Good morning, afternoon, or night to you as you read this column. Our winter storm that brought some accumulating snow Tuesday night into Wednesday morning has departed to the east. It just goes to show you that even though we can be in an above-average temperature regime and pattern, we're still in the middle of winter and winter storms are still possible.
In general, though, we will be milder than average in the coming days.
For Wednesday, we will still have an upper level system that will need to float east and through the region during the day, and there will be enough lift in the atmosphere to wring out some mixed rain and snow showers. Some high elevation areas could see a new coating of snow, but that's about it.
Highs on Wednesday should reach the low to mid 30s with lows either side of 30 degrees with cloudy skies and a snow shower possible.
For Thursday, a milder flow will start to move in as a high pressure ridge characteristic of weak La Nina events re-establishes itself off the southeast U.S. coast. With clockwise flow around highs in the northern hemisphere, we receive a warming flow into New England in such cases. It will be mostly cloudy as a front washes out over us. Breaks of sunshine are possible, as will be a rain or snow shower. Highs near 40 degrees, and lows in the 20s.
Friday looks like the pick of the week with partly sunny skies and highs near 40, with lows in the 20s.
Over the weekend, low pressure will try to approach the region, but the aforementioned high pressure off the East Coast will be strengthening and should flatten the storm on its approach, allowing just mostly cloudy conditions to setup, with highs in the upper 30s on average and lows in the upper 20s.
By Monday, we have to watch to our west, as a strong jet stream will push a Pacific wave across the county into the middle of the U.S. As of now, it appears the storm will track east-northeast towards the Mid Atlantic coast.
But with milder air still in place, it could set up as a wintry mix to rain event on Monday into Tuesday, with highs above freezing. As of this writing, winter looks to return by early February with more Arctic cold and more favorable storm track.
Have a great week!