More Like April!
Today's high temperature of 56 degrees in Boston was so far above the normal high temp that it was typical of a mid-April afternoon high...truly incredible! Even more incredible was how fast that snow went...it was like meltwater coming off a glacier in my niehborhood...I'm sure it was similar in your's too! I mean seriously, all that snow from the last week is practically gone...and now mud-season!
So we will be in cool down mode over the next couple of days but temps will still be above average...40 or better. Personally, I've been hung up on the highs for tomorrow. Models have been running much cooler than actual verifying temps, especially the NAM output. In fact, the NAM was showing a pretty intense low level inversion all day today and it is showing it again tomorrow. it was completely out to lunch today and right now I'm thinking the same for tomorrow. We will have downsloping WNW winds to mix out any inversion and 850mb temps actually rise back to 0C...I just can't justify the 39 degrees the NAM is spitting out...I'm thinking more like 45. The only thing that could throw a wrench in my forecast could be cloud cover...but again, I'm counting on good mixing and downsloping to scour out any stratocumulus that filters in tonight...we'll see.
By Thursday the cooling continues with highs around 40 and with high pressure overhead, we will be able to radiate some Thursday evening before our next weather maker arrives. This will lead to marginally cold enough air for a wintry mix, especially inland, at the start later Thursday night. SE winds on the backside of the departing high should shift warmth inland from the coastal plain changing and mixed precip to rain overnight into Friday morning. Therefore, I really don't see too many issues for Friday morning's commute but some slippery spots inland will be possible.
As for the Northern Lights, viewing will be limited tonight...stratocumulus out ahead of shortwave will be spreading south and east from Upstate NY and Northern New England. The vort max is expected to pass by dawn tomorrow morning so we should be clear by then or in the process of clearing so it's possible to get lucky very early tomorrow morning or over the next few hours before the stratocumulus deck overtakes us.
