Warmer This Week and Two Chances for Snow

It appears the worst of the cold is behind us, as temperatures will moderate this week and return to more seasonal norms. We'll see the thermometer move into the 30s during the day and mid-teens overnight. It's certainly possible for us to go as low as we did this past weekend--negative 12 on Sunday morning--but it's a sound bet that we won't get that cold again this winter.

A few schools in New York delayed the start of school due to the cold today (Monday), but the Superintendents of the Berkshires and Western Mass did not call in two-hour freeze delays.

Image courtesy of NWS Albany.

As for snow this week, we are looking at two potential storms. The first is another clipper system for Tuesday afternoon and night, which means a lighter snowfall of 2-3" for much of Berkshire County. There's a chance that the storm could pick up more energy off the coast for Wednesday but that scenario is unlikely. There is a chance for delays on Wednesday but we do not have a lot of confidence that schools will start late that day.

The GSD Staff is also seeing some chatter about a coastal storm for the weekend. Both models are showing favorable conditions for snow. It's not expected to be a huge storm, but travel on Sunday and the commute to work could be impacted on Monday. Many people have Monday off due to school vacation week and President's Day, so school closings are not a concern.

The Euro model showing snow for late in the weekend.

We'll keep an eye on Tuesday's small storm just in case it leads to delays on Wednesday. 

Friday Night Snow Then Dangerously Cold Temps

We've made it to Friday, and there is only one week of school until the public schools enjoy their February break. February break always seems to come upon us very quickly. Maybe school officials should think about pushing it back a week or two, as the stretch between February break and April break without a holiday is quite long. 

An Alberta clipper will pass through our area late tonight and drop 1-3 inches of snow on the County by Saturday afternoon. The snow will be light and fluffy and should be easy to clear. Roads will be snow-covered for a stretch but should be fine if motorists take a little extra time.

NWS Albany snow projection for the Friday/Saturday clipper.

Then the cold kicks in and the winds pick up. Temps will bottom out between -5 and -10 Sunday morning, and some places will see 30-40 mph wind gusts. That drops the "real feel" temp to -25 to -35 degrees. Exposed skin can get frostbitten in about 10 minutes in those conditions so bundle up.

The North American model's temperature forecast for 6 AM Monday. Freeze delays are possible.

The high temp on Super Bowl Sunday will be in the single digits, which means Monday morning will also be very cold. Again, we'll see temps around -5 to -10. This means freeze delays are in play for Monday morning. A Patriots win coupled with a two-hour freeze delay would be a delightful way to start the week.

Your Standard Winter Week Ahead (Feb. 2-6)

The week of February 2-6 will be the most basic of winter weeks. We'll see highs in the 20s during the day, lows in the teens at night, and a chance for an inch or two of snow on Friday. Very basic, very boring, and no weather-related delays or cancellations are expected.

Our friend Phil the groundhog did see his shadow down in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania this morning, which means we have another 6 weeks of winter ahead of us. Given the cold and relatively snow-filled season we've had already, this makes sense.

Punxsutawney Phil

The only unusual weather to look out for is another shot of very cold air next weekend. After the clipper system enters our area on Friday afternoon through Friday night, more bitter cold air comes in behind it. Daily highs on the weekend will only be in the single digits Saturday and Sunday.

Get outside and enjoy the milder temps this week. It will be a great week for sledding, snowshoeing, skiing and other winter outdoor activities.