Spring Break!
It has been a fine weekend with highs in the lower 40s both days. Nevertheless, many places picked up a coating of snow early this morning with a few locations gathering up to a quarter to half-inch as a warm frontal boundary and upper level disturbance passed through the region. As the cold front shifts southeastward across the region late tonight and early tomorrow, there is a risk of a few spotty flurries but no widespread dusting is anticipated. Temperatures will drop to the upper 20s to near 30 most locations then rise only a few degrees to 34-38 tomorrow under a mix of clouds and sunshine. The wind will blow up to 15 mph from the north-northeast to northwest. A ridge of high pressure will build over the Northeast late in the day and tomorrow night then elongate south of the region on Tuesday. As a result, it will cool off to the 20s tomorrow night via radiational cooling then rise to the middle 40s on Tuesday via a freshening southwesterly breeze. An approaching cold front will surge toward the region during Wednesday. If it speeds up, the temperatures will not strike 50 but, as of now, I feel the frontal passage should not happen until mid-late afternoon so I will predict highs of 47-52. A brisk, gusty shifting wind will herald the arrival of a push of colder air from Canada. Consequently, it appears that Thursday will not be quite as mild as I had predicted yesterday. The front might trigger a few widely scattered light showers but most areas should stay dry. The wind will be gusty Wednesday night through at least midday Thursday. There will be ample sunshine on Thursday and the wind will decrease later in the afternoon.
Looking ahead, as a ridge of high pressure is building into the Northeast later Thursday, an emerging storm from Texas will travel toward the Great Lakes. This inside route guarantees some showery rains here as the frontal boundary arrives Friday afternoon and night. Beyond that, residual cloudiness will likely rule next Saturday with highs in the upper 40s to near 50. Then as a strong upper air ridge balloons near the coast and just offshore, a surge of very warm air is projected to invade much of the eastern states including New England. With a storm barreling across the Great Lakes, its attached cold front will be gaining momentum on its trek eastward. If it doesn't accelerate, there is a decent shot that near record high temperatures will occur in the eastern states including our region next Sunday. Boston's record of 63 set in 1932 could be challenged! It could certainly be a warm January day at Gillette Stadium as the Pats host the Texans. If the cold front gains speed, it could cross the area before the game begins. It is all about timing and it is too early to be confident about that precise timing 7 days in advance.
Melissa Mack delivers her latest WBZ AccuWeather Forecast in the morning and Todd Gutner follows later in the day.
Make it a great week!
