DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 10-14)

A disturbance exits our eastern coast as the sun comes up today, delaying the appearance of the sun a bit as it needs to work its way above a deck of clouds out there first. But it will turn out to be a nice day as high pressure builds in and provides fair, milder weather. This milder trend continues Tuesday as well with more fair weather. Only a brief rain shower can visit parts of the region Tuesday evening as a cold front slices through from northwest to southeast, parented by another quick-moving low passing to our north. High pressure builds north of our region at midweek, sending chilly air back, and as the front that went by previously sits just to the south then tries to work north again, that combined with some onshore flow will bring more clouds and eventually a light precipitation chance (Thursday). I’m not currently optimistic for much in the way of clearing Friday, as high pressure slides off to the east, but centered a little too far north for a southerly wind – more east to southeast – which holds clouds in and makes it harder for that front to cleanly push through, though it will moderate in comparison to midweek as it looks now.

TODAY: Early clouds eastern coastal areas, then sun and passing clouds. Highs 50-57. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH with a few higher gusts.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 30-37. Wind W under 10 MPH shifting to SW.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. A rain shower possible in the evening. Lows 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to NW.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 45-52. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Postential for some light rain/mix/snow overnight. Lows 34-41. Wind NE to E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Potential for light rain/mix through midday. Highs 42-49. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind E to SE up to 10 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 48-55. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 15-19)

A strong storm moving through the Midwest / Great Lakes into Canada will create a stronger southerly air flow on the March 15-16 weekend with mostly fair weather and above normal temperatures, though probably lots of clouds, but fair weather giving way to a band of rain showers ahead of a cold front later Sunday. This should lead to fair, colder weather early to middle next week as a strong westerly flow returns.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 20-24)

Battle ground pattern, cold to north, mild to south, a couple storms systems can impact the region and the region may end up on the cold side of at least one of them with potential frozen precipitation. Vernal Equinox occurs early morning March 20.

Monday…

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 9-13)

A shorter update for today – no real changes to the forecast to write about. Summarizing, today starts bright then displays lots of clouds and maybe a few light rain showers later as warmer air advances in west to east aloft. Tonight, a small, fast-moving low pressure area moves east southeastward across central New England. It may bring a quick burst of snow to southern NH while a few rain and snow showers can occur to the south into early Monday before fair weather returns. This will come along with milder conditions, lasting into Tuesday, with fair weather to accompany it as a narrow area of high pressure slides across the region. A strong cold front will pass by later Tuesday with a rain shower chance, and a switch to much cooler weather by midweek as high pressure slides north of the region, turning the wind north then more east. By later Wednesday or Thursday, a shot at some light precipitation exists as the frontal boundary, not far away, starts to make a return, but meets some resistance at first.

TODAY: Lots of sun to start, then lots of clouds with a shower of light rain and/or ice pellets possible. Highs 37-44. Wind W 5-15 MPH, a few higher gusts.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. A quick burst of snow with a coating possible southern NH, with a few rain/snow showers possible elsewhere. Highs 29-36. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers except rain or snow showers south of I-90 during the morning. Highs 48-55. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to W.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 33-40. Wind W under 10 MPH shifting to SW.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. A rain shower possible in the evening. Lows 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to NW.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 45-52. Wind N to NE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 35-42. Wind NE to E up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Potential for light rain/mix. Highs 40-47. Wind E up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 14-18)

Stronger push of southerly air flow should warm it up late week into the March 15-16 weekend with variably cloudy weather but mainly rain-free. Stronger cold front arrives late in the weekend with a band of showers. Return to fair but chilly weather for St. Patrick’s Day and March 18 too.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 19-23)

Battle ground pattern, cold to north, mild to south, a couple storms systems can impact the region and the region may end up on the cold side of at least one of them with potential frozen precipitation. Vernal Equinox occurs early morning March 20.

Sunday discussion (unless you want to take a break haha)

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 8-12)

The March wind was living up to and even a little beyond its reputation yesterday, and while that wind will still be with us today, it won’t be as fierce. At least this time, it’s not accompanied by arctic air, just a typical March chill, and that climbing sun angle and 3+ minutes of daylight per day addition makes a difference as we move through the final days of winter… Reminder: Don’t forget if you have clocks that need manual setting, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday). The next several days will display an active weather pattern, but an “active” weather pattern does not automatically translate to a “stormy” weather pattern. Let me explain further. We’re going to be impacted by several weather systems during the next 5 days that bring weather changes, and none of them are big storms. Let’s move through the scenario step-by-step. The early to mid portion of this morning will feature a deck of clouds over southeastern portions of the WHW forecast area, i.e., southeastern MA and parts of eastern CT into RI. This is from a disturbance passing to our south. During the day today, low pressure scooting quickly across southeastern Canada will drag a sharp cold front across our region from west to east. This will bring some cloudiness and perhaps a passing snow shower. It will also shift a gusty westerly breeze to a strong northwesterly wind, and while gusts will not be as powerful as what we saw yesterday, the 35 to 45 MPH range is easily attainable this afternoon. This leaves the possibility of additional tree damage and isolated power outages. The period of strongest wind will be short lived, and the wind will ease up tonight as the pressure gradient relaxes. The front that went by will sit not too far to our south and as it drifts back in our direction on Sunday, look for a fair amount of clouds, especially over southern portions of our region, where a few patches of precipitation – sleet or rain – can occur. Where this does happen, it will not have significant impact, and most of the region will stay dry with limited sun. Another low pressure area will move rapidly east southeastward just north of our region Sunday night to early Monday, dragging the frontal boundary back through as a warm front briefly before driving it southward as a cold front again. This transition may be accompanied by a few rain and snow showers Sunday night and early Monday, but again with little impact. An episode of fair weather lasts from midday Monday through the day Tuesday, and with a narrow area of high pressure sliding in and then off to the south, and air flow between it and an approaching cold front gives us a shot at 60+ for high temps on Tuesday in parts of southeastern New England, but away from the influence of a southwesterly breeze off ocean water – so this would mean away from the South Coast having the higher chances of seeing that. But don’t run outside to grab the lawn furniture and open the pool, because a strong cold front sweeps through that night and puts an end to the very brief warm up, sending us back to more typical March weather by Wednesday. Pending some details to be worked out, I do see a possibility that Wednesday may lack sun and be about 20 degrees cooler than Tuesday. Time will reveal if this meteorological notion will come to be or needs adjustment, but keep in mind the potential.

TODAY: Variably cloudy. A passing snow shower favoring areas north of I-90 midday and afternoon. Highs 32-39. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusts to 30 MPH, shifting to NW 15-25 MPH with gusts 35-45 MPH.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 15-25 MPH early, diminishing to 5-15 MPH overnight.

SUNDAY: Considerably cloudy – limited sun. A couple brief periods of light rain and/or sleet can occur mainly I-90 belt southward. Highs 37-44. Wind W 5-15 MPH, a few higher gusts.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. A snow shower possible. Lows 27-34. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers except rain or snow showers south of I-90 during the morning. Highs 43-50. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts, shifting to NW.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 33-40. Wind NW under 10 MPH shifting to SW.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 55-62 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. A rain shower possible in the evening. Lows 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH with higher gusts, shifting to NW.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 45-52. Wind variable to NE up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 13-17)

High pressure brings fair weather to the region early in the period, then a larger scale trough can bring an episode of unsettled weather around the March 15-16 weekend. While details can’t be determined so many days in advance, the early idea is Great Lakes low pressure and a couple rounds of precipitation (mix/rain, then rain showers) with a warm front / cold front combo, and a return to fair, colder weather at the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 18-22)

Potential weather irony: As we approach and reach the vernal equinox – the start of spring – on March 20, our weather pattern may resemble one you see more in mid winter, in terms of colder weather and potential storminess. Something to keep an eye on, as it’s a low confidence outlook this far in advance.

Saturday’s chatter…

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 7-11)

Another discussion written while waiting for my medication to correct an atrial fib episode, so keeping it a bit brief. No big changes anyway. Windy/chilly weather today and again Saturday after a brief lull in the wind tonight. The wind gusts can exceed 50 MPH especially in higher elevations and open areas today, with scattered tree damage and resultant power outages. Some Great Lakes moisture can produce a few stray snow flurries mainly west of Boston later today, and with the help of a quick-passing disturbance a few snow showers can occur overnight / Saturday morning. Here’s your like-it-or-not reminder that we make the switch back to Daylight Saving Time by “springing forward” early Sunday morning (2:00 a.m. becomes 3:00 a.m. officially). The wind diminishes on Sunday, another fair but chilly day. Sunday night and Monday morning a small low pressure area will dive east southeastern from Canada through the Upper Great Lakes and across the Northeast and can trigger a few rain and snow showers. That moves on quickly and more fair weather is ours late Monday through Tuesday.

TODAY: Sun and passing clouds. A stray snow flurry is possible, mainly west of I-95. Highs 35-42. Wind W 15-30 MPH, gusts 45-55 MPH.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. A passing snow flurry possible. Lows 18-25. Wind W 10-20 MPH, gusts 30+ MPH.

SATURDAY: Partly sunny. Isolated to scattered snow showers until midday. Highs 30-37. Wind W 15-30 MPH, gusts 35-50 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 18-25. Wind W diminishing to 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind W 5-15 MPH, gusts 20-25 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers except rain or snow showers south of I-90 during the morning. Highs 43-50. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 33-40. Wind S under 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 50-57. Wind S up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 12-16)

Fair weather for a few days followed by an unsettled weather potential for the March 15-16 weekend.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 17-21)

Additional unsettled weather and variable temperatures during this period. Vernal equinox occurs early morning on March 20.

Keep it civil / no bashing.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 6-10)

Mild air during the day today will be replaced by colder air tonight as a result of a cold frontal passage. The front will produce a few additional rain showers as it moves across the region, and behind it a few snow showers can occur tonight as the cold air arrives and becomes established, along with increasingly windy conditions. The windy, colder weather will persist through Friday, largely a dry day but with a slight chance of a passing snow flurry. The winds on Friday can be powerful enough to lead to scattered damage and power outages. Another disturbance passing by the region on Saturday can produce an additional light snow shower or two, and it will be chilly but not as windy. On Sunday, it stays chilly but fair as low pressure passes far to the south of our region. A clipper low will dive out of Canada and across the Great Lakes and New York State to New England to give some rain and snow showers to our region on Monday.

TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers / brief downpours through early afternoon. Highs 52-59. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to NW late-day.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Possible rain/mix showers early, snow showers overnight. Black ice formation on untreated surfaces. Lows 23-30. Wind NW increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts above 30 MPH.

FRIDAY: Partly sunny. A passing snow flurry possible mainly morning. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-50 MPH and as high as 50-60 MPH in higher elevations and a few open coastal areas.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts 30+ MPH.

SATURDAY: Partly sunny. A possible snow shower. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 18-25. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers except rain or snow showers south of I-90. Highs 35-42. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 11-15)

Two disturbances to watch for precipitation potentials during this period. Temperatures near to below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 16-20)

Active pattern with variable temperatures – additional unsettled weather chances leading up to the vernal equinox on March 20.

This is the initial post that for now will be renewed daily for the purpose of discussing the government’s actions regarding changes in NOAA / NWS staffing.

I will renew the page daily just before the forecast post, and anybody who wishes to discuss the topic is instructed to please keep the discussion there, and not on the regular forecast post comments section.

Like on the regular blog, the guidelines are expected to be followed. No insulting or name calling of other bloggers will be tolerated. While this is a political issue related to NOAA, I’d prefer we keep the discussion to the actual topic of staffing / changes. It’s ok to agree with or disagree with what the government is doing and make your opinion known, but I do NOT want the page to turn into a political trashing ground. We can talk about or agreement or disagreement with the actions of the leaders without sinking to call them names. If you don’t want to be part of the discussion, simply do not participate. I won’t tolerate replies that are made to antagonize someone you don’t agree with, regardless of what side of the issue you’re on. Agree to disagree, be respectful, and move on, otherwise the posts will be removed and the existence of the page may be suspended. It’s up to the participants to make sure this runs smoothly. I think we can all manage that. 🙂

You may begin commenting below for the remainder of today, and tomorrow morning a new post for it will appear…

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 5-9)

A mild interlude comes along with unsettled weather today into tomorrow, as a large and pretty strong low pressure area cranks through the Great Lakes and into eastern Canada. Its warm front may bring a quick batch of rain to areas mainly north and west of Boston before midday today, but the main batch of precipitation, in the form of widespread rain showers and embedded thunderstorms, will cross the region from west to east tonight. Thursday will be a transition day, starting mild with a few lingering rain showers as the cold front pushes through. A low pressure wave will form east and northeast of our region late Thursday and help draw colder air back into the region Thursday night, along with increasing wind. This will be accompanied by a few snow showers, which can linger into Friday morning. What will last through Friday is the strong and gusty wind, with Friday being a much colder day. Our weekend will turn out mostly dry and chilly. We’ll be in a westerly flow with a large storm in Atlantic Canada. A weak disturbance passing by on Saturday can produce a few snow showers. A storm system passing well south of the region Sunday doesn’t phase with mis-timed energy to its northeast and another area to its northwest, so that moves harmlessly out to sea with fair weather for our region to finish the weekend.

TODAY: Mainly cloudy. Brief light rain mainly north and west of Boston late morning. An isolated rain shower possible mainly west of I-95 afternoon. Highs 48-55, coolest South Coast. Wind S increasing to 10-20 MPH by late day, including higher gusts especially in coastal areas.

TONIGHT: Cloudy with widespread rain showers and a chance of a thunderstorm. Areas of fog. Lows 43-50. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers. Highs 51-58 by midday, falling to the 40s late-day. Wind W 5-15 MPH, shifting to N.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. A few snow showers possible. Icy areas form on untreated surfaces. Lows 23-30. Wind N to NW increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts 35-45 MPH.

FRIDAY: Partly sunny. A passing snow flurry possible mainly morning. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-50 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts 30+ MPH.

SATURDAY: Partly sunny. A possible snow shower. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 18-25. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 10-14)

Three disturbances to watch for precipitation potentials during this period. Temperatures near to below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 15-19)

Active pattern with variable temperatures – additional unsettled weather chances.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 4-8)

A warm-up starts today, both surface and aloft, as high pressure moves off the Mid Atlantic Coast and a warm front approaches from the west. We’ll see varying amounts of clouds ahead of this front in the southwesterly air flow, and these clouds will thicken up tonight. Some precipitation will travel mainly north of our area tonight, but we may be clipped by the southern end of a light rain early early Wednesday as the front passes by the region. Wednesday’s weather will be warmer, but cloudy with a ribbon of widespread rain showers moving in ahead of a cold front by later in the day. This front will take its time crossing the region, until about midday Thursday, but the main rainfall will occur Wednesday night when widespread showers fall and even some embedded thunderstorms can join them. A transition back to colder weather begins later Thursday with the passage of a cold front, but the day itself will still be fairly mild. The wildcard for that day is whether or not we see any significant clearing to really help boost the temperature before the chill-down. As the colder air arrives, another low pressure area will initiate nearby, but probably just too far east and north to produce anything more than brief mix to snow near our eastern coast or just offshore. I’ll watch this for the early hours of Friday. One thing that is more certain is the strong and gusty winds that result from intensifying low pressure moving away from our region but expanding its wind field from late Thursday evening through Friday. Daytime weather on Friday will be mainly dry, with just a low chance of a passing snow flurry in cold air advection. Chilly and breezy weather continues Saturday, but not as windy as Friday. As we get into the weekend, I’ll be eyeing a disturbance approaching from the west and low pressure passing to the south. The interaction, or lack-thereof, between these will be the determining factor in the sensible weather for the coming weekend. Currently, for Saturday I expect that we’ll just see some clouds, but dry weather.

TODAY: Sun/cloud mix. Highs 45-52. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 33-40 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind S to SE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy morning with brief light rain possible in southern NH and far northern MA. Overcast afternoon with widespread rain showers arriving west to east. Highs 48-55, coolest South Coast. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with widespread rain showers and a chance of a thunderstorm. Areas of fog. Lows 43-50. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers. Highs 51-58 by midday, falling to the 40s late-day. Wind W 5-15 MPH, shifting to N.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. A brief period of mix to snow possible near the eastern coast. Icy areas form on untreated surfaces. Lows 23-30. Wind N to NW increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts 35-45 MPH.

FRIDAY: Partly sunny. A passing snow flurry possible. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, gusts 35-50 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts 30+ MPH.

SATURDAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 9-13)

Watching a storm passing to the south and a disturbance moving through from the west March 9 – current leaning is that they will not phase together and just a few snow showers are possible here with cold air dominating. Fair weather and continued below normal temperatures early next week. Unsettled weather with a milder trend toward the middle of next week.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 14-18)

Active pattern with variable temperatures – additional unsettled weather chances.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 3-7)

High pressure builds toward the Mid Atlantic Coast today and we remain in a cold northwesterly to westerly air flow, which then switches to a milder southerly air flow Tuesday as the high slides off the coast to our south. A warm front will send clouds our way Tuesday but most precipitation from it should pass across northern New England. Wednesday, we’ll be in a healthy southerly air flow ahead of a cold front, which will bring a ribbon of rainfall into our region during the afternoon and nighttime hours. As this slow-moving front pushes offshore Thursday, the shower threat will diminish but also become a snow shower threat by nighttime and into Friday as an upper level disturbance crosses the region. Surface low pressure will initiate too far north and east to have a major impact, with drier weather returning during Friday, along with a shot of colder air.

TODAY: Cape Cod clouds early, high clouds from the west later, otherwise plenty of sun. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, a few higher gusts.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 19-26. Wind W up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 30-37 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind S to SE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy morning. Overcast afternoon with widespread rain showers arriving west to east. Highs 48-55, coolest South Coast. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with widespread rain showers. Areas of fog. Lows 43-50. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers. Highs 50-57 by midday, falling to the 40s thereafter. Wind W 5-15 MPH, shifting to N.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain to snow showers. Icy areas untreated surfaces. Lows 23-30. Wind N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

FRIDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers until midday. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 8-12)

A quick-moving low pressure area brings a chance of snow/mix March 8. Fair weather returns March 9. Additional unsettled weather possible thereafter including some snow/mix. Temperatures below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 13-17)

Active pattern with variable temperatures – additional unsettled weather chances.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 2-6)

Yesterday’s arctic cold frontal passage has delivered an air mass to the region that is reminiscent of our January weather pattern – dry and very cold. Bright sunshine will help offset the cold slightly if you manage to be in it but out of the biting wind that will work to make it feel colder than it is. High pressure building across the Mid Atlantic will extend itself northward far enough tonight into Monday so that while we remain cold, we’ll see the wind diminish somewhat. Dry weather will prevail with only some high level clouds crossing the region tonight with a weak disturbance aloft. High pressure builds offshore by Tuesday at which time we’ll start a notable warming trend, along with a sun / cloud mix – the clouds generated by warmer air aloft overrunning what is left of our cold surface air mass. Unsettled weather is going to be our midweek weather feature with a strong low pressure area tracking from the Midwest through the Great Lakes. We get its frontal systems – first a warm frontal passage with lots of clouds and maybe some brief light rain early Wednesday. Before its cold front arrives with a ribbon of significant rain later Wednesday to early Thursday, a push of very mild air should drive temps to 50+ over most of the region Wednesday. The details of Thursday’s weather are a little hard to bring into focus at this point. We will see that cold front move through and the initial burst of rain exit, and the beginning of a temperature fall. The question at this point is whether or not a wave of low pressure forms on the front south of our region and moves up, or forms closer to or even beyond our area. The former scenario could result in additional rain, changing to snow as the cold air arrives. The latter scenario would just feature a brief period of rain showers switching to snow showers with less precipitation. Fine-tuning of this part of the forecast will take place the next few days…

TODAY: Abundant sunshine. Highs 25-32. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts 25-35 MPH.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 13-20. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 19-26. Wind W up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 30-37 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind S to SE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain early, favoring central MA and southern NH. Rain showers likely late-day, favoring areas west of I-95. Highs 48-55, coolest South Coast. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy with widespread rain showers. Areas of fog. Lows 41-48. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

THURSDAY: Cloudy. Rain showers likely early. Chance of rain/mix/snow showers late. Highs 48-55 early, then falling. Wind shifting to N 10-20 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 7-11)

Fair, colder March 7. Low pressure passing south of the region may be close enough to bring snow/mix to the region during a portion of the March 8-9 weekend, with fair and cold weather later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 12-16)

Active pattern with near to below normal temperatures leaves us vulnerable to storminess which can include mix/snow heading into mid March.

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 1-5)

I used to love the concept of the meteorological seasons, and while I don’t loathe it, it doesn’t hold the appeal it once did, other than “hey it’s kind of neat to fit a season into 3 calendar months, 4 times over (March-May, June-August, September-November, December-February). I’ve morphed into really just appreciating the natural shifts and the way our own solar system marks its time by what it shows us in our sky and what we see in our surroundings. All of that said, today marks the start of “Meteorological Spring”, for what it’s worth, and today will also bring a spring preview – not that we didn’t already have some of that during the mild interlude this week, during the last several days of February. But it continues today, followed by a harsh reminder in under 24 hours that it is still actually winter, when we see our high temperatures on Sunday 25 to 30 degrees colder than what we see today. Ouch! How does this come about? Well, a warm front moved through the region overnight. If you were up late, you may have seen some wet snow, even with some accumulation, well north and west of Boston, which was then a light mix / rain as you got closer to the city and just a little light rain at most from the city southward. While today’s weather features plenty of clouds, it does feature mild air in the warm sector between the aforementioned warm front and an approaching cold front. The latter will pass by later today, and up until that time we can see a few rain showers around. But it will be mild, with many areas topping 50 for a high temperature. The exception this time will be the South Coast and Cape Cod, where some sub-50 highs will the result of a southwesterly wind coming off chilly ocean water. Once the front passes by later on though, the arrival of the cold is immediate. A snow shower may occur in parts of central and northern MA into southern NH, otherwise a clearing process will begin as the temperature performs a free-fall dive. This sets us up for a bright but biting cold Sunday with much of the region staying sub-freezing all day. This comes along with wind that will make it feel colder, only offset slightly by the higher-angle sun which will shine without interruption, other than a few passing fractocumulus clouds. That’s your weekend – a tale of two seasons. Looking into the early to mid portion of next week, we keep the cold, lose the wind, and gain a few clouds Monday as a weak disturbance passes by, but not with enough moisture to cause any precipitation. Surface high pressure builds from the Midwest to the Mid Atlantic later Monday and Tuesday, with our region on the northern periphery of it. The result here is fair weather but some varying amounts of clouds, and also a noticeably less cold Tuesday. By Wednesday, the next low pressure area is heading into the Great Lakes, and its warm front brings an overcast with a good chance of at least a period of rain.

TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Passing rain showers possible. Highs 48-55, coolest South Coast. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, gusts 20-30 MPH.

TONIGHT: Variably cloudy early with a passing snow shower possible mainly I-90 belt northward, then clearing. Lows 17-24. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusts 25+ MPH.

SUNDAY: Sunshine with a few passing clouds. Highs 25-32. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with gusts around 30 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 13-20. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 19-26. Wind W up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Variably cloudy. Highs 38-45. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 30-37 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind S to SE up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs 43-50. Wind SE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 6-10)

Low pressure moving from the Great Lakes to southeastern Canada brings a cold front through the region with rain showers likely during March 6. Wildcard potential: Watch for low pressure wave coming up along the front as it turns sharply colder which can bring a period of rain/mix/snow later that day or at night. Fair, colder March 7. Low pressure passing south of the region may be close enough to bring snow/mix to the region during a portion of the March 8-9 weekend, with fair and cold weather later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 11-15)

Active pattern with near to below normal temperatures leaves us vulnerable to storminess which can include mix/snow heading into mid March.