Forecast: Final Mild Day Before Bitter Cold Outbreak

One last mild day is on the way before it turns much colder for the rest of the week and likely the rest of the month.

You could see a few snow showers this morning over northern areas, with another chance of a snow showers or even a squall late this afternoon and evening. The squalls will be brief, if they occur, but roads could become slick areas hit with snow.

The big story is the upcoming cold. Unlike earlier cold outbreaks, this is going to last. When you get up Tuesday morning temperatures will be in the single numbers and teens with the coldest air north and west of Boston.

While it’s getting cold, we have to watch for a possible quick hitting snow event, especially along the south coast. This snow would break out in the afternoon Tuesday and continue into Tuesday night. The image below shows the area most likely to have snow Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Right now, there is a winter storm watch for areas along the south coast.  This afternoon, after new computer information becomes available, the watch may be changed to a warning, dropped entirely or even expanded north.

Behind any snow, cold continues with frigid temperatures the rest of the week. There will be some moderation in the cold for the weekend before more frigid air returns next week. The cold pattern is likely to continue through the first week of February.

Monday: Sun and clouds, mild with highs near 40 degrees. Chance of a snow squall or snow shower later this afternoon.

Monday Night: Any snow showers end early, windy and colder by morning. Lows 8-18, mildest over the Cape.

Tuesday: Clouding up. Snow developing along the south coast in the afternoon. Could be heavy over Cape Cod/Islands. Lighter snow or snow showers in Boston.

Tuesday Night: Periods of snow and very cold. Heaviest south of Boston. Lows 5-15.

Wednesday: Snow ends and remaining cold. Highs in the mid teens.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low of -5 to zero in the north. 1-6 in Boston, and 7-12 in Cape Cod and the Islands.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with highs between 15-20.

Follow updates from David Epstein on Twitter @growingwisdom.