Storm to Bring Snow, Sleet and Freezing Rain

First we warm-up then we cool off, then we snow, then we ice, then we rain.

On this Super Bowl Sunday, also the anniversary of The Blizzard of 1978, we are fairly quiet in New England.

Low pressure to our north is creating gusty wind from the southwest, warming us back up to the 40s in southern New England, 30s in northern New England. Wind is gusting past 25 miles per hour through sunset.

A storm is forming to the east of New England tonight, that storm merges with the low pressure system in Quebec and pushes a new batch of Canadian cold air into New England for our Monday. Wind shifts to northwest, increasing to 20-30 mph overnight and early Monday morning.

With a return to sunshine, we get to the low 30s south, and 20s north tomorrow afternoon, with wind diminishing to near calm by sunset.

After a brief lull, the west coast of the United States is once again enduring an onslaught of one storm after another from the Pacific ocean. At the same time, we have the coldest air in southern Canada that we have seen in nearly a month. The combination of the cold in Canada and the storms off the Pacific mean we are in for a busy period of weather the next couple of weeks here in New England.

The action begins tomorrow night with a warm front bringing a period of snow to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, leading to a slippery Tuesday morning commute for northern New England.

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At the same time low pressure over Illinois has another warm front getting into Pennsylvania, with an area of snow, ice, and rain moving into New England from the Southwest.

By noon time the northern system and the southern system begin to merge and we have a widespread wintry mix across New England Tuesday afternoon and night.

It looks like the rain snow line will be north of the Massachusetts Turnpike for the evening commute Tuesday, but it's going to be close.

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North of the rain/snow line we expect moderate to heavy snow, sleet, and perhaps freezing rain.

Along and south of the Massachusetts Turnpike it should be mostly wet by sunset, but the temperature is still close to 32°.

The boundary between rain south, and snow and ice north, will slowly move toward Canada Tuesday night into early Wednesday.

Wednesday morning should be OK for most of southern New England with temperatures in the 40s and just wet roads. But from the Berkshires to the Merrimack Valley New Hampshire and points north through most of Vermont, New Hampshire, and much of the state of Maine - Wednesday morning could be an icy mess.

It now looks like somewhat dryer air should come in during the day Wednesday, with temperatures just warm enough that we see some melting. Highs Wednesday afternoon in the 30s north, 40s south.

A cold front races by on Wednesday evening with much colder air coming in at night, and a rapid refreeze leading to icy roads again on Thursday morning.

In addition, another low pressure system may form south of New England and race along the front just off our south coast, with the period of snow and ice for southern New England early Thursday.

A net gain of 5-10" of snow, coated with sleet, an perhaps significant freezing rain, is likely in the north. A coating to 4 inches of snow and ice, with more than one inch of liquid equivalent/melted/rain is likely south.

By Thursday afternoon we should all be windy, colder, and drying. High temperature mostly in the 20s to low 30s Thursday afternoon.

Friday looks cold and dry.

Next weekend we have a similar situation, with warmer air trying to come north, meeting resistance by the cold air in Canada. That means another wintry mix is possible before next weekend is over. The very early outlook for the time around Valentine's Day is for another powerful East Coast storm, with a mix of snow, ice, and rain for the Northeast.

So far we don't see anything close to resembling the blizzard of 1978, but there are a lot of players on the field that we have to keep a close eye on.

You know we love that job! More updates soon.

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