By James M. Arnold, Weather Specialist
We have, with only a couple of minor exceptions, enjoyed a very nice fall so far. However, our stretch of good luck does look like it will run out in the next week or so. Arctic air will begin to drop into the northern plains by the late in the coming weekend and will spread east and south to cover most of the nation east of the Rockies by next Wednesday. The cold front should pass through central Massachusetts with little fanfare about Tuesday and temperatures will slowly but steadily fall for the next several days. This stretch of below normal cold weather could last for up to a week before temperatures moderate once again.
Toward the end of next week temperatures will likely be well below averages for this time of year and there will be at least two chances for accumulating snow. The first looks to be later next week and the second could follow within just a few days of that. Should we get even a thin snow cover, we can look for daytime temperatures to be restricted to the 30s and nighttime temperatures in the teens are likely. Should a snow cover not develop, temperatures would still be limited to the 40s during the day and the 20s at night.
AccuWeather has prepared a good map showing the timing of the arrival of the cold air (see left).
James M. Arnold is a Weather Specialist working with Shrewsbury Emergency Management Agency; town of Princeton; Worcester Emergency Communications and Emergency Management Agency; Southborough Emergency Management Agency; town of Grafton and Wachusett Mountain Ski Area