Final Call for Weekend Snows
No Major Changes to Forecast
Synoptic Overview:
There are no significant changes to the synoptic forecast overview from First Call on Thursday.
The next in a succession of northern stream impulses is approaching the area this weekend.
The primary difference with this system relative to many of the disturbances that we have dealt with this season is that it is actually intensifying slightly on approach, as opposed to shearing out.
This is due at least in part to the Alaskan ridge growing in amplitude, which in turn lowers heights downstream and allows the wave to "dig" a bit on approach.
Expected Storm Evolution:
Snowfall will overspread this area quickly this evening from west-southwest to east-northeast, rapidly becoming heavy over southwestern New England, where very heavy bands become established later this evening.
This will represent one potential area of somewhat higher snowfall totals across the region.
Some mixing with rain over the outer cape and islands will cut down on accumulations in those locales.
The other area of subtle enhancement will be to the north, as the banding to the south weakens a bit as it translates eastward, and the best lift focuses north Sunday morning. This will become evident in radar imagery as the morning progresses and echoes over especially the south half of the area rapidly weaken.
However, snowfall will be more tenacious to the north of the developing m id level low, throughout the route two region, which will prolong the storm and allow this area to catch up a bit with the southern zone of enhancement.
Drier air will end the snowfall more quickly to the south, as any rain rapidly transitions back to snowfall before ending on the cape and islands early Sunday afternoon.
Final Call:
First Call Issued Thursday February 6th.