Good morning everybody, I must say, the second half of December is looking interesting, at least in terms of storm activity, regardless of precipitation type.
Still, I can’t remember the last time the main sources of computer model guidance all pinned a major snowstorm on the WMass region 6-7 days out, but that is the case this morning.
Still, it’s 6 to 7 days out, so it’s just something to monitor at the moment, but the seeds of a winter storm exist, and so we follow them to see if they actually come together thousands of miles downstream, over New England. More on that in the coming days.
For today, any snow showers in southwest VT and the northern Berkshires dissipate rapidly, and partly to mostly sunny skies develop as high pressure moves into the region, with its center passing well to our south.
This will allow for light winds, and highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s, with a nicer afternoon than morning.
As for our geomagnetic storm, its potential has been delayed until later today, and there’s still uncertainty how intense it will be, but I will try to update later today should northern lights viewing be possible tonight, which it could be with clearing skies.
For Friday, after some early morning patchy fog, mostly sunny skies will develop with highs in the mid 40s as high pressure crests through the region. Lows will be near freezing with clouds increasing late.
For Saturday, our weather goes down hill, with overcast skies developing as a storm gets set to pass to our northwest. This will float its warm front through our region which will bring showers sometime in the afternoon or evening. Highs will only be in the low to mid 40s.
Now, if the rain holds off until evening, it’s possible that with a second and separate high pressure cell to our north in Quebec, we may drain some cold air in at the surface, which could bring a brief period of icing well north of the Rt. 2 corridor in southern VT and NH, but that remains to be seen.
Regardless, Saturday night looks rainy and cold, with lows at least in the mid to upper 30s.
Sunday features some showers early, then a mostly cloudy, milder day with highs in the 45-50º range and lows in the 30s.
Early next week looks colder and fair, with a coastal storm passing south of us Monday.
However, by next Wednesday and Thursday, cold air looks to be in place ahead of a second coastal storm, and this one could actually bring a widespread, accumulating snowfall to much of, if not all of the WMass region.
This setup would be different than the last system, in that plenty of cold air would be in place already, and available to tap to our north and northwest, so it’s different than what we just went through.
Stay tuned, folks, and have a great day!