DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 29 – APRIL 2)
Classic early spring weather. This is what we’ll be dealing with in the days ahead. Now, to clear up a common and still-growing misconception, fueled largely be social media and nearly equally by mainstream media (non-meteorologists), when we pass the vernal equinox and spring official begins, that doesn’t just suddenly mean our days are filled with warm sunshine, blooming flowers, singing birds, etc. Spring is a transition between winter and summer, and it’s a long process, and the part of the process is often marked with frequent chilly spells and unsettled weather – a volatile pattern. We’ll see that process in progress these 5 days (and beyond, as you’ll see). Today, we lose the winterish chill of yesterday but seeing a high temp a half dozen to a dozen degrees milder than what occurred yesterday, but a late March chill will still dominate as a southwest wind increases as high pressure moves offshore. This increase in wind along with dry weather also elevates brush fire danger across the region today as well – marking the beginning of our “fire season”, which is peaked, in general, in the time after snow melt and before leaf-out of vegetation, and highest on dry, breezy/windy days. Today will be one of those days. Our warm-up continues as we enter the final 2 days of the month, but a frontal boundary to our northwest will edge closer by Tuesday, bringing the chance of rain showers to our region by then after dry weather Monday. The next forecast question to answer is the magnitude of warmth on Wednesday, dictated by the timing of a cold front moving our way trailing low pressure moving out of the Great Lakes into southeastern Canada, and the amount of cloudiness and the rain shower chance associated with it. Quicker timing and more clouds limit how warm we can get, while a slower front and less cloud cover would be conducive to a warmer outcome. I am leaning toward the former over the latter at this point, but keep in mind that just a subtle change can have me leaning in the other direction. Regardless, the front does pass through by Wednesday night, and we’ll find ourselves in a much cooler air mass by Thursday, with cloud cover dominant. Precipitation will be dependent on a few things: 1) A weak low pressure wave that may form on the front just to our south and pass by early in the day. 2) Low level moisture from the ocean as we have a northeasterly air flow driven by high pressure in eastern Canada. 3) The approach of another low pressure wave from the west later – if timing is quick enough. My leaning for this day is for 1 and 3 to be less influence and 2 to be more so, so just a cloudy day with some drizzle possible. This will be another day to monitor for detail and fine-tune as we get closer to it.
TODAY: Sun and patchy clouds. Highs 43-50. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 35-42 evening, but may rise slightly overnight. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 48-55 South Coast, 56-63 elsewhere. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 40-47. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Highs 60-67 except cooler South Coast, and may end up cooler in southern NH / northern MA. Wind SW 5-15 MPH, may shift to N or NE in southern NH / northern MA.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 45-52 early, then rises overnight. Wind variable to SW 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Variably cloudy. Midday and afternoon rain showers possible. Highs 52-59 South Coast, 59-66 just inland from South Coast through MA South Shore, 66-73 elsewhere. Wind SW 10-20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain showers evening, ending overnight. Lows 35-42. Wind shifting to N 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Cloudy. Chance of drizzle. Highs 42-49. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (APRIL 3-7)
The weather in this stretch is again very much determined by the position of a frontal boundary and disturbances moving along it. I’m leaning toward chilly and somewhat unsettled through mid period, but there is a possibility of a brief spike of warmth around April 5 (Easter Sunday for those celebrating). There is a lot of detail to be worked out for this stretch of time.
DAYS 11-15 (APRIL 8-12)
Still expecting a continuation of the battle-zone pattern through this period as well with some unsettled episodes and temperature swings.
Good morning and thank you TK.
35 after low of 28
Ocean: 39
Does not bode well for the East wind this Spring. My favorite wind direction,
NOT!
WORDLE: 5
Should have had it 4, but did not. Oh well.
Great 5 JPD
Philip .. a note for you ..
Yesterday you mentioned that April 5 1982 was much colder than yesterday was.
This is not correct.
Boston’s high temp on April 5 1982 was 43.
Boston’s high temp yesterday was 38.
Yesterday was colder by 5 degrees.
I’m curious about what a meteorologist means by “Day X was warmer than Day Y.” What’s being compared? Is it highs, lows, means, medians, the reading on the thermometer in my living room…?
Or maybe the comparison as stated has no real meteorological definition and would never be used!
Usually the first comparison is just “high temp”.
But of course it can vary depending on parameters and ranges, etc.
Thanks TK !
Wordle: 4
Nice
Very nice.
Thank you, TK. We are already up 10 degrees from our low of 22.
Warmer on Easter would be nice especially for egg hunts. I seem to recall last year was lovely. We sat out for quite a while the kids hunted for eggs. Some adults may have joined in ;). But it was a couple weeks later
I repeat that I’m enjoying the new approach to first wordle words. Not because of the score as much as thinking of a word for the day before even playing
Wordle 3
Great job Vicki – I’m so happy that you continue to enjoy the new approach!
I got it in 4 today.
Nice 4. looks like I am the caboose!!!
Great 4 and I sure appreciate your suggestion.
Superb!!!
Thanks TK
Out and about.
When the sun was out yesterday, it did help.
With that said, today is already better.
Low RH’s and windy, hopefully no back yard, spring burns get out of control.
I sure enjoy the difference the sun makes. It’s fun to note the difference
Thank you TK.
Besides fire season, there is also pollen and allergen season coming upon us. Pollen is an airborne allergen. Roughly speaking in the northeast, the season goes something like this:
Tree allergens: March, April, May
Grass allergens: May, June, July
Weed allergens: June, July, August
I haven’t looked it up but I think the pollen count is not high. Now watch, I’ll probably have to eat those words. 🙂
Pollen map
https://www.pollen.com/map/ma
It appears pollen count was low yesterday, but has jumped to medium today.
Not terrible … YET!
Quick test. Messed up on my side
39 here. I am hoping for 50 today!! We shall see.
50F is the over / under today!
Currently at 38F.
38 here Also. I’ll go with 49 for today here
you’ll make 50
40 here now. Ok, we’re getting there and have surpassed yesteday’s high. 🙂
Thank you TK!
Great job to all of the Wordlers! I had a lucky 3.
Outstanding!!
Yay. Welcome to the 3 car.
Thanks TK.
45F.
Getting to 50 not looking good.
47 here and I think we can still do it. We shall see. 🙂
Thanks, TK.
The weather yesterday can be described as follows:
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
— Charles Dickens
PERFECT!!!
Love this.
49, I think it can, I think it can, I think it can!!!
48 at Logan
46 here in Quincy.
My younger brothers favorite book. That and Mike mulligan and his steam shovel
BINGO! 50 here! (actually 49.5)
49 at Logan
We’re warm-advecting. The high temps today are going to be between 2 p.m. and sunset. This is why I included a 50 as the top range for high temps.
At 49F. I have a shot at it!
I’m 52. I’ll trade you then we are both right 🙂 🙂
🙂
Six just blew a 2-0 lead. Down now 3-2.
*Sox
50F. Made it!!
It’s VERY early in the baseball season. But I think the Yankees are being underestimated by pundits. They’re the team to beat in the AL, in my opinion. I felt that before the current series against SF. Why? It starts with pitching. The Yankees have a surfeit of excellent starters, two of whom will be coming back later this spring after injuries. And then the lineup. It’s not what the Dodgers have. But is there a better one in the AL? I don’t think so.
Now 48 here.
I left you a comment at the top of today’s blog comments section with a correction on the comparison to 1982.
Not sure if you saw it.
Yesterday was colder than 4/5/1982.
4/5/1982 was not “a lot colder” than yesterday.
Boston’s highs were 43 on 4/5/1982 and 38 yesterday.
Yes, I saw it. Thanks TK! 🙂
I find it interesting that day (4/5/1982) was even THAT warm, lol.
The next day (4/6/1982) I believe the high fell throughout the day to about 16 or 17. Heavy wet snow morning then fluffy the rest of the day. ❄️
Thanks, TK!
The Wayback Machine makes two stops today, the first in 1970 and the second in 2010:
1970: March 29 was Easter Sunday and saw a early spring snowstorm. Providence recorded 7.8″. There was an additional 5.9″ of snow on March 31. There were 10″ of snow on the ground in Providence on April 1, 1970.
2010: March 29-30 saw a total 7″ of rain here in Taunton causing massive flooding and damage. March, 2010 had all-time record-breaking rains with a total of 16.83″ measured at the National Weather Service office. I remember that had to take a personal day out of school to bail water out of the cellar. The sump pump couldn’t keep up with the flooding.
Very volatile time of year.
Sorry but I don’t remember either event. Thanks anyway Captain! 🙂
It looks like this Easter 2026 will be very quiet and forgettable.
I remember 1970 well. My mom, dad, brother and I went to Fantasia restaurant in fresh pond. When we came out, we were shocked by the amount of snow.
With our current technology in weather forecasting, no more of those surprises.
We have many hours to go, but the RRFS is currently showing a cold frontal passage at Boston around 18z (2 p.m.) Wednesday.
After that, the warm up is a done deal. I’m still not sure if Boston has a chance to reach 70 before that front gets here. They have a shot. But they do not have a guarantee.
Wednesday should still be mostly dry Tk
Next Friday afternoon model temp forecasts for Boston…
GFS: Near 40.
ECMWF: Near 70.
Great agreement there!
Let’s go with the Euro! 😉
Still 52. Wind is cold. Many low 50s and high 40s
Stuck at 50F.
Cassidy out as the Vegas GK coach. Wow!
Speaking of Easter, was 1971 a warm one? I recall looking for Easter chocolate outside, in places my mother had hid them (we lived in Needham). And everything had melted.
Topped out at 50F.