So where is the snow?

There's a chance for a dusting to an inch tonight, then there's another chance (small chance) of an inch this weekend. The next big chance of some snow will be around Valentine's Day, and then there are a few more chances beyond that (like around the 17th). It looks to be cold for at least the first three weeks of February, and the ocean temps are now around freezing (some near-shore buoys reporting 31 degrees). So everything seems to be in place, we just need some moisture.

As of today, we are actually too cold for snow. It is so cold out, and the arctic high pressure dome of cold air so powerful, that all warm moisture-laden air is being suppressed down south. So, we actually need to get some of that warmer moister air up here in order for us to get any decent snows. The good news though is that for any coastal low that develops in the coming weeks, the typical "warmer ocean influence" that often causes our snows to mix with sleet and change over to rain will be less likely to occur, or at least limited more to the coastal areas.

So, its cold out. Very cold. But it could be worse. Much worse. The picture above was taken yesterday from the observation deck of the Mount Washington Observatory. How cold is it there? Today they are under a wind chill warning for wind chills 50-80 below zero. The high temp today will be about -10 to -20. Current temp up there is -17.2 degrees F. Winds this hour are 85.6 mph, gusting to 101.3 mph producing a current wind chill of -62.5 degrees F. Talk about too cold to snow!