On this date 14 years ago, it was snowing. Hard. A lot of snow. Over 25 inches in Boston, 30 inches here in my hometown of Woburn MA. The April Fools Blizzard as it is known, was well underway, having started out as a rainstorm on Monday March 31. Though a different setup than the one we have today, there were some similarities, in that cold air being brought down from above helped to initially turn the rain to snow. But that was a much more dynamic, powerful storm system. This one won’t reach those levels, or anything close to that, until it is well beyond the region, heading for the Maritimes of Canada, which stand to get quite a punch of snow & wind. Even parts of eastern NH & Maine will get a good hit of snow & wind from this, with over a foot in some areas.
Instead of going further into a discussion of the structure of today’s storm and why it’s doing what it is, I’ll just state that it all should be winding down as we go through the afternoon & evening, with all the heaviest precipitation, mainly snow from Boston north & west, with a mix to the south, and some rain toward the Cape. Many of these areas of southeastern MA & parts of RI already saw 2 to 4 inches of snow during last evening. As far as amounts go for the remainder of the area, there really isn’t any change to what I posted on the previous blog, so you can go there to see the breakdown.
What’s coming up? Our storm will be spinning about in eastern Canada this weekend, bringing drier air into our region, along with gusty winds and cool, but tolerable temperatures. Some clouds will be around Saturday, and Sunday should be the sunnier of the 2 weekend days. Looking into next week, another unsettled period of weather is expected from later Monday through Tuesday, with some threat for rain, showers, and even the potential for thunderstorms by Tuesday. This will be from a warmer system tracking to the northwest of the Boston area. It is unclear whether or not there will be additional storminess at midweek. This being many days away, I’ll just keep an eye on it and update as it gets closer.
Forecast details for the Boston area…
TODAY: Overcast in the morning with snow, heavy at times, through about 9AM from Metro Boston northward, lighter snow & rain showers to the south. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers of mostly snow and some mix/rain (to the south) in the afternoon. High 35 to 40. Wind N to NW 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Low 25 to 30. Wind NW 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts.
SATURDAY: Variably cloudy. High 40 to 45. Wind NW 10 to 20 mph with higher gusts.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Low 25 to 30. Wind NW 10 to 15 mph.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. High 45 to 5o. Wind NW to W 5 to 15 mph.
MONDAY: Increasing clouds. Late day rain. High in the 50s.
TUESDAY: Showers & thunderstorms. High in the 60s.
WEDNESDAY: Chance of rain. High in the 40s.
Happy April !! Heavy rain currently in Marshfield with a strong wind. I am glad high today is not for several hours. There is still some snow on the ground from last night’s 3 inches. …………….I notice theTuesday outlook is for 60s with showers and T’Storms, sounds interesting. Have a good day everyone !!
glad high TIDE today is not for several hours.
Didnt get much here in Wrentham, it’s raining and has been since midnight, we got about an inch of snow, boy was I worried about a complete botched forecast, I can’t believe the snow has disappeared even from the grass and it’s raining, it looked bad before I went to bed, I was shocked to wake up to nothing
Good morning all – just under 3 inches in Framingham but more on the grass than on the roads. Temp is right at 33 and still some light to moderate snow.
I don’t have anything to measure for snow, I measured 1.3 inches last night at 9pm, but the rain washed it away overnight, not much of a big deal here south south west of Boston, and I thought before I went to bed that I would be plowing, kinda dissappointed
Rapid low level drying taking place in CT RI and SE MASS as we speak. It will contribute to a rapid shut off of the significant precip this morning. About the only thing I got right, that and maybe the lower amounts in CT River Valley.
I was wrong more than I was right on this event, if we didn’t get the inch of snow last night, this was a total rainstorm 🙂
For me
No change to rain here, might be getting some sleet at the moment. the Snow has been melting from below, so couldn’t pile up as much. About 3-5 inches have fallen.
Hi guys.
Just think, Haid’s gonna be swimming probably right after lunch today.
7″ on my grill…..4-5″ on the driveway and the roads are pretty bad. Greasy because most of the salt and sand from the winter has been washed away aready.
Good call JMA on it being quick moving
Where’s this?
Holden…..at roughly 900′
Oh up north :), here about 30-40 miles south we got an inch last night, then it just poured, and it’s still sprinkling here, but no snow
Slushy inch in Hanover this morning. My commute to Boston was the same the entire way. Rain with slush on the roads.
Hey what’s up coastal, do u feel left out? I do, I’m kind of disappointed, even though I thought it was going to be mostly rain
We got about 5 inches of snow in Sudbury. Just a light mix going on right now.
My landscaper pushed my appointment from 8am to noontime bc of the snow, if u asked me last night, I would have bet he wouldn’t have been able to come till Mon or Tue, but anyways have a great day everyone 🙂 weekend looks okay
3.75 inches final in Framingham with a lot of compacting. We’ve had power go off and on three times. I’m hoping that it’ll stay out the next time 🙂 It’s incredibly beautiful to look out over the trees!
I would be interested to see people’s snowfall totals.
It seems to me the storm produced a little more snow than thought in some areas south and east of Boston, but a lot of that got washed away with a change over to rain last night, thus negating the impact of that snowfall.
Perhaps the area west of 128 and between the Mass Pike and RT 2 was the non-elevated jackpot? Say 3-6″ in that area? If that is the case then, the TK really nailed that area.
It appears that the storm went further east than I thought. The convection in Florida which I did anticipate did not interact quite as I thought, though it did serve to usher in copious amount of low level drying and create a rapid deformation zone this morning, cutting off the significant precip rapidly in much of SNE this morning.
The most copious bands of moisture seemed confined on a line south of Taunton/Weymouth/and the Outer Cape. A much more narrow scope than perhaps thought.
In the end, I think many of us who talked about this being a notable winter weather event but not of great long term significance, will probably be right. I was reluctant to go with 12″or greater amounts keeping most of the high ranges in the 6-10″ range due to the rapid nature of the storm and figuring max QPF would not exceed 1.25 and that would fall in warmer areas. I think that worked out well.
In then end wish I would have bought the colder scenario for Northwest Boston, but other than that, when I review my amounts, overall pretty good. Certainly, screwed up a lot bigger than this over the last 18 years.
We got 1.3 inches, but yes it was all washed away and there is no proof that it even snowed here in Wrentham 🙂
Temp is 36
Correction – 4.75 in Framingham. Fingers not awake yet.
Looking at the NWS statement. Seems like Middlesex County region does verify at 3-6″ Nice call TK. I went with 6-9″ in the Worcester North region. Seems about 6-8″. Much less in the CT River Valley. 1-3″. Kind of saw that coming. The East Slopes of the Berks where I went 8-10″ I think are going to come in well short. Should have saw that coming with the trend east.
Cape Ann did pretty well for a shoreline area. 3-4″ I would be interested how much of that stuck and if it had any impact on the roadways.
Outside of that, Norfolk County, Bristol, County, Plymouth County seem like a general 1-3″ with a lot of that washed away by the change to rain.
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&format=CI&version=1&glossary=0&highlight=off&issuedby=BOX&product=PNS
This doesn’t verify for my area, I’m not sure why, or maybe late last night while sleeping, but none of this is on ground, have a great day 🙂
JMA,
Thanks for the post investigation. The TK/JMA blended model worked out just fine on this one I think.
The NAO looks to be on the positive side for quite awhile after today, but cool and damp weather may continue.
I would say Pembroke has around 2inches. Not sure when it went to rain, but grass is all still snow covered. Went to bed around 11:30 and it was snowing hard. I will admit
That I was shocked as I was thinking rain. That first front that came in around 4:30 in the afternoon as you know was not to be that big of a deal, well mother nature fooled us. Many spots down on the cape picked up around 3inches not bad considering they were to get all rain. We can look forward to 60s on Tuesday. It will be a fairly warm week till we hit Thursday when temps go back to 40s.
John I’m not sure what happen, I’m in a void for snow here in the Wrentham area, we got a quick inch last night which was suprising, and then it just drizzled and then it rained, even though I thought mainly a rain event, I was getting excited for some snow, I even went for a ride into town and there was no snow there either, very very weird 🙂
When I woke up at 7am, there were 6.5″ of wet snow in Worcester at an elevation of just under 700′. The driveway had maybe 4″ inches but I didn’t officially measure that.
4 or 5 inches in Andover, still a mix in the air when I left at 8… ride down 495 to Framingham was very white, nice frosting on everything, although the roads were in fairly good shape. Ran into some fast lane slush in Lowell, hairy there for a bit as it was tracking me back and forth… Rest of the ride was fine though.
It is amazing the difference elevation makes. In my town where I live at almost 400 feet we have about 6 inches, you drive down to 150 feet and there is about 3 inches. It always amazes me…
Looked like about 2.5 inches last night in Weymouth, now it’s about 1 inch of slush. Be well you all and if you are in Weymouth tomorrow and want to help clean up the Herring Run we start at 0800 at the corner of Broad and Commercial streets at Herring Run Park. Coffee and donuts provided.
It is 34 degrees in Sudbury now and the snow is already melting. Even ‘though I am looking forward to Spring, the snow on the trees is pretty – but already the snow is falling from the trees. The sun isn’t out but it is getting bright out – I guess it’s that April sun that is trying to push through the overcast. The lights have flickered here in Sudbury, too.
Thunderstorms a possibility next week? Wow – that’s New England weather for you! 🙂
Looking forward to tracking that – but I hope it doesn’t get as severe as it was in FL the past few days.
rainshine – the wind is just starting to pick up intermittently in Framingham but a lot of the snow is now off of the trees so I’m thinking we may have seen the last of the lights going on and off. I did hear National Grid say Marlboro had an area with no power so wonder if that’s what caused power to go on and off briefly here.
Vicki, thanks. The wind has picked up here a little too – that could be causing the snow to fall off the trees a lot, too, besides some melting. We live in a wooded area so there’s a lot of trees around here. Have to watch out for falling snow near our car! 🙂
I’m kind of jealous of Hadi right now. 🙂
It is getting real nasty over on the other side. That blog has become like a law free zone. It is really sad because it use to be real good, although TK, Coastal, and others are doing a great job on this one.
I agree – and it makes me very sad, too. I am very grateful for this blog and to be part of it. And thanks to TK, Coastal and to others who have worked hard to get and keep this blog going.
I’M done posting there and will just come on here now. I hope TK keeps making this site better as he said he has plans to do so. This blog will be much better than the one on wbz. I hope BM will join us, TK said he has been invited. Cold and raw today.
Looking forward to a sunny weekend. This outght to be completely melted away by Sunday afternoon the latest.
Up there yeah it probably will take another day or 2, u should drive down 495 towards gillette, u would be amazed it’s already gone, have a good day 🙂
Last night snow event really reminded me of a snowstorm in Dallas when I lived there back in 2002 or 2003, it snowed big wet snowflakes melting while it hit the ground, around 1-2 inches fell and it melted with 12 hrs, there was actually steam coming from the ground, kids were sledding on scrambling to get cardboard boxes bc I think there wasn’t much time. Anyways just a thought 🙂
John, do you still have snow on the ground or is it melting already?
Hi coastal- still some snow on the grass, but melting since this morning. Very cold and raw feeling out today. I am guessing we may have got 2inches or just under.
Do you think it will all melt today?
I think a good part of it will, I am seeing grass areas now
that was covered at 8am this morning. I did not take any measurments, but like I said it looks like we got 2inches or just under.
Coastal most of that snow was on grass, porch and cars. It did not start sticking on the ground in my neighborhood till after 10pm.
Thanks John!
Coastal-Hanover did not look bad at all this morning, had to pick up some things at the mall.
Just wondering if the snow will be gone so I can do some yard work this weekend.
You should be good to go- If you will be raking just let it get dry some.
TK or anyone who can help? I just read an amazing piece in Yankee Magazine entitled Goodbye to Winter – An appreciation of “the season of introspection” that only New Englanders may understand. I suspect some or many here may relate. I’d love to post the link here but want to ask if it’s all right to do so first.
Absolutely!
Coastal did you see my answer to your question as to how I know where the Mug is? I posted it this morning on yesterday’s thread. We spend a few weeks in Humarock (Scituate) every summer and have been since I was one. Now we have four generations that go. We were there just before the hurricane we didn’t have last summer and ended up leaving a day early just to be safe. Tom was a big help in keeping us abreast of how the tides and such work in that area at the time.
Please post!
Thanks Coastal
http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2011-03/features/winter-goodbye
Thanks, Vicki! I love all the seasons – each one has its special beauty. I’m definitely ready to move on to spring and summer – but it was still kind of nice to see how pretty the snow looked on the trees. Apologies to those who had to drive through the slush this morning and lost their electricity. Have a good weekend all – still deciding whether I will be watching Red Sox this afternoon. Kind of jealous with their summery weather! 🙂
You are welcome – glad you enjoyed!
Thanks Vicki!
cool piece Vicki. I wonder what a “proper burial” would be. Beach sand perhaps!
I’ll say that I love winter storms becasue we live in a unique part of the world where ‘noreaster type storm take shape. I thought I once read that only one other such geography/climate in the world produces them and it’s somewhere off Japan I believe. Perhaps TK or JMA can confirm that specilation.
I do welcome the warm weather and that first smell of sunscreen splashed on my kids.
Thanks retrac…..I think I welcome each season equally and can’t imagine living where there were no seasons. I particularly liked the piece because as much as I do welcome the new season, I also have some trouble saying goodbye to the last. That’s why this piece caught my attention 🙂
How about daffodils for now as a burial :)) Mine actually opened today. Guess even mother nature is having trouble saying goodbye to winter!
Vicki, stilll no dafodils for me just yet, but my crocuses are standing tall amidst almost 2″ of snow. 🙂
My crocuses have pretty much had it – they were holding their own yesterday but the snow put them to rest
Boston received 1.5″ of snow but felt like “5.1” trying to push it around…ugh!
I will post final Boston snow stats later and will put away my shovel for the season first thing tomorrow. Hint…Boston still made history in terms of “spring” snow.
37 here in Hingham, snow still on the ground, Daffodils looking a bit tired.
Good afternoon all. Once again as has been the case for most of this week I’m here for a short time then out for a while. I’ll try to update the blog as soon as possible.
In Woburn, I got 5 inches of snow. During the day (after the meaningful precip was over) I’ve had periods of light snow, sleet, drizzle, & light rain. Just had a burst of light snow while outside but now it’s back to a few raindrops.