2:26AM
We will be under the influence of the circulation around the Polar Vortex (PV) as a general rule for the next week plus. Although the PV is normally associated with very cold weather, it will not be continuously very cold here in southern New England, especially at the outset, as the PV will become elongated and send a strong westerly flow across New England, still grabbing pieces of milder air from the south and mixing them with intrusions of Arctic air from Canada. We will be in the milder air today, colder air Friday, milder air again Saturday into Sunday, and then plunge into much colder air by the tail end of the weekend into the first half of next week. At this time, it looks like the circulation of the PV will be strong enough to deflect most storm development out to sea. One such occurrence will be tonight, with another sometime early next week. In between these, another disturbance will pass north of the area on Sunday. It is this disturbance that will send an Arctic cold front through the region, introducing the coldest air of the season so far by the start of next week.
Updated forecast for eastern MA, RI, and southern NH…
TODAY: Mostly to partly sunny – filtered sun in RI & southern MA and a few lower clouds moving down from the north into southern NH & northern MA during the afternoon. Slight chance of an isolated rain or snow shower NH & northern MA end of the afternoon. Highs around 40. Wind W increasing to 10-20 MPH, a few higher gusts possible.
TONIGHT: Partly to mostly cloudy. A period of snow Cape Cod and the Islands with up to 1 inch accumulation possible over the Islands and Outer Cape. Lows around 20. Wind shifting to N 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly to partly cloudy southeastern MA into mid morning with any snow on the Outer Cape ending, otherwise partly cloudy too mostly sunny. Highs 30-35. Wind N 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 15-20. Wind W 10-20 MPH.
SATURDAY: Partly to mostly sunny. Highs 40-45. Wind WSW 15-25 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 20-25. Wind WSW 10-20 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Slight chance of a few passing snow showers. Highs around 40 by early afternoon then dropping to the 20s by late in the day. Wind WSW 10-20 MPH and gusty shifting to NW 15-25 MPH and gusty by late in the day.
MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly sunny. Low 6. High 24.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Low 8. High 22.
WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Chance of snow showers early. Low 1. High 19.