1:49AM<\/p>\n
DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 21-25)
\nFrom Solstice to Christmas, this will be an action-packed 5-day period, so let’s get to the details. First, we had a cold and tranquil day as autumn bows out and winter takes its place as of 11:28AM today, but this cold high pressure area over the region is one ingredient and an upcoming complex precipitation event that will be generated by a warm front trying to cross the region later Friday into Saturday. As we often see here in New England, dense cold air will be trapped at the surface and even though it warms aloft, the cold air will hang tough near the ground, especially over interior sections. Before it warms aloft for the rain\/ice situation, much of the region will have cold enough air above to start as snow, with the exception of coastal areas south of Boston through the South Coast, which may start as snow, mix, or rain and will have negligible accumulation of snow. A minor accumulation of snow is likely generally from a Boston to northeastern CT line northward, with some moderate amounts possible from near the MA\/NH border northward. But snow is the lesser worry in comparison to the icing which may be significant in interior areas especially near and west of I-495 and mostly north of I-90. It may take until sometime around midday or afternoon Saturday to scour out the last of the cold air in much of the region, and it may never leave the deeper valleys. So the degree of icing will depend on how much rain falls once it is warm enough aloft to end the snow. It looks like 2 main surges of precipitation will occur, the Friday midday and afternoon portion which should be the snow (mix south) to ice (rain south) transition, and then another surge sometime Saturday. A developing low pressure wave may bring one final push of heavier rain to the region sometime Saturday night when temperatures should be their relative mildest. Surface temperatures will have to be closely monitored to determine where icing will occur and persist. By the time we get to Sunday, which is Christmas Eve, we’ll be in a slice of drier air but with some cold filtering in. This sets the stage for the next precipitation threat as a new low pressure area develops south of New England and likely passes just southeast of the region. This will be a position that allows snow to occur for at least interior areas, and rain or snow near the coast, for the overnight hours of late Christmas Eve and into Christmas Morning. Leaning toward a colder scenario with more snow than anything else. The details of this threat are yet to be fully determined but whatever happens should be winding down by the end of Christmas Day, based on current timing. So, lots to follow and here are the forecast details…
\nTODAY: Bright sun into afternoon, filtered by high clouds late. Highs 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
\nTONIGHT: Clouds increase and thicken. Lows 16-24. Wind N under 10 MPH.
\nFRIDAY: Overcast. Precipitation arrives west to east late morning and midday as snow except snow\/mix\/rain South Shore to South Coast, continuing through afternoon with accumulation of 1-3 inches northwest of a Boston to northeastern CT line, 3-5 inches north central MA and southwestern NH, and under 1 inch to the southeast of the Boston to northeastern CT line. Highs 28-32 except 33-38 coast. Wind light N to NE.
\nFRIDAY NIGHT: Overcast. Areas of fog. Any snow changes to rain but freezing rain is likely many interior areas and especially I-495 belt northwestward, and possibly some icing extending to near the coast from Boston north, then precipitation may taper off for a while. Temperatures steady 28-32 interior, 33-38 coast but may rise slowly overnight especially coastal areas and southeastern MA\/RI, but may briefly fall in coastal NH and northeastern MA to Boston. Wind light N to NE.
\nSATURDAY: Overcast. Areas of fog. Periods of rain which may still be freezing in central MA, interior eastern MA, and interior southern NH, especially valleys. One more period of mainly rain possible evening. Temperatures rise very slowly interior valleys to 32-39, 40-50 elsewhere. Wind light N interior areas, light E to SE elsewhere, shifting to W and increasing to 10-20 MPH overnight.
\nSUNDAY – CHRISTMAS EVE: Partly cloudy daytime. Clouding up at night with a chance of snow overnight. Temperatures 30s interior and 40s coast early, slowly falling later.
\nMONDAY – CHRISTMAS DAY: Mainly cloudy morning with a chance of snow, possibly mix\/rain southern coastal areas. Partial clearing afternoon. Temperatures generally steady upper 20s to middle 30s.<\/p>\n
DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 26-30)
\nMainly dry and cold weather follows the active period and then another storm threat may occur before the end of the 6-10 day period.<\/p>\n
DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 4)
\nCold pattern continues and another storm threat presents itself in the very early days of 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1:49AM DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 21-25) From Solstice to Christmas, this will be an action-packed 5-day period, so let’s get to the details. First, we had a cold and tranquil day as autumn bows out and winter takes its place as of 11:28AM today, but this cold high pressure area over the region is one ingredient … Continue reading Thursday Forecast<\/span>