Temperatures continue to rise on Friday with a mix of sun and clouds. The deciding factor in reaching 50 (or better) will be the sun and wind direction.
Southerly winds will favor cooler readings over the cape(s)/islands and throughout most of southeastern Massachusetts. It's possible Boston could sneak into the elite “fitness” club, but that could be a challenge. But we are on steady ground for 50 people throughout MetroWest, Greater Worcester, External Route 2, and all of southern New Hampshire.
On Saturday, warmth will peak on a record afternoon. The sun will mix with the clouds again, but the air mass will be a little warmer. Temperatures could be in the low 60s in the warm areas mentioned above. Ironically (or perhaps not) the records we are trying to achieve were set exactly one year ago. Regarding showers, we will wait until late in the day or overnight so they can pass through the front walkway.
That front will begin a period of calm until Sunday. This is the “critical mass” moment in the forecast because it sets the timeline for the storm Monday and Tuesday night. Right now, it doesn't look like there's much cold, but all we need is a near-freezing temperature (obvi).
The storm will be strong enough to overpower the cold air a bit, so that's also a consideration. The track turned south on Thursday, meaning we're colder in the middle and upper atmosphere — another tilt in the direction of a mostly snow storm.
There's still a lot to do in the days ahead, but these signs point to some buildup across the commonwealth — barring a sudden shift away from us.
Cold weather and gusty winds will follow through the middle of next week, so enjoy the mild temperatures while they last.
