Enjoy It While It Lasts

Posted by Chris Lambert

It's quite the mild start to the weekend with temps running in the mid 30s to lower 40s.  Despite the warm start, temps struggle to climb throughout the day as clouds rule.  Mid 40s on average should do it for most this afternoon as patchy fog and drizzle become less of an issue.

It remains mild overnight tonight with temps above freezing and that means the snow melt and thawing of the backyard skating rinks continue.  Fog redevelops and patchy mist does as well.  Look on the bright side... at least it allows for a mild start on Sunday and that means plenty of warmth for the Pats vs Texans game.  Afternoon temps run in the lower to middle 50s with plenty of clouds around.  There's still an outside chance we'd take a run at 60 if a few hours of sun break out in the afternoon, but at this point, that looks difficult to achieve.  Anyway, it'll be a mild and dry afternoon at Gillette.

We'll hit 50+ again early Monday... but this is the last 50 degree day for the foreseeable future as colder weather works in.  The coldest day on the 7-day is Friday as highs struggle to get out of the 20s.  If you think that's cold... wait until the following week when the bottom drops out on the mercury.

Long range forecast models have been remarkably consistent in showing high pressure building in over the Arctic in the Jan 21st-25th timeframe.  When this occurs, the brutally cold air across the Arctic and in northern Canada gets dislodged, and pushes south.  This go around, it appears the Midwest and Northeast will be in the path of some of the coldest air we've seen in a couple of years.  It was two years ago on January 24th that Boston had a high of 13 and a low of -2.  Time will tell if we can challenge those numbers.  Forecasting patterns 10-14 days certainly can be challenging, but the signals for cold air are there.  

Whether we near those icy numbers or not, at least I'm more optimistic for those backyard skating rinks making a marvelous comeback.  I'd use the afternoons this mid week coming up to freshen them up and pour more water on top.  They will freeze solid with colder days ahead!

Enjoy the weekend and Go Pats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take the Good, Take the Bad

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Rain, rain, rain...

...but for many today was a day of hurry up and wait. Sure there were showers, but not every minute was washed out. With the events unfolding tonight, that's about to change.

Come On Ride The Train

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Heavy rain is on the move! All afternoon long it was stalled over Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. Heavy pulses of rain traveled over the same towns and cities - a process meteorologists call "training" - resulting in flash flooding in some counties to our west.

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.

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!