Cold Air Moving In For the Weekend...Snow On the Cape
A cold front is pushing though New England today. Behind this front, some of the coldest air we have seen so far this early cool season. Partly sunny skies this morning will give way to increasing cloudiness as the front pushes through this afternoon. This front may even trigger a brief rain or snow shower...but there is plenty of dry air in the low levels to keep today mostly dry. Highs will climb into the upper 30's and lwr 40's by midday before falling this afternoon behind the front. High pressure from Canada build in behind the front with skies becoming partly cloudy overnight and lows dropping into the 10's in many suburbs overnight.
The big story is the Winter Weather Advisory for the Cape & Islands thru 1 PM Sunday. Cold northerly winds will be rushing over the 50 degree water this evening allowing ocean-effect snow to develop late today and continue all night. Tremendous cold air aloft will create steep lapse rates and instability which should help to create mesoscale bands of heavier snow fall this evening. Some of the snow may extend all the way back to southeastern Plymouth county. There will likely be a widespread 1-3" snowfall on the Cape thru the overnight. Where banding sets up maybe a few pockets of 4" will be possible. Roads will become snow covered this evening so travel should be kept to a minimum late tonight thru early tomorrow on the Cape.
A very cold start to the morning Sunday as high pressure settles in from the west. Teens for many, with 20's on the Cape and SE MA. Lingering light snow and flurries will last on the Cape through the morning before ending by afternoon. The rest of us will have bright sunshine...but cold temps, Highs 25-30 NW of Boston, 30-35 in SE MA.
Once again the cold air will be quick to lift out with moderating temps on Monday with SW winds. High clouds with a warm front mixes with sunshine and highs climb back to near 40-45 degrees behind warm front. Cold front pushes through Monday night for slightly cooler and dry air for Tuesday with more sunshine near 40.
A little bit mor of a active weather pattern develops for the middle of the week with a wave of low pressure to watch. Overall split flow to the jetstream should prevent any big storms and keep the coldest air in Canada. On Wednesday the low will be pushing from Texas to the Ohio valley and through New England. Precip may start off as a brief mix around dawn, but will quickly transition to showers with SW winds.
Another cold front will push through late Thursday-early Friday which will bring another shot of cold air to end the week...with building high pressure by the 24th. The timing of the upper level energy in the extended forecast becomes a bit more uncertain the farther out you go. My hopes for a white Christmas have diminished...but still holding out hope for a Christmas miracle and some flakes in the air on Christmas eve or Christmas day? Possible...just not likely. Bundle up for now...it's going to get mighty chilly quickly by tonight.
