The Boston area is about to experience a significant weather pattern shift. Massachusetts will have heavy rain and severe winds on Friday.
The first part of the month has been all about the cold. Fifteen of the first sixteen days had temperatures below average. It has been the coldest first half of December in Boston in 25 years.
All of this is going to change. Thursday’s high temperatures in Massachusetts are expected to be in the upper 40s. On Friday, temperatures will climb into the upper 50s for the first time since November.
Unfortunately, the mild Friday temperatures will be accompanied by a windy downpour.
A storm system currently in the Pacific Northwest will move across the country, picking up moisture from another system in the Gulf of Mexico.
When will it rain Friday?
Rain will fall in the Boston region throughout the morning commute on Friday. Between 7 and 9 a.m., rain will fall from west to east across the region.
Friday’s greatest rain will occur from late morning until mid-afternoon. There will be some very heavy rains, localized street flooding, and possibly some embedded thunder.
The rain will move offshore between 3 and 5 p.m., resulting in a much drier evening commute.
Wind warnings
This system will provide 0.5″-1.5″ of rain, making it the wettest system of the month.
The winds may end up being the big story and having the most impact with this storm. During the day on Friday, we expect southerly wind gusts to reach 40 to 60 miles per hour across most of central and eastern Massachusetts.
On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a strong wind watch for the Cape and Islands, which may be extended deeper inland.
We anticipate scattered pockets of wind damage, perhaps downed trees and limbs, as well as localized power outages.
Snow washed away
The winds will shift to the west Friday night and remain gusty into early Saturday, but far from their peak at midday Friday.
The majority of the current snow cover in central and southern New England will melt and wash away over the next few days.
The moderate temperatures, combined with heavy rain and high winds that will linger across most of northern New England, will result in a dramatic decrease in snow depth.
By Saturday morning, the only snow remaining in southern New England will be in shady areas or parking lot piles.
The highest elevations in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine should retain a significant amount of snow.
Wishing for a White Christmas?
There may be one last chance for snow on December 25. Models predict little snow in our area around next Tuesday or Wednesday. We will have more on that in the coming days.
Leave a Reply