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Fast Moving Clipper To Deliver A Round of Snow

After a bright and chilly start this morning, our weather is going to change pretty dramatically by the time the day is done. A clipper system coming out of the Great Lakes will slide through New England this evening and intensify once it hits the coast.  This system will be a fast mover, so only minor accumulations are expected.

Any accumulation, no matter how small, coming in the middle of a commute will undoubtedly cause some issues.  It's always all about timing isn't it? So here's our latest thinking…

Timing & Impact:

Areas of snow will develop between 4-6 PM from west to east, mixed with rain along the south coast. Moderate to locally heavy bursts of snow will continue through the evening commute, reducing visibility and resulting in slippery travel. Roads should be more wet than white at the onset, but when the snow starts to come down at a steadier clip, accumulation is likely on the roads.   The worst road conditions will be areas north and west of Boston where the temperature will be at or slightly below 32. Rain will mix with and change to snow even along the south coast and Cape Cod late this evening as the back edge of precip moves through. On the back side of the storm, colder air works into the region tonight; temperatures will fall into the 20s, so any leftover moisture and untreated surfaces will be icy.  Snow showers should be gone by the pre-dawn tomorrow in eastern MA.

Accumulations:

The south coast should see the least amount of snow, with some few flakes and a general coating to perhaps as much as an inch in spots. An inch or two with isolated 3" amounts are possible north and west of Boston, particularly from the Worcester Hills into southern New Hampshire.  My call for Logan airport? Just under an inch. The "jackpot" will be across northern Maine where 6-12" is expected – great news for ski country!

2015 Snowmap (2)

Windy Wednesday:

As the storm continues to strengthen in the Canadian Maritimes tomorrow, a strengthening west wind will take hold.  Our highs will struggle to reach 30 in some communities tomorrow, but with gusts 35-45 mph, the "real feel" will be in the single digits and teens much of the day tomorrow. Thursday will feature less wind, with a bit of a rebound in temps on Friday (around 40).

2015 Wind_Chill_Forecast (1)

Watching the Weekend:

I'm sure you've heard by now, we're watching another storm for the weekend. This storm has more moisture to work with…but not a ton of cold air.  A track right over southern New England would mean rain at the coast with snow inland, but it's too early to say where exactly the rain/snow line would set up. Either way, the Pats game will be impacted…potentially with rain changing to snow and a gusty east wind shifting around to the west behind the storm during the evening. Plenty to watch…plenty to stay tuned for.

2015 Isobars

-Danielle

Watch Danielle's video blog with Terry Eliasen:

While the amounts may be minor, it's all about the timing with this storm. Terry & I discuss the impact of tonight's snow and a look ahead to another winter storm this weekend...#Realtalk #BeyondTheForecast http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/01/12/fast-moving-clipper-to-deliver-a-round-of-snow/

Posted by Terry Eliasen on Tuesday, January 12, 2016

 

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