March 27, 2011

March 25 through April 8th
...A COLD QUIET START...BUT A WET/WINDY AND MORE ACTIVE END TO THE PERIOD...

A large slow moving storm system over eastern Canada and a large area
of High Pressure over the Great Lakes will maintain a cold but dry
flow of air across the Northeast into mid-week next week. >From the
middle of next week through the week of April 8th, the Northeast will
see a return to an active weather pattern with at least two
significant storm systems likely to impact the region.

The period from March 30 through April 8th is likely to feature below
normal temperatures, but with an increase in precipitation,
highlighted by several periods of onshore/northeasterly flow. The
first storm in the series will pass south of the region Wednesday
night and Thursday (March 30-31), likely producing a period of snow
inland and mixed snow and rain along the coast along with gusty
northeast winds through early Thursday. High pressure and
northwest flow will return and may last through the Weekend of April
2nd. A second storm may affect the region around April 6th and 7th,
accompanied by significant precipitation and a prolonged period of
strong east to northeast winds. This may be followed by yet a third
storm system as the weekend of the 9th-10th arrives.

Hydrologically speaking, with sustained below normal temperatures
across the larger river basins feeding the Gulf of Maine, snowmelt
will be modest at best mainly during the warmer daytime hours.
Rivers will likely remain close to current flows if not recess
further until the first bout of mixed precipitation arrives. Even
with that, it is unlikely that a significant increase in river flows
would develop unless the second or third system in the series is able
to draw in enough warm air to commence a more robust snowmelt episode
across interior New Hampshire and Maine. With the impressive
blocking developing near Greenland at least through the first week of
April, the pattern favors a colder more snowy solution for the
headwaters of New Hampshire and Maine at this time.

Last updated: April 5, 2011