The last day of February will start with mainly clear skies and temperatures ranging from below zero again in the countryside to the upper single digits in the cities and near the coast. High thin clouds will arrive during the morning before thickening in the afternoon. It will be on the cool side, with highs in the low 30s.
Flurries and light snow are possible late in the day, with steadier snow developing after sunset. It does not look like a big storm, but 3-5″ of snow could accumulate before it ends between 3-5 am on Monday. The best chance of seeing 4-5″ of snow is in the northern half of Rhode Island, including Providence, and northern Bristol and Plymouth Counties in Massachusetts. There may be some mixed precipitation near the coast as the night progresses. The temperature will be in the upper 20s to low 30s, but the snow will accumulate because it is falling at night.
Monday will become partly sunny with highs in the mid 30s. The temperature will dip into the teens with clear skies Monday night. Tuesday looks dry and cool, with highs in the upper 20s to low 30s and increasing afternoon clouds.
A complex storm system is ahead for the middle of next week. The storm may start as snow and mixed precipitation, but there is a good chance that it will get warm enough for a change to rain in Southeastern New England. It’s possible the precipitation changes back to snow before ending.
Snow or mixed precipitation will develop Tuesday night, with a change to rain or mixed precipitation by dawn on Wednesday as the temperature climbs into the mid 30s. Showers are possible on Wednesday with temperatures reaching the low 40s near the coast and mid to upper 30s inland. There may be a break in the action Wednesday afternoon before rain returns Wednesday night.
As the rain develops Wednesday night, cold air will start to filter back into Southern New England, and the rain could change to snow before ending Thursday morning. There is still a lot of uncertainty with the details of this storm. Stay with rightweather.com for the latest.