DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 15-19)
Our region will be on the fringes of a large ocean storm today into Monday, but this storm’s main impact will be at sea, offshore. The fringe effects for southeastern New England will include some rain and snow for mainly southeastern MA and Cape Cod, along with gusty winds, especially in coastal areas, strongest also over southeastern MA and Cape Cod into Monday, before the low center starts to pull away to the east. While drier and colder air working southward into New England from eastern Canada will trend any precipitation to snow after the initial rain and mix, the dry air will also eat away at the western edge of the synoptic precipitation. Some ocean-effect mix to snow bands will likely occur from the South Shore surviving to the South Coast and across Cape Cod during this time. As far as model depiction goes, caution for model watchers that the global guidance at this range tends to over emphasize the precipitation area and how far west it gets, and the higher resolution shorter range guidance is likely a better representation of how the system plays out. Measurable snowfall should be confined mostly to the South Shore down into Cape Cod (after the wetter start there), with mainly traces of mix to snow with some minor accumulation working back into the I-95 belt and a few flurries of snow out into the I-495 belt from drying synoptic snowfall. Some sunshine may even appear at times over inland locations from south central and southwestern NH through central MA into eastern CT and possibly even RI as drier air wraps around the back side of the offshore storm, and we should see an increase in the sunshine further east as the system pulls further away by later Monday. But any clearing will be rather short-lived, as the next low pressure system from the west will spread its clouds into the region during Tuesday. As previously indicated, this system will be feeling the effect of the dry air behind the ocean storm, and will begin to fall apart, with maybe a little bit of rain and mix surviving into our region Tuesday evening as milder air also arrives. A small area of high pressure is expected to bring fair weather and somewhat above normal temperatures to our region at midweek. Currently, I am leaning toward a slower arrival of the next system behind that, which has been modeled to impact our region on Thursday, but I feel may not arrive until after we reach the end of this 5-day forecast period. Will monitor that and readjust the timing if necessary.
TODAY: Mainly cloudy – heaviest clouds eastern areas, partial sun possible well inland. Periods of rain and mix transitioning to mix and snow MA South Shore through Cape Cod working into the South Coast region of MA. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 10-20 MPH, higher gusts especially coastal areas.
TONIGHT: Mainly cloudy. Mix/snow most likely Cape Cod, South Coast and South Shore of MA where a general coating to 2 inches of snow is likely, with isolated amounts up to 3 inches possible in some South Shore areas. Snow showers from I-95 to I-495 belts with under 1 inch of accumulation. Lows 26-33. Wind N 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-45 MPH, strongest coastal areas.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy eastern coastal areas with snow showers early, otherwise increasing sun from west to east gradually. Highs 34-41. Wind N to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, especially in coastal areas.
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind NW to W diminishing to under 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Early sun, then clouds return. Highs 38-45. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Spotty light rain/mix possible. Lows 33-40. Wind S up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 46-53. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 23-30. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Sun and high clouds. Highs 42-49. Wind variable to SE up to 10 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 20-24)
Low pressure systems should impact the region with precipitation threats January 20, 22, and 24, based on current timing, the final systems in a Pacific parade as the pattern starts to change, shutting off the Pacific flow. Temperatures above normal, although variable.
DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 25-29)
The pattern heading into the late days of the month looks a little less active with more high pressure in control across the Great Lakes and Northeast, and one or two frontal boundaries bringing brief, minor precipitation threats. Temperatures near to above normal with a couple colder shots, but nothing extreme.