SHORT TERM FORECAST
TODAY: Cloudy with periods of light snow arriving this morning, gradually mixing with sleet and icy rains. A 1 ”snow coating and ice glaze for most; 1-3 ”of snow in the Poconos. Maximum: 32
TONIGHT: A little snow, ice or rain that drops to frost or icy rain. Low: 30
WEDNESDAY: A persistent burst at points in the morning; otherwise, softer with clouds broken by a bit of sun. High: 41 Low: 25
FORECAST SUMMARY
After a cold, chilly but dry weekend, we finally got a break from Monday’s biting, vivid breezes. But in return, the sun gave way to the growing clouds as the day progressed, ahead of our next weather maker.
And yes, a storm system we’ve been talking about since last week is still on its way to impacting us today with a round of winter weather. But no, a big winter storm is not expected. In fact, it’s more of an annoying event with a light round of snow, and then a light mix of break, icy rain, and rain.
Only minor accumulations of snow and ice are expected, but remember, it doesn’t take much, especially when it comes to ice, to create some localized displacement.
Once this weaker and disorganized system came out, the rest of the week left us with a mostly dry climate. A briefly milder Wednesday will give way later this week to another noticeably colder, windier weather. Although a fairly strong coastal storm will be organized in the eastern half of the Carolinas week, it should remain safe at sea and in the south and east. Our next opportunity for the winter weather would come late over the weekend or early next week with the next storm at the pipeline, although of course the track and strength remain uncertain at this time.
DETAILED FORECAST
TODAY
Our disorganized storm will spread moisture to the region today, in the form of a light mix of snow, sleet and icy rain.
Some areas saw some snowflakes later Tuesday morning, but many areas only saw sleet and icy rain. Temperatures fluctuate around frost during the day. South of Interstate 78, rainfall will change to normal rain at noon and remain so for the rest of the day.
Rainfall should be light and intermittent, but it is possible to cover up to an inch of snow and ice of 0.10 ”or less (freezing rain) in the area, with perhaps a few inches of snow at higher elevations. highs of the Poconos and northwestern New Jersey.
Light amounts of snow shouldn’t be as problematic, but it only takes a little freezing rain and a light ice polish to cause problems, so be careful with some loose travel, especially in areas where freezing rain is dominant.
Tonight
Our light winter mix will gradually subside later in the evening, but the low level stagnant moisture it will leave will help with the development of rain or frost. This will probably continue for a while overnight.
We will have to keep an eye on some slippery spots, although the main roads and certainly everything that has been dealt with should be fine. Night lows will only drop around 30 degrees.
WEDNESDAY
This will be the most pleasant general day of the week, both in terms of temperature and climate. Expect a one-day warm-up to the late 1940s as clouds and perhaps a lingering gust or two early to make way for a softer sun. While there will be a bit of a northerly breeze behind our storm going on, it shouldn’t be too excessive, or worse than 10-15 mph.
THURSDAY TO SATURDAY
A strong ocean storm will develop well on the mid-Atlantic coast, too far away to provide us with snow. However, it will help drag an explosion of Arctic air as it goes away. Although the core of the cold will settle in New England, we will no doubt also feel the cold, with some rapid north-northwest breezes transmitting the cold air from Thursday to Friday, with the persistent cold also the Saturday, but with milder winds.
Expect highs to only occur in the 30s on Thursdays, even with a few rare days (for this winter) when highs stick between 20 and Friday and Saturdays at the top of the winds, with colder winds all the time. Night lows will fall deeply on teens every night. As for the weather, expect a good amount of clouds on Thursday and then rise in the sun despite the cold on Friday and Saturday.
SUNDAY AND MONDAY
The cold will calm down at the end of the weekend and early next week, as our next window for a winter weather is ahead of us. At first glance, the whole looks favorable with high cold pressure in our north over Canada and a storm passing in our south and possibly reorganizing on the coast. But this winter we have learned that things have to come together perfectly for a bigger storm, as the pieces can always stay apart and we will be missed if time is not available.
At least there’s something to see in the long run, but it remains to be seen whether it will spread or not.
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