The Big One

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Well, it's lock and load folks. The finer points of the forecast are coming together, but I will add that we still don't have the entire picture of this evolving event Friday and Saturday.

But it's certainly enough to put down some serious numbers:

We're talking about a memorable storm here - possibly epic for Eastern Mass. Last night, we were looking for that missing ingredient to tip the scales at 2 feet, and this morning it showed up on the weather maps. That key feature is called a cut-off low. When the storm deepens east of Cape Cod, it will actually cut off from the jetstream and temporarily stall - for up to 6 hours. This is when we'll get hammered with snow and wind. Snowfall rates could approach 2-4 inches per hour if thunderstorms get going. Yes, I said thunderstorms. These are reserved for only the most intense storms, and this one fits the bill.

Mix and rain are almost side issues with this storm. Certainly they will cut down on snow totals as reflected in the above amounts, but eventually everyone will be snow when the storm stalls and the cold smacks back into Mass. on the north wind.

Timeline:

First flakes in the 7am-10am timeframe Friday morning.

Steadier snow throughout the morning and afternoon. Roads still passable and navigated with caution.

Heavier snow late afternoon/evening.

Midnight Friday night into Saturday AM: go time. Roads difficult to maneuver or impassable. Plows will have a hard time keeping up.

Storm wraps by late AM/early PM Saturday, but flakes may still be flying into the evening!

See what I mean about the changeover issue not being a big deal? In this long duration storm, the first part of the event (with the changeover) will be obscured by the heavy hand of white outs and near blizzard conditions at the height of the storm.

There's much more ahead. Stay with 7News and follow us on Twitter for the latest updates:

@pbouchardon7

@jreineron7

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Pete

That's A Wrap--I Think

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

I hope I'm not jinxing us with this statement.."The recent wet pattern is over....onto sunshine & a more summer- like pattern.." The last time someone from 7 weather called a pattern change too soon we got a blizzard and 3 subsequent nor'easters (looking at you Pete!!--LOL). We don't have to worry about any blizzards or nor'easters but one never knows in the new world order.

Like A Waterfall

Posted by Pete Bouchard

If you were caught in those 'cloudbursts' today, you had more than you could handle in the rain department. Torrents fell in a short amount of time - what we deem 'flash flooding' in the weather biz. Since it happens suddenly, the National Weather Service has adopted the acronym TADD:

Bam! Pow!

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

Bam. Pow! Those were some nasty storms last evening with some towns in metrowest & the city itself blasted with locally heavy rain, hail, lightning and strong wind gusts. A cool front is the culprit and that front will linger across the region again today. That means another round of some scattered showers & t-storms likely.

Thunderous Start to Workweek

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Heat and a bit of humidity fed a strong - and sometimes severe - line of thunderstorms today. By the time the dinner hour rolled around (6pm-ish), the storms had consolidated into a line. Everyone got a drink of water and a big drop in temperatures - some falling nearly 20 degrees in minutes!