Watch for Snow Tonight

Saturday January 30, 2010 07:40 AM

A bitterly cold air mass has overspread the region over the last 24 hours. Temperatures on Friday struggled to reach 20°F and readings last night dipped down into the single numbers across much of Cape Cod.

Strong west-northwest winds helped push wind chills well below zero. This very cold, dry air mass is helping to suppress a snow storm over the Mid-Atlantic out to sea well south and east of Cape Cod - sparing us a major winter storm. However, this doesn't mean we are entirely out of the woods in the snowfall department.

As the offshore low pressure system passes by the region, winds will turn to a north and northeasterly direction late today and persist through Saturday night and into Sunday morning. This wind, combined with a continued flow of very cold air into the region, well help yank ocean effect cloudiness westward from offshore and aid in the development of some ocean effect snow showers and perhaps even a few snow squalls.

The most likely region to see snow will be from Barnstable eastward to the Outer Cape towns, where the northerly flow favors "landfalling" snow showers. Some minor accumulations are certainly possible and some slick spots may develop on area roadways. Check back for updates later today.