Summary: Yesterday’s high temperature of 57 degrees in Pittsfield broke the record for the date by 8 degrees. The old record was 49 set in 1974. That record is rapidly becoming a thing of the past as a strong cold front at the leading edge of a deep trough in the jet stream passed through in the early morning hours. The jet stream wave pattern, now that we are moving into the cold trough, looks like it has decided to stop propagating and is, essentially, becoming what is called a “standing” wave for at least the next several days. Therefore, the western U.S. will remain under a warm ridge and we will be under a cold trough. As a result, it will be relatively cold in Berkshire County, with below normal temperatures, for the foreseeable future.

A strong west-northwesterly flow of cold air circulating between departing surface low pressure on the eastern side of the trough and high pressure on the western side of the trough will make it feel even colder for the next 24-36 hours. This cold wind will also pick up and carry lots of moisture off the Great Lakes into our region so we should remain relatively cloudy with a chance of a lake effect snow shower of flurry from time to time over the next couple of days as well.

Several small disturbances in the jet stream will rotate around the base of the trough through mid-week next week. Most of these will remain weak and well to our south. However, on Sunday, a somewhat stronger disturbance appears likely to generate a surface low pressure system off the Mid-Atlantic Coast. It is likely that we will get light snow accumulations from this system. Right now, it looks like around 1-3″. I will update this tomorrow…..

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy and breezy. There is a good chance of a lake-effect snow shower or flurry, particularly after midnight. Probability of precipitation 50%. There may be a dusting in places.

Temperatures will not fall considerably due to the cloud cover and because the air is blowing over the relatively mild Great Lakes. Low temperature near 20 in most locations, mid to upper teens over the elevated terrain. Wind chill temperatures falling into the single digits.

Westerly winds at 10-15 mph, 15-20 mph over the elevated terrain with some gusts over 30 mph.

Friday

Mostly cloudy in the morning and into early afternoon with the chance of a lake-effect snow shower of flurry. Probability of precipitation 50%. It may become partly sunny later in the afternoon. It will be quite breezy and cold.

Temperatures will not rise much as even colder air progresses southeast out of Canada. High temperatures in the low 20s in Pittsfield, Adams, North Adams and Williamstown, mid 20s in Great Barrington and Sheffield, and upper teens to near 20 over the elevated terrain and hilltowns. Wind chill temperatures will remain in the single digits.

West-northwesterly winds increasing to 15-20 mph during the afternoon, 20-25 mph over the elevated terrain with higher gusts.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy and cold.

Temperatures will fall as skies partially clear and winds diminish overnight. Low temperatures near 10 in most locations, mid to upper single digits over the elevated terrain. Wind chill temperatures near zero.

West-northwesterly winds at 10-20 mph in the evening, shifting to westerly and diminishing after midnight, becoming relatively light at 5-10 mph by morning.

Saturday

Partly cloudy in the morning, becoming overcast during the afternoon as the disturbance mentioned in the “summary” approaches. Remaining cold. It won’t feel quite as cold as winds will be much lighter than the past 2 days.

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

Southwesterly winds at 5-10 mph.