DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 18-22)
Even though our departed storm is heading into the Canadian Maritimes, it continues to have an impact on the region this morning in the form of extensive cloud cover, and even more of an impact from Plymouth County MA to Cape Cod where ocean-effect snow & freezing drizzle has been ongoing, keeping things on the treacherous side where they already saw a wetter snow with rain followed by a flash freeze with a fluffier snow yesterday. Regionwide, conditions will improve today as drier air moves in and clouds break apart and eventually clear from northwest to southeast. High pressure moves in tonight setting up a strong radiational cooling night over the fresh snow pack, and hangs around to give a nice day on Saturday. The next disturbance from the west arrives Saturday night with clouds and takes the day Sunday to pass through with some rain and snow shower activity, but this will be a minor system with minimal impact. A weak ridge of high pressure brings fair weather for Monday, but an upper trough quickly swinging through the region Monday night and Tuesday will ignite a storm offshore. At this time the guidance has this system just too far offshore to be of an impact, precipitation-wise, but we should watch it carefully, given recent guidance performance in advance of such events. Either way, this system will help drag in more Canadian cold later Tuesday.
TODAY: Cloudy start including periods of light snow and/or freezing drizzle from Plymouth County MA to Cape Cod, gradually ending by about midday. Clearing with sun returning from northwest to southeast midday/afternoon. Highs 26-33. Wind NE-N 5-15 MPH morning shifting to N-NW this afternoon.
TONIGHT: Clear. Lows 3-10 except 10-17 urban centers and coastal areas. Wind NW under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Periods of light snow/mix/rain. Highs 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Lows 21-28. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 23-30. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy start with a chance of snow/mix favoring Cape Cod, then cloud/sun mix with a risk of a passing snow shower. Highs 35-42 but temperatures likely falling in the afternoon. Wind N 10-20 MPH, gusty.
DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 23-27)
Dry, cold December 23 as high pressure moves in then crosses the area. December 24 & 25 bring the next chance for some unsettled weather with early indications for low pressure tracking northwest of the region bringing a warm front / cold front combo through with some mix/rain with the warm front, a surge of milder air, and then rain showers with the cold front, followed by a sharp temperature drop and perhaps some snow showers. Caveat: I don’t necessarily trust the guidance depiction of this event yet, so changes to this outlook are possible. Dry/seasonable later in the period.
DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 28 – JANUARY 1)
One or two precipitation events possible during this period, favoring December 28 & 30. Shot of cold air arrives early period then some moderation follows. Low confidence outlook with much re-analysis needed.