2/16 AM All Zones Update: Cold & Blustery Today…Warmer This Weekend

A strong closed low, which brought some heavy snow to parts of Northern New England, will support cold and blustery conditions. High temperatures will be in the middle to upper 30s. Northwest winds could gust to between 30mph to 40mph today. Skies will be partly sunny with highs in middle to upper 30s. Some instability and a weak upper-level disturbance will move through today. So some isolated snow showers or flurries can’t be ruled out, especially for the Interior.

Mostly clear skies are expected tonight. Winds will begin diminishing as the pressure gradient and instability weakens. The core of the cold airmass will be over the region. Overnight lows will be in the lower to middle 20s over much of the region. But some interior valleys and Pine Barrens may drop into teens, with more radiational cooling, as winds decrease overnight.

The closed low will begin to move further out into the Atlantic on Friday. This will support stronger high pressure and mid-level heights to rises. So mostly sunny skies and much lighter northwest winds. The cold airmass will begin to modify. Temperatures by afternoon, will be little warmer in the upper 30s to lower 40s, over most of the region

Then high pressure moves offshore and higher mid-level heights build into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic by Saturday. This will result in a deeper southwest flow with unseasonably mild temperatures. Plenty of sunshine is expected, with riding aloft. 850mb temperatures will be approaching +10C, will  support highs in the upper 50s or lower 60s over much of the region. Southwest winds off the ocean, may keep some coastal areas a little cooler.

More pleasant, dry weather is in store for Sunday and Monday (President’s Day). But latest model guidance now indicates a cold front sliding south, as an area of low pressure passing to the north. So Sunday may not be as warm as we previous but some sunshine and northwest downsloping winds still support highs well above normal, well into the 50s over most of the region. High pressure moving into Southeast Canada may support even cooler temperatures on Monday.

Some confluence and troughiness over Southeast Canada may mitigate more unseasonable warmth for the rest of next week. But overall the pattern will be progressive, with an active pacific jet and no high-latitude blocking. Temperatures are expected to be running either near or above normal with no major storms likely much of next week. Next significant storm system may not impact the region until next weekend.

Stay tuned for zone forecasts updates and continue to check for more updates through the extended term on the main dashboard.