Hardly a Winter Storm...
Our latest Winter Storm is rolling in but it will be more like a Spring storm for most with heavy rain and very warm air. The storm center is still in Tennessee yet moisture is streaming northward into New England this evening. The air preceding the storm was very dry and even though temps climbed into the lower 40s today and are still above freezing in almost all locals it will cool for a brief period this evening before the warm air wins out later tonight and tomorrow. As the light precip falls into the drier air, it evaporates...that process cools the surrounding air so I expect temps to slip a few more degrees this evening sending some inland towns subfreezing. This first batch of moisture is falling in the form of snow just about everywhere but the that will change shortly and by the time meat of the storm arrives later tonight, the profile of the atmosphere will be too warm for snow...rain will be the primary player. That will however be an issue in those towns that slip below freezing because that rain will be falling into 32 or below surface air and will create icy spots. Without a cold high to the north there isn't a very good cold air damming signature with this event so my initial feeling is that there won't be major issues with ice. Also, seeing that we have had such a mild week roads surfaces aren't that cold either. With that said, there will be icy spots for sure in Northern Worcester County and southern parts of Northern New England so please be careful late tonight and early tomorrow morning especially on driveways and sidewalks that are left untreated. The icing will be most evident on tree limbs in those areas...that's where you certainly will be able to see the thin coating of ice build up.
The storm center will pass by to our west tomorrow midday that will send a surge of very warm surface air into Eastern Mass and temps will rocket into the 50s by midday. Shortly after the temp spike, a coldfront will come marching through...there may be enough instability along it to get some rumbles of thunder along with heavy downpours. Then the winds will pick up out of the WSW and start drying us out in the afternoon.
The weekend still looks rather uneventful...lots of sun on Saturday with highs in the 40s which will be spoiled by gusty winds. A coldfront will come through Saturday evening with a sprinkle then cooler air to finish the weekend.
