A major ocean storm will stay well east of the region today thanks to strong high pressure over the area. This will keep sunny skies, and cool temperatures locked in place. Temperatures started out in the lower 20's this morning in the valleys of Cheshire County, with upper 20's to low 30's elsewhere. Highs today will generally range between 54 and 60 across northern Massachusetts into southern New Hampshire. Winds could gust to around 40mph out on the Cape today as the pressure gradient between the high and the ocean storm strengthens. Clear skies and calm winds will allow temperatures to plummet tonight to around 20, could even see a few upper teens in the outlying areas of Cheshire County!

High pressure will be pushed south tomorrow as a storm system moves toward the southeast out of Ontario, dragging a cold front across much of the plains and Ohio Valley. Warmer air will make a brief visit on Monday as flow turns to the west and southwest, helping high temperatures into the upper 50's. Clouds will be on the increase as the cold front approaches Monday night. Nevertheless, temperatures will still fall to 30 to 34 allowing for another frost. At this point the growing season is done north of I90 anyway.

Scattered showers will move into the region Tuesday morning. Depending on the timing the arrival of precipitation Tuesday morning, some areas of Cheshire county may see a brief period of freezing rain with surface temperatures 30 to 32. There isnt a lot of moisture to work with, so not expecting much in the way of rainfall. Generally up to .2" is possible through Tuesday evening. Further north, across central VT and NH, up to .4" is possible. Temperatures will rise to the low to mid 50's by noontime, before the front moves through Tuesday afternoon, with cold air advection dropping temperatures steadily thereafter. Scattered showers behind the front may continue to move across the area Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Precipitation type becomes a concern after 11pm Tuesday, as 850mb temperatures drop below freezing, and thicknesses enter the threshold for snow or sleet. This will continue through about 9am Wednesday. Depending how much moisture is available, some higher elevations may pick up a coating of snow, otherwise the rest of the area should not see any accumulation. High temperatures on Wednesday will likely see the coldest highs so far this season, stuck in the 40's for many locations in southwest New Hampshire.

Strong high pressure works back into the region on Thursday, producing mostly sunny skies, and gradually moderating temperatures into the weekend. So far so good for the forecast for Pumpkin Fest 2008.

The GFS and Euro have been consistent in renewing southerly flow to the area for the latter half of the weekend and into early next week. The GFS has been advertising a period of heavy rain between Sunday and Tuesday of next week.

Behind the storm, possibly even colder air than this week could visit the region for the last few days of October. Could be a very cold Halloween in store.