Impressive, Most Impressive

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

Last time Boston had an actual Blizzard was 2005 (Using old school requirements of sustained wind speed 35mph--not gusts). I think tonight it will be classified as a blizzard. Even if it doesn't, there will be several hours of blizzard-like conditions across southern New England late this evening right through midday Saturday.

You have a few hours this morning to get things done (bread, milk, snow blower gassed up!) or go for one last run on snow-free sidewalks but by midday light snow begins and becomes steadier & heavier during the afternoon. Travel will deteriorate throughout the afternoon and certainly into the evening hours. Most towns will have 2-4" on the ground by 7pm tonight.

From 7pm tonight through noon tomorrow will be the worst of the storm for many of us. Bands of heavy snow (thundersnow included) will pummel southern New England. At times, that snow will fall at the rate of 2-3" per hour!! We are still thinking 20-24" of snow for a lot of cities & towns. Wind will also be a major concern with coastal towns getting wind gusts between 55-65 mph (a gust or two of 70mph is likely on Cape Cod). Farther inland, wind gusts will be  on the order of 45-55mph. This wind will result in considerable blowing/drifting snow tonight and for much of tomorrow too. Very poor travel expected from 7pm tonight through midday tomorrow---travel not recommended late tonight & early tomorrow morning! That strong wind will also lead to power outages---scattered in metrowest and widespread on the south shore, cape, islands.

This wind poses another problem...coastal flooding. We are concerned with 2 high tide cycles (Blizzard of '78, there were 4 high tide cycles of concern) for coastal flooding, the 10pm tonight & 10am Saturday morning. In particular, Sandwich...Scituate..Revere..Provincetown are at the greatest risk for major coastal flooding.

As we step through the day Saturday, the storm slowly pulls away taking the wind & snow with it. The last flakes fall between 1-3pm in Worcester and not until 6-8pm in Plymouth-Chatham. That wind settles under 40mph around 4-5pm for everyone.

The sun returns to New England on Sunday.

More through the day.

~JR

Unsettling

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

Another day where we have cool, ocean air battling warmer land air leading to a clash of air. That means clouds, drizzle, fog, humidity (frizzy hair) for much of the day. It's not a washout though. The highest chance of rain is this morning--until 9:30am and then later this afternoon (after 3pm). In between, you will see a lot of clouds but also some sunshine at times. Even limited sun will be able to shove temps well into the 70s. This warm & humid air is what will lead to another round of showers & t-storms later today. Some of the storms will be intense. Like the past two days the strongest storms will be in western New England. Only isolated showers/ thunderstorms are expected along the coastline later today. Sox game will have the risk of some showers but they should be able to play that game. Welcome back Tito!

Saved by The Sea Breeze

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Although my forecast was busted today, there was one good thing that came out of it.

Stability.

That gray overcast that hung over the eastern half of the Commonwealth provided a stablizing influence to our atmosphere. The cool air blowing in from the ocean kept the temperatures in the upper 50s and low 60s all the way back to Metrowest. While that makes for lousy short-and-t-shirt weather, it is poison to thunderstorms.

Wild & Wacky

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

Wild temperatures yesterday---from the 80s down into the low 60s in just an hour AND some heavy duty thunderstorms. The reason was a cool front that dropped in from Maine. That front is in western New England this morning and it's a chameleon as it will become a warm front and try to warm things back up during the day.

Storms, Heat, Sea Breezes

Posted by Pete Bouchard

What a day! Breakneck temperature swings, thunder, tornadoes in Western Mass....and we're still in late May!