7:32AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 6-10)
Lots of weather to track. Let’s get to it. First we have a low pressure area moving across the northern Great Lakes and southern Canada, with a trough extending down into New England today, and this may produce a touch of light snow at times except light rain Cape Cod area where it will be too mild for snow. This will be an insignificant system with no travel impact. A slightly stronger low will track rapidly eastward, passing south of the region late Tuesday and early Wednesday, and may produce a minor snow event mainly south of I-90, most of it occurring Tuesday night. Behind this system on Wednesday may come a few snow showers but more importantly will be colder air and a gusty wind. As high pressure drifts across the region Thursday it will be a cold but more tranquil day. But this high will be offshore by Friday and a warm front will move across the region with more cloudiness and some spotty light rain (and some interior area sleet) possible. Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Spotty light snow (brief dustings at most) at times except light rain Cape Cod. Highs 30-37. Wind S under 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 22-29. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 33-40. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. A period of snow mainly near and south of I-90 except rain or snow Cape Cod. Snow accumulation of up to 3 inches south of I-90, traces or coatings to the north. Lows 25-32. Wind E 5-15 MPH near the South Coast, variable under 10 MPH elsewhere.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy with spotty light snow early, then cloud/sun mix with passing snow showers possible. Highs 32-39. Wind NW increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts 30-40 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 10-20 MPH with higher gusts, diminishing overnight.
THURSDAY: Sunshine and high clouds. Highs 25-32. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 18-25 evening, rising slowly overnight. Wind SE under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered light rain, possibly some sleet interior areas, favoring the morning hours. Highs 40-47. Wind SE under 10 MPH shifting to SW up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 11-15)
The weekend of January 11-12 starts very mild and ends much colder, with a transition from one to the other taking place as a frontal boundary and wave of low pressure bring mostly rain, which may end as mix/snow for northern and western areas. Fine tuning to come. Drier/colder interlude will be followed by moderating temperatures and more unsettled weather later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 16-20)
A similar pattern, active weather, up and down temperatures, currently impossible to detail.

7:43AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 5-9)
Low pressure’s departure today included a little pre-dawn snow for parts of the region, but the precipitation pulled offshore before all that much could fall. Here at the WHW location in Woburn MA we received a dusting of snow, much of which has either melted on mild ground or is in the process of sublimating in a chilly wind, which will be gusty today as the sky trends sunnier with time after starting with clouds. We are in a weather pattern where systems will be moving right along. The next low will be a weak system being deprived of much of its moisture as it moves rapidly eastward just north of the Great Lakes with a trough extending through the Great Lakes region toward New England. At most this system will manage to produce a little insignificant light snow Monday before exiting, and making way for yet another low, this one with a bit more substance to it, coming out of the Ohio Valley, impacting the region by late Tuesday. The exact track of this system will determine precipitation type, but the early thinking is a track far enough south that colder air will be more dominant. This system, regardless of what it produces, exits during Wednesday and opens the door for a shot of windy/cold weather through Thursday.
The forecast details…
TODAY: A few rain/snow showers ending Cape Cod, otherwise a cloud/sun mix with clouds dominant to start and becoming dominant with time.
Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
TONIGHT: Clear evening, clouding up overnight. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. A couple periods of very light snow possible. Highs 30-37. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow possible late. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. rain/mix/snow likely. Lows 30-37. Wind variable 10-20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow likely early, ending as mix/snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind variable to N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 10-14)
Active pattern with 2 or 3 areas of low pressure potentially impacting the region with precipitation threats. Leaning toward milder with rain threat at first, colder with mix/snow threat later. Low confidence forecast.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 14-18)
The active pattern continues with variable temperatures but no big time extremes in temperature noted through the middle of the month.

7:57AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 4-8)
Low pressure approaches from the southwest today sending areas of rain into the region due to mild enough air both surface and aloft. As the low departs via the Gulf of Maine early Sunday, colder air will be working back in and precipitation will end as snow showers, with possibly a period of steadier snow closer to eastern coastal locations, but only minor accumulation is anticipated from this event. Quickly comes the next low pressure area, a clipper-type system diving through the Great Lakes but into a lot of dry air, so it will lose much of its punch and only produce spotty very light snow early Monday as it meets its demise. But in this active pattern, we get 3 low pressure areas to impact the region, and the third will travel from the Ohio Valley either over or just south of southern New England late Tuesday through early Wednesday. This system will have more moisture to work with, and with more marginally cold air in place, there will probably be a rain/snow line involved as well. The forecast details…
TODAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Rain, possibly mixing with or turning to snow portions of southern NH and northern MA. Lows 30-37. Wind N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY: Cloudy morning with snow or snow showers except rain ending as snow or snow showers southeastern MA/RI/eastern CT. Snow accumulation of a coating to 1 inch possible, mostly along and north of I-90, with a few over 1 inch amounts possible northern portion of the I-95 corridor. Partly sunny afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers, favoring the morning. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow possible late. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. rain/mix/snow likely. Lows 30-37. Wind variable 10-20 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow likely early, ending as mix/snow showers. Highs 38-45. Wind variable to N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 9-13)
Quick interlude of drier, colder weather to start the period and then a stretch of unsettled weather with a couple low pressure systems impacting the region with threat of rain/mix/snow, details to be determined.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 14-18)
The active pattern continues with variable temperatures but no big time extremes in temperature noted through the middle of the month.

7:00AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 3-7)
Two waves of low pressure impact southeastern New England during the next 3 days, producing episodes of rain, though along with rain-free times as well through Saturday. The first wave’s rainfall will occur mainly south of I-90 today and tonight, but in patchy form with many rain-free times. The second wave will eventually impact a larger portion of the region with areas of rain. It’s when the second wave starts to intensify just offshore early Sunday at the time cold air arrives that we will see a burst of snow or snow showers for at least portions of the region. For right now I am still of the general thought process that it will snow in most of the region at least a little bit, with a mostly minor accumulation occurring before the storm departs. Quickly on the heals of this departing system will come a clipper-type low pressure system via the Great Lakes with snow showers possible Monday. And as if that was not enough, yet another low will approach by later Tuesday, with at least marginally cold enough air in place for a winter weather threat. The forecast details…
TODAY: Cloudy morning with periods of light rain favoring southern areas, and less of a chance northern MA and southern NH. Partly sunny north and mostly cloudy south afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Some light rain possible south of I-90. Lows 33-40. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain, possibly mixing with or turning to snow portions of southern NH and northern MA. Lows 30-37. Wind N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with snow or snow showers except rain ending as snow or snow showers southeastern MA/RI/eastern CT. Preliminary accumulation estimate a coating to 1 inch southeastern MA/RI/eastern CT, and 1-3 inches elsewhere with higher amounts favoring higher elevations north and west of Boston. Partial clearing afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind N up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Rain/mix/snow possible late. Highs 35-42. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 8-12)
Low pressure systems will line up in a train along the fast-flowing jet stream for an unsettled stretch heading toward mid January. The first system will be impacting the region January 8 then moving out with a quick shot of dry/cold air for January 9. Additional unsettled weather with rain/mix/snow possible at times later January 10 through the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 13-17)
Two more low pressure systems potentially impact the region with precipitation threats during this 5-day stretch in mid month. Temperatures variable, averaging on the slightly above side of normal.

7:10AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 2-6)
Fast happenings in the weather department early this January, but we start out with a nice day today under the control of high pressure. Quickly, things go downhill tonight and Friday morning as one wave of low pressure comes across the region but with mild enough air for some light rainfall, mainly in central and southern MA southward, while the MA/NH border and southern NH may miss out on the initial rain. As this low strengthens while exiting via Maine and the Canadian Maritimes Friday afternoon and night, a quick punch of dry air will partially clear the area, but clouds will come right back in as a second, more potent and moisture-laden low approaches by early Saturday. This low is likely to make its away right across southeastern New England Saturday evening and quickly exit into the Gulf of Maine Sunday morning, but there will be a quick shot of cold air probably before the moisture has fully departed, so a switch to snow and/or snow showers is quite likely. For now, I’m not going with widespread snow accumulation, perhaps just some minor accumulation favoring northeastern MA and southern NH, but it’s a tricky situation based on exact timing, so it’s something needing to be closely monitored. Nevertheless, that system will be gone with fair weather back for Sunday afternoon, but quickly on its heals comes a clipper low with a risk of snow showers for Monday as colder air will be established at that time. Onto the day-by-day breakdown…
TODAY: Partly sunny early, then mostly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clouding over. Lows 30-37. Wind SW under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Cloudy morning with light rain favoring southern areas, and less of a chance northern MA and southern NH. Partly sunny afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clouding over. Lows 33-40. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 40-47. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain, possibly mixing with or turning to snow portions of southern NH and northern MA. Lows 30-37. Wind N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with snow or snow showers except rain showers ending as mix/snow showers southeastern MA and RI during the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 15-25 MPH, higher gusts possible.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 7-11)
There are some significant differences in medium range guidance which has the potential to drive a forecaster nuts, but I’ve found the best thing to do is to not make many changes to the previous forecast, so for now I am leaning toward another low pressure system to affect the area later January 7 or January 8 with a likely track through the Great Lakes and mix/rain favored over snow. Windy, cold weather would arrive behind this for January 9 with cold and tranquil weather for January 10, followed by a temperature moderation at the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 12-16)
A storm system may impact the region with rain/mix/snow early to mid period followed by fair weather later in the period. Low confidence forecast.

7:30AM

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 1-5)
Happy New Year to all! It’s 2020 now and on we go with the outlook for the weather for the first several days of the second month of meteorological winter. And the pattern is an active one to start off the year as we have a fairly fast west to east flow across the USA. First, a drying westerly breeze will bring a nice beginning to the year in contrast to the messy storm that ended 2019. Other than some patchy icy areas on the ground this morning, expect good weather for your New Year’s Day walk or any other travel you need / want to do. High pressure will move across the region Thursday with another nice day, but things quickly turn after that when we have an initial low pressure area tracking northeastward from the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes Friday into Saturday, then redeveloping just south of New England later Saturday and passing over or just south of the region early Sunday. This will bring a stretch of unsettled weather in the form of periods of rain arriving Friday, continuing Saturday, but possibly ending as snow or snow showers Sunday as colder air arrives. It’s a little clear how this evolves 4 to 5 days out so it needs to be closely monitored, as subtle differences in timing and placement of the secondary low pressure system can mean the difference between a few snow showers and us having to reach for the shovels…
Forecast details…
TODAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY): Mostly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 22-29. Wind NW under 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 36-43. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 25-32 evening then temperatures slowly rising. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain morning. Variably cloudy afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind SE up to 10 MPH shifting to SW.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Becoming cloudy. Rain returning. Temperatures steady 40-47. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain. Highs 45-52 morning then turning cooler. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to N.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Rain likely, may mix with or turn to snow north central MA and southern NH. Lows 32-39. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Cloudy with snow or snow showers north, mix to snow showers south morning. Clearing afternoon. Temperatures steady 32-39. Wind N 10-20 MPH shifting to NW.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 6-10)
A very weak disturbance may produce a brief snow flurry otherwise dry/cold January 6. Next low pressure system likely travels through Great Lakes with unsettled weather favoring mix to rain / rain showers, during the January 7-8 period before windy and colder weather arrives behind this system January 9 and cold but more tranquil weather January 10 as high pressure moves in.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 11-15)
A west to east flow continues to dominate the pattern with no major storms and no major warmth or cold, but more modest temperature changes. Dry weather is most likely at the start and end of the period with unsettled weather in between.

7:03AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 4)
The final day of 2019 has arrived. And as we prepare for the departure of the year, we will see the departure of a messy storm today, as low pressure exits via the Gulf of Maine, precipitation that has become mainly rain across the area after yesterday’s messy mix will exit by late morning, and a drier westerly wind will take over during this afternoon, ushering in 2020 on a drier note tonight and Wednesday. Thursday will be a nice day as high pressure moves across the region, and then we quickly go downhill seeing our first unsettled weather of the New Year by Friday with a warm front crossing the region, and additional unsettled weather Saturday as a cold front approaches. However, this next round of unsettled weather will be only in the form of rain and rain showers as it will be fairly mild.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Overcast with areas of fog through mid morning with rain ending south to north. Mostly cloudy to partly sunny midday and afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind NE to N 5-15 MPH shifting to W.
TONIGHT (NEW YEAR’S EVE): Partly cloudy. Patchy black ice overnight. Lows 28-35. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY): Partly sunny. Patchy black ice early. Highs 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 22-29. Wind NW under 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 36-43. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 25-32 evening then temperatures slowly rising. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with a chance of light rain morning. Variably cloudy afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind SE up to 10 MPH shifting to SW.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy evening. Mostly cloudy overnight. Patchy fog. Lows 33-40. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers. Highs 45-52. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 5-9)
Drier, colder weather returns January 5-6. Next low pressure system likely travels through Great Lakes with unsettled weather favoring mix to rain / rain showers, during the January 7-8 period before windy and colder weather arrives behind this system at the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 10-14)
More west to east flow and quick changes, with a fair and cold start to the period then unsettled weather and moderating temperatures mid to late period (too early to really get an idea of precipitation types for a system that far into the future).

7:21AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 30-JANUARY 3)
A messy low pressure area will bother the region for the last couple days of 2019 like annoying relatives that overstayed their visit… However, this could have been a worse situation, with air just mild enough to limit the amount of sleet and freezing rain. Today will be the worst of it, and still some significant icing will occur but mainly over interior areas from central MA into southern NH. A secondary low that formed just southwest of the region will come up and across far southeastern New England early Tuesday before accelerating away via the Gulf of Maine, a little more quickly than previously thought, and the original parent low, or what’s left of it, will pass north of the region Tuesday evening, dragging a trough of low pressure through. So we’ll get rid of the rain/ice part of the storm tonight and early Tuesday, then we may just see a few passing snow showers for New Year’s Eve. A westerly flow behind all of this greets 2020 with a decent day Wednesday, and then high pressure will build in for a nice Thursday, before another low moving into the Great Lakes sends clouds in during Friday and eventually a light rain threat as warm front approaches.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Overcast. Rain with pockets of sleet and freezing rain. Most vulnerable areas for icing interior MA (mainly Worcester County) and interior southern NH. Highs 30-37, coldest Worcester County MA an southwestern NH. Wind E to NE 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Overcast. Rain but pockets of freezing rain and sleet still possible early interior northern MA and southern NH. Temperatures rising slowly to 35-40 interior and 40-45 coast. Wind E 10-20 MPH, strongest coast with higher gusts.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with lingering rain/drizzle early, then mostly cloudy with intervals of sun possible. Highs 40-47. Wind variable 5-15 MPH morning, W 10-20 MPH afternoon.
TUESDAY NIGHT (NEW YEAR’S EVE): Variably cloudy. Isolated to scattered snow showers. Lows 28-35. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY): Partly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind W 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 22-29. Wind NW under 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 36-43. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain late. Highs 40-47. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 4-8)
Trending colder. Rain showers early January 4. Risk of snow or snow showers may increase later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 9-13)
Cold, mainly dry to start, then moderating temperatures and more unsettled weather later in the period.

7:26AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 29-JANUARY 2)
High pressure slides offshore today and clouds advance ahead of a complex low pressure system, the initial center of which heads into the Great Lakes but redevelops along its occluding frontal system to pass over southeastern New England sometime Tuesday. This scenario, with marginal cold air, means a messy storm system to wrap up 2019. A link in the first comment to my colleague’s special blog on this system will provide some graphs / maps to show details of the storm’s impact on this area. Snow will be a minor component, with minor accumulation at the start late tonight over northeastern MA and southern NH. The big question is sleet vs. freezing rain. There may be a long period of sleet just in from the coast over much of eastern and central MA northward, and a shorter period of sleet before going to freezing rain to the south. During the heart of the storm, it is the lower elevations of interior eastern MA northward that may see the longest period of sleet due to the depth of the cold air at the surface while it warms aloft, and higher elevations which may see more freezing rain due to a shallower cold air layer between the ground there and the warmth above. Toward the South Coast, we should see mostly plain rain out of this, although for a time some borderline temperatures may mean pockets of sleet and freezing rain there as well. Eventually the warmer air gets into surface areas to transition everyone to rain as the system gets set to taper off Tuesday, and then it all moves out New Year’s Eve. The first 2 days of 2020, in contrast, look much nicer as high pressure moves in.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 38-45. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Thickening overcast. Precipitation arriving west to east as snow and/or sleet southern NH and the MA border, sleet & some freezing most other areas except rain immediate South Coast. Lows 28-35. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Overcast. Sleet and freezing rain likely interior areas with rain coast. Highs 30-35 interior, 35-40 coast. Wind E to NE 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Rain but pockets of freezing rain and sleet still possible early interior northern MA and southern NH. Temperatures rising slowly to 35-40 interior and 40-45 coast. Wind E 10-20 MPH, strongest coast with higher gusts.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Rain morning, ending afternoon but with areas of fog forming. Highs 38-45. Wind NE to N 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT (NEW YEAR’S EVE): Mostly cloudy. Areas of fog. Lows 32-39. Wind W under 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY): Mostly sunny. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 22-29. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind light variable.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 3-7)
Minor precipitation event early January 3 (rain showers favored) as a disturbance passes. Colder air follows and another low pressure system threatens with mix/snow around January 5, though this is low confidence. It may turn colder still behind this with dry weather returning.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 8-12)
Cold, mainly dry to start, then a warm up and may end the period with a storm system favoring mix to rain over any snow.

10:29AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 28-JANUARY 1)
High pressure moves over the region today and slides offshore Sunday when clouds will arrive ahead of an approaching low pressure system, but we’ll have a very nice last weekend of 2019 before all of that. The main focus for a sprawling low pressure area affecting the region will be precipitation type, mainly rain vs. freezing rain vs. sleet. The synoptics of the situation will be a broad low pressure area moving into the Great Lakes but not being allowed to race into Canada thanks to blocking high pressure there, so as we have seen many times in that general set-up, we get an occlusion of the fronts and low pressure redevelops along the point where they meet and the actual center(s) of low pressure end up passing over or just south of the region. This process will take place Monday through Tuesday, with the ultimate result being a new low pressure area moving right across southeastern New England on Tuesday. As the initial shield of precipitation slides in, the expectation is that it will be cold enough to support a brief period of snow in southern NH and perhaps northeastern MA (though borderline there), and too warm aloft for snow anywhere else. But then the focus for where precipitation will be falling toward the ground as rain will be the temperature profile of the lower atmosphere. For a good portion of northern MA it may be cold enough in enough of the atmosphere to support sleet (ice pellets) for a while, and colder air more concentrated nearer ground level would mean freezing rain (glaze) for areas to the south – probably southern MA away from the coastline and northern RI to northeastern CT. Closer to the coast milder surface temperatures probably mean just rain there. Most of this would take place during Monday morning and midday. With time, the atmosphere should warm sufficiently to turn most of this to regular rain, although interior locations may still see pockets of sleet and freezing rain well into the day Monday, maybe even to the evening. During the overnight hours into early Tuesday, the track of low pressure should be close enough to transport enough milder air into the lower atmosphere for the entire WHW forecast area to see rain, before it tapers off as low pressure finally exits via the Gulf of Maine by New Year’s Eve. This should at least allow some improvement for that evening’s activities, although we may be left with some fog behind it all. So there is your nice weekend then messy finish to the year. What about the first day of 2020? Looking great as high pressure returns to the region!
Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 30-37. Wind light variable.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 38-45. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Thickening overcast. Precipitation arriving west to east as snow and/or sleet southern NH and the MA border, sleet & freezing rain much of northern MA, freezing rain to the south except rain South Coast. Lows 30-37. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Overcast. Sleet and freezing rain likely interior areas with rain coast. Highs 30-35 interior, 35-40 coast. Wind E to NE 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Rain but pockets of freezing rain and sleet still possible early interior northern MA and southern NH. Temperatures rising slowly to 35-40 interior and 40-45 coast. Wind E 10-20 MPH, strongest coast with higher gusts.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Rain morning, ending afternoon but with areas of fog forming. Highs 38-45. Wind NE to N 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT (NEW YEAR’S EVE): Mostly cloudy. Areas of fog. Lows 32-39. Wind W under 10 MPH.
WEDNESDAY (NEW YEAR’S DAY): Mostly sunny. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 2-6)
Split jet stream flow, polar near and north of the US/Canada border, subtropical mainly south of New England, and timing energy moving along each stream and any potential interaction will be difficult at best until we are much closer to any possible events, so the easiest way to sum up the first 5 days of 2020 is that we will have to watch 1 or 2 low pressure systems that may impact the region with some precipitation, but that we will also have a fair amount of dry weather as well, with temperature fluctuation.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 7-11)
Cold, mainly dry to start, then a warm up and may end the period with a storm system favoring mix to rain over any snow.

7:37AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 27-31)
Down the home stretch and to the finish line of 2019 the next 5 days, and we’ll have some active weather to follow after a quiet period. First, we have a warm front crossing the region this morning and producing spotty light rain, which is freezing on contact with untreated surfaces in portions of north central to northeastern MA and southern NH as temperatures sit at to slightly below 32 to start out the day. Use caution if traveling in these areas early this morning. The issue will quickly disappear by mid morning as the front goes by and temperatures go up, and just a few rain showers will cross the region during this afternoon as a cold front approaches from the northwest. This front goes through and clears the region out tonight and high pressure builds in with a very nice late December day on Saturday. High pressure shifts offshore Sunday, still not a bad day but clouds will be on the increase ahead of an approaching low pressure area which initially moves into the Great Lakes, but comes to a halt due to a high pressure road block in eastern Canada. This forces a redevelopment of the system along its occluding frontal system, which will take place over or just south of southern New England Monday through Tuesday, finishing off 2019 on an unsettled note. There will be enough cold air around for some possible freezing and frozen precipitation, favoring southern NH and northern MA, although at days 4 and 5 the details of this are rather uncertain. Also somewhat uncertain is if the precipitation will move out earlier or later on New Year’s Eve, which will impact travel and event plans for the final evening of the year. Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Patchy light rain early morning with some freezing rain northern Worcester County through Merrimack Valley and southern NH. Isolated to scattered rain showers afternoon. Highs 44-51. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 20-27. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to NW.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 30-37. Wind light variable.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 37-44. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Thickening overcast. Precipitation arriving west to east – mainly dry but possible snow/ice northern areas. Lows 32-40. Wind E 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Overcast with periods of rain, except some snow/ice possible portions of northern MA and southern NH. Highs 33-38 north, 38-43 south. Wind E to NE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
MONDAY NIGHT: Overcast with periods of rain except some snow/ice possible north. Lows 30-35 north, 35-40 south. Wind NE to N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
TUESDAY (NEW YEAR’S EVE): Mostly cloudy. Additional precipitation possible, favoring the morning. Temperatures steady in the 30s. Wind N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 1-5)
Split jet stream flow, polar near and north of the US/Canada border, subtropical mainly south of New England, and timing energy moving along each stream and any potential interaction will be difficult at best until we are much closer to any possible events, so the easiest way to sum up the first 5 days of 2020 is that we will have to watch 1 or 2 low pressure systems that may impact the region with some precipitation, but that we will also have a fair amount of dry weather as well, with temperature fluctuation. Early call is that potential low pressure systems time for January 2 and 4.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 6-10)
Still with lower than average confidence leaning toward a colder and mostly dry theme due to domination by the polar jet stream and suppression of the southern jet stream.

7:22AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 26-30)
A warm front approaches today with some cloudiness at times, though high pressure to the northeast of the region supplies enough dry air to hold the thickest clouds at bay and allow for some sunshine as well. This warm front will cross the region early Friday and may produce an episode of freezing rain and sleet in northern MA and southern NH, so there could be some locally slippery travel for the Friday morning rush. Behind this it turns a little milder and only a few rain showers are expected behind the warm front and ahead of a cold front, which will pass through Friday evening, followed by an area of high pressure and fair weather for Saturday. And then we get a more important storm system to impact the region later Sunday through Monday. The track of the parent low will be into the Great Lakes, but a bit of a block in the atmosphere will likely force the energy more eastward and a frontal boundary will push into but never really through southern New England, likely becoming a running board for the development of new low pressure, which never really gets going until its offshore, but a system that will largely produce rain may end as some freezing and/or frozen precipitation for parts of the region sometime on Monday, depending on the speed of evolution and exact track, the details of which still need to be ironed out over the next few days.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Partly sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind light variable.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Brief freezing rain/sleet (maybe even snow mix) possible southern NH and northern MA morning. Isolated to scattered rain showers afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 20-27. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to NW.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 30-37. Wind light variable.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds. Chance of rain by late-day. Highs 37-44. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Rain likely. Lows 35-42. Wind SE to E up to 10 MPH.
MONDAY: Overcast. Rain likely, may mix with or turn to ice/snow especially northern areas later in the day. Highs 38-45. Wind E to N 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 4)
There is a little lower than average confidence in this forecast, but the current idea is that low pressure departs December 31 leaving colder air and a few snow showers behind, and that the northern and southern jet streams stay separated with another southern jet stream system passing south of the region late January 1 or January 2 and a northern stream system just bringing a few snow showers and additional cold air. This is a slightly different scenario than the one I described on yesterday’s update. Bottom line: It may change again so don’t put too much stock in it at this point.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 5-9)
Overall theme, cold and dry, due to domination by the polar jet stream and suppression of the southern jet stream. Again, not a high confidence outlook.

9:23AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 25-29)
Merry Christmas and since I did not say it a few days ago when it began Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating either or both of these holidays! A quiet weather interlude has been timed very nicely for local and regional travel, and this continues today as well as tomorrow, which is one of the busiest of not the busiest travel day between Thanksgiving Weekend and New Year’s Day. We actually have a frontal boundary nearby, but there is not a lot of moisture available for it to work with for now so there will just be a varying amount of cloudiness these couple days. It is not until Friday when an impulse of low pressure passing north of the region will pull enough moisture into the area, along with milder air, for a rain shower threat. Behind that come a bubble of high pressure for a nice early winter day on Saturday. But as we approach year’s end we’ll start to see a little more activity in our weather once again. Now you’ve often heard me not to worry too much about what models have to say, detail-wise, beyond a few days out, but when making a forecast for day 5, and your two most reliable medium range models have completely different solutions as to how a storm system tracks, it gets .. interesting .. in terms of making an outlook. Now while I don’t often mention the models by name in my discussions here, preferring to save that for discussions in the comments section, I will point out that as we get to Sunday, we’ll be watching the approach of a low pressure system that I am pretty certain moves into the Great Lakes, and this is depicted by both the European (ECMWF) and US (GFS) models. It is what happens after this that is interesting, but since that is beyond day 5, this part of the discussion will be continued below, and I will move onto the 5-day forecast details here…
TODAY (CHRISTMAS): Partly sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind light variable.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 20-27. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to NW.
SATURDAY: Sunny. Highs 42-49. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 30-37. Wind light variable.
SUNDAY: Increasing clouds. Chance of mix/rain by late-day. Highs 37-44. Wind SE up to 10 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 30-JANUARY 3)
December 30, unsettled weather is likely, but hmmm, what form will it take? Probably rain, yes, but will it stay rain? If the ECMWF solution is correct, the low center from the Great Lakes reforms and passes just to the south, with high pressure to the north supplying cold enough air so that ice and/or snow could become involved for at least portions of the region, while the GFS model just keeps the primary low dominant and a secondary low is a feeble attempt at best and further north, a milder solution, and nothing in the way of freezing or frozen precipitation. I am currently leaning a little closer to the GFS scenario for that, which also means a quicker exit as well and dry/chilly weather for the final day of 2019. Beyond that, I don’t trust either model much, but I am generally thinking that we see a quick-moving system deliver rain showers (storm track to north of region) later January 1 or early January 2, followed by a sharp turn to colder weather possibly accompanied by snow showers, but we’re now out to 8-10 days on this forecast so it’s obviously low confidence and probably contains more detail than it should.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 4-8)
Overall theme, cold and dry. A lot of fine-tuning to come.

7:41AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 24-28)
And here we are, on the eve of Christmas, in the early days of Hanukkah, and in the midst of a fairly quiet holiday time, weather-wise. Not to say there are not things to talk about and systems to track, but we’re lacking major events, and that’s good news especially if you travel about the area during this time. So the theme continues during these 5 days. We had a cold front quietly slip through in the early hours today, and it will bring a more seasonable chill back to the air after a couple milder days just gone by. By later Christmas Day and into Thursday the front that went by will return as a warm front, with some cloudiness, but lacking any precipitation, until low pressure tracks through the Great Lakes then drags a cold front back across the region Friday, but by then milder air will be back and we’ll be looking at a rain shower risk. High pressure returns with a chill-down for Saturday.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 33-40. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT (CHRISTMAS EVE): Mostly clear. Lows 20-27. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY (CHRISTMAS DAY): Variably cloudy. Highs 32-39. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with light rain/mix possible overnight. Lows 32-39. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Variably cloudy. Risk of passing rain showers. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 33-40. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 29-JANUARY 2)
Low pressure tracks through the Great Lakes December 29-30 with a warm front / cold front combo bringing a round of rain/mix and then a round of rain showers. Fair, briefly colder December 31, then a similar system may repeat a similar result January 1-2.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 3-7)
Trend is for more polar jet stream, slightly colder and mostly dry weather with a couple minor light snow or snow shower events.

8:38AM

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 23-27)
High pressure south of the region brings fair, milder weather today. A cold front drops through the region from north to south tonight with no more than just some cloudiness, but brings seasonably chilly air back to the region for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. High pressure will keep Christmas Eve fair, but a boundary to the south will allow some cloudiness to arrive from the west during Christmas Day, although it will likely be too dry for the festive flakes I previously mentioned. But this will quietly start a run of disturbances impacting the region about every other day, as we’ll have another weak system passing by early on December 27 with a touch of rain or mix, as we’ll be lacking cold enough air for snow.
Forecast details…
TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 33-40. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT (CHRISTMAS EVE): Partly cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY (CHRISTMAS DAY): Mostly cloudy. Highs 32-39. Wind light variable.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind light variable.
THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy with light rain/mix possible overnight. Lows 32-39. Wind light variable.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with light rain/mix possible morning. Clearing afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 28-JANUARY 1)
Progressive pattern with low pressure systems passing by about every other day (current timing December 29 and 31) with minor precipitation events favoring rain/mix over snow. Temperatures near to above normal.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 2-6)
Trend is for more polar jet stream, slightly colder and mostly dry weather with a couple minor light snow or snow shower events.