Another Nor’easter will give Southern New England a glancing blow on its way by Wednesday into early Thursday. If it was still mid-winter, this storm would bring 6-12″ of snow to Southern New England in 12-18 hours. However, since it’s early spring, snow is less likely to accumulate during the day, and it should be moving away quickly enough Wednesday night that there is not much precipitation left after the evening.
After a cold Monday night when the temperature dips into the teens to low 20s, Tuesday will be mostly sunny to partly cloudy, and chilly again, with highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. There will be a light north to east breeze. Clouds thicken Tuesday evening, but it will stay dry. Light and spotty snow/mix is possible late at night, with a chance of a coating by dawn. I do not expect heavy precipitation Wednesday morning, and it’s possible that it will be a mix of rain and snow instead of all snow. The temperature will be in the mid 30s, and I do not foresee snow accumulation through, at least, early Wednesday afternoon.
Any mix will change to snow by late Wednesday afternoon, and it may be steady for a few hours into the evening. I think there is a rather small window for snow accumulation on pavement with this storm. It looks like 7 p.m. Wednesday to 12 a.m. Thursday is the best bet for any snow accumulation, and it’s possible that it does not stick well to main roads. The National Weather Service forecast and some media outlets are calling for 5-10″ of snow for most of CT, RI, and SE MA. I expect about half that, with 2″ or less near the coast, and 2-4″ possible in most spots northwest of I-95. I think the highest elevations of NW RI and NE CT could get more than 5″ of snow. I just do not see much snow accumulating before 7-8 pm Wednesday in the I-95 corridor and near the coast.
The snow threat diminishes after midnight, with gusty wind continuing into Thursday morning. 30-40 mph wind gusts are possible Wednesday afternoon and evening – strongest near the coast. 25-35 mph gusts are possible by early Thursday as the storm moves away.
Dry and quiet weather follows, but do not expect much of a warm-up this week. Highs will be in the 40s under dry skies Thursday through Saturday. I am watching another storm system for Saturday night into Sunday. The latest trend is for that storm to pass far enough south that it stays dry and chilly on Sunday. Just like this midweek storm, it’s too soon to write it off.
