PV Time

347 Comments

2:26AM

We will be under the influence of the circulation around the Polar Vortex (PV) as a general rule for the next week plus. Although the PV is normally associated with very cold weather, it will not be continuously very cold here in southern New England, especially at the outset, as the PV will become elongated and send a strong westerly flow across New England, still grabbing pieces of milder air from the south and mixing them with intrusions of Arctic air from Canada. We will be in the milder air today, colder air Friday, milder air again Saturday into Sunday, and then plunge into much colder air by the tail end of the weekend into the first half of next week. At this time, it looks like the circulation of the PV will be strong enough to deflect most storm development out to sea. One such occurrence will be tonight, with another sometime early next week. In between these, another disturbance will pass north of the area on Sunday. It is this disturbance that will send an Arctic cold front through the region, introducing the coldest air of the season so far by the start of next week.

Updated forecast for eastern MA, RI, and southern NH…

TODAY: Mostly to partly sunny – filtered sun in RI & southern MA and a few lower clouds moving down from the north into southern NH & northern MA during the afternoon. Slight chance of an isolated rain or snow shower NH & northern MA end of the afternoon. Highs around 40. Wind W increasing to 10-20 MPH, a few higher gusts possible.

TONIGHT: Partly to mostly cloudy. A period of snow Cape Cod and the Islands with up to 1 inch accumulation possible over the Islands and Outer Cape. Lows around 20. Wind shifting to N 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly to partly cloudy southeastern MA into mid morning with any snow on the Outer Cape ending, otherwise partly cloudy too mostly sunny. Highs 30-35. Wind N 10-20 MPH with higher gusts.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 15-20. Wind W 10-20 MPH.

SATURDAY: Partly to mostly sunny. Highs 40-45. Wind WSW 15-25 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 20-25. Wind WSW 10-20 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Slight chance of a few passing snow showers. Highs around 40 by early afternoon then dropping to the 20s by late in the day. Wind WSW 10-20 MPH and gusty shifting to NW 15-25 MPH and gusty by late in the day.

MONDAY – MLK JR DAY: Mostly sunny. Low 6. High 24.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Low 8. High 22.

WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny. Chance of snow showers early. Low 1. High 19.

347 thoughts on “PV Time”

  1. Thanks TK !

    That is one strong cold front to the region’s northwest …….

    Its around 33F to 36F in Watertown and Massena, NY …. then maybe 50 miles to their northwest, its in the teens, maybe another 50 miles or so northwest of that, its 5 to 10 BELOW zero. It is noticeable though how much better progress the arctic air (on this approach) is making moving eastward through southern Canada, as opposed to southward, as its in the 20s, for example, in central Michigan.

    I know its about to be squashed, but that was one impressive stand by the SE ridge over the last several days.

  2. NEWW are frauds! They have no idea the impact of a bad forecast has on peoples lives. They are hypiest if you will and only exist for fake entertainment value, if you can call it that. To me they are the Jerry Springer Show of weather forecasting.

    1. Who are you to tell us we need to criticize with professionalism? What are you the gatekeeper of weather blogs? Bleep you Jack! Hows that for professionalism! Stop falling this blog and go with those air heads at NEWW.

  3. Its snowing in central Mississippi this early morning. Found a few station obs that show light snow and temps of 32F to 34F.

  4. For anyone who is interested, Google Canada Temperature Anomaly. Check out all the projected shades of red along the US eastern seaboard for the week of 1/25 thru 1/31.

    1. I think we still get something tonight down our way guys, coating
      / inch. Boston maybe not still hoping.

  5. WBZ early this am giving the Cape and Islands a coating to 2.”

    I think we need to zero in on the Pats game forecast, the most important forecast of the week. TK has gusts at 15-25 mph and temps in the 20’s. I have seen TV mets with 35 mph gusts and a kick-off temp of 32. I am hoping TK is correct–good for the Pats — I often think they are a little better cold weather team and a little less wind is good for Brady.

  6. Do you know what they are basing it on? I don’t see 1 computer model that is depicting above average temps. Even the CMC at its long range which is Canadian does not support that idea.

  7. Those temps are going to feel warm to the Ravens compared to low teens and windchills close to if not below zero when they were playing at Denver last Saturday.

  9. Thank you TK!

    Snow is frozen this morning. The dog was thrilled that he could walk on top of what remains! And I love the shine of the sun on snow with a top layer of ice!

  10. Not to be all doom and gloom but…it certainly looks plausible that we miss tomorrow’s storm entirely, the tues storm seems to have vanished from thin air, and early indications point to a brief warm up…just in time for a storm next fri/sat as it looks to be more wet than white 🙁

  13. Friday is a complete miss for Boston. Next Tuesday also appears to be a miss. The Alisonarod storm arrives at the end of next week as the cold air eases slightly allowing the arrival of a coastal storm.

      1. OS I did mention sometime next week and never said it would arrive exactly on 1/21. There is no stretching;)

    2. You are stretching that out. You said like myself MLK weekend. Friday is new that may or may not effect us.

      1. John. I never mentioned MLK weekend. I said as early as 1/19-1/21 give a take a few days on either side. Let’s be serious.

  14. Good morning all and what a brutely cold morning at that! 😀
    Barely made it all the way down to 32. 😀 Brrrrrrr…..

    Seriously, I wanted to comment on all of this New England Weather Works
    commotion:

    First of all, it was mostly I posting all of the links to their sensational graphics.
    And Unless TK specifically asks me to refrain from that, I will continue to do so.

    They are doing the public a disservice with their doom and gloom fantasy prognostications into the future. They see exactly one computer model predicting
    an event and they go with it, 7 days in advance. Professionals, simply can’t and don’t do that. If they wanted to mention that there is the possibility of something brewing next week or something like that. Fine. No problem. But to produce those graphics and put it out there for public consumption is down right criminal.

    Those are my feelings. I sincerely hope that TK will allow me to express those
    opinions here. TK, being the creator and moderator of this site and also being a professional Meteorologist, obviously has to be professional and be careful how he
    expresses his thoughts about NEWW. Not the rest of us.

    And for what it is worth, I for one, certainly didn’t appreciate that the very first post on this blog by Jack was a complaint that we were all bashing NEWW. Too bad!
    If he doesn’t like our comments, he can go someplace else. 😀

    So there you have it. My soap box of the day. Now onto to weather events.

    Will have some comments on the upcoming weather or non-weather shortly

    2. Fairly and nicely stated OS – no surprise to me !! I thought about the discussion overnight and agree that a first post should not be an attack. If it was simply the graphics and anyone on here poking fun at them that was Jack’s problem, if NEWW didn’t intend to use them as a joke and in fact was using them to actually post serious weather, I’d question that as well…………on many levels and not all relating to weather.

      I still believe it was a fair question. However, I don’t like the way it was delivered.

    3. I hear that…nothing beats their “bomb target” graphic over NE from yesterday! 🙂

      That being said, I will certainly do what TK wants if it means I can stay on the blog. What I don’t like is someone posting one thing and this creating a “change in the rules” for people. No one here is being nasty or name-calling…it’s more light-hearted stuff calling them out.

  15. Hoping one of you can help me–my little science club is puttering along and one of the kids just brought in the picture of a dust storm in Australia. And the question is, what is a dust storm? Is it a meteorological thing? Can they predict them? I just googled it, and well, I need an answer in English, please….

  16. Regarding weather.

    0Z Euro still not showing much of anything. Miss for Tuesday and not much
    brewing for Next Fri/Sat.

    However, the Canadian is at it again.

    0Z Canadian for Tuesday: Throws some snow in here. Close.
    http://meteocentre.com/models/explorateur.php?lang=en&map=na&run=00&mod=gemglb&stn=PNMPR&comp=1&run2=00&mod2=gemglb&stn2=PNMPR&hh2=120&fixhh=1&hh=132

    0Z Canadian for Next Saturday: WOW!!!

    http://meteocentre.com/models/explorateur.php?lang=en&map=na&run=00&mod=gemglb&stn=PNMPR&comp=1&run2=00&mod2=gemglb&stn2=PNMPR&hh2=216&fixhh=1&hh=228

    Yesterday’s 12Z Canadian had the Tuesday system OTS, now it still has it off shore, but a Much closer pass to the coast. Hmmm

    And that depiction for next Saturday…Interesting. Fact or fiction???
    Remember, this is the time frame for which TK had a funny feeling. 😀

    1. Of course, IF that Saturday map actually verified, it would actually be
      Rain along the coast. But that is SO far out there, we are still simply
      looking at potential. We’ll worry about precipitation type if/when it
      gets closer to event time.

  17. Well, I was completely wrong about Boston not getting measurable snow yesterday. But, Tom and I (and others) will likely be correct about this next blast of cold air being: a. less than advertised (have my doubts about single digits for Boston); b. over before you know it. I think we have 3, maybe 4 days of below normal temperatures before the mercury heads right back up to the 40s.

    Should be noted that the well below normal temperatures continue in (mostly North) Western Europe, almost unabated. A lull (very muted thaw) during our 3 days of cold and then right back to well below normal while we rise into the 40s once more.

  18. But Joshua don’t you think the rise to the 40’s will be short lived? Looking over guidance it appears that we get those shots of cold air and some moderation, but right back to the cold.

    1. Even if the cold is not nearly cold as advertised, it does look like
      it will be colder on average than it has been. In other words, typical
      Winter weather and not the anomalous weather we’ve been experiencing. 😀

    2. Short waves of cold, yes, and no more 50s for a while, but shorter and shorter cold waves with longer periods above normal. I really think so. I don’t know if you and the others saw the weather map on NECN last night. [I love the fact that NECN shows all of North America and not just our region]. If you looked at how the cold will invade our area, it is coming at us, but more of a glancing blow than a direct hit. The bubble of very cold air – and parts of Canada (Manitoba, Sask., Alberta) are very cold – doesn’t `want’ to move very much. It is certainly not shifting eastward. When we get sustained cold, like in January 2003 and 2004, the bubble of very cold air is more directly north and northwest of us and comes at us directly. To use a boxing analogy, what we’re getting are jabs (some more potent than others) and not a full punch.

  19. Just to give you some perspective on how stationary those Scandinavian highs can be, Amsterdam has been below 32 (also during the day) for the last 7 days and is expected to remain below 32 (with two exceptions; 34 and 35 on Monday and Tuesday) for the foreseeable future. There’s almost no movement in the high. Talk about a blocking pattern. East wind in Holland every day with little or no variation. Kind of the flipside of what Amsterdam and Holland usually get: west/southwest wind with almost no variation (except for wind speed, of course). Amsterdam’s average high on January 17th is 41, and average low is 34.

    I don’t know which models Accuweather or weather.com rely on, but for some reason until this morning they both projected a major breakdown of the Scandinavian high as early as this Sunday. I do recall the Dutch mets discussing this possibility 4 or 5 days ago. But, they all but discounted this several days ago as new data and observations have come.

    The Dutch mets rarely discuss North American weather. The few discussions I’ve seen suggest above normal temperatures to continue throughout most of the winter for the Eastern Seaboard. This does not mean that there couldn’t be a cold snap or stretch. By the way, Dutch mets are not better or worse than American mets. Probably less prone to hyperbole, but that’s the only real difference.

  21. From Matt Noyes discussing the weather after the cold front passage Sunday PM:

    Behind the cold front, the coldest air of the season will arrive on Monday. At the same time, an energetic disturbance will dive off the Northeast U.S. coast, prompting storm development. We’ll certainly want to pay close attention to this storm and exactly where it develops for the potential of snow, but regardless of the track, the storm will increase northerly winds, locking in brutal cold for several days and driving wind chill values to dangerously cold values in some of the Northeast Monday night through Tuesday night.

    1. You’re right, Hadi. But it will be there soon. I would not characterize it as warm air, but relatively mild temps (a roller coaster ride in which the mild outlives the cold). I think it’s important to go back in time just a few days and check the forecasts for this upcoming weekend. Most had 30s for both days. Now all have 40s. I actually think that with some sun we could reach the upper 40s briefly. This has been happening virtually all winter. Gosh, last night it was supposed to be colder than it got. It barely got to freezing, which surprised me, actually.

      The cold dive will occur and will feel especially cold because we haven’t had much cold this winter. But the W/SW flow will rear its head. If I’m wrong, there’s more crow/duck/turkey to go around.

  25. NWS discussion for storm threat early next week. Its a watcher at the moment.
    SOME DIFFERENCES IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT AS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
    THE NEXT SURFACE LOW…WITH THE 00Z ECMWF DEVELOPING A STRONGER
    AND CLOSER LOW DURING THE DAY TUESDAY….ALONG WITH A MUCH DEEPER
    SHORTWAVE ALOFT BRINGING THE MAIN ENERGY OVER THE CWA. 00Z GFS
    HINTS AT LOW PRESSURE FORMING MUCH FURTHER OFFSHORE BUT WITH A
    WEAKER SHORTWAVE ALOFT…SO WENT AHEAD AND KEPT LOW CHC POPS IN
    TO ACCOUNT FOR THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE DEVELOPMENT. WITH BOTH MODELS
    HINTING AT LOW PRESSURE IMPACTING THROUGH MID WEEK

  26. Snow really melting – or shall I say, falling off the trees. Almost dangerous out there with the snow falling all over the place. Snow on ground melting but slower.

  27. Of course we all know next Tuesday will happen since The Farmers’ Almanac predicted it LOL!!! If there right like they were back on the last weekend of December I will give them credit for being real lucky.

  28. The snow on the ground here in Boston at least has the consistency of “mashed potatoes”. Is it pretty much the same for interior locals as well or just here at the coastline?

    1. Yes, I’d characterize it as March snow, rather than January. I think it has to do with the warm ground prior to the storm. Actually, the ground is still relatively warm after only two nights of barely sub-freezing temps.

  30. Assuming I am reading the NAO and PNA charts correctly, it appears that the -NAO/+PNA occurs at some point next week before things reverse again. Does this mean that an east coast storm is still on the table? NWS still believes systems next week still need to be watched.

    1. Hi Philip…. The positive PNA and negative NAO is a good setup for a storm to develop along the east coast. When when
      one forms hopefully it tracks to the benchmark or as I like to call it the sweet spot for a good accumulating snowfall.

    1. For next weekend, it wants to take a very energized clipper system
      toward the North of us. Waiting to see if it depicts any coastal redevelopment.
      If not, it will pass North with warmth moving in here.

          3. OS…as I mentioned above that the -PNA/+NAO occurs briefly between now and the end of the month. Perhaps this 1/25-1/26 is the potential serious threat for SNE? Yesterday TK already had a feeling for next weekend.

            2. There is potential there. We’ll just have to see how it plays out. But as per usual, after a series of systems forced OTS by the PV, when it finally relaxes, WHAM a system moves N&W of us. Go Figure. 🙁

              Again, plenty of time for things to change.

  33. As I said earlier its only Thursday and a lot could change between now and next Tues. Lets see what the 12z EURO shows. I am not throwing in the towel for any of those storm threats next week.

  34. The 1/25/13 threat will be the player for next week (not bad if I’m only 4 days off). The easing of the artic intrusion will allow a coastal low to come close enough, but not too close, bringing SNE a ‘potential’ for a winter storm. The Tuesday event still looks OTC but let’s hope that changes.

    1. I hope the tues storm comes closer and becomes more of a factor. I think that has more potential to deliver snow to most of us than next weekend. I fear the energy from the clipper will be so strong that it draws in too much warmth up the coast. Lots of time for that one though.

      1. I’d like the Tuesday snowstorm to happen too. Then my prediction would have been right on the money. Unfortunately, I’m not very confident that will occur. Next week’s storm on Friday seems very interesting. The artic intrusion may ease a bit, but not certain that it will ease enough to allow a coastal re-developer to track inside the BM.

        1. My sister-in-law is concerned. She is flying in and then out of Atlanta tonight. She also said in December the pipes froze in many locations (including her apt when she was on a flight).

    1. That’s why I told Acemaster yesterday not to rely on the radar. It will look ominous and appear we’re in for a direct hit. However, the northern extent of this storm will go only so far before it makes a sharp right hook. There will be sharp gradient between accumulating snow and nothing at all. That gradient looks to graze the Cape. Boston won’t see a flake.

      1. I couldn’t agree more. I actually posted it to represent
        exactly what you had said previously.
        😀

      1. OS. That shows that rain could push back as far west as NY state. With the polar vortex in place, I’m simply not buying it.

    1. Well it’s a cutter, but not in the traditional sense as it is a clipper that
      moves SE from Canada, but rather than coming out underneath us and turning NE, it turns just South of the lakes and cuts through NE through the lakes into Canada.

      UnBleeping believable! System after system shunted OTS by PV and PV relaxes some and we get a CUTTER. Really doesn’t make sense.

      This clipper “should” either come out on the coast and turn up the
      Eastern seaboard OR move towards PA,NY and redevelop South of Long
      Island and paste us. WHY? WHY?

      OH, it’s like 9 days away. I “think” there might be some time. 😀

      1. The way that shows that storm for the weekend, is that even physically possible?? Comes down through the GL, then goes right back up?? Did it get into the US and then realize it forgot something and runs right back where it came from?

        1. LOL! 😀 🙂 😀

          Well I think it forgot the PV was in place.

          I just don’t understand HOW it can move in that direction.

          Did the PV retreat all the way to the North Pole?
          Where did it go? 😀

      2. That shows that rain could push back as far west as NY state. With the polar vortex in place, I’m simply not buying it. Why? Because we are 220 hours away from a possible event! The scenario that the EURO depicts is the least likely scenario. Rather, an OTS storm is much more plausible. Do NOT buy into a warm solution especially when a clipper comes down from Canada and warms things up. Clippers reinforce cold air and promote secondary development if nothing else.

        1. I agree. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense right now.

          Too far out. We’ll have to keep watching.

          One thing for sure, it looks like what ever develops will
          be pretty well juiced up. 😀

          1. The trough looks to dig and amplify big time tapping in on both gulf and atlantic moisture. This is the one I’ve been waiting for once the PV and the southern jet collide. I just could be a few days off.

    1. Don’t let it. The EURO is out to lunch and should be discounted based upon its lack of anotomical and geographical logic.

      1. Nah, it would take a lot more than that to ruin my day. The EURO has been having issues lately and i look forward to its runs less and less.

        1. I agree. It appears the GFS is outperforming the EURO in the long range and then the NAM is taking over just prior to events.

  41. I see alot of ups and downs, 40’s 1day 20’s the next, late next week alot of models show a rainstorm

    1. I don’t discount that we could see a rainstorm (albeit unlikely). What I discount is the way the EURO depicts how it happens.

    2. But the sun angle is finally above the next door neighbors house and shing in the backyard 1st time since around Thanksgiving 🙂

    1. Ahhhhhhhh. Look closely at its origin. That does not show a true clipper originating from Canada. What we’re seeing here is a storm originating from the Pacific northwest. Storms originating from the Pacific typically spells a warmer solution for us. That’s a totally different story, for this is not a clipper.

        1. Now it makes much more sense;) It’s not necessarily the path a storm takes that is important. The origin is often more essential.

      2. True, but there are instances (blizzard of 78 being one) in which the storm did originate in the Pacific northwest, dove south (east) towards the Gulf, and then spun up the coast. What I’m seeing now is a relatively flat pattern (not entirely, but relatively). The northern storms are not diving south, not towards the mid section of the country and not even the Mid West (which is actually a little odd; they really have a snow and precip deficit and could use some decent snowfalls).

        1. Not saying it’s impossible for storms of pacific origin to result in snow. But if you look back over time, ‘most’ pacific storms result in rain for the cities along the eastern seaboard.

    2. This is what I’ve been concerned about. The PV is just not going to be in place for long, I’m afraid. Look at the bubble of cold air that currently exists and examine how it really only glances us next week. Sure, it will be a cold punch, but it has little or no sustaining power. If, on the other hand, the bubble of consistent cold would reside due north (Labrador) of us or just northwest (Western Quebec/Eastern Ontario) I would have much more hope of the Arctic air having staying power.

      Would not at all be surprised to see rain and relative warmth next weekend, with only some cold air behind it. After that, it’s almost February. Things can change, but as the French say, the more things change the more they stay the same.

      1. Josh. We don’t want the PV to hold strong if you’re a snow lover. The PV in that case would boot out any potential storms. However, a PV that eases is one that could invite a winter storm in our area. We hope the PV eases:)

        1. Yes, I’m in agreement, the PV in January 2003 and 2004 booted out winter storms for the most part but at least kept the place cold (and it certainly didn’t rain). What I’m afraid of is the PV easing too much – moving too far away.

          1. Yes, that’s another concern Josh. Hopefully it won’t hold too strong or retreat too far. We need a happy medium:)

  44. Too early to draw any real conclusions about Jan 25/26 threat based on models at this point.

      1. It is not uncommon for the PV during an unstable -AO phase to do very large loops. That could be one of the reasons. Or, the models could just be out to lunch.

          1. One piece of evidence that the Euro may be slightly OTL today is the fact that the surface and 500 chart for 12z 1-26 do not really jive. Something is wrong there.

        2. Thank you. Fun, isn’t it?

          Models will eventually get a better handle on it as we get closer and then we’ll see what’s what.

  45. And yes it’s a system of Pacific origin which means the solution of it is even more suspect at this point in time, i.e., 8 to 9 days before verification.

    1. I was just about to say with the PV in place, I’m surprised that a storm would even come out of the Pacific.

      1. Despite the PV dropping down, the Pac Jet has been active to some degree. That was part of the reason there was so much moisture available to feed into that frontal boundary that gave us a sloppin’ yesterday.

  46. Clearly something will be cooking next week but we won’t have a clue as to what will or will not happen until this storm hits the US. Unfortunately, the system is still in the oven as it hasn’t even been born yet:)

  48. We have been seeing these systems a touch further west and north because the last vestiges of the SE Ridge were keeping things just a touch N & W of where they would have been had that ridge been less stubborn. So the entire fluid complex was displaced northwestward slightly.

      1. That’s what it is, really. 🙂

        One of the biggest mistakes made in forecasting, and I have been included in this myself, is thinking of a weather system as a solid entity. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

        Glad you liked the term, though. 🙂

        1. Yes, When I worked for Air Force Cambridge Research Labs, one of the mets talked to me about how the
          fronts and storms don’t just move along, but rather
          that the conditions creating the fronts and storm systems
          are actually in motion exactly as you describe. That has
          bee with me for a long time and I was/am able to grasp that.

          Thank you.

  49. There is dry air in place over south central New England that’s just eating up the high clouds as they come in. It’s fascinating to watch on sat loop as well as in the sky out the window. Yup, a true weather geek am I.

    Snowstorms going out to sea, etc., just don’t bother me. It’s gonna do whatever it’s gonna do. I just hope to forecast it correctly. 🙂

      2. It’s very close but it will not get any closer. Remember that sharp cut-off in the precip I spoke of. CC gets an inch or two, plymouth gets a trace, and Boston gets nothing. It looks ominous but a lot of the precip on the northern fringe of the system likely is not reaching the ground. If it was really snowing in NYC, we shouldn’t be partly cloudy here. The northwest flow is just blowing away the cloud tops to the east preventing any meaningful moisture from reaching SNE.

        1. Look at the 18z NAM…It illustrates the outer cape getting blanketed with 3-5 inches of snow while just a few miles to the north and west, barely a coating. Sharp cut off.

  51. Watch what happens when the modified arctic boundary reaches the South Coast later tonight…

      1. That would be nice. But I don’t think that is in the cards this time. Isolated shower of mix to snow in SNE maybe with the passage. The storm just south of us, and it is a very close call, will be hooking right overnight. I’m gonna go out on a very shaky limb and forecast 1 inch of snow over Nantucket from the storm offshore tonight. I’m wondering of a few places on the Outer Cape get more snow from a period of northerly wind ocean effect snow showers Friday morning than any of that area sees from the passing low. Maybe an inch or 2 of fluff.

    2. That layer is making its way through Upstate NY and northern VT. Stowe down to 2’F with WNW winds screaming gusting to 40mph.

    1. That is right Hadi. And this was something that was a concern of mine when we finally saw hard evidence of the PV coming south.

      I wonder what would happen if the PV was parked in Canada, way up. These systems would probably be cutting through the Lakes. 😛

      1. I reserved a parking space for it right in the middle to always force storms right up the coast. I guess it flat out ignored me! 😀

          1. Lake-effect snow is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake water, providing energy and picking up water vapor, which freezes and is deposited on the leeward shores. The same effect over bodies of salt water also occurs (e.g. ocean-effect snow)

            Specifically, the air temperature at an altitude where the air pressure is 850 millibars (85 kPa) (roughly 1.5 kilometers or 0.93 miles vertically) should be 13 °C (23 °F) lower than the temperature of the air at the surface.

            So actually, this differential simply is not there
            tonight, even with the wind off of the ocean.

            I have learned something else today.

            TK, does this make sense?

              1. I’m sorry, please make that 13F
                differential, or about 10F less than
                what is required.

                Is this correct? thanks

                1. Wait that is the differential between surface air and 850MB temp. What about
                  differential between 850MB tem (about -12C or 10F) and ocean (45F) or 35F differential??????

  55. sigh…………

    Blacksburg, VA. Office

    APPEARANCE TO GOING PRECIP ATTM. OTRW FORECAST QPF AGAIN SUPPORTS
    QUITE A HEAVY EVENT IF THINGS COME IN LINE WITH TOTALS OF 6-12
    INCHES POSSIBLE ESPCLY AT ELEVATION AND LIKELY A GOOD 4-9 ELSW

    1. Exactly. Virga. Drying before hitting the ground and only moistening the column. Our column won’t even get moist here let alone snow

      1. Ok, now something isn’t right.

        4PM Baltimore obs:

        Max. Min.
        17 15:54 Calm 10.00 Overcast SCT055 BKN075 OVC095 41 28 60% NA NA 30.09 1019.1

  60. Well the CPC has no issue with the models.

    A flood of above normal temps through the SE and right up the East Coast into New England on their 8-14 temp outlook. 😉

    1. Just like Environmental Canada this morning. So….. its going to be 55F with a howling southerly wind a week from tomorrow. 🙂

      I’ve read the comments above, so I see the very reasonable concerns about the accuracy of this 12z EURO run, but I just had to throw that in anyway. 🙂 🙂

      What was last January’s anomaly at Logan, +5.3F ? …….

  64. And now, Mayor Tom Menino talks weather …..

    ” The city of Boston will be dropping its cold weather advisory for next week. Today’s 12z BURO model run has shown less cold and even a rainstorm next Friday. This is on top of an earlier run by the GPS model, which also showed the same.”

    Sorry, inspired by his creations yesterday of Wilcock and Gonk.

      1. closer but much less robust than the NAM. I think the GFS is too close and the NAM is too robust. Still think nothing more than a trace in plymouth county. Nothing north of that and perhaps an inch or two on outer cc.

  66. 18z is a little closer but still looks like mostly flurries or snow showers in Boston. Its trending a little further west.. I guess will just have to watch the radar.

  68. PV looks to be the killer for Tuesday storm according to the latest discussion of Upton, NY
    Boston will have a large snowstorm again it just won’t be in January. One of my bold predictions for 2013 was Boston would have one double digit snowfall event.

  70. Heres the 4pm write up from NWS

    .SYNOPSIS…
    LOW PRESSURE PASSING WELL SOUTHEAST OF THE REGION WILL GRAZE
    SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND WITH A PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW LATER TONIGHT
    INTO EARLY FRIDAY. DRIER AND MUCH COLDER WEATHER FOLLOWS FRIDAY.
    MILDER TEMPERATURES WILL MAKE A BRIEF VISIT ON SATURDAY…THEN
    A SHOT OF ARCTIC AIR WILL MOVE IN SUNDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.
    COASTAL LOW PRESSURE OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST WILL INTENSIFY AND
    MOVE WELL SOUTHEAST OF NEW ENGLAND…BUT MAY BRING ACCUMULATING
    SNOWFALL INTO SOUTHEASTERN AREAS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. MORE
    COLD AIR WILL WORK INTO THE REGION AROUND MID WEEK.

    &&

    .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/…
    COLD FRONT MOVES S OF THE REGION THIS EVENING…THEN OUR
    ATTENTION WILL TURN TO DEVELOPING OCEAN STORM OFFSHORE. MODELS DO
    NOT INDICATE PHASING BETWEEN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAM
    SHORTWAVES WHICH RESULTS IN OCEAN STORM REMAINING WELL S OF THE
    BENCHMARK. HOWEVER…PRECIP IS NOT THAT FAR S OF THE COAST AND
    NORTHERN STREAM TROF HAS SOME AMPLITUDE AS IT MOVES THROUGH WHICH
    WILL BE ENOUGH TO PULL SOME OF THE SOUTHERN STREAM MOISTURE
    NORTHWARD AS THE FLOW BACKS.

    MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THERE WILL BE ACCUMULATING SNOW
    OVER THE CAPE/ISLANDS TONIGHT BUT THERE IS UNCERTAINTY HOW FAR N
    AND W THE STEADIER SNOW GETS. THINK THE ECMWF PUSHES THE SNOW TOO
    FAR NW INTO THE DRIER AIR SO WE ARE ADJUSTING THIS SE CLOSER TO
    THE NAM/GFS WHICH BRINGS BACK EDGE ROUGHLY TO BOS-PVD CORRIDOR.
    FOR ACCUM…WE ARE GOING WITH 2-4″ FOR ACK…1-2″ CAPE COD AND A
    COATING TO AN INCH SE MA AND S RI. WE ARE ISSUING A WINTER
    WEATHER ADVSY FOR ACK. HOWEVER…THERE WILL LIKELY BE A SHARP QPF
    GRADIENT AND THERE IS STILL A CHANCE HIGHER ACCUM COULD SHIFT NW
    WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A NW EXPANSION OF THE ADVSY. THIS WILL HAVE
    TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY TONIGHT.

    THE OTHER CONSIDERATION IS OCEAN EFFECT/ENHANCED SNOW OVER THE
    OUTER CAPE LATE TONIGHT AS ARCTIC AIR IS PULLED SWD OVER THE
    OCEAN RESULTING IN EXTREME INSTABILITY. DELTA T BETWEEN SST AND
    TOP OF THE MIXED LAYER INCREASES TO 20C+ LATE TONIGHT SO THERE
    WILL BE ENHANCEMENT/OCEAN EFFECT SNOW AND NORTHERLY TRAJECTORY
    FAVORS THE OUTER CAPE ROUGHLY FROM HYA E.

    &&

    .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/…
    FRIDAY…
    OCEAN EFFECT SNOW WILL LIKELY PERSIST INTO THE MORNING OVER THE
    OUTER CAPE AND ACK…BUT DRIER AIR WILL EVENTUALLY WIN OUT WITH
    SNOW ENDING BY MID TO LATE MORNING WITH CLEARING IN THE AFTERNOON.
    OTHERWISE…MOSTLY SUNNY AND COLD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AS 925
    MB TEMPS ARE -12 TO -14C. WE LEANED TOWARD A BLEND OF COLDER BIAS
    CORRECTED GUIDANCE WHICH HOLDS TEMPS MOSTLY IN THE MID/UPPER
    20S…BUT CLOSER TO 20 DEGREES NW HIGHER TERRAIN. GUSTY NORTH
    WINDS EXPECTED ON THE CAPE/ISLANDS. WIND CHILLS WILL BE IN THE
    SINGLE NUMBERS AND TEENS FOR MUCH OF THE DAY.

    1. Nice. A really close call for sure.

      DELTA T BETWEEN SST AND TOP OF THE MIXED LAYER INCREASES TO 20C+ LATE TONIGHT SO THERE WILL BE ENHANCEMENT/OCEAN EFFECT SNOW AND NORTHERLY TRAJECTORY FAVORS THE OUTER CAPE ROUGHLY FROM HYA E.

      There is a period tonight after the Arctic front passes, where the wind will
      be NE from Boston through South shore. Clearly delta is more than enough.

      Everyone is saying no way? IF the wind truly goes NE, then there could be
      ocean effect from Boston on Southeastward. If it stays N, then only Cape and Islands. 😀 😀 😀

      1. Ah, forget it! Differential isn’t there until winds back to N or even NNW. Oh well. I’m trying. 😀 Now I see why it was stated
        Highly unlikely. 😀

    1. Cannot open the map. What the snowfall accumulation for Boston tonight? I bet it’s a well rounded number of zero.

  73. Big problem for snow tonight, dry air. Computer models having trouble picking this up. Boston zilch, I was wrong.

    1. The fat lady hsnt sung yet john. Not saying it will happen, but lets wait till its actually past us

      1. Ace I just saw Harvey and even here in pembroke a coating would be much . Once the storm reaches lower levels and bumps into that dry air it will be tough. Deep in the cape like Nantucket with the www up for there only maybe a couple inches.

  75. It certainly has gotten mighty cold in northern New England ….

    Burlington, VT : 10F …… Caribou, ME : -2F

  76. what ever happens nothing past 128 so as far as im concern its a miss.
    cape cod up to 3 inches
    canal up to boston less than 1 inch. dustings possible east of i95 if the northeast and east wind forms.

  77. Based on today’s highs …… It must be these values by midnight tonight or today will average above normal at these 4 southern New England climate stations ….

    Boston : 15F. Hartford : 11F. Providence : 16F. Worcester : 10F

    Dont think these will be the midnight values, maybe 6 to 7am tomorrow morning, so, I believe today will be the 12th day in a row above normal and I believe its 42 out of 48 days above normal at Logan since climatalogical winter began December 1st.

    1. Yes and no.

      Yes – As I get older, my tolerance to the cold is less and less, so, I do find the lack of cold easier to tolerate and surely the lack of snow makes things easier, as far as getting around, etc.

      No – once the snow is falling, I still get excited.

      Kind of a love/hate thing I guess.

      Its just happened that since we’ve all come over to TK’s blog, there hasnt been much winter the last 2 seasons.

  79. Not reaching ground, but this is interesting from Li Ny Nexrad:

    http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?zoommode=pan&prevzoom=zoom&num=6&frame=0&delay=15&scale=1.000&noclutter=0&ID=OKX&type=N0R&showstorms=0&lat=0&lon=0&label=you&map.x=400&map.y=240&scale=1.000&centerx=400&centery=240&showlabels=1&rainsnow=0&lightning=0&lerror=20&num_stns_min=2&num_stns_max=9999&avg_off=9999&smooth=0

    And then there is this Virgadar:

    http://www.intellicast.com/national/radar/current.aspx?region=hfd&animate=true

      1. I finally found a nice observation: 😀

        Wise / Lonesome Pine, VA
        (KLNP) 36.98N 82.53W

        Snow
        30.0 °F
        Last Updated: Jan 17 2013, 4:55 pm EST
        Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:55:00 -0500
        Weather: Snow
        Temperature: 30.0 °F (-1.0 °C)
        Dewpoint: 30.2 °F (-1.0 °C)
        Relative Humidity: 100 %
        Wind: Northeast at 4.6 MPH (4 KT)
        Wind Chill: 25 F (-4 C)
        Visibility: 0.25 miles

  80. 6 and/or 7PM obs from NJ, could not find single station reporting any precipitation at all.
    This is a very weird storm. Radar echos abound, but nothing reaching the ground.
    Have to all the way to Virginia to find precip.

  81. It wants to go into a mild spell after this next 5-7 days of cold weather, I’m not sure this has the staying power like I had originally thought 4 or 5 days ago, any have a good night everyone 🙂

  82. Remember the arctic boundary we talked about?

    That dry air is going to do in the snow. 1-3 Nantucket, D-1 outer Cape, flakes west of there to the canal, maybe Plymouth County. Zippo elsewhere.

    Harvey has the right idea.

    2. Thanks tk, I have been trying to say that. The air below is so darn dry. Even Plymouth county, where I reside probably just a dusting if that.

  84. The leading edge of precipitation which is virga is parallelling the south coast. There will be no further northward advancement with the leading edge of precip which is more than likely not reaching the ground. Have a look at the precip over the great lakes. Lots of lake effect snows going on over there. That west northwest trajectory as part of the PV is what is shunting this storm right over the fish. Cold air is great because it’s obviously one ingredient in creating a snowstorm, but it just goes to show that too much of something isn’t necessarily a good thing.

  87. I go to weather.com and it’s got this dramatic image of Arctic cold invading the country, along with a truly sensationalist headline about a “dangerous winter storm, named Iago.” Then, I look at their actual forecast, which I assume is a blend of the GFS and Euro models and I see what I’ve been seeing for weeks on end, seemingly: No consistency whatsoever between 5-10 day forecasts put out only a few days ago and today’s 5-10 day forecast. For example, higher temperatures as we get closer to this blast (shouldn’t even call it that) of cold air next week. Not only are the weekend temps now in the mid to upper 40s (Saturday afternoon will feel like spring – I think 50 is very possible and I’ve been saying that for awhile) , but Monday through Wednesday, the heart of this upcoming invasion of cold air, is now showing barely below normal temperatures. This is what I’ve been thinking all along. I would not be surprised if the temperatures they’re showing on weather.com keep going up for Monday through Wednesday. We could wind up with only 1 or 2 days of below normal. My guess is Boston sees teens at night, perhaps, but nothing remotely `Arctic.’ And I don’t see any truly Arctic air on the horizon, with the exception of glancing blows of relatively cool air.

    The image last night on NECN of the bubble of very cold air at least 2000 miles away was telling. Looking at it I thought, that does not look like a direct hit. Looks like Northern New England gets its fair share of really cold air, but not us. It’s going to mitigate (I guess that’s the word) so much by the time it gets here that I seriously doubt if we can even call it a polar or Arctic blast.

      1. TK, you are not guilty of hyperbole. I like the way you present the facts, but also your forecasts. I sincerely wish other forecasters would do the same. I think part of it is ratings and part of it incorrectly specified models that have too large an unexplained component (noise, if you will). But, I just think Matt Noyes, for instances, is better than that, and better than what I’ve been hearing from him about next week’s Arctic blast. As far as I’m concerned accuracy will also lead to better ratings if presented well to the public.

          1. I guess I’m old school and a little boring in that way. Used to love the Don Kent style of weather forecasting. There were others, too, who I admired. Currently, I’ll go with Barry Burbank as being my favorite. He is not prone to hyperbole, but has a pleasant demeanor and way about him that draws the audience in.

            1. Joshua, didn’t realize you were that old.
              I watched Don Kent since the day he started at channel 4. I had a chance to meet him once. Great guy. Too bad he is no longer with us.

              One of my old favorites was Bob Copeland.
              Remember him?

                1. 😀
                  When he put the effort in, he was one of the very best in the business. However, now and then he would mail it in and it showed in the quality of his forecasts. 😀

                2. I also remember bob copeland. As far as forecasting I can still feel the excitement Dick Albert put into his forecasts. I literally get goosebumps now just remember how infectious his excitement was

    2. I have and continue to agree with you Joshua. I can’t see the cold having true deep staying power with much below normal temps. Maybe a day here and there but not days on end.

  88. By the way, Providence will be getting some snow this evening and later tonight, perhaps an inch or two. I believe Providence beats Boston thus far in the snow department by a wide margin.

  90. Its 108F in Sydney, Australia. I think Jim Andrews had a blog today on accuweather about a piece of the heat from inland continental Australia breaking off for a one day stay in Sydney, and I guess it surely has.

    1. Brush fires are raging down under. Hard to manage when it’s that hot. When’s the Australian Open? Has it started? They sometimes play under absolutely brutal conditions.

      1. Yes, its started and I think Melbourne was very hot yesterday, but better today. Between Australia being closer to the equator than the US and the earth not being too far past perihelion, when you watch a match from this tournament and the sun’s out, it is the brightest looking sunlight …. I swear it looks twice as bright as the sunlight we receive in summer.

    2. Lots of temperature anomalies around the globe, and they’re not at all alike. As I’ve mentioned Western Europe, and most of Europe as well as parts of Asia, are well below normal. This trend will likely continue and a city like Amsterdam may wind up having colder average temperatures this winter than Boston, which is almost unbelievable. Then there are parts of northern Canada that are stuck in the deep freeze, much like Alaska last winter. But, most of the continental U.S. has been and will continue to be above normal in terms of temperature and below normal in terms of snowfall.

      1. I want you to go out on a limb and call February as you see it. I’m going cold and snowy, or I’m screwed.

      1. I think he is finally AOK. Have met him before. He is actually a very nice and caring man.

        However his all time great has to be:

        “Varitek split the uprights” 😀

  92. Someone mentioned NEWW. This is from them. The comment speaks for itself. Needs no commentary from me:

    Here is the current radar VS. the NAM, although not reaching the ground you can see the QPF is further North, Upper level winds are sharpening up. Looking at the water Vapor imagery clearly show the Moisture transport is further North and west of what the Models had it, we think some surprises are coming.

    http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/428132_515218981834250_1792463506_n.png

  93. We havent done the drive in several years, however, I am visualizing what I-95 must be like from Richmond, VA points south to the North Carolina border and it must be awful.

    If I recall correctly, there’s a by-pass around the city of Richmond (495 ?) and on it is this bigger version of the Lenny Zakim bridge in Boston and your higher up (maybe 50ft) as the bridge takes you over inland marshlands.

      1. Someone told me today that all of the west to east interstates end in even numbers, while the north to south ones end in odd numbers. Seems true when I think about it, never heard that though.

        2. North, it’s even better than that. The N-S Interstates are numbered from 5 to 95 like this 5-15-25-35….75-85-95 from West to East. Interstate 5 is in California, and 95 runs up the East coast, with the rest in between, in numeric order.

          The East-West Interstates do the same thing, Interstate 10 runs along the Gulf Coast, through Texas. Interstate 90 runs from Logan Airport in Boston West all the way to Seattle.

          There’s a weather connection here. Larry Cosgrove uses Interstate numbers to delineate the geographic reach of the effects of weather systems, which is how I came across this piece of trivia.

    2. I think its 295. We drove if at least once a year for 26ish years. But we took 301 for northern half. Richmond to charleston was the best especially when you started seeing the South of the Border signs and Cracker Barrel which hadnt reached here yet

      1. South of the Border signs….yes…..the first time, I was like, what in the world, but I understand its really now a shell of its former self.

        And yes Vicki, you have it correct, Rte 295, as I was looking it up online.

        1. That’s sad. The signs entertained our kids for 100 miles. We’d just stop for the restrooms and they’d get an inexpensive e souvenir but it was a great landmark. Glad we haven’t seen it in several years

    2. how i wish that was up here. and like i said near to slightly below normal snowfall in general as several storms hit the mid atlantic with cold shots.and I beleive several others thought of this as well.

    1. I was so hoping for a mini snowstorm on Nantucket. I think they may wind up with some slush later on. By the way, there may be some potent bands of snow near Duxbury and Plymouth later on tonight. Would not be totally surprised.

  98. Going back to my question yesterday about the Southern New England Weather Conference… who else here has attended?

    I’ve actually been at least three times, maybe four.

    2. Went 2 years ago when Bryan Norcross and Max Mayfield were amongst the guest speakers. Highly, highly recommend it to all ! Will go back to future ones …. Topic I loved the most from that year was this mini-tsunami (it had another name and I dont remember it) that came into the coast of Maine and the presenter, through his research proved that it came from a line of storms that must have had a gust front on it and these storms built a surge of ocean water and moved it right into coastal Maine. Well, something to this effect.

      1. I know it had Max Mayfield’s attention, because he sat down right next to me. Seemed like a very nice person, we were talking for several minutes before the presentation began. Of course, I’m sitting there at the time thinking, here’s this man who has been seen by millions and millions of people on national TV over the years trying to get those near the coastline out of harms way and here I am getting a chance to talk with him.

        I found the media weather folk, by in large, graciously kind in offering their time to say hello and even talk a bit.

  100. How’s this?

    Caribou Municipal Airport, ME
    (KCAR) 46.88N 68.02W

    Fair
    -6.0 °F
    Last Updated: Jan 17 2013, 8:54 pm EST
    Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:54:00 -0500
    Weather: Fair
    Temperature: -6.0 °F (-21.1 °C)
    Dewpoint: -20.0 °F (-28.9 °C)
    Relative Humidity: 50 %
    Wind: from the North at 12.7 gusting to 18.4 MPH (11 gusting to 16 KT)
    Wind Chill: -26 F (-32 C)
    Visibility: 10.00 miles
    MSL Pressure: 1021.0 mb
    Altimeter: 30.10 in Hg

  102. In the air between CVG and BOS taking a beating on chop, anyone see why we are getting tossed around? More than mid-way through the flight, will try to get an altitude/position. In a RJ700.

    1. I’m sure Tk will help you. Only thing I could think of, was the Arctic front
      and accompanying winds, surface and aloft.

      Projected 500MB for 10PM. shows winds at 18,000 feet at well over 100 mph.
      Who knows at 25,000

      http://www.instantweathermaps.com/NAM-php/showmap-conusncep.php?run=2013011800&var=VRTHGTGRD_500mb&hour=003

      at 300mb, closer to your altitude winds are roaring. 150-200 mph.

      http://www.instantweathermaps.com/NAM-php/showmap-conusncep.php?run=2013011800&var=GRDHGT_300mb&hour=003

      That just might explain it. Hopefully TK will add much more.

      Best of luck.

      1. Thanks OS – just touched down at Logan, I think you may have it. The captain said the turbulence was not forecasted, tough to miss 90+ minutes of heavy chop, I thought these types of conditions were passed between towers/flights. 500+ hops, never had a ride like that!

        Glad to be home, what’s the call for kick-off weather?

            1. Thx – always a bad sign when they can beverage service for FA safety. Everyone bee-lined to the restrooms after de-planing.

  105. From NWS: 😀 😀 😀

    Special Weather Statement

    SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
    919 PM EST THU JAN 17 2013

    MAZ018>021-180630-
    WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
    SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-
    INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…BROCKTON…PLYMOUTH…FALL RIVER…
    NEW BEDFORD…MATTAPOISETT
    919 PM EST THU JAN 17 2013

    …ONE HALF TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT INTO EARLY
    FRIDAY MORNING…

    LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT…WITH THE BULK OF IT
    FALLING BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 AM. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE HALF
    TO TWO INCHES ARE ANTICIPATED ACROSS THE REGION. THE BEST CHANCE
    FOR THE HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE CLOSER TO THE CAPE COD CANAL. MOST
    OF THE LIGHT SNOW SHOULD COME TO AN END BY EARLY FRIDAY
    MORNING…BUT UNTREATED ROADS MAY BE SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY FOR
    THE MORNING RUSH HOUR.

    $$

    FRANK

  106. I was going to post this on your previous blog, but I’ll just do it on this one. I am referencing the frost on cars the other day 😉

    Frosty the snow car was an icy, foggy soul
    With frozen pipes and a covered nose
    And two headlights dark like coal.

    Frosty the snow car is a dreadful thing, they say,
    He slowed them down, and the people frown
    How they came late to work that day

    There must have been some magic in
    That new snow brush they found.
    For when they used it on his windshield
    He began to clear right off.

    Oh, Frosty the snow car
    Was melted as he could be,
    And the people say he could run and drive
    Just the same as you and me.

    😀

  109. Mark Rosenthal was a guest on “Overnight” with Morgan White on WBZ radio between midnight – 1 am. It was really good stuff IMHO. Mark trashed the media hype and global warming and pretty much all hype in general relating to weather.

    The only thing I really disagreed with him was that he doesn’t like forecasts beyond 5 days. I personally love 7-days and my bet is most of the viewing public as well.

    Mark also mentioned that Bob Copeland is living in NH…I could have sworn that BC lived on the Cape?? Maybe he moved over the years?

    TK, have you ever met Mark Rosenthal even just in passing at a wx conference, etc.? I don’t recall you ever mentioning him here on the blogs…other than that “ordeal” in the pumpkin patch somewhere in central MA a couple years ago, LOL. 😉

    Here is Mark’s website: http://www.weatherblast.com

    1. I have met Mr. Rosenthal. A very tall fellow.

      Way back in 1985 when I was a weatherwatcher, one day in March we had a squall line go through in which the sky turned greenish black and was followed by a hailstorm. When I had called to report it he answered the phone “sh** I don’t wanna do this! I know! You got hail, right? Thanks, bye!” *click* … I always thought it was a very unprofessional moment and I disliked him for a very long time because of that. But now I just kind of laugh about it.

      He has a nice web page, but “forecast” is spelled wrong everywhere. 🙂

      1. Thanks TK…very surprising that he treated you like that. Over the years that I watched him on-air he always seemed very professional towards the newscasters and viewers. I am certainly not excusing him by any means but maybe he had a bad day? I had never been in a wx office but back then, maybe phones were ringing off the hook and he in a moment just lost it?
        Anyway, it is obvious that you moved on regarding that “dark” day in 1985. Myself I probably would be still steaming years later. 😉

        As for the 1 hour discussion on global warming and weather in general, Mark spoke very much like you do here on this blog. From my perspective it just as easily could have been you on the radio this morning. He is just not into today’s hype at all and he put a lot of things into perspective. I don’t usually listen to overnight talk radio unless I have to get up very early to work or come home late from work. This time it was the latter.

        Until you mentoned it I didn’t notice the misspellings of “forecast”. Yes, there are at least three of them that I could tell. 😉

        TK, any chance Boston could sneak in a very, very light dusting overnight? I think I know the answer…slim & none and slim just left town. I remember Mark would say that on-air sometimes, LOL. 😀

        1. I’m sure he had a bad day. Mark’s a good guy I am sure.

          No chance for Boston overnight. A few inches tops for the Cape and that’s it.

          Close call Monday night & Tuesday again.

          Something may be brewing late next week…

          1. At this point in the season, I am looking forward to the cold ‘weather’ it brings the snow or not.

      2. It always seemed like when I called in to report in the 80’s it seemed like they were talking through a tomatoe can :$

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