm moving through the Midwest / Great Lakes into Canada will create a stronger southerly air flow on the March 16 with warm air but lots of clouds and eventually wet weather (late day / night) with rain showers. Clearing may be delayed March 17 with additional wet weather as it cools. Fair weather and near to below normal temperature middle of next week with a stronger westerly air flow. The Vernal Equinox (start of spring) occurs at 5:01 a.m. EDT on March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 21-25)

Battle ground pattern, cold to north, mild to south, a couple storms systems can impact the region and the region may end up on the cold side of at least one of them with potential frozen precipitation.

NOAA / NWS Staffing Discussion (3/11/2025)

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 10-14)

A disturbance exits our eastern coast as the sun comes up today, delaying the appearance of the sun a bit as it needs to work its way above a deck of clouds out there first. But it will turn out to be a nice day as high pressure builds in and provides fair, milder weather. This milder trend continues Tuesday as well with more fair weather. Only a brief rain shower can visit parts of the region Tuesday evening as a cold front slices through from northwest to southeast, parented by another quick-moving low passing to our north. High pressure builds north of our region at midweek, sending chilly air back, and as the front that went by previously sits just to the south then tries to work north again, that combined with some onshore flow will bring more clouds and eventually a light precipitation chance (Thursday). I’m not currently optimistic for much in the way of clearing Friday, as high pressure slides off to the east, but centered a little too far north for a southerly wind – more east to southeast – which holds clouds in and makes it harder for that front to cleanly push through, though it will moderate in comparison to midweek as it looks now.

TODAY: Early clouds eastern coastal areas, then sun and passing clouds. Highs 50-57. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH with a few higher gusts.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 30-37. Wind W under 10 MPH shifting to SW.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. A rain shower possible in the evening. Lows 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to NW.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 45-52. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Postential for some light rain/mix/snow overnight. Lows 34-41. Wind NE to E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Potential for light rain/mix through midday. Highs 42-49. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind E to SE up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 48-55. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 15-19)

A strong storm moving through the Midwest / Great Lakes into Canada will create a stronger southerly air flow on the March 15-16 weekend with mostly fair weather and above normal temperatures, though probably lots of clouds, but fair weather giving way to a band of rain showers ahead of a cold front later Sunday. This should lead to fair, colder weather early to middle next week as a strong westerly flow returns.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 20-24)

Battle ground pattern, cold to north, mild to south, a couple storms systems can impact the region and the region may end up on the cold side of at least one of them with potential frozen precipitation. Vernal Equinox occurs early morning March 20.