This morning we find a complex series of low pressure systems to the south of New England. Ahead of this system an area of moisture has brought rain, sleet, freezing rain and snow to much of the area.

The most snow has been confined to ski areas. For those of you wanting to get an early jump on the ski season, many ski areas will see up to 5 or even 6 inches of snow perhaps more in the higher elevations before it ends as mixed precipitation later today.

The radar image below shows where it is likely going to be raining around 4PM. At that time there will be a lull in the precipitation with some drizzle along the coast and lighter snow or sleet in the mountains. Temperatures will have warmed well above freezing in Portland, but still be at or below freezing in the foothills and mountains.

Tomorrow today’s rain maker will be east of the area and clearing will ensue. On Sunday, those of you living on Cape Cod may awake to showers and clouds if you are early risers. The clearing line will push south and east and all areas will get into the sunshine for much of the day. Winds will be quite gusty tomorrow brining an added chill to the day.

The start of the workweek is dry and cold, but the calm weather won’t last. About a week ago I mentioned the likelihood of a coastal storm for the upcoming week. The storm is still likely although it’s been moved about 24 hours. Tuesday and Wednesday are now the days when a nor’easter is most likely.

Here on Saturday, 3 to 4 days before the storm it appears enough warm air will be pulled into it for this to be a snow to rain event along the coast. The ocean temperatures are in the 40s to near 50 and as winds blow over the water it will push any cold air inland and prevent snow from falling far inland from the coastal plain.

Now, admittedly this storm still hasn’t formed so this scenario could change, but that’s how I see it currently.

Tides during the storm won’t be at their highest of the month, that comes closer to Christmas, but there will be a 10 foot tide in Portland Harbor on Tuesday so we will have to watch this storm as it will be easier for it to cause coastal flooding and beach erosion with tides already astronomically higher than average.

If the cold air does hold and the storm moves up the coast slowly enough this could be a very good storm for the ski areas. Some of the models are forecasting a large amount of snow Tuesday into Wednesday for western Maine. This is just a model forecast and much can change. The storm could do anything from bring in more warm air to move out to sea, but it’s definitely something that I will be watching and updating here and on Twitter @growingwisdom.

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