As mentioned earlier, flurries and light snow showers are working their way west through Eastern Massachusetts into Rhode Island late this afternoon. This is a side-effect of the storm, and not the main area of precipitation. That arrives later this evening – from 9-11 pm across CT into RI and E MA. Here are some of my thoughts on the storm as it gets underway.
- Best chance of accumulating snow is 11 pm – 4 am. It will change to rain at the coast closer to 1-2 am.
- No changes to the accumulation map.
- Very minor snow near the coast, and washed away by heavy rain / warmer temps Sunday morning.
- A bit more snow inland, but probably not 4-5″ in most spots. Some of it gets washed away by the rain, but probably still some slush around when frigid air arrives.
- BIG snow totals in northern New England mountains – 12-24″
- Freezing rain threat has shifted north to Mainly MA Pike into southern New Hampshire/Vermont. Watching northern Fairfield and New Haven Counties plus Litchfield County. It will be a very close call in those areas, and some could get considerable icing.
- 1-2″ rain in most of CT, RI, and SE MA. Snow/ice clogged storm drains could exacerbate street flooding – especially inland.
- Temperature may soar to 50 in SE CT, southern half of RI and most of SE MA
- Heaviest rain ends by around noon on Sunday.
- Flash freeze is still ahead for Sunday afternoon/evening. It will likely be a bigger deal inland as the temperature falls from mid 30s to mid 20s in an hour or so. Southern areas will take several hours to go from 40s or even low 50s to mid 20s by 7-9 pm.
- It looks like most or all of the precipitation ends before the flash freeze. A thin glaze or crusty coating of sleet/snow cannot be ruled out as cold air charges in.
- Winds gust to near 40 mph tomorrow night
- Models insist on 0-8° by dawn on Monday, and highs only 10-15° in the afternoon
- Quiet and cold weather on Tuesday. A bit warmer Wednesday – still dry.
- Next storm is on Thursday – looks like mainly or all rain at this point.
- Cold blast into the Eastern United States likely for the last 10 days of January – no snow threats through the end of the workweek.
