Bundle Up! Sub-Zero Cold Coming This Weekend
BOSTON (CBS) - We're making up for lost time in a hurry. After one of the warmest fall seasons on record and an absolute balmy December, it felt like we might have a "year without a winter." Our one significant snow event in January (6.1 inches on January 23) was followed by nearly two weeks in the 40's, 50's and 60's!
Mother Nature has a unique ability and desire to always even the score though. You can be sure that in the long run, everything in the atmosphere tends to even out. A meager snow season one year many times is followed by big snows the next year. We go through periods of increased hurricane activity, only to be followed by several seasons of quiet times in the Atlantic. The examples go on and on - all good things must eventually come to an end. That also works the other way. While it seemed like last winter would never end after days and months of relentless snow and cold, we had a very pleasant and quiet summer and fall season.
And that brings us to the here and now.
I think we all knew that we were on borrowed time. It's time to pay our dues to Mother Nature. I would say two blizzards and nearly 20 inches of snow in the last couple weeks is a good start. Now it's time for the cold.
By the end of this week, we are going to get a special delivery straight from the North Pole. A piece of the "Polar Vortex" is about to break off and head straight for New England. While this would have been old news last season, this will be our first taste of true Arctic chill this winter.
SATURDAY SNOW
After sunset on Wednesday, the majority of southern New England will stay below freezing for nearly a week.
The harshest cold arrives with the passing of a fast moving storm system early on Saturday morning. It looks like this system will "blow up" just a bit too late for us to see any significant snow (something to watch), but the cold behind it will be downright nasty.
BELOW ZERO SUNDAY
High temperatures on Saturday will struggle to top 20 degrees. Saturday night will be our coldest night since last February. Nearly our entire area will drop below zero by early Sunday morning. Even Boston may dip to near or slightly below zero, a feat only accomplished 3 times all of last year despite the record setting cold.
Low temperatures in parts of central and western Massachusetts and for a good portion of central and northern New England will range from -10 to -20 degrees! Add in a biting, northerly wind, gusting 20-to-40 mph and the "real-feel" temperatures could drop as low as -30 to -40 degrees. YOWZA!
The high temperature on Sunday will only "warm" to around 8-to-15 degrees. Those are daytime highs!
Just remember this is fairly typical winter in New England. We normally get a few blasts from the Arctic each season. All you have to do is look back one year ago to know that it could be MUCH worse. In fact, despite our recent snow and upcoming cold, there still is NO comparison between this February and last.
So hang in there, stay warm and try to enjoy each season for what it has to offer. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training next week! And before you know it, instead of ski jumping at Fenway Park, they will be playing ball.
Follow Terry on Twitter @TerryWBZ
