DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 19-23)

The final full day of winter will have a bit of a spring feel to it as we are still on the milder side today with showery weather. There is a frontal boundary though that will sit over the region, keeping northern MA and southern NH a little cooler for a good part of the day. Along with the showery episodes, triggered by a broad low pressure area moving into the Northeast, we’ll also see areas of fog. One of the impulses coming along later today and this evening will make the atmosphere unstable enough for possible thunder. Once this goes by, we’ll get some drier air into the area overnight and Sunday as the low pressure circulation begins to move away. We welcome the arrival of spring with the Vernal Equinox at 11:33 a.m. Sunday, and the day, despite being breezy, will be fairly mild, as colder air is locked up behind a trough that won’t come through our region until the evening. This may trigger a quick rain shower, and it will introduce cooler air for the first couple full days of spring early in the week. Another cold front will deliver colder air to the region by late Tuesday and Wednesday, at which time we’ll start to see clouds advancing ahead of our next storm threat, which may start as snow for at least parts of the region as early as Wednesday evening. But that’s several days away so there’s plenty of time to focus on it later…

TODAY: Cloudy. Episodes of showers. Areas of fog. Highs 45-50 southern NH and northern MA, 50-55 elsewhere. Wind NE-E under 10 MPH southern NH and northern MA, SE-S up to 15 MPH elsewhere.

TONIGHT: Cloudy evening with areas of fog and passing showers, along with a possible thunderstorm. Breaking clouds but patchy fog overnight. Temperatures steady 45-55 or may even rise briefly. Wind SE-S 5-15 MPH evening, SW similar speeds with higher gusts overnight.

SUNDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Chance of a rain shower late afternoon or evening. Highs 55-62. Wind SW-W 5-15 MPH, gusts 20-25 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, gusts 20-25 MPH.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 48-55. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Patchy clouds. Lows 28-35. Wind NW up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Increasing clouds. Chance of snow/mix/rain at night. Highs 45-52. Wind N up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 24-28)

Low pressure impacts the region with what ultimately ends up as a rain event to start this period, and a follow up system brings a precipitation threat around mid period, but less certainty as to the character of that system. Drier weather takes over later in the period. Temperatures near to below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 29 – APRIL 2)

The pattern in this time frame likely finds us in that previously-mentioned battle zone between Canadian cold and southeastern USA warmth, and I’m leaning toward the colder side winning out here, including additional precipitation threats which are obviously too far away to speculate much on.

C-19 Chat Post – 3-19-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 18-22)

Another morning with areas of dense fog to start, but unlike yesterday, as that fog burned off to increasing clouds, today it will burn off to increasing sun as a weak ridge of high pressure moves into the region behind yesterday’s passing weak low pressure area. It warms up nicely one the sun gets busy today, but with a weak pressure gradient, this is a recipe for a coastal sea breeze which will end the warm-up party early for coastal areas. Low pressure moving into Ohio Valley today will then move into the Great Lakes Saturday and across northern New England and southeastern Canada Saturday night through Sunday. This will bring unsettled weather to our region for the weekend. Saturday will be the wet day with rain quite likely. Sunday ends up drier and breezy but with an additional rain shower possible as a cold front swings through later in the day. Sunday is also the day we welcome the arrival of spring with the vernal equinox at 11:33 a.m. High pressure brings fair and seasonably chilly weather early next week, but a disturbance will have to be watched for a potential interlude of light precipitation at some point later Monday to early Tuesday, based on current timing.

TODAY: Low clouds and areas of fog early morning especially eastern MA, otherwise sun dominates. Highs 57-64 coast, 65-72 inland. Wind variable up to 10 MPH including coastal sea breezes.

TONIGHT: Clouding up. Chance of rain overnight. Lows 40-47. Wind NE up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 47-54. Wind E to variable 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with rain showers and a slight chance of a thunderstorm evening, then breaking clouds. Lows 32-39. Wind W 5-15 MPH, gusty.

SUNDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Chance of a rain shower. Highs 52-59. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusty.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 48-55. Wind N up to 10 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Slight chance of brief light rain/mix. Lows 32-39. Wind N up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 23-27)

We’ll be in a battle zone between Canadian cold and southeastern US warmth. A couple of low pressure systems likely impact our area with precipitation. Can’t even rule out some frozen stuff falling from the sky at some point.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 28 – APRIL 1)

We’ll continue in a battle zone between southeastern USA warmth and Canadian cold, leaving us vulnerable to a couple episodes of unsettled weather.

C-19 Chat Post – 3-18-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 17-21)

Today starts with some areas of dense fog. If you don’t have the fog, you get to see the sun to start the day before clouds move into the region in advance of low pressure. This weak storm system will track just south of New England tonight, bringing some light rainfall mainly to southeastern portions of the WHW forecast area later today into this evening before moving out later at night. This leave us in a slot of drier and milder air for Friday, so it will attempt to warm nicely, though this warm-up may be quickly thwarted by developing coastal sea breezes due to a weak wind field, then regionally ended by the passage of a cold front from the north and northeast later in the day or in the evening. Another low pressure system, this one rather broad and containing more moisture, will bring wet weather for the start of the weekend as it passes to our northwest. As it goes by, drier air will start to return for the second half of the weekend, though there still could be a passing rain shower on Sunday. The vernal equinox – the astronomical arrival of spring – occurs at 11:33 a.m. EDT on Sunday. High pressure brings fair and seasonably cool weather for Monday.

TODAY: Areas of fog morning. Increasing clouds. Scattered light rain this afternoon favoring eastern CT, RI, and southeastern MA. Highs 47-54. Wind S shifting to E up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Evening light rain/drizzle possible southern and eastern areas. Areas of fog. Lows 38-45. Wind NE-N up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Lots of clouds early then more sun. Highs 55-62 coast, 63-70 inland. Wind variable up to 10 MPH including coastal sea breezes.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clouding up. Chance of rain overnight. Lows 40-47. Wind NE up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy. Rain likely. Highs 47-54. Wind E to variable 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Breaking clouds. Lows 32-39. Wind W 5-15 MPH, gusty.

SUNDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Chance of a rain shower. Highs 52-59. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusty.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 48-55. Wind N up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 22-26)

Overall pattern leaves us near a battle zone between lingering Canadian cold and early spring warmth to the south. A fair, milder start to the period here likely gives way to unsettled weather mid period then drying, cooler weather late in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 27-31)

We’ll continue in a battle zone between southeastern USA warmth and Canadian cold, leaving us vulnerable to a couple episodes of unsettled weather late in the month.

C-19 Chat Post – 3-17-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 16-20)

Today will start cloudy as a low pressure area that brought some wet weather last night moves off to the east, but will clear out as high pressure builds in from the west. Low pressure passing south of the region will return clouds to the region Thursday, and eventually some wet weather over southern and eastern areas later in the day into the evening hours. Friday’s set-up will be similar to today’s but the high pressure area building in behind the departing low will be a little further south, so areas that do not develop a sea breeze will warm up quite nicely, before high pressure in eastern Canada sends a frontal boundary through the region turning the wind northeast to east for Friday night into Saturday. At the same time low pressure will move through from the west bringing an episode of wet weather. This system will move off to the east and drier weather will arrive during Sunday, although it will be cool and breezy that day to welcome the arrival of spring. The vernal equinox occurs at 11:33 a.m. EDT Sunday.

TODAY: Cloudy start, then increasing sun. Highs 50-57, but cooler in some coastal areas. Wind N to W up to 10 MPH but local sea breeze possible at the coast.

TONIGHT: Mostly clear, then clouds return. Lows 36-43. Wind S under 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain midday and afternoon favoring eastern CT, RI, and southeastern MA. Highs 47-54. Wind S shifting to E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Evening light rain/drizzle possible southern and eastern areas. Areas of fog. Lows 38-45. Wind NE-N up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Lots of clouds early then more sun. Highs 55-62 coast, 63-70 inland. Wind variable up to 10 MPH including coastal sea breezes.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clouding up. Chance of rain overnight. Lows 40-47. Wind NE up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs 47-54. Wind E to variable 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Breaking clouds. Lows 32-39. Wind W 5-15 MPH, gusty.

SUNDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 52-59. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusty.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 21-25)

Overall pattern leaves us near a battle zone between lingering Canadian cold and early spring warmth to the south. A fair, milder start to the period here likely gives way to unsettled weather mid period then drying, cooler weather late in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 26-30)

We’ll continue in a battle zone between southeastern USA warmth and Canadian cold, leaving us vulnerable to a couple episodes of unsettled weather late in the month.

C-19 Chat Post – 3-16-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 15-19)

Low pressure passes north of our area today and its cold front will drop southward into the region later today through tonight with a few rain showers possible. This front pushes to the south on Wednesday which will be fair and slightly cooler. Low pressure passes south of the region later Thursday bringing some rainfall to especially southern and eastern areas. Friday’s forecast is uncertain, as we may be dealing with leftover clouds and a light northerly air flow behind the Thursday system to start the day, and a fairly weak pressure gradient between that low, a stronger low approaching the Great Lakes, with high pressure in between to our south will allow for the development of an onshore breeze if the sky clears out between Thursday’s system and the next approaching low pressure area. Friday looks like a fair weather day, but it may not see as widespread warmth as you have seen advertised in many forecasts. By Saturday, the aforementioned low approaching will be moving in with more wet weather.

TODAY: Variably cloudy. A late-day rain shower possible southern NH and northern MA. Highs 44-51 South Coast, 51-58 elsewhere but may fall back to the upper 40s eastern coastal areas. Wind SW up to 10 MPH except coastal sea breezes in the afternoon.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Rain showers likely southern NH and northern MA. Chance of a few rain showers southern MA southward. Lows 35-42. Wind variable to N up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Early clouds, then sun returns. Highs 45-52. Wind N to E up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 35-42. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain midday and afternoon favoring eastern CT, RI, and southeastern MA. Chance of coastal drizzle. Highs 45-52. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Evening light rain/drizzle possible southern and eastern areas. Areas of fog. Lows 38-45. Wind NE-N up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 53-60 southern NH and northern MA as well as South Coast, 61-68 in between these areas. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain overnight. Lows 40-47. Wind NE up to 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs 47-54. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 20-24)

Drying/cooler March 20-21 in time for the arrival of spring (vernal equinox 11:33 a.m. March 20). Fair, milder mid period. Unsettled, cooler late period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 25-29)

We’ll sit in a battle zone between southeastern USA warmth and Canadian cold, leaving us vulnerable to a couple episodes of unsettled weather late in the month.

C-19 Chat Post – 3-15-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 14-18)

An area of high pressure offshore to our east today starts our next week with fair and milder weather. Some cloudiness will be rolling across the sky especially this morning and maybe some more in parts of the region later in the day in response to this warmer air moving in, but we will stay rain-free. Tuesday, a cold front trailing a weak low pressure area passing to our north will drop southward during the afternoon and evening and then another small wave of low pressure will ride along that frontal boundary as it sits over our South Coast region at night. This means dry and mild weather but with clouds moving in during the day, then cooler weather with a period or two of rain at night, but it may be just cold enough so that this rain can mix with some wet snow across southern NH, although if that does happen I’m expecting no accumulation. That little low pressure wave will have exited by early Wednesday, but it will serve to push that frontal boundary to the south a bit more and result in slightly cooler but fair weather conditions. Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day, may end up featuring weather somewhat similar to what Ireland frequently is like as an area of low pressure passing by to the south gets close enough to induce an onshore wind with lots of clouds, cooler air, and some damp weather as some rain may reach us from that low and/or some drizzle may develop from the onshore air flow, especially in coastal locations. If that low is a bit further south, we stay dry and just see some clouds. Friday, that low is moving away while another low pressure area heads from the Midwest into the Great Lakes and tries to drag it’s warm front across our area. If this happens, we warm up nicely that day. However, at this time of year these fronts can have difficulty moving fully through the region, and depending on how strong that departed low is offshore, and how much a little nose of high pressure from eastern Canada can push southward, at least parts of our region could end up much cooler than a lot of computer guidance and some forecasts currently advertise. For the moment, my leaning is for the cooler scenario, but with most rainfall from that Great Lakes low pressure area staying away for the daytime hours.

TODAY: Early and late clouds, most sun in between. Highs 47-54. Wind S-SW up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy evening. Mostly cloudy overnight. Lows 35-42.Wind S-SW up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 44-51 South Coast, 51-58 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Some light rain possible, even potential for mixed precipitation (rain/sleet/snow) in southern NH and northern MA. Lows 32-39. Wind variable to N up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Early clouds, then sun returns. Highs 45-52. Wind N to E up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 35-42. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain midday and afternoon southern areas. Chance of coastal drizzle. Highs 45-52. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Evening light rain/drizzle possible southern and eastern areas. Areas of fog. Lows 38-45. Wind NE-N up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 53-60 southern NH and northern MA as well as South Coast, 61-68 in between these areas. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 19-23)

Low pressure passing to north brings a frontal boundary through the region with a chance of rain showers early March 19 followed by drier and cooler weather for the balance of the weekend of March 19-20, with the vernal equinox occurring at 11:33 a.m. on Sunday March 20. Another unsettled weather system is possible with passing low pressure later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 24-28)

We’ll sit in a battle zone between southeastern USA warmth and Canadian cold, leaving us vulnerable to a couple episodes of unsettled weather late in the month.

C-19 Chat Post – March 3-14-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 13-17)

Despite the met-bashing I’ve been witnessing around the net this morning, I feel that yesterday’s event behaved as expected, for the most part. Not sure what people were looking for, but I think most people got what they were forecast to get, within a reasonable margin of error. I mean, somebody may have gotten 3.7 inches of snow when they were in a 1-3 inch area, but hey, it happens! Now that storm has moved away and blasted in some cold air for today, but it will only be around for today before we moderate nicely to start the week as high pressure builds in Monday. A disturbance passing north of us on Tuesday will push its cold front southeastward into the region later in the day and into the night, and that front likely comes to a halt and may allow for some unsettled weather for several hours. I’m not sold that this is just rain, as just enough cold air may sneak down for some mixing in northern portions of the WHW forecast area, so that’s going to be something to keep an eye on. That boundary lifts north again Wednesday and high pressure is close enough to provide us with a pleasant late astronomical winter / early meteorological spring day. When we get to Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day in case you want to get your green garments ready, we’ll find ourselves between two disturbances – a low pressure area to the south that may get close enough to bring rain to the South Coast, and a weaker disturbance passing to the north which should keep most of its moisture there. For me, at day 5, the safe bet is to add clouds to the forecast and include the chance of a bit of wet weather for the South Coast, but ultimately this system may end up further south and not a factor, so watch for potential forecast adjustments we as go through the next few days…

TODAY: Sunshine, few passing clouds. Highs 33-40. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts up to 30 MPH, diminishing later.

TONIGHT: Clear. Lows 18-25. Wind W up to 10 MPH.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 51-58 except cooler South Coast / Cape Cod. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Some light rain possible, even potential for mixed precipitation (rain/sleet/snow) in southern NH and northern MA. Lows 31-38. Wind variable to NE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Early clouds, then sun returns. Highs 47-54. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 35-42. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Variably cloudy. Some rain possible South Coast. Highs 47-54. Wind variable to E up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 18-22)

Zonal flow pattern – but near boundary of cold Canada and warm Southeast US. Disturbance brings rain threat March 18, a switch to breezy/chilly weather March 19, then a potential rain/mix/snow event sometime mid to late period. The vernal equinox – the astronomical beginning of spring – occurs at 11:33 a.m. on Sunday March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 23-27)

Despite what looks to be a continued fairly low amplitude zonal flow pattern overall, we will see some battling of early spring warmth to our south and lingering cold of winter to our north, leaving us vulnerable to temperature changes and a couple bouts of unsettled weather once again.

C-19 Chat Post – 3-13-2022

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 12-16)

The final full weekend of winter brings a stormy Saturday and blustery Sunday to our region. There are not really any adjustments to be made regarding today’s storm system. The trend we’d seen east on all guidance settled to a stop and we have a frontal boundary pressing eastward through the area today while up along it will rocket a developing low pressure area. The whole “bomb cyclone” thing has been mentioned, but I don’t really feel there was a need for the term this time – nor do I really ever feel there is since I don’t like it as it’s used as a hype tool, and has no real value in meteorological discussion. Yes, the low pressure area will start to intensify rapidly, and probably will deepen about 24-25 mb in 24 hours from now to early Sunday, but it goes by us later today as a moderately strong low, passing over the Cape Cod area. The “bomb-out” aspect adds to our blustery winds for tonight and Sunday, but doesn’t have much of an impact on our sensible weather today. Often, the public upon hearing that term will then be lead to believe in all aspects the event is going to be maximum potential. This is why further explanation, clarification, and probably just leaving the stupid term out is a better approach. So onto that further explanation about our sensible weather. We’re mild, and this starts as rain for us today, along with some areas of fog, some areas with fairly dense fog in fact. The rain is in more showery form here initially, and will solidify a bit more as the boundary moves through and the low center organizes as it moves by the region later today. During this time, colder air is waiting just behind the frontal boundary to turn the rain over to snow from west to east, with a narrow strip of sleet in some areas where the colder air gets in at the surface first. But as this process takes places, we’ll be getting ready to lose the main moisture / precipitation, so this is going to significantly limit how much snow can fall. The vast majority of the WHW forecast area is going to see insignificant flakes with little accumulation limited to colder surfaces, while once you get to hills over the interior you can see up to around 1 inch on mainly unpaved surfaces, with a maximum potential of 2 or 3 inches possible in central MA and southwestern NH. A more significant snowfall will take place west of the WHW area, from the Berkshires into the mountains of northern New England from this one – which will be good news for ski areas. Once that low has accelerated through the Gulf of Maine and into the Maritime Provinces of Canada tonight and Sunday we will experience the feel of mid winter with cold air and gusty wind, offset a little bit on Sunday by the higher March sun angle. And don’t forget to give up your hour of sleep tonight by turning clocks that don’t auto-set forward one hour (officially 2:00 a.m. EST becomes 3:00 a.m. EDT) Sunday morning as we switch from standard to daylight saving time. Behind the weekend fun, we ease things up as the jet stream becomes more zonal (west to east) early next week with cold air locked in Canada and milder Pacific air overtaking much of the US. For us this means milder weather with mostly fair conditions Monday through Wednesday, except for the chance of a passing rain shower sometime Tuesday as a disturbance passing to the north pushes a frontal boundary across the area.

TODAY: Overcast. Rain showers and areas of fog during the morning. Steadier rain for a while midday into afternoon, briefly to sleet in some aras before turning to snow and snow showers from west to east with accumulation 1 inch or less by evening, except 1-3 inches possible in southwestern NH to central MA. Highs 38-45 except 45-52 coast early morning, falling gradually from west to east during the day so all areas are in the 30-37 range by late. Wind variable up to 10 MPH becoming N-NW increasing to 10-20 MPH late.

TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers evening. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, gusts over 30 MPH. Wind chill falling below 10.

SUNDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 33-40. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, gusts over 30 MPH. Wind chill below 10 in the morning.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 18-25. Wind W up to 10 MPH.

MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 47-54. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of a rain shower. Highs 51-58 except cooler South Coast / Cape Cod. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 32-39. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 46-53. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 17-21)

Zonal flow pattern continues for the balance of next week with a lack of temperature extremes. We’ll have to watch for low pressure to the south and a disturbance to the north to start the period and may end up between them with fair weather, but a couple of disturbances can still pass by during the course of this time with some minor precipitation events. No major storms foreseen, even though it’s too early to determine much in the way of detail. The vernal equinox – the astronomical beginning of spring – occurs at 11:33 a.m. on Sunday March 20.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 22-26)

Despite what looks to be a continued fairly low amplitude zonal flow pattern overall, we will see some battling of early spring warmth to our south and lingering cold of winter to our north, leaving us vulnerable to temperature changes and a couple bouts of unsettled weather heading into late March.