NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
An upper level trough and coastal low will bring rain, snow, and
mixed precipitation today into tonight. Radar currently shows
precipitation starting to enter the region from the west initially
as rain, but flipping to snow first for higher elevations above
500ft. Rain will then change over to snow for lower elevations
excluding the South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands where precip
will remain as rain all day. The heaviest snowfall looks to be
between 10am-2pm which is when the best moisture and lift will be
present in the dendritic growth zone. After 2pm, a dry slot works in
from the south cutting moisture to the dendritic growth zone. With
the lighter precip rates, expecting snow to flip back to rain or a
rain/snow mix for elevations under 500 feet while over 500 feet
should remain as light snow.
The latest model guidance continues to highlight the best chance for
6+ inches of snow across the highest elevations of 800-1000
feet. Confidence in snowfall amounts decrease significantly for
lower elevations esspically below 500 feet due to surface
temperatures slightly above freezing and mixed precipitation.
Generally expecting snow totals of 3-6 inches across all of
northern MA and extending south down the I-495 corridor and into
northeastern CT where winter weather advisories are now in
effect. Winter Weather Advisories have also been added for the
CT River Valley in MA where 2-6 inches are possible. Winds begin
to pick up out of the NE in the afternoon at 15-25mph. Highs
top out in the low to mid 30s, with 40s near the coasts
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM MONDAY/...
As the coastal low pulls away to the NE, cold northerly flow will
allow for any areas with a rain/snow mix to change back over to all
snow after midnight. Latest model guidance has increased snowfall
totals for NE MA during this portion of the event with some stronger
deformation zone snow bands forming overnight. Its not out of the
question that 6 inches of snow could fall in Essex and Middlesex
counties due to this. However, opted to stick with a Winter Weather
Advisory for those counties due to low confidence in over 6 inches
at this time. Winds continue to increase overnight due to a
tightening pressure gradient with gusts of 20-30mph inland and 40-
50mph near the coasts. Overnight lows only drop into the upper 20s
to low 30s.