Meteorological winter began yesterday with one of the nicest days you could hope for in December. I spent the afternoon raking and mulching leaves, harvesting some carrots and turnips and doing a bit of pruning. As long as I can work outside, there is always something to do in the yard.

The mild weather was certainly welcome after a colder and snowier November than we typically see. This month is shaping up to be closer to average with some forecasts seeing a much warmer month. One of my favorite forecasters to follow is Joe Bastardi from WeatherBell Analytics. Even if you disagree with his climate views, he is a good forecaster. If you like more in-depth analysis of the longer range, check out his Saturday summary from this past weekend. Click here.

There are a whole host of reasons why I think at least the first half of this month’s temperatures will be closer to average. Part of the reason is that the atmosphere often takes a break after being extreme in any direction. Also, some of the oscillations we follow like those in the Atlantic are going to be in a phase more conducive to less cold and storminess.

This doesn’t mean it doesn’t get cold or we don’t see snow, it’s just an average. Also, average in December is cold, so even if we are milder than normal, it’s still going to be chilly most of the time.

Today is a much colder day than yesterday with highs only in the 30s. Most of you will see temperatures nearly 30 degrees colder for most of the day as opposed to Monday’s reading near 60F.

You might have noticed the clouds and a few showers late in the day Monday. That was a cold front ushering in the new air mass from Canada. Notice on the map below which shows temperatures at about 5000 feet. You can clearly a sharp demarcation where things go from cold to mild. These maps are produced by WeatherBell Analytics.

Later today the mild air is going to make a run back into Maine. As the warm air returns, it will bring a period of wintry precipitation will occur, mostly west of the coastline. This isn’t a big event, but Wednesday morning will be a slower than average inland, where a coating to 3 inches of snow will fall.

The timing on the precipitation is from this evening into early Wednesday. This weather is actually being caused by the same front that went by yesterday only this time it’s going the opposite direction.

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There is a winter weather advisory posted away from the coastline due to the upcoming wintry weather.

Temperatures will warm into the 40s along the coastline tomorrow and even above freezing inland and in the mountains. Thursday sunshine returns with more seasonable conditions. A pattern of damp and cloudy weather will likely be with us this weekend, but it’s going to be too warm for most of it to be in the form of snow, at least along the coast.