March Wind

136 Comments

7:28AM

It’s mostly about the wind out of this one, except on Cape Cod, where it is about wind, snow, and coastal flooding. As mentioned in previous blogs, most of the snow falls on the Cape today, with a sharp cutoff just to the west meaning only dustings to 1 inch on the MA East Coast building up to around 6 inches or a little more on the Cape, which will be blowing around and hard to measure, with blizzard conditions for a while down there. Elsewhere, the snow tries to edge into eastern MA and coastal NH then moves back to the east out to sea.  The wind today will still be the biggest story for all of southeastern New England as the beast of a storm winds up and goes far enough east to spare most of the region the snow, but not the wind. Gusts of around 40 MPH will be common inland and 50-60 MPH will be common near the coast, with gusts over 60 MPH over Cape Cod. Some damage is possible especially on the Cape. Coastal flooding is most likely this morning during high tide on north-facing shores.

Storm pulls away tonight, high pressure builds in for a nicer Thursday, cool for the season but feeling mild due to less wind and more sun. Warmer southerly wind Friday as a cold front approaches but with rain showers becoming more likely during the day.

Weekend does indeed look cooler and unsettled as low pressure forms on the front as it settles to the south and doesn’t move too much after that. Rain returns Saturday and may linger into Sunday. Still some hope for clearing late Sunday but we’ll see how that works out as we get into a Spring pattern that looks a little more unsettled than fair. Do expect some dry weather to work into the region by early next week.

Updated forecast for southeastern New England…

TODAY: Cloudy. Snow of around 6 inches with blizzard conditions at times Cape Cod, up to a few inches of snow southeastern MA, and 1 inch or less near the eastern MA and NH coasts. A few flakes may penetrate slightly inland this morning otherwise all snow ends west to east midday and early afternoon. Highs in the 30s. Wind N to NW 15-30 MPH inland with gusts frequently around 40 MPH, 25-35 MPH with gusts 50 MPH or more near the coast, and around 60 MPH top gusts Cape Cod.

TONIGHT: Clearing west to east. Lows 15-20 except 20-25  South Coast and Cape Cod. Wind NW slowly diminishing to 10-20 MPH but still gusty for a while.

THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 40-45. Wind W 10-20 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. PM rain showers. Low 40. High 60.

SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Low 40. High 50.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Low 35. High 40.

MONDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 30. High 45.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Low 30. High 50.

136 thoughts on “March Wind”

  2. Thanks TK.

    Nantucket ob at 7am …. heavy snow, N wind at 43 kts, gusting to 63 kts !!

    Visibility has lowered to 1 mile, we have a wind whipped fine snow falling. The roads though, are wet.

  5. 7AM OBS

    Boston:
    Temperature: 30.0 °F (-1.1 °C)
    Dewpoint: 12.9 °F (-10.6 °C)
    Wind: from the North at 25.3 gusting to 41.4

    Chatham:
    Weather: Snow Freezing Fog
    Temperature: 30.0 °F (-1.1 °C)
    Dewpoint: 28.0 °F (-2.2 °C)
    Relative Humidity: 92 %
    Wind: from the North at 19.6 gusting to 39.1 MPH (17 gusting to 34 KT)
    Wind Chill: 17 F (-8 C)
    Visibility: 0.25 miles

    Nantucket:
    Weather: Heavy Snow and Windy
    Temperature: 31.0 °F (-0.6 °C)
    Dewpoint: 28.9 °F (-1.7 °C)
    Relative Humidity: 92 %
    Wind: from the North at 42.6 gusting to 63.3 MPH (37 gusting to 55 KT)
    Wind Chill: 14 F (-10 C)
    Visibility: 0.25 miles

    New Bedford:
    Weather: Light Snow
    Temperature: 28.0 °F (-2.2 °C)
    Dewpoint: 23.0 °F (-5.0 °C)
    Relative Humidity: 81 %
    Wind: from the North at 18.4 gusting to 31.1 MPH (16 gusting to 27 KT)
    Wind Chill: 15 F (-9 C)
    Visibility: 1.00 miles

    Taunton:
    Weather: Light Snow
    Temperature: 30.0 °F (-1.1 °C)
    Dewpoint: 21.0 °F (-6.1 °C)
    Relative Humidity: 69 %
    Wind: from the North at 17.3 gusting to 39.1 MPH (15 gusting to 34 KT)
    Wind Chill: 18 F (-8 C)
    Visibility: 2.00 miles

    PLymouth:

    Weather: Light Snow
    Temperature: 27.0 °F (-2.8 °C)
    Dewpoint: 21.9 °F (-5.6 °C)
    Relative Humidity: 81 %
    Wind: from the North at 19.6 gusting to 40.3 MPH (17 gusting to 35 KT)
    Wind Chill: 14 F (-10 C)
    Visibility: 0.75 miles

  6. HOLY wind.

    I’m a little excited to see what the next couple weeks have in store. While I LOVE the warmth, it would be mighty interesting to get late season snow.

    1. It might just happen, although the way it has been going lately, more
      likely that we’ll just have some SNOW teases, is all. 😀

      If that’s the case, give me SUNSHINE and WARMTH!

  8. Had about a 40 minute light snow area move through and coated the ground, now back to just light flurries.

    1. Matt Noyes:

      Matt Noyes: Broadcast Meteorologist
      Nantucket Airport has just gusted to 69 mph. 1/4mi visibility in snow.

  10. as of 8AM,

    Heavy snow, vis .25 miles at ALL Cape and Islands reporting stations.
    Heavy snow, vis .25 at Plymouth
    Moderate snow, vis .5 at Taunton.

    OH So CLOSE!!!

  11. Amazing watching the news folks on the cape and Plymouth this morning. Great image you posted from Ch 4 – thanks OS!

  13. This snowfall total up to now for Hyannis for this winter really surprised me = 50.8″

    Hard to believe that Hyannis could probably end up having more snow than Boston (58.6″) for an entire winter. I wonder how often has that ever happened?

    Interesting that Sunday’s “rain” event will be close to the benchmark…UGH! 🙁

    Considering the storm is 140 miles away from the benchmark, the winds are very ferocious here in Boston…scary at times. I hope they subside later today.

  15. 8Am obs show heavy snow all Cape and Islands and up to Plymouth.
    Taunton has backed off to light snow.

    1. Matt Noyes: Broadcast Meteorologist
      Nantucket MA max wind gust now 83 mph in the Monomoy section.

  16. If this storm were to hit us directly would it have been as bad as the feb blizzard last year or worse. I know the pressure is lower, but what would the effects have been

    1. This “may” have been the worse ever. Who knows for sure. Let’s just
      say REALLY really BAD.

        1. I don’t know whether I feel good about saying I would have also….but darned if it wouldn’t have been incredibly exciting. Perhaps the one to top the ones we already think were the one. Wow – I was going to edit that wording but think I’ll leave it and see if anyone can make sense of it 🙂

  17. I’ve heard this storm is heading to the Maritimes next, and that they will get slammed. Will crossing land dissipate this storms energy the way a summer hurricane does, or will this beast go offshore and head towards Europe or Iceland? Or elsewhere? TIA

    2. Land does not do much to weaken mid latitude cold core cyclones as they are not dependent on 80 degree water as warm core tropical cyclones are.

  22. Odd…looking at the radar the storm doesn’t seem to be moving at all…if anything it’s coming back west and filling in. Most news sites said by 11am it would only be over the Cape but doesn’t look that way.

    1. I said early afternoon for cape. Remember you have the western circulation moving north to south while the cyclone moves south to north. Opposing vectors nearly equal give illusion of little motion for a while. Watch it get yanked east early to mid afternoon.

  23. No flakes here, just really really dark sky. Breezy but nothing too bad. Winds were worse right around 7am.

    1. The storm center is to the southeast of the main cloud area, and I believe clearly moving in an east northeast direction.

  27. Just plain miserable here in Plymouth. While we only have about an inch of snow in North Plymouth the drive into work was not fun. One of my coworkers lives in South Plymouth and he had 4 inches at his house when he left. Surprisingly enough we have not seen any of our branches on the cape lose power yet. I am sure it a matter of time.

  30. My brother’s lost power in West Yarmouth and it appears a lot of other area as well! Impressive Cape storm, especially the winds!

  33. Snowing – spitting snow to very light snow – in Framingham. Has been for an hour or so. Winds are gusting into 20s.

    1. lol, looks like the heaviest stuff is moving away from the Cape. I wonder what their totals will be

    1. Thanks Vicki. Links directly to NWS page. Snow totals not all that impressive, its the wind gusts that is the story.

  36. I haven’t seen anything on splashover. Not sure of high tide but thought it was around 8-9?? Sue, how is it in Plymouth? Ch 7 was broadcasting from what they called Plymouth Beach and it was splashing over the wall with about 1.25 to go until high tide.

    Does anyone know which tides are expect to be involved (other than this morning I mean)?

    1. Vicki, I think by the next high tide, it should be splashover, but nothing worse.

      High tide is 8:30pm and by then the winds should be slackening some and be coming even more from the NW (offshore).

      1. Great – and thank you Tom and Sue. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the coast (north and south) doesn’t see a lot of damage. Not sure if the Cape will sadly have more and the islands as well.

    2. I’ve seen several videos on FB from Plymouth Beach. Yes, it was splashing over the wall and they had the road closed but I haven’t heard of any major issues.

  37. Looks like Nantucket is the winner in terms of snowfall and winds with 9.5″ and a max wind gust of 83mph. Big dropoff even for a short distance from nantucket to chatham in terms of overall impacts. Bourne with 3″, nantucket with 9.5.” This thing would have had to come waaay closer to give boston plowable snow

  38. I find it hard for even the most skillful of measurers to be accurate with snow depths with those winds!!

  40. The buoy in the middle of the Bay of Fundy (44027) reported a sustained wind of 60 mph with a gust of 107 mph at 1:50 AST.

  42. Thanks for the article Mark. Fascinating. I find the part about sea surface temps being significantly above normal right along the storm track to be most interesting. http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE0LzAzLzI2L2JiLzNfMjZfMTRfYW5kLjVkZWU1LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/eab8466a/9be/3_26_14_andrew_sstanom-640×512.png They are saying the rapid intensification of the storm may have been due in part to the warmer sea surface temps. From what i understand, cold core storms like this dont gather their energy from the ocean temps.

  44. Tonight will be bone chilling cold. I still believe lower 60s on tap for Friday. This winter will be remembered for the relentless cold grip. Not record breaking but just damn cold.

  45. Impressive satellite picture with this storm system. Oh what could have been had this storm tracked near the benchmark.
    This could very well have been our last snow threat of the year. If it snows in April I won’t be disappointed but come April 1st I want some nice spring with weather with mild temps and I can’t wait to start tracking thunderstorms.

  46. JJ, I was just about to comment that the next 10 days or so are beginning to look more and more interesting. Some models are hinting at an interior snow event on Sunday. The track to the south of New England looks perfect but marginal cold air in place could be an issue for coastal areas. Both the Euro and GFS have the system moving very slowly as well with some apparent blocking in place.

    Beyond that, the period around April 5 looks to be another timeframe to watch with a system approaching from the southwest and NAO potentially in the negative territory with blocking again in place.

    I would not at all be surprised to see another snow threat or two in this pattern. Winter is not going to let go easy this year.

  47. Not sure what is going on with the Euro – it has been locked up at hour 36 for some time on all sites I have checked. Perhaps this storm has done it in (or it is brewing up another monster and has crashed the server).

    1. Oh good, i was wondering if anyone else was seeing the lock-up as well. Maybe the Europeans were angry their mighty model missed on this storm with having accumulating snow into boston for many many runs they just smashed it with a bat.

  49. This storm was supposed to change the pattern, and it did…to a more favorable pattern for storms like today. Not saying another storm of that magnitude will happen again, but the atmosphere seems ripe for it.

      1. I think you’re referring to where that potential snow threat came from, but as a heads up to everyone, that graphic itself came from one of my favorite largely undiscovered, free sites to view models at, http://www.tropicaltidbits.com, under the Forecast Models page. It has some great maps for the GFS, GEM, NAM, NAVGEM, and more. There are occasional technical problems but when it’s working its real good at least for a quick overview for things like precipitation type.

  52. Mac just arrived home with a big smile. His comment……”Just the right amount of snow!”

    I think every weather enthusiast needs a balance. Clearly he is mine 🙂

  55. gfs is showing 3-6 inches for eastern mass. rain for cape little to no accumulation central and western mass

    why could we not get the god darn negative Nao till now? Its a bit late 😛

  56. Well my comment about the Euro crashing because it was conjuring up another monster might be correct.

    It closes off an upper level low east of New England in the April 4-5 timeframe. Time to start throwing around the 4/1/97 analogs!

    Trend for the Sunday system is south as well – hits NH and ME hard with heavy snow and some snow south to the Worcester hills but still mostly rain for SNE.

    1. Not a good day for a fire with that wind. It reminds me of that humarock fire a couple of years ago as that was a similar situation with the wind.

  60. Harvey saying tonight it’s a tough call for Sunday as some areas could see sleet or snow. You got to be kidding me!!!

    1. As stated more than once above, we are in the type of pattern that will produce Spring snow threats. This will continue into April.

  61. Well that was an interesting commute home to the south end….hope the injured recover quickly. You can really smell the smoke here in the south end.

    Looks like we will have several mores threats of snow. Looking forward to watching how it all pans out!

  62. SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT…
    THE COLD FRONT THAT PASSED THROUGH THE REGION WILL EVENTUALLY
    STALL SOUTH OF LONG ISLAND ON SATURDAY. THIS MAY ALLOW FOR A BREAK
    IN THE PRECIP FOR OVER THE WEEKEND HOURS. HOWEVER A DIGGING TROUGH
    ON SATURDAY WILL STRENGTHEN AND DEVELOP A LOW OVER THE MID-
    ATLANTIC AND TREK A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NEAR THE BENCHMARK. THERE
    IS SOME THERMAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MODELS BUT TRENDED TOWARDS
    A SLIGHTLY COLDER SOLUTION. THIS WILL RESULT IN SNOW AND SLEET FOR
    SUNDAY. IF THIS STORM STRENGTHENS IT COULD PULL MOVE COLDER AIR
    DOWN AND RESULTING IN PERHAPS A FEW INCHES OF SNOW. WOULD LIKE TO
    SEE THE LATEST EC TO SEE IF THERE IS A COLDER TREND…HOWEVER
    BASES THIS FORECAST ON THE ENSEMBLES.

    STRONG NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL RESULT IN THIS SYSTEM AS WELL WHERE
    WIND ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED. ALSO MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THE
    POTENTIAL FOR COASTAL FLOODING AND/OR MORE BEACH EROSION FOR THE
    CAPE AND THE ISLANDS.

  63. A boston firefighter has been killed in the line of duty. Brave man putting his life on the line for others. God bless.

    1. Not sure if its true I hope not but ch4 is saying 2 firefighters killed but other stations still saying only one.

  68. I have been following the Malaysia flight story and from what I am reading, the weather is just terrible. The airplane spotters are having a brutal time in the air and are calling off some of their missions.

  69. I guess the 50’s and 60’s are gone from tv mets forecast. Rain all weekend and cool. Hope I can bring some warmth from Florida.

    2. Pete’s 71 he had for Monday earlier this week was brought down to 46 last night. Don’t get mad at me Vicki 🙂

      1. I still wonder where that 71 had come from, and Barry’s 66 for Saturday. Optimism perhaps? I’m optimistic with life, realist with weather.

        Blog is updated. 🙂

        Good day all!

        You will not like this forecast. 😉

      2. Reporting what a met says doesn’t bother me in the least. Its criticizing that does. It’s why I think many of us left the BZ blog :). Although I am amazed that so many who profess to dislike Pete watch him. Of course I was also always amazed that so many who didn’t and I guess still don’t like BZ mets posted on the blog

  70. I think every type of storm brings hazards, snow for some causes problems but I bet 2-3 inches of rain cause a lot more problem for people with basement floods. So I know wish away snow but keep in mind rain can be just as bad for folks.

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