Say It Isn’t So – Snow Is Possible At The End Of The Week Across Western & Central Mass

After a couple of weeks of dry and quite quiet weather across Western and Central Mass, the weather is expected to be more active and much more wet this coming week. In addition, snow is possible at the end of the week. Some shower activity is expected This Afternoon and it will be much cooler as compared to last week with temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s. A east to northeast wind gusting up to 20 mph will add an extra chill to the air. Sunshine returns for Tuesday and Wednesday as a high pressure ridge briefly moves over the area. High temperatures on Tuesday will be near 60 Degrees and high temperatures Wednesday will be near 65 Degrees. A double barreled low pressure system will move into the northeastern United States for Thursday and Friday. These two storm systems will not only bring rain to the area, but it will also pull enough cold air into the area to cause the rain to change to snow late Thursday night and Friday, especially in the Worcester Hills, the Berkshires and the Hilltowns of Western Mass. So, for Thursday – Rain will gradually move into the area and it will be cool with high temperatures between 50 and 55 Degrees. On Thursday Night, an area of low pressure will strengthen to the south of Long Island and this will cause colder air to be pulled into the area. This means that rain will gradually change to snow late Thursday night across the Berkshires and the Worcester Hills with the rain possibly changing to snow by Friday morning across the Hilltowns of Western Mass. Elsewhere across Western and Central Mass, the precipitation will remain as rain throughout Thursday night. Low temperatures Thursday night will be near 35 Degrees. Friday is likely to prove to be a tough forecast as there will be a “battle” between colder air moving into the area and daylight “warmth”, which might offset this colder air. Some of the guidance hints at upwards of 2 to 4 inches of wet snow across the Worcester Hills and the Berkshires and even up to one inch of snow in the Pioneer Valley and the Blackstone Valley. I think this may be way overdone, especially since any snow will be falling during daylight hours and would probably melt on contact. My thinking right now is for a rain-snow mix across the Pioneer Valley and the Blackstone Valley with no accumulation of snow on Friday. Across the Berkshires, the Worcester Hills and the Hilltowns of Western Mass, my thinking as of right now is for snow that may accumulate 1 to 2 inches or so. Upwards of 3 inches of snow is possible in the northern Worcester Hills and across the highest elevations of the Berkshires. High temperatures Friday will be between 35 and 40 Degrees. I will be monitoring the end of the week snow potential and will keep you updated.

A Wet Afternoon & Evening Is Expected Across Western & Central Mass

Heavy Rain & Thunderstorms This Afternoon & This Evening: A much needed soaking rain is expected across all of Western and Central Mass this afternoon into this evening. In addition, a few thunderstorms are also possible late this afternoon. An area of low pressure will strengthen as it moves across Quebec province this afternoon and this evening. The southerly wind flow connected to this low pressure system will pull moderate to heavy rain across the entire area throughout this afternoon. The rain is expected to last into this evening. In addition, a few thunderstorms are also possible within the area of heavy rain that will be moving through. This thunderstorm threat will be greatest during the late afternoon hours of today. Finally, a cold front is expected to push through the area between about 8 pm and 11 pm this evening. A line of thunderstorms will likely accompany this cold front and any thunderstorms between 8 pm and 11 pm this evening will be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall & briefly gusty winds. Very Windy Conditions Expected Late Tonight Through Monday: That cold front will push off of the Southern New England coast around midnight tonight. Behind it, west winds are expected to increase in velocity with wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph expected by after midnight tonight. A very windy day is expected across Western and Central Mass on Monday with west winds gusting up to 45 to 55 mph at times. It is also expected to be a sunny day on Monday with high temperatures near 45 Degrees. Tuesday: An area of high pressure will build into the area on Tuesday with lots of sunshine expected and high temperatures between 55 and 60 Degrees. Wednesday & Wednesday Night: A frontal system will move through the area during Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday evening. So, any early morning sunshine will give way to clouds along with widespread showers during Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday evening. A period of heavy rain is possible late Wednesday night. High temperatures Wednesday will be near 60 Degrees. Thursday: That frontal system will slowly move to the east on Thursday. Some morning rain mixed with snow will end by late morning with some peeks of sunshine expected during the afternoon. High temperatures Thursday will be between 40 and 45 Degrees. Friday: A sunny, cold and windy Friday is expected with high temperatures between 35 and 40 Degrees. Northwest winds will likely gust up to 40 mph at times leading to wind chill temperatures in the 20s all day long.

Rain This Afternoon Turns To A Little Bit Of Snow Late Tonight Across Western & Central Mass

This Afternoon: An area of low pressure is expected to move from the Ohio Valley into the Mid-Atlantic states this afternoon. This storm will bring rain to the entire area throughout this afternoon with much needed amounts of one quarter to one half of an inch expected. Temperatures this afternoon will be between 45 and 50 Degrees. Tonight Through Friday: That low pressure system will head off of the Mid-Atlantic coast tonight and will pull a cold front across the area later this evening. This means that rain will continue this evening and will gradually change to a little bit of snow from north to south across the area. It appears the changeover from rain to snow will first occur in the Berkshires and along and north of Route 2 between 8 pm and 10 pm. The changeover line from rain to snow is then expected to reach the Mass Pike region, including Springfield and Worcester, between about 11 pm and midnight. It is likely that all areas of Western and Central Mass will be snowing briefly by just after midnight. This snow is expected to be short-lived and will come to an end first across the Berkshires and the upper Pioneer Valley of Western Mass by about 1 am. The snow will then come to an end across the lower Pioneer Valley of Western Mass and across northern Worcester County by about 3-4 am. Southern Worcester County will be the last to see the snow end and that should occur by about 5-6 am. Overall, snowfall amounts tonight will be minimal with most areas receiving around one inch of snow. The exception may be some of the area in the Worcester Hills where up to 2 inches of snow is possible. More importantly later tonight will be the potential for some icy conditions as temperatures falling to 25 to 30 Degrees by late tonight. This means that the water and moisture from the rain will likely freeze up and any snow that does accumulate will hide the ice. This all means that roads, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and other surfaces will be very icy after about 4 am Friday morning. So, use extreme caution for Friday morning’s commute. Friday looks like it will start out cloudy with skies becoming partly sunny by afternoon. High temperatures Friday will be between 35 and 40 Degrees. Weekend Weather Forecast: A sunny weekend is expected across Western and Central Mass with both Saturday and Sunday seeing lots of sunshine. High temperatures Saturday will be between 50 and 55 Degrees. High temperatures Sunday will be near 55 Degrees.