Cold Weekend..Then Mild Rain
A strong upper level disturbance is moving through New England today bringing a reinforcing shot of colder air behind it. The day starts out cold with sunshine and eventually manages to climb to 40-45 degrees before the clouds move in during the second half of the day.
This upper level energy is accompanied with a cold pool of air aloft which will help to destabilize the atmosphere as this arctic front pushes through this afternoon. Strong winds aloft will also mix down to the ground with the passage of this front. Winds will gust over 30 mph for a time out of the west this afternoon.
This arctic front is will trigger strong intense snow squalls across the mountains of Northern Vermont and New Hampshire where several inches of snow could fall in places like Stowe, Jay Peak and Burke. Ski areas have been making snow so these snow squalls will simply help add to the base which is already under way.
In southern New England I am not expecting much...as the main energy and lift will remain north. Still there appears to be enough lift along with the passage of the front with borderline cool air in place at the surface...where a few snow showers from the Berkshires to the Monadnock region fall. The northern Worcester hills may see a few flakes as well. Lower elevations towards the coast will most likely see a sprinkle at best as this front will fall apart as it moves toward the coast.
Temps will free fall late today with colder air rushing in with a NW wind as skies clear out tonight. Expect a cold night with diminshing wind with lows bottoming out in the 20's. Building high barometer cold will spell sunshine with less wind for Sunday with highs in the Lwr 40's.
High pressure remains anchored over New England through Monday and eventually pulls off the coast opening the door for moderating temps with southerly winds and increasing high clouds by Tuesday with highs nearing 50.
Our next rainfall will arrive Wednesday with another inside running low with plenty of moisture coming out of the Gulf of Mexico up the eastern seaboard. This will be another soaking rainfall where another 1-2' of rain will likely fall before exiting the region early Thursday morning with clearing skies and cooler air to follow.
