7:37AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 23-27)
The front that came down from the north early yesterday attempted to move back to the north and was met with a struggle due to stubborn cold air at the surface, which held temperatures near to below freezing in a good portion of central to northeastern MA and southern NH, resulting in freezing drizzle, some freezing rain, and icy conditions. The warm air finally wins out today though, preceded by fog in areas that are still cool, and accompanied by wet weather including some heavy rainfall. All of this clears the region west to east by tonight as a strong cold front from the west pushes through, and then the middle to late part of the week will be cold and dry before it moderates to start the weekend. Forecast details…
TODAY: Lingering icy areas central MA and southern NH early. Overcast through mid afternoon with areas of fog and drizzle through mid morning then numerous rain showers, some heavy including the chance of thunder, from late morning through mid afternoon except later afternoon Cape Cod as clouds break in areas to the west. Highs 52-60. Wind light E early then S increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts above 30 MPH except above 40 MPH from the I-95 belt eastward.
TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 33-40. Wind W 15-25 MPH with higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY: Sunny. Highs 35-42. Wind W 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows in the 10s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.
SATURDAY: Partly sunny. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 40s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1)
Mild and windy with a risk of rain showers January 28 into January 29 then windy and colder later January 29 into January 30 with drier weather. Continued dry and more tranquil but still chilly through January 31. A turn to milder February 1 may be accompanied by light precipitation.

DAYS 11-15 (FEBRUARY 2-6)
Mild and unsettled February 2 then drier and a little colder followed by a possible winter precipitation threat later in the period. Timing will be very uncertain this far out.

7:39AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 22-26)
A cold front slipped quietly through from north to south overnight and will make its way back northward as a warm front, but will take about 24 hours to do so, resulting in a cool, damp Monday. It may be cold enough over interior northern MA and southern NH for a little snow/sleet/ice. We get into the warm sector but with more wet weather Tuesday until a cold front moves through from west to east. This will be followed by colder, dry weather for the middle to end of the week.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Cloudy. Chance of light rain except light snow/sleet/rain north central MA and southern NH. Highs 36-43. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Rain likely except a period of freezing rain possible interior valleys north central MA and southern NH evening. Lows 30-38 evening, rising to 38-45 overnight. Wind light NE to E, shifting to SE overnight.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Numerous rain showers, some possibly heavy, with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs 46-53. Wind S 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Temperatures falling from the 40s to the 20s.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and breezy. Lows from the middle 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to middle 30s.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows in the 10s. Highs in the 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 27-31)
Weekend will be milder with dry weather January 27 and rain showers January 28. Windy/colder start to next week then dry and more tranquil but still on the chilly side for the final couple days of January as high pressure dominates.

DAYS 11-15 (FEBRUARY 1-5)
Look for a shift to milder but also somewhat unsettled weather to start the month of February.

7:09AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 21-25)
The mild weekend will continue today, not totally sunny, but not bad at all for late January. The forecast for the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Jaguars remains about the same: middle 40s at kick-off, upper 30s at game’s end, a light wind, and dry conditions. The nice weather comes to an end early in the week as a cold front drops innocuously southward across the region in the early hours of Monday and then sits just south of the region as low pressure heads for the Great Lakes. Eventually it turns wet with periods of rain developing by later Monday, though just enough cold air may be in place for a little snow and/or sleet over interior areas especially north central MA and southern NH for a time Monday night. By Tuesday morning, the front that went by as a cold front early Monday will head back north as a warm front and with the cold front on its heels we’ll see additional rainfall in the form of frequent rain showers, some heavy. By Wednesday, this is all gone and we’re into a period of windy, colder, dry weather which will last through Thursday.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 43-50. Wind W 5-10 MPH, gusts to 15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind W up to 10 MPH shifting to N.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Chance of light rain except light sleet/rain north central MA and southern NH afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Rain likely except a period of snow and/or sleet possible interior MA/NH first. Lows 32-40 evening, rising into 40s overnight. Wind light NE to E, shifting to SE overnight.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Numerous rain showers, some possibly heavy, with a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs 46-53. Wind S 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Temperatures falling from the 40s to the 20s.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and breezy. Lows from the middle 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to middle 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 26-30)
Fair and cold January 26 then fair and milder January 27 as high pressure dominates then moves off to the east. Expecting the storm track to take the next low through the Great Lakes and north of New England with a mild rain shower episode January 28 but a quick switch to windy/colder with a few snow showers possible January 29 then fair and chilly weather January 30.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 4)
A fair/cold end to January and a milder and unsettled start to February are the current medium range indications.

They say your memory of events is skewed by age. This is somewhat true. Your whole life is only 10 years long when you’re 10 years old. When you’re 50, it’s half a century. That makes a difference. “It used to snow all the time like this when I was young.” or “There was always so much snow on the ground when I was a little kid.” Go back in history if you can. Look it up. You’ll find that both of those statements are not really true. We remember things differently when we are younger, and we perceive them with a bit of this remaining skew as we get older. This holds true for any event, not just a weather-related one. But there are some things that you just really do remember quite well, and the winter of 1977-1978 was one that I remember quite well. This is a look back to how I experienced it through my 10-year-old senses.

My interest in weather goes way back. I remember being fascinated by snow, and thunderstorms (though a bit scared by these), and windy days, and roads flooded by heavy rains, and on and on. Some of this interest, and maybe a good part of it, was fueled by one of my brothers and his own interest in weather. I remember his finger flipping pages of books he’d checked out of the local library and pointing out black and white photos of tornadoes in the Plains and other fascinating captures. The quality was not great in these already-worn book pages, but the picture they painted in my head was very clear. I wanted to learn more about all of these things. Someday I’d go to school to become a “weather man”. Well, I grew up and did that, and have been one ever since. But that is not where the magic lies. Although I enjoy the challenge day to day of trying to predict what this vast ocean of air, interacting with water and earth, is going to do, the real beauty and excitement is just seeing and experiencing the results of these interactions, whether I predicted them correctly or not. Ever since I can remember, this has been endlessly fascinating to me, and it never gets old. I get this excitement from viewing a tuft of cirrus clouds moving across the sky above the distant horizon on a hot, sunny summer day, knowing that beyond that horizon lies an icy tundra already preparing to make the cold air that will bring us our winter blasts and threats of snow in the months that lie ahead. Anticipation of events is often as fun as the event itself. Those cirrus clouds are as exciting to me as the weather I’m about to describe, because it’s all connected. For me, it all leads to the same thing – the amazing atmosphere and its constant battle to make itself the same temperature, pressure, moisture content, and stubbornly, persistently, and powerfully thwarted by the sun that the world the atmosphere covers revolves around. And as if adding frosting to an already perfectly-baked cake, we have the tilt of the planet giving us our seasons. It’s such a perfect recipe for inconsistency… change… weather. We’re lucky and I’m lucky to be here to witness it at this time in celestial history.

It is this fascination with every day weather that drove me to want to start a weather diary to record what went on day to day. By chance, the first day of this diary was January 1, 1978, in a small pocket calendar in which I tried (and often times failed) as neatly as possible to describe the weather of each day in the little box. This would change in years to come, but this is how it started out. But I don’t need to go to my weather keepsake box in the attic and dig out that diary to remember the weather pretty much day-to-day for the entire month of January 1978, the month BEFORE the big one came. That was an exciting month, for sure, as the dynamic weather pattern in place that I had pretty much no understanding of would deliver several events that would loudly remind me of how much I loved observing it. So from memory, this is my account of my view of things from Woburn, Massachusetts, during the first month of 1978.

Back in December 1977, before Christmas, though I don’t remember the date, we had some kind of ocean-effect snow event that had delivered several inches of snow to my area and had me very excited for a white Christmas and I had already decided at that point that I was going to start a weather diary on New Year’s Day. I remember that the year started on a Sunday and sometime that night a weather system moved in and after it cleared the region early on Monday January 2 it had left behind about 5 inches of snow in the region. I was not measuring snowfall myself at age 10, but I was getting the information from my weather-loving older brother who would take the measurements in the yard, and was quite a stickler for accuracy, so though many of my snow amounts in my diary are to the nearest inch, he probably had more detailed recordings somewhere. I still remember him telling me that it was 101 degrees on a sizzling summer day in 1975. But back to 1978. After that early snowfall, it got quiet for the better part of a week with no events of significant note through Sunday January 8. But late that week, the weather pattern was charging itself up and ready to unleash a tirade of storms on this area, 6 in all, from the period of January 9 through January 26…

The January 9 event, a Monday, was similar to the warm storm we had about 10 days after our January 4 2018 snowstorm. It was due to low pressure tracking northwest of the region, putting us on the warm side, with an influx of tropical air pushing temperatures into the 50s and 60s. The 1978 event was one that carried quite a bit of wind with it. I remember people, including us, getting water in basements from the combination of heavy rain and partly frozen ground. By the end of that day the sky had cleared and the temperature had fallen to far below freezing. Tuesday January 10 was a breather day, but that breath was short, because on the morning of Wednesday January 11 we were in the midst of a sleet storm which had been preceded by a few inches of snow. The sleet itself piled up, and then was replaced by heavy rain. I remember being in my very waterproof rubber boots and walking through 5 or 6 inches of waterlogged snow/sleet while being completely ignorant as I did’t realize until later, my family’s efforts to clear this tremendously weighted mass of winter glob from the walkways and driveway before the freeze came the following day. They got it done, and I just had fun sloshing around in it and probably finding a way to get the inside of my “waterproof” boots wet. If social media existed back then, I can only imagine the posts about weather that would have surfaced after that event, but oh, we were not done… I awoke on Friday January 13 to that extra bright white glow you get through your closed window shades that can only mean one thing: snow. There was snow, and quite a bit of it, enough to cancel school for the day. There are 2 distinctive memories I have from this event. One is my brother’s super-excited reaction every time he heard “Woburn” mentioned among the school cancellations and me saying something like “you already heard it 3 times, how many more times do you need to hear it?”. I also remember the song “Sentimental Lady” by Bob Welch (formerly of Fleetwood Mac) coming on the radio and that song has since been a “snow song” for me. The “Friday the 13th” storm produced a solid foot of snow here and provided plenty of outside play opportunity for that day and the weekend.

I suppose after 3 significant storms in 7 days, we needed a break, and we got one through January 19. But when break time was over, it was over. On Friday January 20 came the “forgotten blizzard”. Oh it was certainly not initially forgotten, given that it produced 20 inches of snow in 12 hours at Logan Airport in Boston setting a new record, with the final storm total at Boston of just over 21 inches. Needless to say it was another no-school day, as would be the following Monday, as crews already strained from the recent storminess had all they could do to clear the wind-drifted almost 2 feet of snow that fell in Woburn and nearby areas. That was a pretty epic storm by the standards we use here. One clear yet somewhat sad memory I have from that storm is my best friend at the time and his family driving away in a car and moving truck during the height of the storm and disappearing into the white curtain of blowing snow on the first leg of their cross-country move to the desert of Nevada. But the kid mind is easily distracted, and just 6 days later there would come another big distraction of the weather variety…

Thursday January 26 1978 was the day of the Blizzard of ’78. “Wait! The blizzard of ’78 was in February! You’re wrong!” Very true. Our Blizzard of ’78 was indeed in February, but Chicago’s was on this date, January 26, as a massive storm system cranked its way through the Midwest and Great Lakes, giving the epic blizzard to areas just northwest of the track of the storm’s center. But this track to New England’s west put us here in the warm side, and oh was it warm. Into the 60s we went with heavy rain and southeasterly gales. It was another day of water in the basement and one of the only days I remember school being cancelled due to a rain event. But with so much snow on the ground from six days earlier, the water had limited options of draining and the flooding was pretty significant. But those tropical temperatures, rain, and wind, took pretty much the entirety of the snow from the major storms before it and wiped it out. Official snowcover was reduced to 0 to 3 inches across much of eastern Massachusetts by the time the January 26 storm was done. But when that storm was done, it was not exiting without drama. By the end of the day the sun was out brightly, the wind had switched direction, coming from the northwest, and bitterly cold air that had once helped create the blizzard in the Midwest was now dropping the temperatures here in my home city from the 60s during that morning to the teens that night, with wind chills below zero. Amazing.

As the month drew to a close, its final days were on the quiet side but arctic cold had taken hold and you just knew that winter was not done playing with us like a cat batting a new toy around. It was just taking a little snooze, storm-wise, and leaving us with a very cold reminder that it wasn’t going anywhere soon…

_____________

I’ll be posting another special blog about the Blizzard of 1978 on the anniversary of that storm in early February. I hope you enjoyed this look back at January 1978!

9:26AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 20-24)
The weekend will be dominated by a westerly flow and mild air and will eliminate the existing snow cover (where it is) once again, except for some of the larger piles remaining from the above normal snowfall of early winter, and some of the snow cover protected by woods or on north-facing slopes of hills where it was deeper and persisted from previous events. “Forget the snow, tell me about the Patriots game!” If you say that, then I can’t tell you about Tom Brady’s status but I can tell you that the game will be played in dry weather with a game time temperature about 45 degrees and that it will cool to the upper 30s by the end of the game with generally light westerly breezes. However, there is colder air on the way and will arrive via a cold front from the north in the early hours of Monday. This front will not get too far south of the region but will get far enough to allow the colder air in as a storm system heads for the Great Lakes, where it will traverse on its way to passing north of New England by later Tuesday. But the cold air that moves in will set the stage for some snow and sleet at least over interior southern New England for a time on Monday night before it warms enough for rain in all areas Tuesday. Beyond this, windy, and colder conditions will return as dry weather arrives behind the departing system for the middle of next week. Forecast details…
TODAY: Partly cloudy with most clouds through mid morning. Highs 45-52. Wind W 10-15 MPH, gusts to 20 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 28-35. Wind W 5-10 MPH, gusts to 15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy with most sun through mid afternoon. Highs 43-50. Wind W 5-10 MPH, gusts to 15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind W up to 10 MPH shifting to N.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Rain coast, rain/sleet/snow interior at night. Highs 35-42. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Rain likely. Lows from the upper 20s to middle 30s. Highs in the 40s to lower 50s.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny and windy. Temperatures falling from the 40s to the 20s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 25-29)
Fair, cold start then moderating trend January 25-27 as high pressure dominates and slips off to the east by later in the period. Early indications are for low pressure tracking north of the region and a mild rain or rain shower event January 28 followed by a quick cool-down and windy weather at the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 3)
A fair/cold end to January and a milder and unsettled start to February is the very early call for this period.

7:32AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 19-23)
We have made it through the “front-loaded” portion of the winter and have reached the point of the relaxing weather pattern. It doesn’t mean winter is over and spring is here. It doesn’t mean we’re done with cold air and threats of wintry precipitation. It does mean we’re in a new weather pattern, and the next 5 days will preview that with a cycle of fair weather, starting chilly but moderating, then ending unsettled with a storm tracking northwest of the region. However before that storm does that, a cold front will slip southward, putting an end to the weekend warm-up with a chilly Monday and may set up inland areas to see some snow/sleet/ice before that mild air returns. Forecast details…
TODAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 33-40. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 23-30. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 45-52. Wind SW 10-20 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 28-35. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Chance of late-day or nighttime rain/drizzle except a period of snow/sleet/ice possible interior. Lows from the upper 20s to lower 30s. Highs from the middle 30s to lower 40s.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely. Temperatures rising through the 40s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 24-28)
Fair/windy/colder January 24. Fair/chilly/tranquil January 25. Fair and milder January 26-27. Unsettled and mild January 28.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 2)
Fair, cooler start, moderation, then unsettled weather late in the period.

7:38AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 18-22)
Watch for icy untreated surfaces this morning! A combination of sunshine and very dry air today will help reduce the amount of this ice so that when it gets cold again tonight there will be less of it. A disturbance well pass through the region early Friday with perhaps a brief passing snow shower mainly northern MA and southern NH with otherwise a sun/cloud mix during the day. After this a weekend warm-up will erase any remaining ice and snow on the ground. A cold front will slip through from the north by early Monday turning it chilly again and clouds will be dominant, with maybe even a touch of very light rain or sleet. Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 15-22. Wind light W.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Slight risk of a snow shower northern MA and southern NH early. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 20-27. Wind light W.
SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 44-51. Wind WSW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Lows from the middle 20s to lower 30s. Highs from the middle 40s to lower 50s.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Lows from the lower to middle 30s. Highs from the upper 30s to lower 40s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 23-27)
A milder wet day January 23. Windy and colder January 24. Fair with a moderating trend thereafter.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1)
A pattern somewhat similar with a milder/wet start, brief chill-down, then moderation.

3:39AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 17-21)
Low pressure slowly organizes and passes just southeast of Cape Cod today bringing some snow and rain to the region this morning and midday. The timing of the heaviest snow is not great for commute time and will slow things down, but this is a far cry from what was experienced on January 4, being a “milder” storm system of short duration, without wind, and not followed by a bitter blast of arctic air, rather just a more typically chilly January air mass. So about that accumulation? No big changes, just taking a bit off the coastal and southeastern areas, which were never destined for much anyway. And it will not freeze solid into a block that sits forever. Yes it freezes up a bit through late week then vanishes this coming weekend as we warm up.
TODAY: Overcast with snow except rain outer Cape Cod and Nantucket and snow to rain remainder of Cape Cod up to the MA South Shore through southeastern RI and possibly Cape Ann MA, all tapering off early afternoon and may end as a little drizzle in Metro Boston. Snow accumulation from nothing outer Cape Cod and Nantucket to a coating to 1 inch western part of Cape Cod, 1-3 inches South Coast and immediate East Coast of MA including Boston, 3-5 inches I-95 to I-495 corridor westward with around 6 inches in some higher elevations. Highs 28-33 interior, 34-39 coast with mildest Cape Cod. Wind light variable.
TONIGHT: Mainly cloudy evening with a brief shower of mix/snow possible. Clearing overnight. Watch for icy untreated surfaces. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 15-22. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 30-38. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 40s.
SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Lows from the middle 20s to lower 30s. Highs from the middle 40s to lower 50s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 22-26)
Front slips south of the region Monday January 22 which turns cooler and probably cloudy and a touch of light rain or ice may move across some areas by evening, then a milder Tuesday January 23 with rain showers, a fair and colder Wednesday January 24 then moderating temperatures again later next week (January 25-26).

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 27-31)
The final days of January 2018 look as if they will bring a slightly more unsettled pattern to the region but not seeing major cold or winter storm signals at this point. Will continue to re-evaluate this period.

7:38AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 16-20)
We’re in the final days of the “cold” pattern and it will hold one more winter weather event before it changes. Does this mean no more winter weather threats for the season? If you think that’s the case, you have never lived here or you think it’s April 16, not January 16. So this upcoming event will be born of an approaching cold front from the west and a disturbance to the south and will come together rather quickly late tonight, or really during the early hours of Wednesday, and will be about a 12 to 16 hour event. It will be followed by high pressure bringing fair and chilly weather for Thursday and Friday and then a milder Saturday.
TODAY: Partly sunny morning. Mostly cloudy afternoon. A few snow showers possible South Shore of MA. Highs 28-35. Wind light NE to SE.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Snow developing after midnight except mix/rain Cape Cod. Lows 25-34, mildest Cape Cod. Wind light S.
WEDNESDAY: Overcast with snow except mix/rain Cape Cod. Snow accumulation coating to 1 inch parts of Cape Cod, 1-3 inches New Bedford MA area to Plymouth MA area including coastal RI, 3-6 inches elsewhere except pockets of 6-8 inches from northwestern RI and northeastern CT through central and northeastern MA and southern NH. Highs 27-38, mildest Cape Cod. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow showers evening. Clearing overnight. Lows 17-25. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Lows in the 10s. Highs in the 30s.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 40s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 21-25)
Milder January 21-22 with fair weather January 21 then low pressure passing north of the region January 22 with an early-day light mix/rain threat and a late day rain shower threat. Fair and a little colder January 23-24 then a risk of more unsettled weather to end the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 26-30)
Overall pattern on the quieter, milder side.

7:38AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 15-19)
Cold air dominates and a wind off the Atlantic will combine with this cold to produce ocean-effect snow showers from the NH Seacoast through much of eastern MA into RI today with the most significant of the accumulating snow along the Shore Shore of MA. This fades away tonight but then we’ll be watching a cold front approach from the west and enhance a developing low pressure area offshore, passing southeast of New England Tuesday night into Wednesday. This will produce a light to moderate snowfall across southeastern New England, though it may be warm enough for some rain to be involved in Cape Cod and the Islands. Dry weather returns later in the week although a weak disturbance passing by may bring a few snow showers to the region early Friday.
TODAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered to numerous snow showers Cape Cod to South Shore of MA with accumulation of 1-3 inches possible but a locally heavier band of 3-5 inches possible. Scattered to isolated snow showers remainder of eastern MA, RI, and NH Seacoast region with scattered coatings to around 1 inch accumulation. Highs 20-28. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers early, favoring Cape Cod. Lows 12-20. Wind light N.
TUESDAY: Partial sun early then mainly cloudy. Highs 20-28. Wind light variable.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Snow likely except snow to rain Cape Cod. Temperatures rising to 25-35, mildest Cape Cod. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY: Overcast with snow likely except rain Cape Cod and Islands changing to mix/snow before all precipitation tapers off afternoon. Potential snow accumulation 1-3 inches Cape Cod, 3-6 inches remainder of the region except isolated 6-8 inch amounts possible in north central and northeastern MA to southern NH. Highs 27-37. Wind variable becoming N increasing to 10-20 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows in the 10s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.
FRIDAY: Partly cloudy. Chance of snow showers early. Lows from the upper 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to middle 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 20-24)
High pressure will dominate with dry weather and moderating temperatures during the January 20-21 weekend followed by unsettled weather favoring rain over snow January 22 then a turn to colder and drier late in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 25-29)
Most likely a dry/cold beginning to the period, moderating temperatures and unsettled weather mid period then drier again by late. Timing uncertain and confidence remaining low for this period.

2:33AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 14-18)
An air mass of arctic origin has arrived, but this air mass is not as brutally cold as the one that was over the region one week ago. Nevertheless, it will be running colder than average for the next several days. The orientation of high pressure will cause a north wind with just enough moisture for a few snow showers around Cape Ann and Cape Cod today and then a northeast wind and a little more moisture for a better risk of ocean-effect snow showers in eastern MA and nearby coastal NH and parts of RI during MLK Jr Day Monday, which may result in some minor snow accumulation mainly on the South Shore of MA. Next, a low pressure area moving through the Great Lakes toward New England will redevelop just south of New England late Tuesday into Wednesday and will bring the threat of a light to moderate snowfall to the area. It’s rather early to know exact details but the track of that system would be more likely to bring the most snowfall to southeastern MA and RI. It appears it would move along quickly enough to allow fair weather to return by Thursday. Forecast details…
TODAY: Sunny except partly cloudy with isolated snow showers Cape Cod. Highs 18-26, coldest interior hills, least cold Cape Cod. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy except mostly cloudy Cape Ann and Cape Cod with scattered snow showers. Lows 5-12 except 12-18 Cape Cod. Wind light N to NE.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered to numerous snow showers Cape Cod to South Shore of MA with accumulation of a coating to 2 inches possible. Scattered to isolated snow showers remainder of eastern MA, RI, and NH Seacoast region with with scattered dustings. Highs 20-28. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers early, favoring Cape Cod. Lows 12-20. Wind light N.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of snow at night. Highs 20-28. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Snow likely morning, ending afternoon. Lows from the middle 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the middle to upper 20s.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Lows in the 10s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 19-23)
High pressure will dominate with dry weather and moderating temperatures during the January 19-21 period followed by unsettled weather then a turn to colder weather at the very end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 24-28)
Most likely a dry/cold beginning to the period, moderating temperatures and unsettled weather mid period then drier again by late. Timing uncertain and confidence low for this period.

8:26AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 13-17)
After yesterday’s wordy post here is a short one to start your weekend. This is just a quick update starting with the good news. The precipitation moved out of here so fast and very little remains (only spotty very light) and wind is still pretty strong and gusty, that the region will not have an issue with freezing rain, sleet, or snow, and the ground will at least partially dry out before the rapid temperature drop. At dawn the temperature was in the lower 60s in southeastern MA and the middle 20s near the MA/NY border. Think there’s a front in there somewhere? There sure is and it will charge eastward and put a rapid end to the spring party across southern New England. Temperatures drop like a rock today and the arctic air then takes over for the remainder of the weekend, though not to the extreme level of last week at this time. Will still watch for a few snow showers Cape Cod Sunday and a larger area from southeastern NH to RI on Monday. Also will continue to monitor for the risk of a storm system bringing snow/mix to the region Tuesday-Wednesday.
TODAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny with isolated very light rain showers morning. Partly to mostly sunny afternoon. Temperatures falling from the 50s to the 20s. Wind SW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts morning, NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts midday and afternoon.
TONIGHT: Partly to mostly clear. Lows 8-15. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts. Wind chill near 0 at times.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny except Variably cloudy with episodic snow showers Cape Cod with minor accumulation possible. Highs 19-26. Wind N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts across Cape Cod.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers coastal NH, eastern MA, and RI. Lows from the lower to middle 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of snow late day or night. Lows from the upper 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow except possible mix southeastern areas. Lows in the 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to middle 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 18-22)
Clearing early in the period then a period of fair weather followed by a risk of more unsettled weather by the end of the period. Temperatures moderating to near to above normal.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 23-27)
Expecting somewhat milder weather overall with a precipitation threat early in the period then a drying trend.

4:00AM

UPCOMING BLOG POSTS
As many of you know, this year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Great Blizzard of 1978. But that was not the only remarkable event of that dynamic winter. The weather pattern leading up to it was very active and, to a 10 year old, quite memorable. A little later this month I will create a special blog post with a look back through my 10 year old eyes at the month of January 1978, as it just so happened that I began my weather diary on January 1 of that year. Of course I will make a similar post about the big storm itself as we get closer to its anniversary in early February.

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 12-16)
The weather pattern during the next 5-days will also be fairly dynamic and active and it will start with a very mild day today, in stark contrast to recent extreme cold. We’ll be in an area of warmth between offshore high pressure and a sharp cold front approaching from the west. My concern in the last few days included the threat of significant icing as this cold air arrived during Saturday, and the arrival of that cold will be rather sudden when it does occur with the passage of that cold front. However, the latest information suggest that the wave of low pressure that I thought would form a little sooner and pass south of New England will form near New York City Saturday morning just as the front is slicing across the region. The timing of the front is just slow enough and the low’s development just so that it will pull most of the meaningful precipitation out of a good portion of southern New England just before the coldest air pours in, but there should be spotty precipitation around so that what rain is falling will become freezing rain then sleet from northwest to southeast from late morning to early afternoon. Beyond this, only some low level moisture will be left behind and that will be good for only a little freezing or frozen drizzle and spotty very light snow heading from later Saturday afternoon through Saturday night. For the Patriots home playoff game, expect temperatures falling from the 20s to the upper 10s during the course of the game with tailgaters experiencing no more than a touch of frozen drizzle drops or light snow grains. The greater danger will be from puddles and standing water and any remaining snow on the ground that will have frozen solid by the end of the day through the night. So be cautions walking or driving on untreated surfaces! The orientation of high pressure should allow just enough drying for partial sun Sunday except clouds will dominate Cape Cod and some bands of light ocean-effect snow may develop. The air flow is expected to bend a little more to become more northeast across coastal NH, eastern MA, and down into RI for some periods of ocean-effect snow, albeit light, during the MLK Jr. Day holiday on Monday. The next disturbance will approach from the west Tuesday with cold air in place and bring the chance of additional snowfall by later in the day, based on current expecting timing.
TODAY: Mainly cloudy. Areas of fog. Scattered rain showers. Highs 48-55 Cape Cod and South Coast, 56-62 elsewhere. Wind S 10-20 MPH and gusty.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Areas of fog. A period of widespread rain showers, some heavy, along with a chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures steady 48-62 evening. Overnight lows 48-55. Wind S 15-25 MPH, gusts as high as 40 MPH interior and 50 MPH coastal areas.
SATURDAY: Overcast. Areas of fog early. Another period of widespread rain showers, some heavy, and a chance of thunderstorms early to mid morning tapering off to scattered late morning through early afternoon but transitioning to freezing rain showers and sleet showers from northwest to southeast during this. Spotty light freezing drizzle, frozen drizzle, and very light snow grains mid afternoon on. Temperatures 48-55 early then falling rapidly through the 40s and 30s reaching the upper to middle 20s by the end of the day. Wind SW 15-35 MPH and gusty southeastern MA and variable 5-15 MPH with higher gusts elsewhere during the morning, shifting to NW to N 10-20 MPH with higher gusts from northwest to southeast across the region from late morning on.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Overcast evening with patchy frozen drizzle and very light snow grains. Mostly cloudy overnight. Lows 15-22. Wind N 10-20 MPH. Wind chill below 10 at times.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny except mostly cloudy with episodic snow showers Cape Cod with minor accumulation possible. Highs 25-32. Wind N to NE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts across Cape Cod.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers coastal NH, eastern MA, and RI. Lows from the lower to middle 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of snow late day or night. Lows from the upper 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 17-21)
Depending on the evolution and movement of low pressure, a snow/mix threat will exist January 17 and possibly into January 18 before drier weather arrives for the middle and end of the period. Temperatures below normal but moderate toward the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 22-26)
Expecting somewhat milder weather overall with a precipitation threat early in the period then fair weather following this.

7:41AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 11-15)
2-day warm-up underway, today with lots of clouds but no rain, Friday overcast and turning quite wet but also the warmer of the 2 days. With snow-melt, this brings a road and small stream flood threat, so be aware of that. Cold air comes back in rather quickly from west to east during Saturday, and with additional low pressure having to pass through and lingering moisture behind it, this means rain to ice, and eventually some snow, though not a big deal with the snow. The degree of icing depends on location. There will be more north and west as it is colder there sooner with more rain in the region. Later in the day only light and more spotty precipitation is expected but by then it should be cold enough to start any rain to the south and east freezing on surfaces and for any standing water to start freezing over as well, especially by night, when we will see lingering precipitation in the form of snow as the cold air has moved in sufficiently at all levels for this. By then it will be very light so no real accumulation of snow is expected. A weak high pressure area should partially clear it out for Sunday although it will be a cold day. Clouds may re-take the sky by MLK Jr Day on Monday due to a northeast air flow and cannot rule out some light snow that day.
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 43-49. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Lows 38-45. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Overcast. Areas of fog. Periods of rain. Highs 47-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Areas of fog. Frequent rain showers, heavy at times. Local flooding likely. Temperatures steady 47-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Areas of fog. Periodic to frequent rain transitioning to freezing rain from northwest to southeast as precipitation tapers off and then by evening areas of light freezing rain/drizzle south and east except just rain Cape Cod, and areas of light sleet/snow north and west with little accumulation. Temperatures fall through the day reaching 30-35 south and east and 25-30 north and west by evening. Wind shifting to NW and N 5-15 MPH with higher gusts.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Lows from the upper 10s to middle 20s. Highs from the upper 20s to lower 30s.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow or snow showers. Lows from the upper 10s to lower 20s. Highs from the middle 20s to lower 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 16-20)
Watch for a storm system bringing mix/snow to the region in the January 16-17 period as a clipper system redeveloping nearby – details to work out. Dry and cold after this.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 21-25)
Less cold. A dry start and end to the period with some mid-period unsettled weather.

7:41AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 10-14)
High pressure controls today’s weather which will be pleasant in comparison to recent harshness. A warm front passes the region tonight and milder air arrives Thursday and Friday, though Friday will turn out wet as tropical moisture arrives from the southwest. An arctic high pressure area bridging across eastern Canada will send a cold front through the region early Saturday as a wave of low pressure approaches and then passes through from the southwest. A colder surface but still warm air aloft means that the rain that falls during Saturday morning and midday will likely result in icing over portions of interior southern New England, though the finer details of this are not yet clear.
TODAY: Sunshine. Highs 34-40. Wind light variable.
TONIGHT: Clouding up. Brief pre-dawn light rain and freezing rain mainly northwest of Boston. Lows 30-38. Wind light SE.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 43-49. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Lows 38-45. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Overcast. Areas of fog. Periods of rain. Highs 45-53. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Areas of fog. Morning to midday rain with possible inland ice. Temperatures falling to 30-38.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 30s.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 15-19)
Periods of mix/snow possible January 15-16. Dry weather beyond this. Temperatures near to below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 20-24)
Milder. Dry weather to start, some unsettled weather possible mid to late period.