April showers give way to warmer weather for OneWorld
Boston has seen its fair share of rain over the last couple weeks, but some warmer and drier weather is on the way for the weekend. Today, we are between systems as a weak front approaches from the west. Friday morning, the passing front will bring a possibility of rain showers in the early afternoon and a high around 75°F (24°C). As southwesterly flow strengthens behind the front, temperatures should approach the 80°F mark by Saturday afternoon. The price we will pay for warmer weather is a chance of showers during the day, but any rain should die down by the evening. For OneWorld, expect mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the lower 60s°F (16°C).
An active winter weather pattern
Today, parts of Massachusetts will likely pick up over one foot of snow as a low pressure system passes to our southeast. Accordingly, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the area until later this evening. For Boston, snowfall should increase through the morning, with the brunt of the snow occurring in the late morning and early afternoon. Most weather models have accumulated snow totals of 9-13 inches in Boston by early evening, after which snowfall begins to taper off. Snow cover, combined with colder and drier air behind the departing low, will set the stage for single digit temperatures tomorrow morning. After today’s system, Boston has a chance for lighter snowfall early Saturday morning in the form of snow showers. A third system approaches New England on Sunday, bringing another opportunity for rain and snow.
Colder weather ahead
The low pressure system which brought snow to the area earlier this week continues to move off to the northeast. Behind the system, colder air from central Canada will filter in, bringing drier conditions and mostly sunny skies to Boston. This weekend, a colder plume of Arctic air will swing through New England. As the air mass settles in, highs will sit around the freezing mark and lows should dip below 20°F (-7°C).
Departing low will give way to mostly clear skies
Cool air and clear skies will follow behind the departing front that brought widespread rainfall to Boston last night. Today, cloudy skies will stick around before being pushed out by drier air this evening. The weather remains amicable this weekend, with clear skies and highs in the mid 40s°F.
Cloudy weather will stick around
Cloudy and muggy weather should continue through Friday as a front approaches Boston from the south. Warm, tropical air is being squeezed between a low pressure system to our southwest and high pressure to the northeast. Today, the vicinity of the high pressure system will limit rain chances in Boston. As the high breaks down tomorrow, an area of rain will move in from the south, bringing moderate rainfall and patchy fog. Rain chances remain high through the weekend as the persistent low to our east makes its way toward New England. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center is watching a recently-developed tropical storm in the Caribbean which could potentially impact the U.S. next week. Although a tremendous amount of uncertainty remains, Tropical Storm Matthew will be closely monitored in the coming days. Several weather models show the storm trekking west before taking a sharp turn and continuing north along the east coast. Models also show the system strengthening, putting it at hurricane status in the next several days. Its implications for the east coast will be more certain by the end of the weekend.
A clear and calm week
A stalled frontal boundary along the east coast served as a trigger for sustained rainfall yesterday and this morning across the New England area.
Several tropical cyclone basins become active
By early next week, the effects of tropical storm Hermine will begin to manifest themselves as overcast skies, a chance of rain, and perhaps some gusty winds.
A quiet Thanksgiving holiday in store
A large high pressure system will continue to creep up the Carolina coast today, keeping skies clear and sunny in Boston. This high will keep weather cool and dry through Saturday, when an approaching upper level disturbance will bring a chance of rain to the area.
Clear for Halloween Night
The departing low-pressure system which brought rain to the area this morning is now heading off into eastern Canada. Tomorrow, skies should clear as northwesterly winds blow cooler, drier air into the region and high pressure builds in. For Halloween, the high pressure system will creep up the eastern seaboard and keep skies clear for Boston. Halloween night looks to be a bit chilly, with temperatures in the low 40s°F through the late evening. As we enter November, we leave the statistically snow-free month of October behind. Students new to Boston have already begun to question the reality of our beloved winter weather, but we’re climatologically approaching snowier times. Boston typically sees its first measurable snowfall around November 4, but the first snow day varies significantly from year to year. Snowfall greater than 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) typically arrives around December 5.
Clear Columbus Day weekend in store
Just over a week ago, forecast models remained uncertain about an intensifying Category 3 hurricane near the Bahamas. Luckily, Joaquin scooted harmlessly into the Atlantic and out of our weather forecast. By now the former hurricane has weakened into a non-tropical system, and it is expected to bringing gusty winds and rain to Spain.
All quiet on the Eastern front
A more-or-less benign weather pattern will lead to cloudy skies and mild temperatures into the weekend. For the next few days, a so-called ‘backdoor front’ will influence New England weather. In contrast to typical cold fronts, which channel in cooler air from the northwest, backdoor cold fronts approach from the northeast. During the spring months in New England, this often means cooler temperatures and clouds as air blows over ocean waters.
Spring?
A late-season push of cool air has reminded Bostonians of a dreadfully active winter. Yesterday, Boston saw light rain with sleet mixing in at times. A low pressure system to the south has pushed a tongue of warmer air into region, causing snow to melt as it falls to the surface. After passing through the warm layer, precipitation refreezes and reaches the ground as sleet.
Warmer weather on the way
Slush filled the streets yesterday as temperatures around Boston broke 40 °F for the first time since early January. Bostonians have gained a sense of “weather relativity” this week. Some may call the warmer weather a return to normalcy; for others, it’s a heat wave. Most of the brutal weather this winter resulted from a series of persistent troughs over the eastern U.S. Luckily, that pattern has broken down, allowing warmer air to surge northward.
Bitter cold followed by more snow
An Arctic front brought some of the coldest air of the season to New England last night. Lows in the Boston area dipped below zero. Today, a tightening pressure gradient will create gusty winds, dropping wind chill values to as low as –15 °F (–26 °C). Increasing clouds signal a more active weather pattern this weekend.
Robust nor’easter will challenge snowfall records
Bitter cold temperatures, rampant snowfall, and near-hurricane-force winds will accompany what is likely to be a record-setting winter storm. Originating from Alberta, Canada, the system is now tracking up the eastern coast of New England and wreaking havoc for millions. On Tuesday morning the low will undergo rapid intensification in a process called “bombogenesis,” with central pressure dropping more than 24 millibars in 24 hours. Tuesday’s weather will consist of heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions as the system slowly pivots around the southeastern coast of Cape Cod. With persistent northerly winds gusting to 50 mph, expect blizzard conditions and subzero windchill values.
Warm up on the way
The pesky trough which kept weather in the area cold and rainy this week will gradually transition to the east tonight. A ridge will begin to influence the eastern US tomorrow, allowing highs to reach the lower 40s°F (5°C). On Sunday, the ridge amplifies allowing much warmer air to overspread the region. Southerly winds will notch highs into the lower 50s°F (10°C) and bring overcast skies to the area. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. We finally make it into the lower 60s °F (10°C) on Monday, but the trade-off is rainy weather.
Clearing skies just in time for the weekend
MIT students had to deal with more than just Psets and exams this week. A potent low pressure system formed just off the coast of New England, bringing gusty winds and heavy rain to the area. Since Monday, Boston has picked up over 3 inches of rain and winds have gusted to as high as 60 mph!
Pleasant weather in store for Columbus Day
The period of seasonable and clear weather that Cambridge experienced this week will briefly come to an end as a low pressure system develops off the New England coast this evening. High clouds will overspread the region this afternoon and gradually thicken as moist air begins to stream northeast. Highs this afternoon should reach the lower 60s°F with winds out of the west. Rain will hold off until early tomorrow morning as an area of precipitation associated with the low rides along a stalled front to our southeast. Scattered showers should continue into the afternoon before clearing begins tomorrow evening. Expect highs tomorrow in upper 50s°F and northerly winds.
Cool, dry weather to return soon
Cambridge experienced a nice taste of fall this weekend with clear, blue skies and lows approaching the 40s (°F) . The high pressure system associated with this benign weather is now moving off into the Atlantic. Expect unsettled weather today as a low pressure system approaches from the southwest and a weak frontal boundary pushes through the area. Scattered showers this morning should give way to mostly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Expect moderate westerly winds behind that front.