The following forecast is provided by Shaun Reagan, in conjunction with the instructor, as part of lab work for the Introduction to Meteorology course:
Summary: Unsettled weather will dominate for the next several days as a series of weak “Alberta Clippers” move through the region. The first disturbance will move to our south Friday night and early Saturday morning. Since we will be in the colder air to the north of the surface low, any precipitation that falls will be in the form of snow at all elevations within Berkshire County. We will be near the northern edge of the precipitation shield and the computer models are quite divergent in their scenarios at this point so this is a fairly low confidence forecast with about a 50/50 chance of snow. However, this is a fast moving and weak storm system so even the worst case scenario gives us an inch or two of accumulation with 3 inches at most in the highest elevations. The next weak system moves by to our north on Sunday, leaving us in the warmer air so that any precipitation that falls on Sunday will be in the form of rain. It looks fairly gloomy on Saturday with generally cloudy skies and cool temperatures. However, although there may be some scattered showers on Sunday, it should be milder.
Thursday Night
Cloudy early with decreasing clouds overnight. Becoming mostly clear by morning.
Low temperatures in the mid to upper 20s.
Northwest winds at 5-15 mph, becoming lighter toward morning.
Friday
Mostly sunny through early afternoon with increasing cloudiness later in the afternoon.
It will be cooler than average for late March with high temperatures generally in the low 40s in the lower elevations of central and northern Berkshire (e.g. Pittsfield and North Adams), with mid 40s in the lower elevations of South County (e.g. Great Barrington and Sheffield) and near 40 in the hilltowns.
Northwest winds at 5-15 mph, becoming light and variable late in the day.
Friday Night
Becoming overcast and cold with a good chance of snow developing before midnight. Berkshire County will be near the northern edge of the snow shield so the probability of precipitation will decrease from south to north with a 60% chance in South County, 50% in central Berkshire and 40% to the north. Where, and if, snow falls, most likely accumulations will be from a trace to 2 inches, with greater amounts to the south and in the higher elevations. As much as 3 inches could fall in the higher elevations of South County.
Low temperatures in the mid to upper 20s.
Light north winds, becoming northeasterly after midnight.
Saturday
A good chance of early morning snow and then remaining mostly cloudy and cool for most of the day with some clearing possible towards evening. The probability of precipitation for the early morning is the same as for overnight Friday.
High temperature in the low 40s in the lower elevations of central and northern Berkshire, mid 40s in South County and upper 30s in the hilltowns.
Winds shifting from northeasterly to northwesterly at 5-10 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear early and then increasing clouds after midnight.
Not as cold with low temperatures in the low to mid 30s.
Winds becoming calm.
Sunday
Partly sunny early but then becoming mostly cloudy. There is a good chance of scattered rain showers during the afternoon. Probability of precipitation 50%.
Milder with high temperatures in the low 50s.
South to southwest winds at 5-10 mph.