I am convinced December 2015 will be the warmest on record in a good chunk of the Northeast, including Southeastern New England. In my opinion, it’s as extreme a month as February 2015 was, and that’s saying something! The temperature would have to average well below freezing over the next 10 days for it not to break the previous record in RI and SE MA, and there is no chance of that happening.
Near-record warmth is likely Wednesday through Friday. Incidentally, the record high temperatures for both Christmas Eve (64) and Christmas (63) in Providence were set just last year. It’s possible both of those records are broken this year! Highs will be in the low to mid 60s both days.
After a cool-down on Saturday, the position of a stationary front will decide whether we get back to the 60s on Sunday. Odds favor it staying cooler than that, but if the front lifts north, then the warmth returns.
More unseasonable warmth is likely leading up to the New Year. Unsettled weather continues, with at least one rain event likely next week. There are some signs of a pattern change early in 2016, but it may just be closer to normal instead of true winter-like cold.
