The following forecast is provided by Colleen Jones, in conjunction with the instructor, as part of lab work for the Introduction to Meteorology course:
Summary: There is likely to be a relatively brief period of light snow Tuesday morning as a weak low pressure system moves off the coast to our south, grazing Berkshire County with the northern edge of its precipitation shield. There will be a fairly sharp boundary to the northern edge of the snowfall, possibly right through the middle of the county, as with the snow event earlier this month. Where this boundary sets up is uncertain. However, any accumulating snow is more likely to occur in the southern portions of the county. Where snow does accumulate it will likely not exceed one inch. However, there may be a few isolated spots that receive as much as two inches. Our weather will then begin to clear, as early as later tomorrow afternoon. However, clouds will increase again on Wednesday as lake effect clouds and even a few flurries develop with cold WNW winds late Wednesday afternoon and evening. Surface high pressure should then, finally, build over our region for the latter part of the week and bring some sunshine, although it will remain fairly cold. As the high pressure system moves off the coast over the weekend we may have a bit of a warmup as winds shift around to the south on the western side of the high.
Monday Night:
Partly cloudy during the evening, then increasing and thickening clouds after midnight. Light snow will likely develop near 6 or 7 am. Probability of precipitation 60% but only 40% in North County. Accumulations will only be a dusting at most.
With cloud cover developing, low temperatures will only fall to the mid to upper 20’s.
Light westerly winds becoming southerly after midnight.
Tuesday:
Light snow is likely in the morning but should begin to taper off to a few scattered snow showers by early afternoon. Some breaks in the cloud cover will develop later in the afternoon. Probability of precipitation 70% in central and southern Berkshire but only 50% in north county. Accumulations will likely be an inch or less in most locations but could reach 2″ in a few locations over higher terrain to the south and east.
Temperatures will struggle to reach the freezing mark in much of the county. High temperatures in the low 30s in Pittsfield, low to mid 30s in Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Great Barrington and Sheffield. Highs in the upper 20s to near 30 over the elevated terrain and hilltowns.
Light southerly winds shifting to north-northwesterly late.
Tuesday Night:
Partly to mostly cloudy and seasonably cold.
Low temperatures in the mid 20’s in most locations with some low 20s over the elevated terrain
Light north-northwesterly winds.
Wednesday:
Partly cloudy in the morning becoming mostly cloudy by afternoon. There is the chance of scattered flurries late. Probability of precipitation 20%. No accumulation is expected.
Temperatures will remain below average with high temperatures in the mid 30s in Pittsfield, mid to upper 30s in Adams, North Adams and Williamstown, upper 30s in Great Barrington and Sheffield and near 30 to low 30s over the elevated terrain and hilltowns.
Northwest winds at 5-10 mph will shift to westerly in the afternoon.