Summary: Our quiet fall weather pattern appears ready to hold its ground, even into the long-range (7-10 days) forecast model runs, with dry weather and seasonable temperatures continuing into next week. A broad area of surface high pressure over eastern North America will continue to dominate our weather through the weekend. A weak cold front will give us a slight chance of a shower Sunday night or early Monday before high pressure is re-established next week.

In the more immediate future, the cut-off low over the Canadian Maritime only slung its low clouds back as far west as the easternmost highlands of Berkshire County this afternoon, so that most of the county once again saw clear blue skies today. It appears that the low pressure system will be moving more rapidly eastward over the next few days as it is picked up by the jet stream. Therefore, my outlook has become more optimistic and I believe we should see mostly sunny skies again on Thursday. There will likely be a bit more cloudiness on Friday as a very weak upper-level disturbance rotates through New England from north to south along the back edge of a trough in the jet stream. Still, Friday should be a dry day and skies will only be partly cloudy.

Saturday and Sunday should see a return to full sunshine as the jet stream ridge and surface high pressure become centered over the eastern U.S. Temperatures should be mild over the weekend, with highs possibly reaching into the low 70s.

Wednesday Night

Clear and calm with seasonably cool temperatures. A few areas of patchy fog developing toward morning in some valley locations.

Low temperatures in the low to mid 40s.

Calm winds.

Thursday

Mostly sunny (< 25% cloud cover) and mild. It may be partly cloudy (25-50% cloud cover) over the elevated terrain at times during the afternoon.

High temperatures in the upper 60s in Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams and Williamstown; near 70 in Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield and; mid 60s over the elevated terrain and hilltowns.

Light northerly winds.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy and calm with patchy fog developing toward morning.

Low temperatures again in the low to mid 40s.

Calm winds.

Friday

Variable amounts of clouds throughout the day, averaging out to partly cloudy skies, so there should be more sun than clouds.

High temperatures in the upper 60s in Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams and Williamstown; near 70 in Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield and; mid 60s over the elevated terrain and hilltowns.

Light north-northeasterly winds.

Saturday and Sunday

Mostly sunny and mild with high temperatures around 70 to the low 70s.