DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 1-5)
February hands off its active pattern to March which will carry it well over its first several days. First, a weak area of high pressure brings bright and dry weather to our region early today, but clouds will quickly move in as a low pressure disturbance approaches from the west later in the day. This system will bring a period of precipitation tonight, mainly rain that may start as snow in some areas, especially in northern MA northward. It moves out quickly later this evening, but on its heels is another low center destined to pass just to our north during Thursday morning and midday. As it drags a frontal boundary through, a new low center will try forming on that, but with the system moving along, the wet weather it brings to us will be exiting during the afternoon as drier air arrives with its departure. But this break won’t be lasting all that long either as the next storm system in line will be heading our way for later Friday into the weekend. How I believe this one will play out looks somewhat similar to the last 2 larger systems we’ve had – low pressure heading for the Great Lakes but redeveloping and moving out just to the south of New England. There will be a cold high pressure in place to the north, but the temperature profile for the storm will be somewhat marginal, and the low’s track will help determine where we see frozen vs. liquid precipitation and any combination of the two. Will try to lock this in a bit more next update. Timing for the system is late Friday (likely evening precipitation onset) through Saturday morning for steadiest precipitation, then a tapering off later Saturday and occasional showers of mainly snow possible through Sunday as a trough of low pressure lingers behind the departing storm.
TODAY: Watch for black ice on untreated surfaces until mid morning! Sunshine followed by clouds. Highs 37-44. Wind W up to 10 MPH becoming variable.,
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with some evening rain, may start as snow in some areas especially north and west of Boston. Lows 30-37 early, rising slightly overnight. Wind variable up to 10 MPH becoming SE.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain in the morning and midday, with pockets of freezing rain possible well north and west of Boston early. Highs 40-47. Wind variable up to 10 MPH becoming NW 5-15 MPH later in the day.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 18-25. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
FRIDAY: Increasing clouds. Highs 36-43. Wind N-NE up to 10 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Overcast with snow/mix north, mix/ rain south. Lows 28-35. Wind NE to E 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Overcast with snow/mix north, snow/mix/rain south, steadiest in the morning. Early call snowfall potential – 4+ inches southern NH and northern MA, 2+ inches southern MA through northeastern CT and northern RI, under 2 inches South Coast. Highs 31-38. Wind E-NE 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow showers. Lows 25-32. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow or rain showers. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 6-10)
Overall northwesterly air flow with chilly weather and a drier trend, but one or two disturbance can bring some mainly snow showers at times.
DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 11-15)
Chilly regime continues with a more important storm threat possible heading toward mid month.