Berkshire County Forecast – Friday, January 25

Summary: The jet stream wave pattern has become less amplified, allowing the deep cold trough which has been over us for the past few days to flatten out so that the coldest arctic air can begin lifting out of our region. A weak surface low pressure system is zipping by to our south and there is an area of light snow from the northernmost part of its precipitation shield that is moving through the eastern Great Lakes and western NY. This area of light snow will pass through Berkshire County this evening. Accumulations should be very light, from a dusting to as much as an inch over the higher terrain.

After the low passes, and surface high pressure begins to build in, we will have a transitional day on Saturday, as the resulting west-northwest flow between these systems brings in lots of clouds and even the chance of a snow shower off the Great Lakes. Sunday should be a beautiful winter day as high pressure crests over us bringing sunny skies, relatively light winds and seasonably cold temperatures.

Early next week a trough in the jet stream wave pattern will dig in over the western U.S. and a warmer ridge will build over the eastern U.S.. As the surface high from Sunday moves east and the ridge begins to build in on Monday, the leading edge of milder air will lift over the cold air at the surface as a warm front. This will probably bring us some light snow late Monday into Monday night that will likely end as sleet and/or freezing rain overnight Monday. Although precipitation amounts should be very light there is some concern for any freezing rain that falls Monday night since road surfaces are VERY cold from our recent frigid weather. I will update this with Monday’s forecast.

In any case, much milder air will move in behind the warm front for Tuesday and, especially, Wednesday. We may get a bout of heavy rainfall on Thursday as the entire jet stream wave pattern progresses east and the leading edge of the trough from the western U.S. advances on us as a very strong cold front.

Friday Night

Becoming overcast with a period of very light snow likely this evening. The snow should only last a few hours and end by midnight. Probability of precipitation 70%. Accumulations will be very light, with most places only receiving a dusting. There may be as much as 1/2 inch to an inch over a few spots in the higher terrain. It should remain mostly cloudy after the snow ends.

Temperatures will drop in the evening as the precipitation arrives (dewpoints are still very low), but then hold fairly steady after midnight due to the cloud cover. Low temperatures near 10 in Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams and Williamstown, low teens in Great Barrington and Sheffield, and mid to upper single digits in the elevated terrain and hilltowns.

Winds will be light, shifting from west-southwesterly to north-northwesterly after midnight.

Saturday

Partly cloudy in the morning, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon. There is the chance of a snow shower or flurry late. Probability of precipitation 30%. No accumulation expected.

It will still be cold, with high temperatures in the mid teens in Pittsfield, mid to upper teens in Adams, North Adams, and Williamstown, upper teens in Great Barrington and Sheffield, and near 10 over the elevated terrain and hilltowns.

Northwest winds at 5-10 mph in the morning, increasing to 10-15 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Clearing during the evening. Mostly clear after midnight.

It will be cold, with low temperatures in the low to mid single digits, near zero over the elevated terrain.

Northwest wind at 5-10 mph.

Sunday

Mostly sunny and still cold. However, it will be slightly warmer than its been and the bright sun should make it feel downright warm compared to the weather we have had lately.

High temperatures of near 20 in Pittsfield, near 20 to low 20s in Adams, North Adams and Williamstown, low 20s in Great Barrington and Sheffield, and mid to upper teens in the elevated terrain and hilltowns.

Northwest winds at 5-10 mph.