Hi, everybody! Unless a freak outlier winter storm forms this month or early next, I do believe we are heading fully into spring.
Let's all collectively say goodbye to the Winter of 2016-17 which, despite a couple of prolonged warm periods, proved to be solid in terms of snow and ice accumulations.
As for the week ahead, we've got more fair weather than inclement weather on the way, but the Thursday into Friday timeframe looks quite wet with a strong rainstorm on the way for our region.
For Wednesday, we will enjoy a bit of brief high pressure between Tuesday's rainstorm and Thursday's system. High temps should crest into the low 50s under mostly cloudy skies. Some sunny breaks are possible, especially near the Massachusetts border. If any prolonged sunshine can work in over southeastern Vermont, temps could climb well into the 50s, but that remains to be seen.
Clouds will thicken back up on Wednesday night with lows in the mid 30s. Rain showers should move in late at night and in the pre-dawn hours, and some wet snow is not out of the question for northern and western parts of Windham County.
For Thursday, don your rain gear. We're going to get soaked, with 1-2 inches of rain possible from a powerful system, which will ride northeast up through central New York state, staying to our west. Some thunderstorms are possible as well, and it will rain moderately, possibly heavily, at times.
Rain showers should last well into the night, as the storm makes its closest pass to us. Highs will only reach into the mid 40s with lows in the upper 30s. In other words, it will be a raw 24-hour period to be sure.
For Friday and Saturday, we'll have to endure additional rainfall and showery periods, as the storm slowly winds its way up into southeastern Canada. As it weakens, a general area of lift will keep us wet at times into Saturday before the atmosphere begins to stabilize.
Highs will be in the upper 40s Friday and Saturday, with lows in the low to middle 30s.
We turn the corner in the Sunday to Tuesday timeframe, with high pressure developing off the coast of the Carolinas, which will act as a clockwise-circulating warm pump. Expect mostly sunny conditions, with highs in the mid 50s Sunday, lower 60s on Tuesday, and well into the 60s and approaching 70 by Tuesday.
Enjoy the warming trend, and have a great week!