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.