Forecast: Gusty Winds May Cause Power Outages, Tree Damage As Warm Air Sticks

The big story today isn’t the warmth — it’s the wind.

Now, of course the warmth is noteworthy, especially since it’s nearly 60 degrees as of early Tuesday morning. However, winds are going to increase this afternoon and become strong enough to cause scattered tree damage and perhaps a few power outages.

The outages and tree damage will not be widespread, but anytime winds are potentially gusting over 40 miles per hour — and in today’s case, the winds could hit 50 miles per hour in a few places — it’s worth mentioning.

The warmth will be with us all day, and although temperatures will slowly fall after 1 p.m., they won’t become cool until tomorrow morning. Boston likely won’t hit freezing temperatures then, which hasn't occurred in the city since November.

The chart below shows temperatures this month. The dotted line represents 32 degrees or freezing.  Notice Logan Airport’s temperature hasn’t gone below this line all month.  Last year, we had already seen temperatures in the teens within the first two weeks of December, and the ground was frozen in places.

Tomorrow sees a return to colder air, but nothing out of the ordinary.  As a matter of fact, most areas won’t have a hard freeze until later this weekend when temperatures finally return to seasonable levels for a couple of days. There will be another rain event Thursday night before the colder air.

Unfortunately for snow lovers, I don’t see any chance of a "White Christmas" this year. Even if you see some flurries this Saturday with the chilly air, temperatures will be back in the 60s for Christmas.

You can follow my weather updates on Twitter at @growingwisdom.

Today: Clearing skies with developing sunshine. Highs in the 50s to near 60, but falling in the afternoon. Gusty winds could exceed 45 miles per hour in places.

Tonight: Partly cloudy and continued breezy. Lows in the 30s.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 45.

Wednesday night: A slight chance of rain after 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Rain likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thursday night Rain likely, mainly before 11 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Friday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday night: A chance of rain before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.