DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 20-24)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you were \/ are up and outside early this morning you felt the coldest air we’ve experienced in a while, sans wind, as high pressure sat atop the region with a perfect set-up for radiational cooling. This high pressure area will continue to govern our weather today and tomorrow with dry weather, a cold day today and a slightly milder Tuesday for the Winter Solstice (10:59 a.m. EST). We are in the midst of a pattern change as we head into astronomical winter, and as noted previously, our opportunities for systems to produce frozen precipitation for at least parts of there region increase. While we won’t experience any big storms, we will see a couple opportunities during this 5-day period – not today or tomorrow obviously. After the moderation in temperature for Tuesday, a cold front will slip through the region that evening with a slightly cooler air mass behind it. Wednesday, we’ll “dodge a bullet” in terms of an important storm system, as low pressure that originated well to the south (a rarity in this regime) moves offshore to the southeast of New England and a weaker disturbance passes by to the northwest. These 2, had they been closer, may have combined to give the Northeast a more important storm system, but that’s not going to happen. It is the southern system that will scrape us with the northwesterly edge of its precipitation shield on Wednesday – most likely in the form of rain for southeastern MA & RI, but a few pockets of freezing rain and some sleet may occur a little further to the north and west over central through northeastern MA and into southeastern NH as well. I’m not expecting significant travel issues from this, but it could get a little slippery on untreated surfaces where it is cold enough for freezing rain to occur. Areas that see the icing would still likely rise above freezing for high temperatures sometime during the day, putting an end to the icing issue. Even just wet roads can create less traction for tires, so keeping in mind the pre-holiday traffic volume this week, use extra caution if you will be out. This bout of unsettled weather will be short-lived, and we get a fair and seasonably chilly day Thursday courtesy a high pressure area with centers in eastern Canada and south of New England. The southern bubble will slide off to the east and be the weaker of the 2, while the northern high center will stay a little more stubborn in eastern Canada, feeding in some cold air. While this happens, and first part of a weakening frontal boundary from the west will move into the region on Friday (Christmas Eve) with the chance of some light snow or snow shower activity. While it is still several days away and in the model guidance uncertainty zone, this type of pattern usually produces something that will equate more to “festive flakes” rather than becoming a travel issue, but it will be something to keep an eye on…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TODAY: Sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TONIGHT: Clear. Lows 20-27. Wind W up to 10 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 36-43. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TUESDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 23-30. Wind SW 5-15 MPH shifting to NW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. A period of rain likely southeastern MA & RI. A chance of rain with pockets of freezing rain and sleet southeastern NH through northeastern and central MA to northeastern CT. Highs 35-42, except 42-49 Cape Cod & Islands. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 23-30. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, gusty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 35-42. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
THURSDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Chance of light snow overnight. Lows 23-30. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FRIDAY (CHRISTMAS EVE): Cloudy with a chance of light snow morning. Variably cloudy with a chance of snow showers afternoon. Highs 31-38. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 25-29)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A frontal boundary and wave of low pressure along it should bring the chance of rain\/mix\/snow for Christmas Day – timing and details uncertain. Low pressure pulls to the east and strengthens while an upper disturbance crosses the region Sunday December 26 with a chance of snow showers. Generally dry and seasonably cold weather is expected thereafter, though we may need to watch for a weak system to impact the region at the end of the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 30 \u2013 JANUARY 3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A weak system may impact the region with some precipitation early in the period, with another possible somewhere around the first of the new year, but based on previously-mentioned conditions with guidance and the pattern, no detail is possible this far in advance. Temperatures near to below normal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 20-24) If you were \/ are up and outside early this morning you felt the coldest air we’ve experienced in a while, sans wind, as high pressure sat atop the region with a perfect set-up for radiational cooling. This high pressure area will continue to govern our weather today and tomorrow with … Continue reading Monday December 20 2021 Forecast (8:06AM)<\/span>