DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 6-10)
A parade of low pressure systems will impact our weather in the days ahead. One is just departing after having delivered a general coating of light snow last night. The departure of this system reinforces cold air and sets our region up for an inland icing issue for the next system, which arrives later this evening. While it warms aloft so that rain falls – maybe a little sleet/snow mix to the north at first, the surface will stay cold enough away from the coast so that the rain will freeze on contact with surfaces, creating a hazard for walking or driving on untreated surfaces into Wednesday morning before it finally warms just enough to eliminate the icing. The low responsible for this is not a strong one, and will attempt to pass just to our north only to elongate and redevelop just to our east. This prevents a more significant warm-up, so when colder air comes back in behind it, any untreated surfaces that are wet can ice up again at night as it clears. High pressure builds in with a one-day break for fair weather during Thursday. Friday, the next low pressure system takes a little different track, heading northeastward for the St. Lawrence Valley, passing to our north and pulling milder air into our region. What starts out as a fair weather day (maybe with a nice sunrise) turns cloudy, breezy, and milder with eventual rain showers arriving. As low pressure moves eastward, it will drag a cold front through the region and a bubble of high pressure will move across southeastern Canada. Meanwhile the next storm system, this one a little bit stronger, will move into the Great Lakes by Saturday. The front that went by later Friday will sit to our south as moisture associated with the Great Lakes low moves into our region, likely as a chilly rainfall Saturday afternoon. Currently, while it’s cooler than Friday, I think it will remain sufficiently mild enough to prevent icing on Saturday, but it is something we’ll have to keep an eye on for northern / interior areas of the WHW region, as it wouldn’t take much of a slightly colder scenario to result in at least a brief icing issue. Where it’s “day 5”, there isn’t more to say at this point, but just something to monitor as we get closer to it.
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Highs 31-38. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Late evening and overnight light rain and inland (I-95 belt westward) freezing rain likely. Lows 27-34 evening, then a slow overnight rise. Wind variable to S up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy morning with occasional rain, which can still be freezing rain early in the day in north central MA and southern NH away from the coast. Clouds break for sun at times afternoon with a passing rain shower possible. Highs 37-44. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Watch for icy spots on untreated surfaces. Lows 20-27. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 35-43. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 23-30. Wind variable to S up to 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Increasing clouds. Late-day rain showers. Highs 43-50. Wind S to SW 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Evening rain showers. Patchy fog overnight. Lows 33-40. Wind shifting to N and diminishing to under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Afternoon rain likely. Highs 40-47. Wind N shifting to E up to 10 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 11-15)
Wet weather lingers into early January 11 before low pressure departs and a colder, drier westerly wind arrives. High pressure brings an interlude of dry, colder weather before unsettled weather chances return later in the period.
DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 16-20)
Trend is to have a battle zone between cold to north and milder to south nearby with additional unsettled weather chances, but far too soon to pick out any detail in this potential pattern.
Thanks TK
On this day 30 years ago it was the start of the Blizzard of 1996!
https://x.com/NWSBoston/status/1876237286620418186
Thanks Jimmy! Those were fun years. 🙂
All we get nowadays are dribs and drabs. Oh well.
Not permanent. It has to do with the recent set of patterns. We didn’t get those kinds of storms all the time back then, either, but they were just more common during that two decade period where storms were simply more common… because of longer term indices
Thanks TK !
Missed the Wordle train this morning.
After I saw the word, I was like, ok. But, in the moment, I wouldn’t have come up with that in a million years.
I wasn’t even sure that was a real word, but it was/is. Happy to have gotten it in 5.
Sending you a rope.
Got it !!!!! 🙂
I suspect you are not alone. I had 5 like JPD with only two letters through four guesses. Really odd maybe word
Good morning and thank you TK.
26 here
Ocean: 42
Wordle: 5
Interesting word today. Difficult to get. Curious to see if anyone gets it in 3 or 4.
BTW tried another new 1st guest of laire. Perfectly legitimate word that was NOT in the word list. Very strange.
I got Wordle in 5 too. It was a long slog getting there!
Agree totally. That was a good one and kind of fun getting there. I suppose not so much fun if one does not get the word.
That’s three 5s. Will 5 run the train
That is 4 5s, you, Sue, SClarke and myself. Poor Tom missed the train. I think he over slept. 🙂 Anyone else?
Thanks TK.
1,401 ❄️
Philip that blizzard of 96 was part of that great winter of 95-96 if you love snow. I remember still get accumulating snow a week into April. It is still the best winter of my life.
Yes, I forgot about April during that particular season. 🙂
Iirc Boston received 106.7” which was a record at the time.
TK,
Any more thought on joining us with WORDLE?
Second that question. And anyone else also??
Thanks, TK.
The 1995-96 season was memorable. What distinguished it from other snowy seasons is that it featured snowstorms from December through early April.
What I have found frustrating about this winter is the fact that many professional meteorologists have (over)hyped long-range forecasts suggesting “extreme cold” and snow in SNE for over two months. It first happened in November. Then we saw the same nonsense in December. And now we see it once more in January.
I’ll believe it when I see it. 1. While it’s been cold it hasn’t been brutal in the slightest. And, going forward, it doesn’t look to get that cold during the next 10 days (maybe after that, but I don’t trust any model beyond 10 days). People must realize that we’ve had longer stretches of colder weather in December and January, including this century (since 2000). 2. Real snow chances have been few and far between. There has not been an ideal set-up for heavy snow in SNE all winter. And unless I’m missing something I don’t see that changing any time soon.
I agree Joshua. We shall see what develops later this month.
Color me skeptical.
I’m not sure our Mets hyped cold. I truthfully don’t ever see them hyping much if at all. Our first two weeks of December were coldest in decades. Im not sure it was as cold in Boston, but it sure has been cold here.
Whatever happened to our “December to remember”? 😉
So far our January has gone POOF!
There was NO December to remember. Sure it was colder than average. Big deal. December was NOTHING!
It was December, period. And I fear January will be much the same.
What defines a December to remember? Granted our few four inch snows paled in comparison to the occasional storms around December 9 but we have had snow on the ground for weeks. I know. I can’t get to my bird feeder 🙁
MORE than what we have had and remember it is different near the coast. 🙂
Light northerly flow.
I do see the clearing line approaching from the north.
Maybe that works down and the sun does its thing.
Feel like temps have a chance to underachieve, at least through the daytime today, column doesn’t seem like there is any mixing at all, there might even be an inversion.
Towards midnight, maybe that is another story if the winds veer around some, especially along the coastline.
Thank you TK!
Wordle: Joining the 5 car today
Wow! Tough word. WELCOME ABOARD!
Great to get this one.
The departure, so far, in Fairbanks, AK is -37F.
I promise !!!!
They have been under a cold advisory for days, struggling to reach -40F for a high temp.
They are breaking out of that today, thawing to a high of -9F with 1-3 inches of snow expected.
Back down to a high of -18F tomorrow.
I’m enjoying the safe for walking and driving dribs and drab winter. So far. We will need precipitation for the spring and summer.
Thank you, TK. We are 29 up from 25
We had two dustings of snow. It’s early yet so am hoping for a good sized storm. If it is not in the cards, I’m enjoying the quick and rather frequent flurries. So pretty to watch.
Thanks Tk
JR did mention last night that with all the cold last month there was just no moisture to work with.
I do find it interesting though that this upcoming weekend during our brief “thaw” there will be abundant moisture to work with. Just sayin’. 😉
It’s an incorrect notion, and I’m not really sure how many more times i’m going to need to say it before it sticks.
Boston is even included in the Winter Weather Advisory for Freezing rain.
Up to 31 here.
12Z GFS 500 mb flow for 1/22
https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=gfs&p=500wh&rh=2026010612&fh=384&r=conus&dpdt=&mc=https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=gfs&p=500wh&rh=2026010612&fh=384&r=conus&dpdt=&mc=
Still doesn’t look promising at all.
Or this
https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=gfs&p=500wh&rh=2026010612&fh=384&r=conus&dpdt=&mc=
Most of the hype being referred to above was not coming from meteorologists, but actually coming from social media posts on pages run by people who are not professionals.
This is a good example of those posts becoming lumped in with posts by professionals and the professionals ending up taking the blame when what the non-professionals claim is coming does not come.
This problem is a combination of social media and availability of model data to people who shouldn’t have it.
I would have bet on that. Thank you.
NWS ice accretion map
https://www.weather.gov/images/box/winter/StormTotalIce.jpg
Wordle in 4
Wow. Excellent and I believe you are our conductor
There it is!!!! Great job!!!!
Quick look at 12z – again no changes.
I have to-do list about the size of a CVS receipt, so I’m going to get crackin’ on that.
Remember 1 week ago with the prognosticators of doom were telling of us the impending east coast cold and storminess 1/8-1/11? Yeah, not happening. OP Models continue to be disingenuous beyond day 4. Trust your most reliable weather sources. (I will message Judah, and ask him about his favorite model, the Canadian : ) ).
Winter will have its opportunities, but can we stop over hyping the op model run of our hoping? I think to date its been a pretty predictable winter for reasonable and responsible METEROLOGISTS.
Also, prognosticators of doom, a great line, from my favorite Bruce Hornsby song, Circus on the Moon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAAClIOtUIY&list=RDpAAClIOtUIY&start_radio=1
I listened to the entire Bruce Hornsby catalog not long ago – the diversity and fabulousness cannot be overstated.
My favorite album is “Harbor Lights”.
And yes, spot on. While the vast, vast majority of the hype has been coming from the non-professional page owners, there have been a few wish-casting professionals out there that have disappointed me (none of them in our local market). I have been following Judah’s blog this season, and I think your upcoming question to him is VERY fair. He was clearly choosing models that were showing what he wanted to happen, not what he scientifically would come up with. That stuff doesn’t get beyond me without me catching it – you can trust me on that one. I know all the signs. I could have been a great “wish-caster” but I got that all out of my system in college.
P.S. Let me know if you hear back from J.C. … I respect him as a professional, but I wish he’d use more of that professionalism operationally. Ok, I get it, he likes winter / snow, and there’s nothing wrong with stating it. But likes / dislikes should not cloud your reporting of observation and delivery of prognostication. 🙂
Well said guys!!!
Judah is a much smarter person than me. As, I said last week, he is one of the most corrupted by his own biases professionals I know.
I have his contact info. A nice note inquiring about current model preferences has been sent. Not nearly snarky as my blog post here….
Halcyon Days is my favorite Bruce Hornsby album, followed by Harbor Lights. Preference leaning to the my love of the album title.
Currently listening to the 1986 album by the late Cars’ singer / bassist Benjamin Orr. Ben created a nice 80’s popscape here. You can find a lot of Cars’ melody and hook here, not necessarily found in others’ Cars’ members 80’s solo albums. Ben built a basic arrangement structure through his bass playing, programmed drums, and keyboards augmented by great players like Elliot Easton. It’s fun if you like the Cars and 80’s music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lace
Halcyon Days is another favorite.
I have written a song called “Halcyon” that will be on the upcoming A Finesse album and will likely be released as a single sometime in 2026.
The Lace is one of my favorite albums. Ben & his girlfriend or fiance (I forgot) Diane Page wrote most of those songs together on his boat. Do you have a favorite track on the album?
“Stay The Night” was a pretty successful single. My favorite tracks are “In Circles”, “Skyline”, and “Hold On”. The title track is also a favorite.
This Time Around holds a favorite, sentimental spot to my wife and I, particularly the verses.
As for favorite songs – As a1986 kid, Too Hot to Stop. As I matured and evolved, not so much. Now, Skyline, and The Lace.
Hoping this is accurate
“ Patriots Fans Get a Break
Good news for Verizon Fios customers: the Patriots’ playoff game this Sunday will air on NBC, not Fox affiliate Boston 25. Details: https://tinyurl.com/3ejfhhmk”
It was announced as NBC 8:00 p.m. on Sunday night after the regular season ended. No changes will be made. 🙂
The Saturday games will be on Fox and Prime Video.
The Sunday games, in order, will be on CBS, Fox, NBC, with the Pats being the 3rd of those 3. 🙂
There will also be a Monday night game on ESPN.
Ch 5 usually picks up the ESPN game. Not sure if that happens this time or not.
I presume they would if Pats game.
Fox didn’t used to broadcast the Patriots unless they played against an NFC team. I don’t know why they suddenly decided to do their AFC opponents as well.
IMO, AFC vs. AFC should remain on CBS or NBC only.
I forgot ESPN/ABC. That’s ok with me.
I actually made a post explaining that the other day.
Explaining what TK?
32.5 here. Precip due soon
One of my radar apps has it as Snow. I doubt it, but we shall see shortly.
Fortunately, the SB this year will be on NBC.
Fox does broadcast the SB sometimes. Verizon dodged a bullet there.
How long is the dispute between Fox and Verizon going to go on? Glad I have Comcast.
What exactly is there to negotiate?
The dispute is between Cox Media Group and Verizon. Cox operates local stations like Fox in Boston. (Fox Broadcasting is actually owned by the Murdoch family.)
Cox wants more money from Verizon to air the Fox station. Verizon does not want to pay the asking price.
Btw, that annoying thing on the right side of my screen is back. I shouldn’t be “punished” for owning an iPhone. Arrrrgh!
There’s a valid reason I don’t (and never will) own an iPhone. But to each their own. 🙂
In truth that is a word press issue not iPhone. I honestly would not own anything other than an iPhone
Other than this WP mess, my iPhone works for me! 🙂
Nor will I. I will NEVER own an Iphone.
Android rules!!!
We are an Android family here JPD. 🙂
I’m hearing pinging on my window. Frozen rain has arrived
You mean SLEET.
Ok sleet.
Technically, could snow also be called frozen rain?
I’m Not positive. But I believe freezing rain freezes on contact. Sleet is frozen in transit hence the pinging on my windows. I posted here quickly because I know my daughter and granddaughter are at the barn and wanted to give them a heads up for their drive home.
No. Snow is not frozen rain. That is sleet, or ice pellets. Snow is formed quite differently and is never in the form of rain first. It has to form as snow.
Thanks TK.
Just an update on Stefon Diggs. His lawyers 1) have asked to delay the arraignment so that he can play out the season and a judge has agreed to consider it; and 2) are trying to reach a financial settlement with the accuser which would most likely negate the need for an arraignment.
Interesting. Thank you for,the update
New post…