Welcome to the weather blog - a regular Monday through Friday discussion of the weather! You'll find a general non-technical weather summary below, and when available (most days) a detailed technical meteorological discussion will follow. If no technical discussion is available when you check in during the morning, check back later as it often comes after the Weather Summary - I try to indicate at the end of the general weather summary when/if a technical discussion is coming. My email is contact@mattnoyes.net. While the discussions usually will only come on days I'm working, I'll occasionally issue special updates when the weather warrants. This blog is for you, so I hope you enjoy it! -Matt Noyes
For latest radar imagery, to check for watches and warnings, and for links to sites in the world of weather, feel free to click over to my website: www.mattnoyes.net
Matt's Weather Summary: The fast-moving but intense storm that brought a quick half foot or more of snow to much of Massachusetts continues to race northeast and away from New England. The snows associated with this storm were the result of warm and moist tropical air being swept northward in advance of the storm, colliding with the cold air in the lower levels that was in place across New England. As the storm moves east, so too does the intense snow banding, moving through the Maine coastline through Monday evening while the remainder of New England gradually dries out.
With a relatively mild airmass - at least by January standards - left in this storm's wake, Southern and Western New England will climb above freezing as the precipitation draws to a close with snow tapering to light rain and flurries, then eventually patchy drizzle by Monday evening. Overnight Monday night, skies will only slowly clear, and with temperatures dropping well below freezing - into the teens and twenties - treated and plowed roadways that melted during the day will refreeze overnight for widespread slippery driving conditons.
Expect Tuesday to begin with sunshine, though the atmosphere will be in a state of flux. A strong disturbance dropping through South-Central Canada will be racing east-southeast toward New England, but will be strengthening as it makes the trip. This upper level storm - a strong bundle of energy driven by the jet stream winds aloft that steer our storms - will bring with it plenty of cold air thousands of feet above our heads. At ground level, however, cold air will be lacking, and by later Tuesday, this difference between warm ground and cold sky will begin to manifest itself as a developing area of low pressure at the surface, poised to cross New England Tuesday night.
Breezes will increase from the southwest ahead of this developing surface low pressure center, and expect clouds to build later Tuesday afternoon ahead of the storm. As the cold air associated with this system high in the sky moves overhead. snow showers and heavier snow squalls will develop from west to east across New England Tuesday evening and night. Some of these squalls will drop a quick couple of inches of snow, especially across hilly and mountainous terrain, and will create some snow-covered and slippery spots for Wednesday morning's commute.
Wednesday's forecast is a tricky and intriguing one - as it features an attempt to match an upper level pattern and surface pattern that just don't seem to go well together. By that, I mean the upper level pattern is a cold and wintry looking one, while the surface pattern will remain rather mild and allow temperatures to rise into the middle and upper 30's. Winds will be gusty, and this difference in airmass from surface to jet stream level will likely mean more snow showers and heavier squalls on Wednesday.
With a persistent flow of northwest winds Wednesday and Wednesday night - and a steady stream of disturbances caught in the jet stream winds aloft, diving from Canada and settling into the slow and energetic disturbance that will be prodding east of New England, cold air situated in Central Canada will finally be tapped, and begin to charge southeast. By Thursday morning, expect the cold air to be in place here at ground level, as well, as it catches up with the precursor wintry cold pattern aloft. Most of Thursday will bring lots of clouds, some sunshine, and scattered snow showers.
The workweek rounds out with a blend of sun and clouds for the daylight hours as New England finds ourselves sandwiched between the large and energetic storm departing slowly to our east, and a new bundle of energy the jet stream winds will be driving in our direction from the Central Plains. This new disturbance will spread clouds and precipitation over New England Friday evening and night, as a slug of warmth and moisture riding northward in the counterclockwise airflow around this approaching disturbance clashes with the cool air that will already be in place in New England, resulting in a period of Friday night snow and rain.
The upcoming weekend is likely to feature a stronger storm - likely moving into New England by Sunday - and this one may be a moisture-loaded system, so it's one I'll likely focus on more as the week progresses.
Have a wonderful remainder of your Monday, and many thanks again to all of you who sent me your observations and weather reports for today's storm.
Technical Discussion: None today. Should resume Tuesday.
Accumulation Maps:
-Matt
