Temperatures will rebound nicely today, making it into the 30- to 35-degree range in the afternoon for some snow-melting. And the skies start sunny and bright, so you’ll need the sunglasses once again.
You’ll notice the clouds increasing in the afternoon ahead of a fast-moving weather system that will bring a batch of snow showers, most likely after the evening commute on Wednesday.
This weak clipper system could leave a coating to half an inch in a few spots, especially north of Boston, west of Route 128, and in the higher elevations.
A clipper system will move into New England after the evening commute on Wednesday, bringing about a half-inch of snow to portions of Southern New England.Boston Globe
Temperatures will fall initially on Wednesday evening, but then start to rise toward morning as a brief shot of warmer air enters Southern New England.
Friday night: Icy cold air kicks in
Highs on Thursday will reach the upper 30s to lower 40s, and any initial rain or snow showers give way to mostly sunny skies.
An Arctic front is expected to cross the area on Friday, marking the start of a prolonged cold spell, likely the coldest of the winter season so far. Temperatures will peak Friday morning in the upper 20s to low 30s and then start falling, so that by the end of the day, we’re already likely into the teens. From there, we’re headed into the single digits Friday night and even a few near-zero readings for Saturday morning.
This image shows successive blasts of Arctic air surging into the US for the rest of the month. This weekend could be the coldest of the entire winter.WeatherBELL
Saturday is a dangerously cold day with temperatures in the teens, and then temperatures fall once again to between 5-below and 10 above zero Sunday morning. Highs will only reach the teens.
This latest blast of cold air is due to the polar vortex, a tight band of wind that holds exceptionally frigid air high in the atmosphere, primarily in the stratosphere, approximately 10 to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface. It’s the layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, where weather occurs. When the polar vortex becomes disrupted or weakens, it interacts with the polar jet stream below, allowing that stream to move farther south.
The 7-day forecast for the Boston area.Boston Globe
Sunday: Monitoring a potential major snowstorm
We will have to watch to see how close a low-pressure system south of New England comes to our region on Sunday. If the storm system stays well to our south, the impacts will be minimal. If the storm system gets closer, we will be looking at accumulating snow later Sunday and Sunday night.
Confidence remains very low concerning how this will play out, so you’ll need to keep checking back for the latest forecasts over the next several days.
A view of the system, perhaps the biggest and most impactful winter storm of the season for many parts of the US, as it moves across, headed toward the Northeast. It remains unclear whether this storm will impact New England.Boston Globe
Greater Boston: Sunshine followed by increasing clouds on Wednesday, with highs in the lower 30s. Snow showers Wednesday night. Mild on Thursday.
Central/Western Mass.: It’s cold early and sunshine fades behind clouds with evening snow showers Wednesday. Milder on Thursday with highs above freezing.
Southeastern Mass.: Look for mostly sunny skies the first half of the day, followed by clouds. Highs in the mid-30s. A few rain or snow showers Wednesday night, followed by clearing on Thursday. Highs Thursday in the lower 40s
Cape and islands: Look for sunshine followed by increasing clouds on Wednesday, with highs in the mid- to upper 30s. Clouds early Thursday give way to partly sunny skies; highs in the low 40s.
Rhode Island: Sunshine is followed by increasing clouds on Wednesday with highs a few degrees above freezing. Look for temperatures in the lower 40s Thursday afternoon with sunshine returning.
New Hampshire: Look for increasing clouds on Wednesday with highs in the 20s. Sunshine returns for Thursday with highs in the upper 30s
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