DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 18-22)
An upper level trough and surface cold front swings through the region this morning and midday with lots of clouds and the threat of a rain shower, followed by fair weather the rest of the day, and still mild despite a gusty breeze. A small area of high pressure brings more traquil and dry weather overnight into early Thursday, but clouds advance quickly on Thursday ahead of the next low pressure system. The initial primary low center is destined for the eastern Great Lakes but will redevelop near or just south of the New England South Coast Thursday night and early Friday as it tracks to the east. This will be followed by the trough which remains of the old low during Friday, drawing out this unsettled period, which will also have frozen precipitation involved. A rain/snow line should be present at the start of the event with snow in interior northern MA and southern NH, rain elsewhere. This rain/snow line will waver around, probably heading north for a time before coming back to the south, then progressing even further south on Friday as we transition from steadiest precipitation into more occasional. The change-over will probably not quite make it all the way through the South Coast region before the end of the precipitation. This sets up a snow (and some sleet) accumulation profile that by the time we wind things up on Friday evening will look like this: traces / coatings of snow south of I-90, but maybe up to 1 inch in the higher elevations of south central MA, northwestern RI, and northeastern CT, a general 1-3 inch snowfall north of I-90 except 3-5 inches north central MA and southern NH. The weekend starts off fair with high pressure moving in during Saturday, then ends with a return to unsettled weather as low pressure approaches on Sunday, spreading a shield of rain in that may start as mix/snow for some inland areas by late in the day or evening, based on current expecting timing.
TODAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. A passing rain shower possible through midday. Highs 45-52. Wind W 5-15 MPH this morning, NW 10-20 MPH with possible higher gusts this afternoon.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy to mostly clear. Lows 24-31. Wind W under 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Sun followed by clouds. Rain arriving west to east afternoon, except possible sleet and snow interior northern MA and southern NH. Highs 38-45 but may turn cooler late-day. Wind variable to NE up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with rain/mix/snow likely with greatest chance of frozen/mix I-495 west south of I-90, and I-90 north otherwise. Lows 31-38. Wind NE 10-20 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain/mix South Coast, periods of snow elsewhere, tapering with time. Highs 33-40. Wind N 10-20 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Lows 23-30. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.
SATURDAY: Sun/cloud mix. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 17-24. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds. Rain and some inland northern area mix/snow possible by late-day. Highs 37-44. Wind variable up to 10 MPH becoming NE to E and increasing to 10-20 MPH by late-day and evening.
DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 23-27)
Stormy start January 23 with low pressure cutting across the region, based on current expectations. Should have warmed up enough for mostly rain but will keep an eye on it. Dry interlude briefly between that system and the next one expected in the January 25-26 window – will fine-tune that. Drier/chilly weather to end the period behind that system.
DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 1)
A quieter, more seasonably chilly period of weather is anticipated here with maybe one minor disturbance bringing a snow shower risk.