As we roll into the weekend, New England continues to feel the chill left in the wake of our Thanksgiving storm, with cold air settling across the region and lake-effect snow taking center stage for Upstate New York. Now, Matt Noyes breaks down what to expect through the weekend and takes a first look at a potential midweek storm that could bring more wintry weather – all in our Insights Video. Written summary below.
This Weekend: Lake-Effect Snow and Persistent Cold
While most of the nation enjoys relatively quiet weather, areas downwind of the Great Lakes are getting pummeled with heavy snow. Here’s how it affects us:
- Western New England Snow Showers:
Lake-effect snow bands from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie will extend into New York’s Tug Hill Plateau and up the western slopes of the Green Mountains, as well as parts of Southern New England briefly Friday evening, delivering snow showers to the mountains into Saturday and Sunday. Vermont’s higher elevations, especially near Stowe, Jay Peak, and Mount Mansfield, could see 2-4 inches, with locally higher amounts possible.
- Weekend Chill:
Daytime highs will struggle to get out of the 30s, with nighttime lows dipping into the teens where snow is on the ground and the 20s elsewhere. Breezy conditions will make it feel even colder, especially Sunday, when wind chills could hover near 30°F at best.
Looking Ahead: A Midweek Storm to Watch
The weekend will remain cool and mostly quiet, aside from snow showers in western and northern New England. Early next week brings a quick-hitting disturbance on Monday night, with light snow showers possible, before the midweek system arrives. Then, our attention turns to a potentially impactful system arriving Wednesday night into Thursday of the upcoming week.
- Atmospheric Energy:
The system is currently an upper-level storm south of the Aleutian Islands, diving across western Canada before reaching the northeastern U.S. midweek.
- Cold Air vs. Warm Air:
While cold air will be present initially, a southerly wind ahead of the storm may bring milder air into southern New England, making this another race between precipitation type and warm air intrusions.
Stay updated on snow chances, storm details, and temperature trends using the free Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside Weather app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
