Weekend Update

42 Comments

8:53AM

They say the averages are made from the extremes, and this is true, but once in a while a season is “average” because there are not really any extremes, and this is such a Summer. Temperatures continue to run fairly close to normal for the season as a whole, but without heat waves and without really any heat at all – heat referring to days near or above 90. But we have not had all that many days that have sat far below the normal either. And nighttime temperatures have often been around the normals as well. Rainfall, though variable in spots, typical for Summer, is not all that far from normal in most locations. There has been some newsworthy events, of course (Revere tornado, flash flooding in heavy rain events, etc.), but this is not unusual either. These events are not rare in a general sense, though in a specific sense, some are (such as an EF-2 tornado basically on the coast).

The pattern we have been in this Summer, keeping heat at bay, is going to continue for another week or so before signs of change appear. This pattern has been driven by the tendency for a high pressure ridge over Greenland, allowing regular dips in the jet stream over eastern Canada and the northeastern USA, enough to keep any prolonged heat out of the Northeast. This pattern goes on for a while longer, with one trough over the region now, and an associated disturbance passing through the region on Sunday with a threat of showers. A low pressure area coming out of the Ohio Valley by Monday will pass south of New England later Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing more cloudiness to the region, and perhaps some wet weather to the South Coast / Cape Cod, but odds favor this staying just offshore at this time. And later in the week this low will depart and with high pressure to the north yet another low to the south may need to be watched.

A large scale pattern change may lurk not far behind this, as it appears that the high pressure ridge will break down in Greenland and be replaced by an upper level low pressure system. It is ironic that we may be talking about some heat and humidity as August winds down, September approaches, and school bells begin to ring.

Forecast for southeastern New England….

TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 75-83. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Increasing clouds. Showers possible interior MA and southwestern NH late. Lows 58-65. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers morning-midday. Partly sunny afternoon. Highs 73-80. Wind SW 10-20 MPH shifting to NW.

MONDAY: Sunny. Low 58. High 80.

TUESDAY: Increasing clouds. Low 60. High 78.

WEDNESDAY: Decreasing clouds. Low 58. High 77.

THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 56. High 76.

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Low 58. High 75.

42 thoughts on “Weekend Update”

  1. REPOST 3 COMMENTS…

    Longshot says:
    August 16, 2014 at 5:58 AM

    Today’s AccuWeather Trivia Quiz.

    How many September heat waves have occurred in Boston since 1872? (If I remember correctly, I think the definition of a heat wave is three 90 degree days in a row.)
    A. 3
    B. 13
    C. 23
    D. 33

    Answer later today.

    Longshot says:
    August 16, 2014 at 7:19 AM

    Today’s 2nd AccuWeather Trivia Quiz

    Back to back hurricanes causing record August flooding in 1955 were named …

    A. Connnie & Diane
    B. Diane & Edna
    C. Bob & Carol
    D. Jane & Carol

    Answer later today. I actually remembered the names.

    rainshine says:
    August 16, 2014 at 8:24 AM

    I say B.

    My family was living in Quincy at the time – near Furnace Brook – and I remember looking out the window and seeing everything flooded. I was about 4 yrs. old (ok – now we all know my age! 🙂 ). So, I woke up my parents and said the ocean was outside! We lived on Alrick Rd. and some people had to be taken out in boats – I don’t remember us being on a boat – so we must have gotten out somehow – can’t seem to remember. But our cellar was flooded.

  5. I know the answers but I have an unfair advantage of working with the MA State Climatologist for years so I won’t post them. 🙂

  11. I can’t ignore the fact the ECMWF has low pressure very close to but just south and east of New England late next week. The GFS has things further to the south with high pressure more in control. So this far out of course any solution can be argued for. But that Euro worries me a little.

  12. If summer ends with HHH it is like watching a great movie for 2+ hours with a crappy ending in the last 10 minutes. I have actually seen some movies like that.

    As for next Friday, it is Movie Night at BC at Alumni Stadium so I hope the forecast changes considerably. Barry is calling for damp conditions with temps only in the mid-60s. With all of the great weather we have had, of all the nights for rain. 🙁

  15. I’m heading to the Cheshire Fair Ground in Swanzey NH now for Atlas Pyrovision Productions Monadnock Festival of Fireworks which is actually a 3PM to 10PM event with live music, ending with a 35-minute pyromusical fireworks display that will be larger than Boston’s 4th of July fireworks.

    I’ll try to check in mobile later provided I have a signal to do so. 🙂

  19. Answer to Today’s AccuWeather Trivia Quizzes.

    How many September heat waves have occurred in Boston since 1872?
    A. 3
    B. 13
    C. 23
    D. 33

    The answer is A.

    Today’s 2nd AccuWeather Trivia Quiz

    Back to back hurricanes causing record August flooding in 1955 were named …

    A. Connnie & Diane
    B. Diane & Edna
    C. Bob & Carol
    D. Jane & Carol

    The answer is A and I am old enough to remember.

    1. Thanks longshot. I knew rhe hurricanes because I not only remember but was caught in them at Humarock. It was the other I wasn’t sure of. And only 3 heat waves. Amazing.

  22. Another spectacular weekend. There have been so many it is impossible to keep count. What a summer.

    1. I agree, enjoy the night. I’m leaving here before I loose all my money. My son brought a friend so I’m paying double . But the kids father saved me $30 at the gate. I think he got the better end of it lol.

      1. Hahaha. Have fun. This is one of the two weeks we are usually at Humarock. We are sad but we will be back

  24. Today’s (easier) AccuWeather Trivia Quiz.

    What type of cloud produces lightning?
    A. Cumulonimbus
    B. Altostratus
    C. Nimbostratus
    D. Mammatus

    Answer later today.

    1. When can they EVER settle on ANYTHING? Not very often, I’m afraid.

      Lat night, BB was still worried about next weekend. We shall see.

    2. Regardless of what happens, next weekend temps look to be quite a bit below normal, which is fine with me. Keep them coming. 😀

  26. The high pressure area, if orientated just the right (wrong) way, may cause issues as well as any low to the south.

    Blog updated!

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