One of the criteria for issuing a winter storm warning locally is the expectation of at least six inches of snow from a storm. Six inches of snow is about the sweet spot where a storm turns from "look at the pretty snow" to a disruptive influence. Storms of that magnitude just don't happen often enough to warrant having an infrastructure to deal with that much snow. Looking at the climate record, about two-thirds of all winters have had 0-1 storms that dropped at least six inches of snow and only nine years in which there were four such storms (most recently last winter). The snowiest decades were around the turn of the last century, but if the 2010s continue at the pace it has been going it will wind up close to that mark. The longest gap between six-inch storms was the nearly five year absence from February 1996 to late-December 2000.
We get a brief break from snow and cold today as we await the arrival of another Arctic front tonight. This afternoon's high will be near 40 degrees. Today is likely to be the warmest day for the foreseeable future so get out there and enjoy the slushy streets!
As the front approaches we will be met with a slight chance of rain around midnight. That will quickly change to light snow overnight and through the day Thursday. We shouldn't see much more than an inch of snow as the low is way out to sea. However, once the front passes the temperature will drop through the 20s tomorrow with wind chills in the teens. Friday is going to be brisk with the high struggling into the lower 20s.
After a break on Saturday it is back to the snow on Sunday. And Monday. And Tuesday. Unlike earlier snowfalls that have come from fast-moving nor'easters it appears that this next round of snow might feature a stalled front, resulting in an extended period of precipitation, some liquid, some solid. However, that is days away and as the Weather Service says "THIS IS ALL TOO FAR OUT TO ZERO IN ON THE DETAILS". Too far out, man.
