Changeable, But No Big Change

3:43PM

A quick note for the computer model followers: I’m of the opinion that the 12z ECMWF is a piece of garbage today. It’s far too different from the last several runs for me to buy full-on.Β  Something’s amiss.

Discussion…

Current mild spell ends midweek as low pressure moves along a slow-moving cold front and gives us some rain Wednesday. Clouds linger behind the departing low Thursday as it turns windy and much cooler. A dry but chilly day is expected Friday due to high pressure building right across the region. High pressure slips offshore by the weekend with yet another warm-up. A disturbance early next week may bring a brief bout of unsettled weather sometime later Monday orΒ  Tuesday, but this does not look like a big deal at this time. A bit early to look at Thanksgiving with any confidence, and even more-so due to some model flip-flopping, so I’ll leave that just out of reach for today and take a first stab at it tomorrow.

Boston Area Forecast…

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a few light rain showers. Low 45-50. Wind W under 10 MPH shifting to N.

WEDNESDAY: Cloudy. Periods of rain, mainly during the afternoon hours. High 55-60. Wind E under 10 MPH shifting to S.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Periods of rain, especially before midnight. Low 40-45. Wind W up to 10 MPH shifting to N.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. High 45-50. Wind NW 15-25 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 31. High 48.

SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 29. High 53.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Low 41. High 62.

MONDAY: Partly sunny. Chance of rain or snow showers at night. Low 41. High 51.

TUESDAY:Β  Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain or snow showers early. Low 34. High 46.

154 thoughts on “Changeable, But No Big Change”

  1. This is also a rare occasion in which I think the 06z GFS is better than both the operational 00z run and the 12z as well.

  2. Thanks TK
    WeatherWizard on the BZ blog gave his analysis on the upcoming winter. I thought it was a good read.

    1. He always does very good write-ups and is good at ignoring the trolls.

      Agree with what most of his post states, except maybe Feb temps.

      1. I do not go to wbz at all anymore. I did go on and read what WW had to say. I thought It was outstanding. One thing If I read it right he said we would be on the rain/snowline more this year, If I got that right. I did however remember reading that somewhere that western would be the hardest hit and Boston/south would be dealing with that rain/snowline more so than last winter.

        1. Had a chance to read WW’s post as well. Thanks for letting us know it was there as I only check into BZ from time to time. Good read, not that I understand all of it. πŸ™‚

          1. WW’s post was waaaaaay too technical for me, but I would like to see him over here and not waste his good postings at the WBZ blog.

            After looking at today’s CPC outlook for the rest of November I would like to take a stab at Thanksgiving…extremely mild with near record warmth. The record high for Thanksgiving Day (24th) is 72 degrees! Record highs for that weekend are in the upper 60’s-low 70’s…very reachable assuming CPC forecast holds.

            BBQ turkey anyone? LOL. πŸ™‚

          2. Good grief that is iPad at it’s worst. That’s while I do one in oven. I remember snow storm on thanksgiving in 1990

    1. Hadi, I wouldn’t hold my breath on that…still a lot of leaves on the trees here in Boston although at least most have finally turned. I’ll take these mild temps the rest of the month into early December so I can get the leaves raked…and my backyard especially is full of them. πŸ™‚

  3. Btw, I would just like to announce that WODS 103.3 started its Christmas music on Veteran’s Day…very sad. Way too much, too soon. πŸ™

    I have refrained from listening to that station until probably not until early or even mid-December. Please let us take one holiday at a time.

    1. Both 103.3 & 105.7 switched to the all-holiday format on November 11. I do agree that is way too early for my liking, though I will start listening the day after Thanksgiving. The reason they are switching over so early is listener demand and increased ratings during the format during the past several years.

        1. Listening to the Santa calls is always quite fun. They put them online so you can listen to them later. πŸ™‚

      1. If the CPC has anything to say, expect more of the same the rest of the month. πŸ™‚ I have a feeling that the first half of December at least will feel anything but…

    1. Bruins are doing fine. πŸ™‚ This is turning into a shoot-out, not NJ’s type of game. Odds favor the B’s!

  4. TK and others can chime in as well…any particular reason why radio listeners want to be exposed to Christmas music well before Thanksgiving? It’s like the listeners are practically putting a gun to the heads of management demanding it “or else”. I just can’t get into Christmas mood raking leaves…not going to happen.

    It seems these days now we go from Veteran’s Day (skip over Thanksgiving) right to “Black Friday” to Christmas finally to New Year’s…kind of like going from winter to summer w/o any real spring. Very sad Thanksgiving Day is mearly a transition point to Black Friday.

    1. Philip- The early christmas music is on because the people asked for it. I read it in the paper last year. The two stations that play it are doing it because it was such a high request. So If running a business you would I think want to listen to what the customers are saying. It was also noted that christmas music
      puts people in a good mood. I think It’s to early, but I have a 7yr old who wants to hear it. Tonight he will go to bed happy because he talked to santa LOL.

    2. The most common reason I hear from listeners who ask for the music early is that it gets them in the holiday mood as they are doing early shopping. I can understand the mindset, but it’s still not for me so early.

      1. TK I think I missed something. Blame it on age and my being oblivious. What do you mean about hearing from listeners. I have a real feeling it’s something I should know but don’t. Sorry:(

        1. To clarify, in hearing comments from listeners of both 103.3FM & 105.7FM, their main reason for wanting the holiday music to be played so early is to get them in the mood for early shopping and the overall spirit of the season.

          1. Hahaha. Thanks TK. I understand. And I do think it makes sense for some. I figure if you don’t want it this early just don’t listen:)

    3. There is no time of year I like better than christmas. I figure I will be Santa or mrs santa in my next life:) That being said i can’t listen to the music until the day after thanksgiving. My mom used to say anticipation is half the joy. She was right Looking forward to the Christmas season is what makes it special for me. I don’t understand why the music is on the radio this early. I just don’t listen. I actually don’t listen to the radio anyway. I am a huge fan of pandora radio

  5. Its hard for me to get in the holiday mood when it is so mild. I don’t even start decorating or shopping until after Thanksgiving.

  6. I noticed giant Christmas wreath outside Copley Place Mall today…I give up, ugh!

    People want Christmas music right after Columbus Day, but too bad we rarely see the same Christmas “spirit” all year long.

    1. Great comment, Philip. I wish we had the feeling all year. I have a great wood plaque I do leave up all year. It’s weathered black with a small Santa and reindeer over a sleeping town and says “forever Christmas eve”. Christmas day is incredible but there is some thing about that feeling on Christmas eve I wish lasted every day of the year

      1. Again I can identify with that…
        For me, the anticipation and lead-up to an event is often more exciting than the event itself.

        1. As hadi said I think for many of us it’s the same for storms as Christmas i love all of the discussion on here leading up to a storm having this blog will make the storms extra special this year

          my favorite time for Christmas is after the gifts are all under the tree on Christmas eve I turn off lights except the tree and just sit. It’s easy to hear the sleigh bells I was sure I heard as a child.

          1. TK I read the Polar Express along with the night before Christmas to my kids even now. As soon as I start to read Polar Express my kids eyes all go to my face because I am sure they have placed bets on how far I’ll get through the book before I start to cry. Sometimes I make it to the last page but I’ve never made it all the way through.

            I think the bell rings for a lot of us here!!!

            And it’s safe to say that if I keep making these comments my son will continue to read the posts here but will never post!

    2. Philip- The decorations take time to put up. In a place like that and where I work safety is the number one thing. You do not want to rush in places like this. At my work we have the wreaths in thanksgiving week and we start putting them up the following Monday. It takes a good two weeks to get everything done to meet the deadline.

  7. As much as I am ranting, I have heard over the years that technically Jesus was born around October, the time of harvest. Even if this is true, I much prefer to celebrate Christmas as it is…at the peak of early winter darkness. I love turning on the lights between 4 and 4:15 pm. πŸ™‚

    1. I always heard the birth of Jesus, if history is correct, would be around September on the calendar we use now.

  8. North Pole, AK…. -33F this morning. Will Santa have any cold air or snow in the US on December 25th ? I’m starting to think Rudolph’s red nose is going to be important this year for all the fog thats going to be around in what will be a lot of mild air…..(read all your comments above and you got me in the spirit). My kids also enjoy the Christmas music as well when I turn it on.

    1. I think it’s safe to say everyone got me in the spirit last night – when I saw your post this morning on North Pole AK I laughed out loud

  9. Looks like the the 06 Nam and GFS pushes in a touch of snow tomorrow afternoon/night. The gfs also pics up on another possible snow event next week at hour 183.

  10. Good morning to all. Well I guess we get some rain today, still mild at least. Off to the food pantry to give some family a great thanksgiving dinner. Have a great day today. Vicki I hope your grandkids will take advantage of the call in santa. 617-931-1057 M-F
    7-8PM. I went on the website to see if I could hear my son again, but they only have last years call ins.

    1. Vicki you just need to keep hitting redial and hope to get lucky. If you get through the phone may ring 20 or so times but don’t hangup. If you get the ring tone your in.

      1. Hi John – I told my daughters but they think because the kids are 2 and 4 that they’ll be too shy to talk. Thanks for the number. I’ll have to listen at night and see if it might be ok for them to call

  11. Interesting from the NWS this morning:

    OF NOTABLE CONSIDERATION…OFFSHORE SFC CYCLOGENESIS MAY INVIGORATE
    SFC CAA TOWARDS THE REAR…RESULTING IN LOWERING THICKNESSES THRU
    THE DAY. HAVE TRENDED TEMPS LESSER ON MOS AND MORESO ON 2M TEMP
    FIELDS FROM THE GFS. CONSISTENT SIGNALS OF MODEST MID-LVL QVECT
    FORCING FROM ERN NEW ENGLAND 18Z THURS INTO NRN ME BY 0Z FRI IN A
    RGN OF FAVORABLE PVA DOES PROMOTE THE POSSIBILITY OF RENEWED
    PRECIP…ALTHO THE SFC LOW IS JUST IN ITS INFANCY AND LITTLE IS SEEN
    IN THE ISENTROPIC FIELDS OF MOISTURE WRAP AROUND. STILL…THE
    ECMWF/GFS SUGGEST A POTENTIAL SNOWY SITUATION FOR SE MA…PSBLY THE
    E SHORELINE OF MA AS WELL. WILL HAVE TO SEE IF THIS SIGNAL IS
    CONSISTENT WITH THE NEXT SUITE OF MDL RUNS. WILL ONLY SPECULATE FOR
    NOW AS TO THE POTENTIAL OF SNOW. WILL PREVAIL WET CONDITIONS…
    NOTHING FROZEN.

        1. True, quite a bit more, actually. But that was the 06Z run. Let’s see what the 12Z GFS shows and the 12Z Euro, then we’ll know more.

  12. Yes, BUT, you are looking at 48 hours worth of precip, most of which will have
    been RAIN. You need to look at the 24 hours of precip from hour 30 to Hour 54.

    Here it is:

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/NCOMAGWEB/appcontroller?prevPage=Model&MainPage=index&image=&page=Param&cycle=11%2F16%2F2011+12UTC&rname=PRECIP+PARMS&pname=precip_p24&pdesc=&model=GFS&area=NAMER&cat=MODEL+GUIDANCE&fcast=051&areaDesc=North+America+-+US+Canada+and+northern+Mexico&prevArea=NAMER&currKey=model&returnToModel=&imageSize=M

    That isn’t a whole lot and it would be wet and not accumulate. Mostly just some snow in the air.

    1. Down on the coast of the south shore we did not see much snow in October, and most if any fell during the early morning hours. Would be neat to see same flakes in the air.

      1. Looks like you will. If it comes down harder than depicted, perhaps it might “whiten” the ground a bit, but with all of this
        60+ days, that will be tough, if not impossible, with lighter snow.
        It would take some heavy duty snow to accomplish that feat.

  13. And look at this as we advance several hours:

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/NCOMAGWEB/appcontroller?page=Image&prevPage=Param&image=..%2FGemPakTier%2FMagGemPakImages%2Fgfs%2F20111116%2F12%2Fgfs_namer_177_1000_500_thick.gif&fcast=177&imagesurls=&model=GFS&area=NAMER&storm=&areaDesc=North+America+-+US+Canada+and+northern+Mexico&cat=MODEL+GUIDANCE&rname=SFC-LAYER+PARMS&pname=1000_500_thick&cycle=11%2F16%2F2011+12UTC&imageSize=M&currKey=model&scrollx=0&scrolly=99&nextImage=yes

    1. IF and I say IF, the 12Z Euro has this feature at all, then we REALLY have
      something to watch. If the Euro doesn’t even hint at it, then we’ll probably
      have to dismiss it. Lol

  14. Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated. My sister-in-law lives in the college park area of Atlanta and just said they are under a tornado watch at the moment. Has anyone seen anything on their charts to indicate there could well be a tornado in that area? Thanks so much. She lives alone and I could tell she was a bit nervous.

        1. Sorry, Vicki
          I was just trying to help. The vortex signature went away as I posted the link.

          I would have her remain alert and be tuned into the
          weather channel.

  15. Vicki,

    Based on this radar, there doesn’t appear to be anything in Atlanta itself.
    The more instense echos are North and NNE of Atlanta.

    I don’t know if this all helps or makes it worse.

    Hope it helps.

  16. Old Salty – thank you so very much for all of your information. I’ll call her now and find out what area of Atlanta she is in and also tell her the metro area is clear for now. I’ve been going through your links and can’t tell you how appreciated they are

    1. I just talked to my sister-in-law who said she has her mattress by the bathroom door and wanted me to extend her thanks as well!!

      1. In what part of the City does she reside?
        Is she actually in the city or just outside?

        One thing to note, On those links. They are a link to the radar
        image as it was when the link was made. If you click on it an hour later, it will give the current radar and not as it was
        an hour before. That is becuase the link is to a live site.

        Although Atlanta is in the clear for the moment, the situation
        is volatile. The watch is still up, so I something could still
        develop. “Hopefully” most of the action has moved by.

        As I get changes this PM, I’ll check out the radar.

        Try to have a good afternoon. Hopefully all will be well.

        1. She’s in College Park which is just northwest of the airport. She’s a Delta flight attendant. I bookmarked the links and will keep checking them !!!!

          1. I set the wunderground radar for college park. It has a plus sign in a circle on the map now – is that where college park is located? This is a great radar. I had it on my toolbar and then lost it when I had computer problems.

  17. Yes,

    College Park is just SSW of Downtown Atlanta. So If that + looks to be just a bit SSW
    of Atlanta, you got it.

      1. Ah, Vickie….

        Unless you somehow got the + to actually be College Park….

        The + is where the Radar Site is.

        College Park would be more than 3/4 the distance from that +
        you are seeing to the Big dot for Atlanta.

        Sorry for any confusion.

  18. Last check there were no tornado warnings in the watch area but certainly that could change. You could see on radar a line of showers and storms ahead of the actual cold front.

  19. Old Salty – I found College Park on another radar (not as good as the one you gave me but where I had a mark for it). Comparing the two I think the + I see is College Park and the + in the circle must be the radar location. I’ve been playing with showing tracks and severe areas. I think this is my new favorite toy. Right now her area looks very clear

    1. Yes, Indeed and the watch is collapsing from NW to SE as time goes on.

      My gut says that Atlanta is in the clear, but better to be safe and not let the
      guard down until the watch is discontinued.

      NWS, due to safety concerns, is extremely conservative and cautious, therefore the watch will stay up until they are absolutely, positively certain that no more tornadoes can form.

      1. Now that I have opened up my big mouth, I notice that there
        is another line of storms trying to get fired up along the actual
        cold front to the NW of Atlanta. So far they seem to be remaining below severe limits, but best to watch that to be safe and sure. With shear in the atmosphere, any storms that do make it to severe, could still spawn a tornado.

        1. Thanks again – we will wait until later to call her. I figure it’s best for her to be on guard – I sure hope there isn’t a problem but there’s a lot of “weather” in that area. She said it has been unusually warm. Not unlike here.

          1. From the NWS in Atlanta:

            FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON AND THIS
            EVENING. LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
            WILL CONTINUE TO MARCH EAST. MODERATE INSTABILITY AND STRONG SHEAR
            HAS RESULTED IN EMBEDDED ROTATING STORMS AND THIS TREND SHOULD
            CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. CURRENT WATCHES COVER THE THREAT AREA AND
            TIMING WELL.

            I guess that not only do they mean the storms that have already moved through, but the ones approaching with the cold front.

        2. The tornado watch is up for ATLANTA until 7PM, so I guess there is some concern with that line approaching.

          1. Jenny said that it was up until 7 – I just called and she’s watching. I remembering hearing once that you do not have a tornado without thunder and lightning or is that an old wives tale?

  20. 18z NAM doesn’t have much precip for Thursday night, although a few light rain or snow showers should not be ruled out.

    1. Scott,

      Agreed. Not much happening with that. All the action is before the atmosphere turns cold enough for snow. Not in the cards.

      Perhaps a week from now? Nah…sure to warm up for rain, if anything at all.

      1. With the AO and NAO possibly headed negative next week, and the PNA approaching neutral, maybe positive, a snowy scenario may just be possible. long ways off, but the we aren’t far from the estimated time of pattern flip, which may come in bits and pieces at first.

      2. From NWS in Taunton:

        Changed Discussion –AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAINS SHOWERS
        TONIGHT INTO THU…WHICH MAY END AS A BRIEF PERIOD OF SNOW THU
        AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING. DRY AND CHILLY WEATHER ARRIVES
        FRI/SAT…FOLLOWED BY MILDER WEATHER FOR SUN. ANOTHER COLD FRONT
        WILL MOVE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…FOLLOWED BY SEASONABLY CHILLY
        WEATHER EARLY NEXT WEEK.

  21. I’m a bit skeptic with today’s CPC outlook for temps, as it shows well above normal for a good part of the Midwest, when there are about to enter a period of much colder weather…

  22. Tornadoes, Thunder and Lightening.

    Tornadoes form in severe thunderstorms, usually on the rear flank of the storm.

    Generally speaking, one would see lightening and hear thunder before a tornado, would approach, but it all depends. Also, sometimes the tornado is imbedded in
    a curtain of intense rain, so much so, that one might never see lightening and perhaps not hear the thunder.

    A stand alone supercell is more likely to produce a tornado than a line of storms, not that a line of storms can’t produce a tornado.

    http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=FFC&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&type=N0R&zoommode=pan&map.x=400&map.y=240&centerx=400&centery=240&prevzoom=zoom&num=6&delay=15&scale=1&showlabels=1&smooth=0&noclutter=0&showstorms=99&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&remembersettings=on&setprefs.0.key=RADNUM&setprefs.0.val=6&setprefs.1.key=RADSPD&setprefs.1.val=15&setprefs.2.key=RADC&setprefs.2.val=0&setprefs.3.key=RADSTM&setprefs.3.val=99&setprefs.4.key=SLABS&setprefs.4.val=1&setprefs.5.key=RADRMS&setprefs.5.val=0&setprefs.6.key=RADLIT&setprefs.6.val=0&setprefs.7.key=RADSMO&setprefs.7.val=0

    The storms are getting closer to Atlanta, so far so good. Nothing really impressive.
    Watch for the storms with the yellow diamond, as they are the mesoscale storms
    that have to be watched for rotation.

    1. I didn’t know about the yellow diamond. There seems to be one at the botom of the line west of my SIL Thank you for the explanation as well.

      1. Looks as if there is a line all with yellow diamonds marching her way. I have to head out and pick up my car at the shop. I hate to leave. Thank you for your help!!! πŸ™‚

  23. Interesting….the 18Z GFS is showing WAY more precip tomorrow PM and Evening, than did the 18Z NAM. hmmm…..

    1. Haha, yes it did, but as soon as the cold air gets in, it will begin the drying process, so I’m not sure that run of the 18z GFS is going to verify.

  24. We’ve received 3 to 4 hrs of moderate to occasionally heavy rain south of Boston late this afternoon. This is going to end up being a fairly good rainmaker for us.

    Did the Storm Prediction Center forecast this severe weather event this week ? I must admit that when I look at weather info, that is one site I dont check out. So, I was just curious if 2 or 3 days ago, there was mention of a risk of severe wx in the southeast.

  25. We just talked to my sister in law who sounds much happier. I can’t than you enough for the help old salty and JJ too. We worry about her more since she’s alone so try to be there in spirit and support. She was very grateful for your help too. She told my husband she felt as if she had a whole lot of people looking out for her

  26. I am glad everything worked out.

    I vote OS blogger of the month. His contribution to the blog is terrific. He is all over the models during inpending events and look how he jumped all over Vicki’s situation.

    Its great that this blog has people like OS and JJ.

        1. I love the idea – I have goosebumps as I type thinking of how much he helped – both with information and with understand – and those alone bring a sense of control over something you can’t really control.

          I’ve said this before but feel it bears repeating. AT least two – maybe three – summers ago we were having a particularly bad front move through. OS saw rotation before the TV mets did and posted it on the BZ blog. My kids were headed right toward that area. I got them on the cell and they turned around. When I saw OS on here yesterday I felt as if it were meant to be. I am not saying I would not have loved to see anyone and everyone but there is something about tornadoes and Old Salty that just goes way back!!

          Not sure if that makes sense and is a long way of saying yes I vote OS blogger of the month πŸ™‚

      1. Jimmy James I loved that you also jumped right in there too along with OS – I’m so very glad you were both here. Thank you πŸ™‚

        And having watched the coverage of the destruction on the news this morning there sure was legitimate cause for concern. Did they say 19 confirmed tornadoes with a possible 10 to be added??

  27. 00z NAM closer with that second batch of energy Thursday night than the 18z run. Get’s me and probably others back in the snow tracking mood.

  28. Fairbanks, AK has joined the extremely cold in AK this morning. -38F with a pressure of 30.62 in….quite a high pressure.

    I think the slowly falling temps today are going to feel quite cold after the recent stretch of weather.

  29. Idk…tonight’s event looks suspicious to me.
    Has anyone checked out the 00z EURO, looks insane, although I liked seeing some strong southwestern ridging developing at the end of the run. Next weeks storm is still there and up in the air at this point.

    1. Quite a bit of moisture to work with, and a slight westward track with the nam could give us Atleast .5″ of QPF. GFS is giving us about that currently.

  30. Scott remember the NAM always overdoes QPF on the back side of a system, not saying this is the case, but something to think about.

      1. From NWS:

        IT/S PSBL AVAILABLE MOISTURE WILL BE LIMITED
        BY THE TIME OF CHANGEOVER RESULTING IN LOW SNOW ACCUMS…BUT IT CAN
        ALSO BE QUITE THE INVERSE. NEVERTHELESS…EXPECT MOST LOCALES BY
        LATE AFTN INTO EVNG TO HAVE CHANGED OVER TO SNOW.

    1. Vicki,

      There will be a transition period. Temperatures above us will be cold
      enough for snow as soon as it starts, but surface temperatures will still
      be too mild. It is just a question of how long it takes for surface temps to
      cool down enough to support snow. Somewhere between 3PM and 7PM,
      NW earlier, SE later, of course. Just can’t know for sure when.

      Again, these are my thoughts. Others may have differing thoughts.

  31. Good Morning everyone. Not a big deal to me with the snow and only giving this a 1 since even if it does snow will be MINOR compared to the October Noreaster.

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