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Summary: As of 4:30 pm it is raining across the county. Temperatures are generally in the mid to upper 30s, but as low as 33 degrees at the reporting hill towns to the east. Temperatures are above freezing in southern VT and have been for the entire day as well, so there is no sign yet of any changeover to freezing rain. Freezing rain is occurring in the Albany area as northerly winds have been able to drain the dense cold air down the Hudson Valley from the north. This cold air should not be able to be drawn into Berkshire County until the surface low passes by to our east and winds shift to the northwest. This is not likely to occur until sometime around 9 or 10 pm this evening in most locations. However, the changeover could occur as early as 7 pm over the elevated terrain. There should be a fairly rapid changeover to sleet, by 10 or 11 pm, and then to snow by midnight or so, so there is unlikely to be much of an ice accumulation in most locations. However, 0.10″ of ice could accumulate in spots over the higher terrain where the changeover may occur earlier. The heavy precipitation will likely have shifted eastward by the time the precipitation changes to snow. Occasional light snow will continue into the morning, with snow showers lingering until early afternoon. Likely snow accumulations still look to be light, even lighter than yesterdays forecast, on the order of a dusting – 1″ in most locations, with 1″-2″ possible in a few spots over the elevated terrain, particularly in North County.

It still looks like it will turn windy and very cold overnight with temperatures falling into the single digits by morning and only rising into the low to mid teens during the day. Winds will increase to 15-25 mph, with gusts into the 30-40 mph range after midnight and through the day tomorrow. Therefore, wind chills will be below zero at times and as much as the teens below zero after midnight into the early morning.

The bitterly cold air will linger overnight Thursday, with lows back into the single digits (although winds will lighten), but temperatures will likely rebound into the 30s on Friday and possibly into the 40s on Saturday.

Wednesday Night

Occasional rain, changing to freezing rain around 9 or 10 pm, as early as 7 pm over the elevated terrain. Freezing rain should change to sleet by 10 or 11 pm and then light snow by midnight. Occasional light snow or snow showers after midnight. Probability of precipitation near 100%.  Likely rainfall totals 0.10″-0.20″. The quick changeover of precipitation types should make significant ice accumulations unlikely in most locations. However, as much as 0.10″ of ice could accumulate in spots over the elevated terrain. Likely total snowfall generally a dusting – 1″ with 1″- 2″ in a few spots over the elevated terrain, particularly to the north. It will become windy and much colder as the night progresses.

Temperatures will fall rapidly into and through the 20s before midnight and into the single digits by morning. Low temperatures will reach the upper single digits in most spots, mid single digits over the elevated terrain. Wind chill temperatures in the single digits to teens below zero after midnight.

North-northwest winds at 10-15 mph before midnight, shifting to northwesterly and increasing to 15-25 mph after midnight, with gusts 30-40 mph.

Thursday

Mostly cloudy, windy and very cold, with occasional snow showers and flurries likely into early afternoon. Probability of precipitation 60%. A dusting is possible in spots.

Temperatures will not rise much, with high temperatures in the low teens in Pittsfield; low to mid teens in Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Lee and Stockbridge; mid teens in Great Barrington and Sheffield and; near 10 over the elevated terrain.

Northwesterly winds at 15-25 mph, with gusts 30-40 mph.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy and very cold with diminishing winds.

Low temperatures in the low to mid single digits.

West-northwesterly winds at 10-20 mph during the evening, diminishing to 5-10 mph after midnight, becoming light by morning.

Friday

Mostly cloudy to partly sunny, breezy and milder.

High temperatures in the mid 30s in Pittsfield; mid to upper 30s in Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington and Sheffield and; low 30s over the elevated terrain.

South-southwesterly winds at 10-15 mph.