Blustery winds and chilly air dominate New England’s midweek forecast, with upslope snow for the mountains. Danielle Noyes shares the latest forecast and Noyes’ Notes in this video. Reminder: you can track live radar, snow totals, and wind chills on our free app, Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside Weather, available on the App Store and Google Play!
National Weather Summary
- Southern California Fire Weather: Extremely critical fire weather conditions persist in Southern California, driven by strong Santa Ana winds gusting between 55-75 mph. Combined with very dry air and parched vegetation, the risk of wildfires remains high through Tuesday.
- Arctic Air in the East: A blast of Arctic air has already surged into the Upper Midwest and continues its southeastward advance into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Temperatures will be below normal, especially across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions.
- Great Lakes Snow: Lake-effect snow showers will persist, particularly east of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Areas experiencing persistent snow bands could see localized accumulations of 1-2 feet through Tuesday night. Snow squalls are possible, leading to hazardous travel conditions.
- Quiet in the Central U.S.: Much of the Plains and central U.S. will experience drier-than-normal conditions under a largely stable air mass.
- Warmer Southern States: Temperatures across the southern U.S. remain near or slightly above average, with minimal precipitation forecast.
Northeast Weather Story
Synopsis: Tuesday will be dominated by a fresh Arctic air mass, ushering in frigid temperatures across New England and the Northeast. Lake-effect snow showers will intensify east of Lakes Erie and Ontario, impacting upstate New York with potentially significant accumulations. Elsewhere, blustery winds will add to the chill, and isolated snow showers may occur in the region’s higher terrain.
Lake-Effect Snow and Hazards:
- Northern New York: Snow bands off Lake Ontario will continue to impact areas such as the Tug Hill Plateau and parts of the western Adirondacks. Additional accumulations of 6-12 inches are possible by Tuesday evening, with locally higher amounts in the most persistent snow bands. A Lake Effect Snow Warning is in effect for these areas.
- Vermont and New Hampshire: Snow showers, enhanced by upslope flow, will produce light to moderate snowfall in the Green Mountains, with accumulations generally in the 2-6 inch range by Tuesday night.
- Snow Squalls: Brief, intense snow squalls are possible in parts of western and central New York, potentially extending into the Berkshires and southern Vermont, causing localized travel disruptions.
Temperatures and Wind Chills:
- Highs will struggle to reach the mid-20s across interior New England, with some locations remaining in the teens. Along the coast, temperatures will be slightly milder, peaking near freezing.
- Gusty westerly winds of 15-25 mph, with occasional gusts to 30 mph, will produce wind chills in the single digits and teens across much of the region, with subzero values possible in higher elevations.
Looking Ahead: Conditions will remain cold and blustery into Wednesday, with lingering snow showers across the northern mountains and lake-effect regions. A gradual warming trend is expected by late week, but another round of Arctic air and potential precipitation is poised to arrive by the weekend.