DAYS 1-5 (FEBRUARY 17-21)
A lot of activity in the weather department for us in the coming days, both in the short range, and beyond, but first we tackle the next five days, starting with a warm one today! We’re immersed in a strong southwesterly air flow now, with some areas having enjoyed some nice sunshine this morning, but eventually clouds becoming dominant as we remain in a warm, windy air mass with temperatures climbing right into this evening. A strong cold front will be moving toward us from the northwest, and a ripple of low pressure moving up along it, passing to our northwest, will finally accelerate this boundary through our region Friday morning. Tonight and early Friday we’ll see widespread rain showers along with gusty winds, so a wet and windy ending to our brief warm spell is a certainty. Once the front goes by, the winds shift, stay gusty, and the temperature goes down Friday. It does look like the wind and dry air will be able to take care of drying most of the ground before the temperature goes well below freezing at night, so icy patches will be limited. Saturday, a vigorous disturbance will cross the region with a chance of snow showers and snow squalls, except rain or snow showers closer to the South Coast. This briefly reinforces the cold air for late Saturday to early Sunday, but quick moving features means high pressure will already be sliding south of the region during Sunday and we’ll have a temperature recovery from a cold morning to a tolerable afternoon, with even further moderation for Presidents Day on Monday as high pressure slides off the Atlantic Coast to our south.
TODAY: Areas of sun until midday otherwise becoming mostly cloudy. Highs 46-53 South Coast, 53-60 elsewhere late day. Wind SW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Cloudy with numerous to widespread rain showers arriving from west to east overnight. Thunderstorms possible. Temperatures rise slightly to 50-57 South Coast, 58-65 elsewhere. Wind SW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts of 35-45 MPH inland and 45-55 MPH coastal areas.
FRIDAY: Cloudy start with numerous rain showers, ending west to east. Sun/cloud mix midday-afternoon. Temperatures steady 50-57 South Coast and 58-65 elsewhere early, then falling steadily to the 40s during the day. Wind SW 15-25 MPH with gusts above 30 MPH, shifting to NW.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, diminishing, shifting to W.
SATURDAY: Sun/cloud mix. Passing snow showers/squalls possible except rain or snow showers South Coast. Highs 30-37. Wind W10-20 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to NW.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 8-15. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, diminishing overnight. Wind chill below 0 at times.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 22-29. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY (PRESIDENTS DAY): Partly sunny. Highs 46-53. Wind SW 10-20 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (FEBRUARY 22-26)
A boundary will sit in our region for most of next week. Two low pressure systems should impact the area, the first early in this period, favoring a track to the north with rain favored, the second later in the period with an uncertain track and more possibility of a variety of precipitation. Variable temperatures, mildest early in the period.
DAYS 11-15 (FEBRUARY 27 – MARCH 3)
Active pattern expected with a couple unsettled weather threats and variable temperatures as a boundary separating warmth to the south and cold air to the north sits nearby or over our region.