Matt Noyes reports a chilly Wednesday morning across much of New England, with areas of frost in the deep interior, central, and northern regions. Frost will become more widespread tonight as winds die down, while today’s temperatures will struggle to break 50-55°F, with even cooler conditions in central and northern New England. The west-northwesterly breeze will make it feel like the 30s and 40s for much of the day. Snow continues to fall in the mountains, with photos of “snow-liage” combining snow and fall colors. Be sure to check back later today for our Insights video with forecast details through the upcoming weekend.
A strong high-pressure system centered over the Midwest will continue to dominate much of the central and eastern U.S., delivering dry conditions and below-average temperatures. Widespread morning frost and freeze conditions are expected from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic, while high temperatures will struggle to reach above the 50s for most of the central and eastern regions. These cold conditions will also stretch southward into the Gulf Coast and Southeast, where lows in the 30s and 40s will affect even northern Florida.
In the Northwest, a series of cold fronts will continue to impact the region, bringing scattered showers and higher elevation snow to the Cascades, Northern Rockies, and Intermountain West. Several inches of snow are possible in the higher elevations, particularly across the Yellowstone region and northern Utah mountains. Additionally, parts of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast will experience light precipitation, with rain and snow showers possible in higher elevations of the Appalachians and northern New England.
Meanwhile, summer-like warmth will persist over the northern Plains with temperatures soaring into the 70s and 80s, which is 20 to 30 degrees above average for this time of year. This warmth, combined with gusty winds and dry conditions, will lead to critical fire weather concerns across parts of the central and northern Plains. Temperatures will also remain high in Texas, but the heat will ease as a cold front pushes southward, bringing cooler air.
Cool and unsettled conditions will persist across the Northeast as a deep upper-level trough continues to influence the region. The cold northwest flow will generate scattered rain and snow showers, especially over the higher elevations of northern New England and the Adirondacks, where additional snow accumulations of 1-3 inches are possible above 2,000 feet. While lower elevations will primarily see rain, brief periods of mixed rain and snow are possible in the valleys, particularly in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Cold air will keep high temperatures well below average, with highs in the 40s for most areas and upper 30s in the mountains. The northwest winds will gust between 20 to 25 mph, adding a biting chill to the air. Wind chills will feel like the 20s and 30s across much of the interior, particularly during the morning and evening hours.
By Wednesday night, skies will gradually clear from west to east as high pressure begins to build into the region. This will lead to widespread frost and freezing temperatures in the interior valleys, especially across Vermont, New York’s Adirondacks, and western Maine, where overnight lows will drop into the upper 20s to low 30s. Coastal areas will be somewhat milder, with lows in the mid-30s to low 40s, but still cold enough for a frost advisory in some locations.
The cool, blustery conditions will gradually improve heading into the latter part of the week as high pressure brings drier weather and a gradual warming trend. However, marine interests should remain cautious due to gusty winds and rough seas, especially along the Gulf of Maine and Long Island Sound where Small Craft Advisories are in effect.
