DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 23-27)
An early spring storm, with some late winter attributes included, started to impact the region late last evening as a swath of snow overspread much of the region north of Interstate 90, with a coating to even an inch or two of accumulation of snow, greatest in the Route 2 Corridor west of Interstate 495. A coating of snow, and afterward some sleet, extended eastward into Boston’s northern suburbs. Some snow and sleet even occurred in the city of Boston as well. Cold air trapped near the surface has resulted in some of the precipitation remaining as sleet for a while, with most areas now rain, however surface temperatures at or just below freezing from around Worcester northward to southwestern New Hampshire has resulted in some slick spots there with freezing rain. This hazard will be around through mid morning in the coldest valley areas before the temperature warms sufficiently to eliminate it. For the rest of us, it’s just rain, and rain will be the story for the region in general throughout the day today. However, the heaviest swath of rain is going to head through our region later this afternoon and very early this evening. This will take place as the center of the low pressure area responsible for the foul weather cuts right across southeastern New England. It looks like the center itself will pass over RI and southeastern MA between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. The track of this system will determine some weather details as we go through the climax of the storm system. Fairly heavy rain should be widespread (1.5 to 3.5 inches for the region when it’s all done), and the heaviest band of rain just ahead of the low’s passage may also contain thunderstorms. Another aspect will be wind, which will be variable in the region as the storm approaches and especially as it passes by. Ahead of it, we’ll have a light to moderate northeast to east wind, shifting more southeast with time. As the low center cuts across the region, southeast winds will increase and be at their strongest over southeastern MA and RI, with some minor wind damage possible (and resultant power outages also possible). A more variable and lighter wind will be felt right under the low center as it goes by, with an easterly wind shifting to more northerly in locations that are west of the low’s track. These winds will not be quite as strong as the southerly winds on the other side of the track. But what will be going on on the back side of the system is the return of colder air, which may occur quickly enough to flip the rain back to sleet and/or snow briefly in areas north and northwest of Boston before it comes to an end. To the southeast, it will end as just rain. Behind this system, we dry out, but along the frontal boundary trailing southward from the departing low, we’ll see additional low pressure development, and it, combined with high pressure to our north, will create a gusty north to northeast wind for our region both Sunday and Monday, making the already chilly air feel a bit colder. Additionally, clouds may be stubborn to depart, especially in coastal areas, during both of those days. Tuesday and Wednesday will present a complex weather set-up, with clouds again dominant and another rainfall threat evolving during Tuesday and lasting through Wednesday. This will occur as offshore low pressure retrogrades and throws a swath of moisture back into our region, while at the same time another trough of low pressure approaches from the west and throws its own moisture at us. In other words, we’ll be right at the fence that these two systems meet up to chat about whose property we are, and that “conversation” may last a while once it begins…
TODAY: Overcast. Rain – pockets of freezing rain through mid morning Worcester Hills to Monadnock Region. Heavier rain more widespread late afternoon / evening including the chance of thunderstorms. Areas of fog. Highs 38-45 northwest of Boston-Providence corridor, 45-52 to the southeast, occurring late-day. Wind NE-E 5-15 MPH until midday, E-SE 10-20 MPH with higher gusts, strongest along the coast, much of the afternoon, then late afternoon and evening winds SE-S 15-25 MPH with gusts 35-50 MPH southeastern MA especially east of the Cape Cod Canal, variable 5-15 MPH but potentially higher gusts Providence-Boston region, and E-NE 10-20 MPH with higher gusts to the north and west.
TONIGHT: Overcast evening with rain ending, possibly as a mix/snow to the north and northwest of Boston. Breaking clouds overnight. Lows 32-39. Wind NE-N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Highs 41-48. Wind N-NE 10-20 MPH, higher gusts, strongest along the coast.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 30-37. Wind NE 10-20 MPH, gusty.
MONDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind NE 10-20 MPH, gusty.
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 31-38. Wind NE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
TUESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain in the afternoon, favoring eastern areas. Highs 40-47. Wind E 10-20 MPH, strongest coast.
TUESDAY NIGHT & WEDNESDAY: Overcast. Periods of rain. Areas of fog. Temperatures rise slightly to 43-50. Wind E to variable 5-15 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 28 – APRIL 1)
Additional unsettled weather is expected into late next week, with a possible period of drier and brighter weather arriving for the March 30-31 weekend and maybe April 1 too. Temperatures below to near normal.
DAYS 11-15 (APRIL 2-6)
Additional unsettled weather threats and variable temperatures in an active early spring weather pattern. Not much changing here…