273  
FXUS61 KBOX 121120  
AFDBOX  
 
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON/NORTON MA  
620 AM EST WED FEB 12 2025  
   
SYNOPSIS
 
 
QUIET TODAY WITH SOME SNOW FLURRIES AROUND. ANOTHER SYSTEM  
MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH  
THURSDAY, WITH LIGHT SNOW TO START, TRANSITIONING TO A WINTRY  
MIX AND THEN TO RAIN THURSDAY MORNING. DRY WEATHER RETURNS  
FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY BEFORE YET ANOTHER SYSTEM BRINGS A  
ROUND OF WINTRY PRECIPITATION THIS WEEKEND, PROBABLY STARTING AS  
SNOW BEFORE CHANGING TO RAIN NEAR THE COAST AND A WINTRY MIX  
INLAND.  
 

 
   
NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/
 
 
* SEASONABLE AND DRY EXCEPT FOR SCATTERED OCEAN EFFECT FLURRIES.  
 
THE SYSTEM WHICH BROUGHT SNOW TO OUR SOUTH COAST OVERNIGHT IS QUICKLY  
EXITING EAST LEAVING US WITH A QUIET DAY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HIGH  
PRESSURE CENTERED NORTH OF NEW ENGLAND. THIS MEANS MOSTLY DRY,  
THOUGH LESS THAN SUNNY WEATHER. WE'LL DEAL WITH TWO AREAS OF  
CLOUDCOVER; FIRST HIGH CLOUDS OVER THE SOUTH COAST WILL SPREAD NORTH  
THROUGH THE DAY. THEN, WHILE WE'LL BRIEFLY START WITH SUNSHINE IN  
EAST/NORTHEAST/CENTRAL MA IT QUICKLY GIVES WAY TO LOW CLOUDS  
ADVECTING IN FROM THE OCEAN THANKS TO INCREASINGLY ONSHORE EASTERLY  
FLOW. HI-RESOLUTION GUIDANCE AND FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE THERE  
COULD BE ENOUGH OCEAN/AIR TEMP DIFFERENTIAL AND MOISTURE TO PRODUCE  
SOME SCATTERED SNOW FLURRIES IN THE AFTERNOON AHEAD OF OUR MORE  
WIDESPREAD SNOW OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURES ARE SEASONABLE, IN THE 30S  
WHILE WINDS WILL BE BREEZY, GUSTING 15 TO 20 MPH IN SPOTS.  
 

 
   
SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/
 
 
KEY MESSAGES...  
 
* A MESSY STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING FIRST SNOW THEN A MIX OF SLEET AND  
FREEZING RAIN FOLLOWED BY RAIN OVERNIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.  
 
TONIGHT A MID LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING INTO THE GREAT LAKES WILL TRACK A  
SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER TO OUR NORTHWEST OVER UPSTATE NEW YORK.  
A SECONDARY LOW FORMS ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY OFF THE MID-  
ATLANTIC COAST AND DEEPENS AS IT PASSES OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.  
THESE FEATURES WILL BE THE MAIN DRIVERS OF A MESSY WINTER SYSTEM  
BRINGING A BURST OF SNOW FOLLOWED BY A WINTRY MIX AND EVENTUALLY  
RAIN. THAT SECONDARY LOW ALONG WITH THE HIGH TO THE NORTHEAST WILL  
PROVIDE A GOOD SETUP FOR SOME COLD AIR DAMMING WHICH WILL HELP TO  
KEEP SOME OF THOSE SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES IN THE INTERIOR EVEN AS  
OTHER LOCATIONS RISE ABOVE FREEZING.  
 
LOW LEVEL WAA ON SE FLOW WILL OVERRUN THE COLDER AIR PRODUCING  
WIDESPREAD SNOW BETWEEN 8 PM AND MIDNIGHT. SOUNDINGS SHOW DRY AIR  
AND LITTLE OMEGA IN THE DGZ WHICH WILL LIMIT ACCUMULATIONS, BUT A  
COATING (SOUTH) TO 3 INCHES (HIGH TERRAIN) IS POSSIBLE BEFORE A WARM  
NOSE PUSHES IN AROUND 850 MB. FURTHER INLAND, GENERALLY NORTHWEST OF  
THE I-95 CORRIDOR, THIS WILL LEAD TO A SWITCH TO SLEET THEN SEVERAL  
HOURS OF FREEZING RAIN. FURTHER SOUTH AND EAST A FLIP FROM SNOW  
STRAIGHT TO RAIN IS MORE LIKELY. GIVEN THE TIMING AROUND THE MORNING  
COMMUTE, THIS COULD MAKE FOR SOME HAZARDOUS ROADS, MAINLY IN THE  
INTERIOR WHERE FREEZING RAIN IS A CONCERN. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY  
REMAINS IN EFFECT.  
 
THE DRY SLOT SOON OVERSPREADS SNE BY MID AFTERNOON BRINGING AN END  
TO PRECIPITATION. WITH THE PASSING OF THE LOW WINDS SHIFT TO THE  
W/NW AND THE BOUNDARY LAYER BECOMES MUCH MORE WELL MIXED. THIS WILL  
MAKE FOR A GUSTY AFTERNOON AS WE TAP INTO A 30-40 KT LLJ; EXPECT  
GUSTS 20-30 MPH AND POTENTIALLY HIGHER OVERNIGHT.  
 

 
   
LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/
 
 
KEY MESSAGES:  
 
* TRAVEL IMPACTS LIKELY THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY ACROSS INTERIOR  
WHERE SNOW PROBABLY CHANGES TO A MIX OR EVEN RAIN FOR A TIME. LESS  
OF AN IMPACT NEAR COAST WHERE CHANGE TO ALL RAIN IS MORE LIKELY.  
 
* MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY  
MORNING.  
 
* DRY AND COLD WEATHER FOLLOWS EARLY NEXT WEEK.  
 
DETAILS:  
 
THURSDAY NIGHT - FRIDAY:  
 
COLDER AND DRY THURSDAY NIGHT WITH HIGH PRESSURE AND A COOLER  
AIRMASS BUILDING IN. DESPITE THE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR A CHILLIER  
NIGHT WITH THE COOL AIRMASS AND DECREASING CLOUD COVER, LOWS SHOULD  
BE MODERATED BY BREEZY POST-FRONTAL WINDS. TEMPERATURES FALL INTO  
THE UPPER TEENS TO LOW 20S ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND LOW TO MID 20S  
CLOSER TO THE COASTLINE. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE STAYS IN THE PLACE  
FOR FRIDAY WITH WEAK RIDGING ALOFT. WITH A BELOW NORMAL AIRMASS  
ALOFT, THIS WILL KEEP HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S. A LOW LEVEL  
JET POSITIONS ACROSS THE REGION AND WITH COLD AIR ADVECTION  
SUPPLYING THE LAPSE RATES TO MIX HIGHER NW WINDS DOWN TO THE  
SURFACE. THE ECMWF EFI HIGHLIGHTS WINDIER THAN NORMAL CONDITIONS,  
BUT NOT NECESSARILY HIGH IMPACT WINDS. THE USUAL WINDY SPOTS  
(BERKSHIRES AND WORCESTER HILLS) COULD SEE GUSTS 35-45 MPH AND UP TO  
35 MPH ELSEWHERE. WIND DECREASE LATE AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING.  
 
WEEKEND:  
 
THE PATTERN BECOMES ACTIVE AGAIN FOR THE WEEKEND AS A SOUTHERN  
STREAM SHORTWAVE TROUGH EJECTS NORTHWARD AHEAD OF A DEEP UPPER LEVEL  
TROUGH. ENSEMBLE MEANS TRACK A SURFACE LOW LIFTING NE ACROSS THE  
REGION BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND. PLENTY OF SUPPORT FOR  
PRECIPITATION WITH THIS SYSTEM WITH A PLUME OF ABOVE NORMAL MOISTURE  
WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES 300% OF NORMAL PAIRED WITH SYNOPTIC  
ASCENT. THIS PROVIDES A SOLID SIGNAL FOR WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION.  
HOWEVER, THINGS GET MORE COMPLEX WITH REGARDS TO THE DETAILS LIKE  
PRECIP TYPE. MORE DETAILS BELOW.  
 
OVERALL, ENSEMBLE MEANS AND DETERMINISTIC GUIDANCE SHOW THE GENERAL  
PATTERN OF A SURFACE LOW TRACKING NORTHEAST SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY  
WITH PUSH OF WARM AIR ALOFT NORTHWARD SATURDAY NIGHT. WITH PLENTY OF  
COLD AIR AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM, THIS OVERALL FAVORS A SNOW TO WINTRY  
MIX/RAIN PROGRESSION WITH THIS SYSTEM. DETAILS SUCH AS PRECIP TYPE  
AND CHANGE OVER TIMING ARE STILL UNCERTAIN DUE TO MODEL DIFFERENCES  
IN THE TRACK AND TIMING OF THE SURFACE FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM.  
 
DESPITE DISPARITIES BETWEEN GUIDANCE, WE SHOULD SEE MINOR  
ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS NORTHERN CT AND MOST OF MA. NOTABLE SPLIT  
BETWEEN ECMWF AND GFS. THE ECMWF ENS HAS GENERALLY SHOWN HIGHER  
PROBABILITIES FOR > 3" (40-70%) FOR INTERIOR MA WHILE THE GEFS  
TRENDS LOWER WITH PROBABILITIES LESS THAN 40% AND CONFINED TO THE  
HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF MA. THIS DISAGREEMENT IS LIKELY FROM THE  
UNCERTAINTY IN THE TIMING OF THE WARMER AIR. WHAT WE CAN TAKE FROM  
THIS RIGHT NOW IS THAT AREAS NORTH OF THE MA PIKE HAVE THE HIGHEST  
POTENTIAL FOR ADVISORY LEVEL AMOUNTS WHILE OTHERS IT IS LESS CERTAIN  
DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE WARM AIR AND TRANSITION TO MIXED PRECIP. BY  
MID-MORNING SUNDAY, WARM AIR WILL BE IN FULL FORCE CHANGING THINGS  
TO RAIN.  
 
A COLD AIRMASS FOLLOWS THE SYSTEM SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY AND THERE  
IS A LOW CHANCE (< 30%) THAT PRECIP COULD CHANGE BACK OVER TO LIGHT  
SNOW FOR A PERIOD SUNDAY EVENING.  
 
EARLY NEXT WEEK TRENDS COOL AND DRY WITH A TROUGH AND A SURFACE HIGH  
PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHEAST.  
 

 
   
AVIATION /11Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/
 
 
FORECAST CONFIDENCE LEVELS:  
 
LOW - LESS THAN 30 PERCENT.  
MODERATE - 30 TO 60 PERCENT.  
HIGH - GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT.  
 
12Z TAF UPDATE:  
 
TODAY...HIGH CONFIDENCE  
 
MVFR CIGS INCREASE IN COVERAGE AFTER 15Z WITH E/NE WINDS,  
GUSTING TO 25KT ALONG COAST. WE SHOULD ALSO SEE SCATTERED  
FLURRIES, MAINLY OVER EASTERN MA, BUT NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN  
TIMING AND COVERAGE TO INCLUDE IN TAFS.  
 
TONIGHT...MODERATE CONFIDENCE.  
 
NEXT ROUND OF PRECIPITATION ARRIVES BETWEEN 05 AND 08Z FROM SW  
TO NE AND SHOULD BRING MVFR CIGS/VSBYS IN LIGHT SN TO CT AND  
WESTERN MA WITH LESS OF A CHANCE FARTHER EAST. SN TRANSITIONS TO  
FZRA AND RA 09-11Z.  
 
THURSDAY...HIGH CONFIDENCE  
 
IFR/LIFR WITH RAIN LIKELY ALONG THE COAST, WINTRY MIX INLAND,  
THEN ALL PRECIP ENDING AS RAIN BY AFTERNOON. IMPROVEMENT TO  
MVFR/VFR TOWARD 00Z FRI.  
 
KBOS TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE. MAY SEE FLURRIES DURING DAY BUT NOT  
CONFIDENT ENOUGH IN TIMING TO INCLUDE. LOOKING AHEAD TO  
TONIGHT/THU, LIGHT SNOW LIKELY STARTS AFTER MIDNIGHT (06Z) AND  
QUICKLY CHANGES TO RAIN AROUND 09Z WITH LESS THAN ONE INCH OF  
SNOW ACCUMULATION BEFORE THE CHANGEOVER.  
 
KBDL TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE. LIGHT SNOW BEGINS AROUND 04Z AND  
CHANGES TO A FZRAPL MIX 07Z-10Z, BEFORE CHANGING TO RAIN CLOSER  
TO 13-14Z. SNOW ACCUMULATION AROUND ONE INCH WITH LESS THAN  
0.10" OF ICING BEFORE THE CHANGE TO RAIN.  
 
OUTLOOK /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...  
 
THURSDAY NIGHT: VFR. WINDY WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KT. SLIGHT  
CHANCE FZRA.  
 
FRIDAY: VFR. WINDY WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KT.  
 
FRIDAY NIGHT: VFR. BREEZY.  
 
SATURDAY: MAINLY VFR, WITH LOCAL IFR POSSIBLE. CHANCE SN,  
CHANCE RA.  
 
SATURDAY NIGHT: MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. SN, RA.  
 
SUNDAY: BREEZY. RA, SN.  
 

 
   
MARINE
 
 
FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS:  
 
LOW - LESS THAN 30 PERCENT.  
MEDIUM - 30 TO 60 PERCENT.  
HIGH - GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT.  
 
WEAK WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE TRACKS SOUTH OF 40N/70W 12Z TODAY,  
THEN ZIPS EAST OUT TO SEA. TRANQUIL CONDITIONS TODAY, WITH NE  
WIND 10-15 KT. THEN TONIGHT, LOW PRES APPROACHES FROM THE SW,  
WITH NE WINDS 15-20G30KT ACROSS THE MA/RI WATERS LATE TONIGHT  
INTO THU AM. LOW MOVES UP THE I95 CORRIDOR EARLY THU, THEN INTO  
THE GULF OF ME THU AFTERNOON, WITH WIND SHIFT FROM NE TO WNW  
LATE.  
 
OUTLOOK /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...  
 
THURSDAY NIGHT: STRONG WINDS WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KT. ROUGH SEAS  
UP TO 10 FT.  
 
FRIDAY: MODERATE RISK FOR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WINDS WITH GUSTS  
UP TO 30 KT. ROUGH SEAS UP TO 10 FT.  
 
FRIDAY NIGHT: WINDS LESS THAN 25 KT. LOCAL ROUGH SEAS.  
 
SATURDAY: WINDS LESS THAN 25 KT. CHANCE OF RAIN, CHANCE OF  
SNOW.  
 
SATURDAY NIGHT: WINDS LESS THAN 25 KT. AREAS OF SEAS  
APPROACHING 5 FT. RAIN.  
 
SUNDAY: MODERATE RISK FOR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WINDS WITH GUSTS  
UP TO 25 KT. ROUGH SEAS UP TO 12 FT. RAIN.  
 

 
   
BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
 
 
CT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST  
THURSDAY FOR CTZ002>004.  
MA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST  
THURSDAY FOR MAZ002>006-008>012-026.  
RI...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST  
THURSDAY FOR RIZ001.  
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST FRIDAY  
FOR ANZ231>235-237-250-251-254>256.  
 

 
 

 
 
SYNOPSIS...BW/MENSCH  
NEAR TERM...BW  
SHORT TERM...BW  
LONG TERM...MENSCH  
AVIATION...BW/MENSCH  
MARINE...BW/MENSCH  
 
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