A Brief shot of Polar High Pressure is bringing a seasonable dry Monday to New England. Our temperature roller coaster is to continue as we went from 20 degrees last Wednesday to 60 yesterday, to 40 today, Sunday January 8 2012. The lack of blocking in the north Atlantic, so different than last winter, has allowed every cold shot to lift out within 24 hours of arriving. The same thing is happening tonight and Monday. We turn cold enough to put some ice on our ponds, but then we warm back to the 40s Tuesday-Thursday. Ice skating season is canceled in southern New England this year. Ice fishing in Northern New England still stands a chance, though Lake Winnipesaukee is still mostly open water. A few inches of snow fell in Colorado Saturday, that system will run out south of Nantucket Monday Night, we may see a few rain or snow showers along the south coast Monday Night. Another clipper system will race across Vermont Monday night with a few more inches of snow from Mount Mansfield to Jay Peak, the snowiest places in New England this winter. By Wednesday we are watching a powerful storm in The Gulf of Mexico, that storm will have generated more welcome snow and rain in New Mexico and Texas. The Gulf Storm may generate a tornado outbreak east of The Mississippi River to the Mid Atlantic States Tuesday and Wednesday. Here in New England we will have enough cold Wednesday to allow for a period of snow and ice as the precipitation begins Wednesday Afternoon. Much like Christmas Day, The mountains of Vermont have a good chance for a net gain of snow Wednesday/Thursday but much of the region likely sees more rain than snow, at least until Friday. Our wind will be from the northeast, due to a surface low tracking along the south coast into The Gulf of Maine. Usually that is a snowy track for us in January, so why not this time? A Punch of pure arctic air will be arriving Minnesota Thursday, this will tighten the Jet Stream, allowing for a warm ridge to strengthen along the East Coast, AGAIN. So even though low level wind is from the Northeast, upper level wind is from the south, meaning WARM. The Map shown below is the Jet Stream for Friday. A Ripping flow up the coast may allow for some powerful wind gusts to mix down during Thursday Night and Friday, especially if any of those thunder storms hold together, which is quite possible. The story does not end there. A Major chill will be trying to advance into New England by Monday January 16th, but we have room for another storm before that happens. As long as the trough axis is to our west, the threat for additional low pressure, and snow, exists. Unlike the Christmas Day Storm, the air moving in behind this one will be the coldest so far this winter. The Patriots play on Saturday Night, we have a 50/50 chance at a Snow Bowl in Gillette Stadium. A lot will change on the way to next weekend, it sure will be interesting. We need to establish some blocking, to hold the cold, and save Ice Fishing season in New England. We also want to share a video sent by Thom Perkins of Jackson Cross Country Skiing in New Hampshire. The UNH ski team found enough snow and fine weather for training on Sunday.
