Volume 115 >> Issue 61 : Tuesday, December 5, 1995

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Weather: Advent of Drizzle

Weather

Advent of Drizzle

The most common configuration for big storms this time of year is one where cold air plunges south through central Canada, aligning the jet stream along the eastern seaboard, where small storms can rapidly amplify taking advantage of the strong temperature gradients and a ready supply of moisture. With a strong high pressure ridge currently positioned over Alaska, the flow must deviate around this, making it improbable that the polar air can push down south far enough by the time it reaches our longitude for sufficiently strong intrusions of cold air. With that said we are not entirely spared over the coming week. The large cyclones may stay north but we feel the southern tails of their wrath nonetheless. Today sees a ridge of high pressure sitting over Boston, giving clear skies in the morning. As it moves off to the east, expect a gradual build up of clouds during the afternoon as winds shift to the south bringing in over-running moisture ahead of the warm front. Snow will begin in western Massachusetts in the late afternoon, turning to rain by the time it reaches us sometime after midnight. The rain will probably hang on through Wednesday morning, with the skies clearing only partially by nightfall. At this point, Thursday is looking probably dry, but with at least some clouds.

Today: Clear early. High clouds developing by afternoon, then thicker clouds. Winds light becoming moderate by evening and turning to southerly. Light snow in the west during the afternoon. We may just see a few flakes of snow in the evening before precipitation turns to rain. High 39°F (5°C).

Tonight: Cloudy. Light or moderate rain likely. Low 35°F (2°C).

Wednesday: Cloudy and drizzle early then mostly cloudy. Chance of rain continuing throughout the day. Winds moderate and from the west. High 43°F (6°C). Low 30° (-1°C).

Thursday: Mostly cloudy. High 42°F (6°C). Low 26°F (-3°C).