Rain and snow started in the predawn in New England but with an increasing south-southwest breeze, milder air will change snow to rain for many – and Matt Noyes says the changing sun angle has something to do with improving conditions today, even where snow continues to fall. Full details in the video!
A series of fast-moving clipper systems will continue to impact the northern U.S., bringing rounds of rain and snow to the Great Lakes, Appalachians, and Northeast. The first of these systems is moving through today, bringing a mix of rain and snow, with accumulating snowfall expected in higher elevations of Upstate New York and northern New England. Some lake-enhanced snowfall is also expected downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Another clipper system will drop into the Upper Great Lakes on Friday, spreading additional snow across the Great Lakes region and interior Northeast through Saturday morning.
Across the western U.S., a developing low-pressure system will bring showers and thunderstorms to southern California and the Desert Southwest by late Friday into Saturday. Meanwhile, much of the central and southern U.S. will remain dry under the influence of a broad ridge, leading to above-average temperatures. Highs today range from the 30s and 40s in the northern tier to the 60s and 70s in the southern Plains and Southeast. A cold front passing through the eastern U.S. will bring a slight temperature drop by Friday, but conditions will still be mild for late February.
Looking ahead to early next week, attention shifts to an evolving storm system expected to track from the southern Plains into the Great Lakes, bringing a swath of rain, gusty winds, and potential severe weather to the eastern half of the country. The West Coast will also see another round of precipitation as a Pacific system moves inland.
A messy day is in store for the Northeast as a clipper system moves through the region, bringing a mix of rain and snow. Early morning snow will transition to rain in many areas as warmer air surges northward. However, locations in higher elevations, particularly in the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, and White Mountains, will remain cold enough for accumulating snow. Snow totals of 3-6 inches are possible in these higher elevations, with localized amounts near 8 inches in the most persistent bands. Lower elevations, including much of southern New England, will see mostly rain, with a quarter to half an inch expected through this afternoon.
Travelers in northern and western New England should be prepared for slick roads this morning, especially in areas where snow briefly transitions to freezing rain before changing to all rain. Precipitation will taper off by evening as a cold front moves through, bringing a shift to gusty west-northwest winds. A brief window of lake-effect and upslope snow showers is likely tonight into Friday, particularly in northern New York and Vermont.
Friday will be breezy and cooler, with highs in the 30s across much of the interior and low 40s in southern New England. Another clipper system will arrive Friday night, bringing another round of snow to the region. This system is expected to produce a quick burst of accumulating snow, particularly in the Adirondacks and northern Vermont, before transitioning to rain in lower elevations on Saturday. Strong northwest winds will usher in a much colder air mass behind this system, with temperatures dropping sharply Saturday night into Sunday.
Looking ahead, Sunday will be a blustery and cold day, with highs struggling to get out of the 20s in many areas and wind chills making it feel even colder. Lake-effect snow showers will persist in the typical locations, particularly in northern New York. By early next week, a warming trend will begin, setting the stage for a significant storm system midweek that could bring heavy rain and strong winds to the region.
Marine interests should note that gale-force wind gusts will be possible today, especially across the outer coastal waters of southern New England. Seas will remain elevated into Friday before briefly subsiding ahead of the next storm system.
