Even if you’re not a big fan of winter, you have to admit it’s nice to get at least one good snowstorm in the winter months. Places in the interior Northeast will get a good share of snow from this storm but for us here on the coast this storm is behaving much like the last few: Instead of a Winter Wonderland we’re getting a pile of slop; that messy mixture of snow, sleet and rain that still makes for travel headaches but not the scenic beauty and serenity that follows a good snowstorm.

Why won’t it be a big snowstorm for the big cities? Well to get a big snow you need an ample supply of cold, arctic air from Canada and the correct storm track. This year all the storms we’ve seen thus far have been “coast huggers,” ie., they have all tracked very near the coast instead of farther offshore. That makes for big snows in the interior areas, but on the coast the winds circulating around low pressure always draw in milder air from the ocean making it difficult for it to stay cold enough, long enough for it to stay all snow. With this storm tracking into eastern New England tonight even places farther north and inland will get the dreaded mix; Boston, Providence, even Hartford and Worcester, should see a change to sleet, freezing rain or even plain rain tonight.

Another factor is the time of year; in March the sun is higher in the sky and the solar rays can heat the earth’s surface and atmosphere more even on a completely overcast day. And add to this the fact it was 60+ degrees in places like New York, Boston and Philly just two days ago means that at least paved surfaces can retain a little more heat. I’ve seen storms that occurred late in the season that have left near a foot of snow in areas surrounding New York City while Manhattan barely got an inch. It’s a tricky time to be a forecaster in storms like this!

Good news? At least much of ski country will get plenty of fresh powder that should last into next week.