Quick Slick, Upper Cut, Hang Around

276 Comments

1:11AM

A developing low pressure area will move fairly quickly northward into southern New England today, first bumping into cold air that has been trapped at low levels from the Boston area west and north, causing some slick conditions with light snow and freezing drizzle. Milder ocean air that has been sitting over southeastern MA will expand as the boundary between the cold and mild shifts westward with time during the morning. The cold air will take the longest to erode in areas well northwest of Boston, especially in valley locations. Once the icing issue is replaced by melting, rain and wind will become the story during the afternoon and early evening ahead of the advancing low pressure center. Things will settle down during the evening and nighttime hours as low pressure moves overhead and slows down, with some drier air working into the circulation and the heaviest rain area advancing well to the north (with heavy snow over the mountains of western and northern New England). During Wednesday and Thursday, this low will continue to sit and spin in the region, with clouds dominant, and episodic rain showers as the air will be too mild to support snow. Friday and Saturday, this low will finally wander away to the northeast but will do so slowly enough that lots of clouds and a few rain showers will linger. Expect fair weather to finally dominate by Sunday and Monday. After the current cold is scoured out, don’t expect a return to very cold air during the next 7 days.

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
TODAY: Overcast. Light precipitation into mid morning in the form of snow well northwest of Boston and freezing drizzle closer to Boston especially inland, with light drizzle/rain in areas south and southeast of the city. Snow accumulation of a coating to 1 inch possible north and west of Boston. A light coating of ice also likely from Boston north and west. Untreated surfaces will be slippery. Heavier liquid rain develops south to north midday and afternoon, with even the chance of embedded thunder late afternoon. Highs eventually 35-45 northwest to southeast. Wind light N to NE north and west of Boston and NE increasing to 10-20 MPH closer to Boston in the morning, then NE to E increasing to 15-25 MPH with gusts over 30 MPH inland, and 20-30 MPH with gusts over 40 MPH closer to the coast and over 50 MPH from Cape Ann to the South Shore through Cape Cod.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Scattered rain showers. Temperatures steady 35-45. Wind variable, mostly SE 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers. Highs in the 40s. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers. Low 40. High 45.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy. Isolated rain showers. Low 40. High 45.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy. Isolated rain showers. Low 35. High 45.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Low 30. High 45.
MONDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 30. High 45.

276 thoughts on “Quick Slick, Upper Cut, Hang Around”

  1. Thanks Tk its been a crazy night. while driving to work after getting called in after 9 once I hit Hingham on rt 3 it was all snow covered and a five car accident was scattered about. I heard it was worse on 24. When I left my house it was 37 degrees outside and mid 20s to greet me in Boston.

  2. Thanks TK! 🙂

    Logan received 0.3″ snow yesterday. Perhaps a bit more will be recorded later?

    My guess is that our next chance of significant snow will occur closer to New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas Eve. Do you agree on that TK?

  3. 1:00 am OBS @ Logan = 30F freezing drizzle, North 10 mph

    The atmosphere above is definitely warming…

    1. Yesterday definitely felt more like January. The cold really penetrated my body and had a real bite to it. Thankfully no real wind to speak of.

  4. May I suggest TK that you post the Woods Hill “winter” scene above on your next blog even though it probably won’t match reality for at least a couple weeks?

  7. Regular GFS has “possible” snow on the 21st and again on the 24th.
    Probably GONE with the 12Z run. 😀 😀 😀

    Parallel GFS has “possible” snow on the 18th. Yeah, sure.

  10. Wow …. What a change in 9 hrs …. at Logan anyway and the explosion of precip south of New England.

    Wonder what the wind will be like later today ……. Hope the coastline makes it through the early afternoon tide ok and what, if any, power issues there might be.

    1. Tom MUCH slower rise here. Up to 34.2
      At 11:35PM it was 27 At 2:30AM it was 32.9

      6Am at Logan it was 43. I’m 5 or 6 miles from Logan. What a difference!!!

      1. I think I’m wary because of the storm maybe back in October ….

        It produced rain and wind that exceeded all expectations ….

        Deepening low, rather strong high (though, in retreat) …. Still 2-3 C ocean temp anomolies probably stirring the pot a tiny bit more than expected …..

        Looking forward to seeing this rain and wind this afternoon from a weather perspective, but …. not so much from an impact perspective. 🙂 🙂

  11. Time to make the donuts. I’ll be back from the office later.

    Up to 34.5 here

    I wonder how long it stays sub-freezing inland as this leasing edge of the
    heavy stuff moves into it. Could be a MESS for awhile until the cold is eroded.

  15. Imagine the snow rate if this was snow. We would be would be talking about 2-3 inches per hour. Dec 9th seems to be a big storm day as I remember a huge snowstorm that dumped about 6 inches in an hour as Bombogenesis occurred.

      1. Yep people were stopped on the side of the roads everywhere bc you couldn’t see 5 feet in front of you. It also had serious thunder I ran out into my driveway just experience it.

        1. and 100 mph winds on Cape Cod. That was insane. Received 3 inches of snow in about 1 and 1/2 hrs in Marshfield with significant thunder/lightning.

        2. Intense Thunder. It was truly AWESOME!!!
          I left the office in the middle of the most intense portion.
          By the time I got home, the sun was coming out.

  20. Philip… You read my mind. Header change next update. 🙂

    We have to watch for 2 possible sneaky snow events between December 16 and 21. Key word: possible.

  22. Hoping my driveway holds up. Had my hands arms length deep in the exterior grate draining out ice cold water last night so it wouldn’t freeze. Couldn’t feel my fingers after a while.

      1. Made the mistake of zooming home at lunch. Ugly. Driveway is about 6″ underwater. Backyard looks like my house abuts a lake. Window wells are flooded. TK, make it stop!

  23. All rain where I am now for a couple hours. Driving home from work just after midnight it was freezing drizzle and it looked like a bit of that shiny glaze you see with black ice on the roads. I was happy to get home.
    I do remember that December 9, 2005 storm. I was not up at Curry that Friday but watched the live feed on BZ after coming in from shoveling the driveway and could not believe the rate at which the snow was falling in and around Boston.

  24. I’m struggling to post looping radars today, of all days …..

    The NYC radar is awesome …

    The banding setting up and sitting over NYC, wow ….

    And the low showing up so nicely ….

  25. The HEAVIEST SLUG of RAIN about to move into the Boston area.
    Of course, I have to go out in an hour and I’ll get soaked even with a HUGE
    umbrella!

  29. Hmmm

    RAINING in North Adams and Pittsfield, both in the Berkshires. Freakin TOO WARM!

    Up to 45 at Logan with the WIND gusting to 30 mph at 11AM

  34. Thanks tk 🙂 45.1 degrees moderate to heavy rain, the lake is at its brim.

    This week and next week r last weeks working for 2014, finishing up the last 67 deep ornamental tree feedings, most of them are just south of Boston so that’s good, all close together, then it’s vacation until Jan 31st, then the grind starts back up, it’s the circle that really doesn’t stop. Stay dry!!! Good day!!

    1. Thanks Charlie. Very wet around these parts today. Late fall weather at its worst. What starts Feb. 1st?

      1. Early Feb more paperwork and mail outs, then numerous meetings mid Feb preparing everyone for start up 🙂

  36. Hi…I enjoy your blog and insights into SNE weather. I don’t wish to be a regular. I wonder if the WHW folk remember what was going on nine years ago today. You had a discussion a couple of weeks ago on what people thought was the worst weather they had ever experienced. The “snow hurricane” in 2005 was the worst and most intense weather event that I have ever experienced or driven in! I work in Middleborough and live in Taunton.

    I share this with you to share with WHW Nation. Please don’t use my name or e-mail address, and keep up the good work!

    STORM DATE: DEC 9, 2005

    …HURRICANE FORCE WIND GUSTS CAUSED WIDESPREAD TREE AND POWER LINE
    DAMAGE ON CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS LAST FRIDAY DECEMBER 9 2005…

    UPDATED INFO…

    THE RAPID INTENSIFICATION OF THE STORM SYSTEM CAUSED A VERY UNUSUAL
    SUDDEN INCREASE IN WINDS…RIGHT AS THE WINDS SHIFTED TO THE
    NORTHWEST.

    THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME WIND REPORTS FROM THE STORM ON DECEMBER 9TH.
    PLEASE NOTE THAT VARIOUS TYPES OF WIND EQUIPMENT HAVE DIFFERENT WIND
    SAMPLING TIME AVERAGES. IN THE CASE OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
    ASOS UNITS…IT IS A 5-SECOND AVERAGE.

    105 MPH…MEASURED BY PUBLIC…REPORTED BY EMERGENCY MANAGER…
    ON BLOCK ISLAND. ANEMOMETER ATOP ROOF…40 FT OFF THE
    GROUND…WITH UNOBSTRUCTED PATH FROM OCEAN. ADDITIONAL
    REPORTS FROM BLOCK ISLAND RANGED FROM 78 MPH TO 94 MPH.
    101 MPH…MEASURED BY PUBLIC IN WELLFLEET MA. REPORTED BY CAPE
    COD RADIO STATION.
    100 MPH…MEASURED BY PUBLIC IN ORLEANS MA IN THE TOWN COVE SECTION.
    96 MPH…MEASURED BY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR IN EASTHAM BEFORE
    THE ANEMOMETER WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY A FALLING TREE.
    94 MPH…MEASURED ATOP A BLUFF OVERLOOKING NANTUCKET HARBOR.
    93 MPH…MEASURED AT CAPE WIND TOWER AT ELEVATION OF 20 METERS
    NEAR NANUCKET.
    89 MPH…MEASURED BY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR IN BREWSTER MA.
    82 MPH…MEASURED BY PUBLIC IN KATAMA ON MARTHAS VINEYARD MA.
    82 MPH…AT 44029 BUOY OFF OF CAPE ANN MA
    81 MPH…MEASURED BY NWS EMPLOYEE IN TAUNTON MA
    76 MPH…MEASURED BY BLUE HILL SCIENCE CENTER EMPLOYEE IN
    YARMOUTHPORT MA BEFORE THE POWER WENT OUT.
    75 MPH…MEASURED BY AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR IN CHATHAM MA.
    73 MPH…MEASURED BY NWS SPOTTER IN MANOMET SECTION OF PLYMOUTH MA.
    64 MPH…NWS ASOS OBSERVATION AT NANTUCKET MA (ACK).
    64 MPH…NWS ASOS OBSERVATION AT CHATHAM MA (CQX) BEFORE THE POWER
    WAS LOST.

    IN ADDITION…THE CHATHAM POLICE DEPT. REPORTED HAVING SIGHTED
    WATERSPOUTS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON ON FRIDAY.

    ORIGINAL STATEMENT…

    AN 8 HOUR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND NOREASTER BECAME A SEVERE SHORT TERM
    WINTER STORM FOR RHODE ISLAND AND EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS FRIDAY
    AFTERNOON DECEMBER 9TH 2005.

    THE EXTREME RAPID INTENSIFICATION OF LOW PRESSURE AS IT MOVED
    THROUGH BUZZARDS AND CAPE COD BAYS BETWEEN 1 PM AND 3 PM…THEN OUT
    TO SEA…CREATED A SHORT TERM NEAR BLIZZARD SCENE DURING MID
    AFTERNOON UNLIKE NO OTHER IN RECENT MEMORY WITH DAMAGING WIND…
    WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND ABOUT AN HOUR OF THUNDERSTORMS FOR MANY
    WITHIN AND JUST EAST OF THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR.

    THE STORM BROUGHT A GENERAL 7 TO 17 INCH SNOWFALL OVER MOST OF
    SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT MUCH LESS OVER THE FAR SOUTHEAST COASTAL
    PLAIN.

    FOR BOSTON…PROVIDENCE…WORCESTER…HARTFORD…AND THE BLUE HILL
    OBSERVATORY…ALL LOCATIONS WITH STANDARDIZED 100 YEAR CLIMATE
    HISTORIES…NEW RECORD SNOWFALLS FOR THE DATE WERE ESTABLISHED.
    HOWEVER FOR DECEMBER…THIS WAS NOT THE WORST SNOW STORM. STILL IT
    RANKED AS A TOP 10 DECEMBER CALENDAR DAY SNOW STORM FOR PARTS OF THE
    AREA.

    THUNDER WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OCCURRED DURING A 2 HOUR
    PERIOD OF FURY THAT TRANSLATED EASTWARD THROUGH THE INTERSTATE 95
    CORRIDOR BETWEEN 130 PM AND 4 PM…WHILE HURRICANE FORCE WIND
    GUSTS…BRIEF NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AND SHARPLY FALLING
    TEMPERATURES STRUCK THE CAPE AND ISLANDS…MOSTLY BETWEEN 245 PM AND
    445 PM.

  37. GROSS OUTSIDE, ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE SAY BAH HUMBUG! Sorry for the caps, but I can’t take it anymore. Is there a way we at Woodshill can move this Low along.

  44. I was trying to figure out why there was so much flooding with just an inch or so of rain so far. Then I realized the ground had been partially frozen since the weekend. No drainage whatsoever.

  45. Cut off to heavy rain will move rapidly northward across eastern MA between now and 6PM. Just rain showers after that.

  47. Ridiculous forecast bust up here for central/northern New England. Light rain, occasionally mixed with snow all day up here in Plymouth, NH. Classes cancelled for nothing, lol. I don’t know how the higher elevations are doing, but we were expecting around 6 inches here and the way it looks now I don’t think we’ll see any accumulation.

    1. I agree that the forecast for you folks was off by a wide margin. Does this mean less snow for the mountains? I think it does, but I’m not sure.

      This said, I think the forecast for Boston verified. The heaviest rain was forecast for this afternoon, and we’re getting it along with wind.

      What has me concerned about my mental health and that of many others is the on and off shower activity the coming days. It’s dark enough outside. With the rain, showers, and clouds, the sun basically doesn’t matter much at all. It’s very dark outside right now and the sun hasn’t even set. Likewise, it was pretty dark at 10am, and sun-rise was technically 3 hours before.

    1. Hey TJ, that’s cool that you went here, didn’t know there were any Plymouth grads here. Yes, I’m a first year meteorology student here. I’m really enjoying the meteorology program. It’s a very nice area here, and not too far from home, so I’m happy with my choice. Going to be a lot of work over the next few years though 🙂

      1. WxWatcher,

        It’s a great school! You will enjoy it very much. I started out as a Met major but decided to change it not for me. Its a lot of work but you will do great! You have the best teacher here anyways TK will help you out. Look forward to your posts. Have a Good Day!

    1. Yes fine…I mean I am waterlogged and I have water coming into the basement but the waterproofing is catching it. Just discouraging to see water coming into the basement, even though it gets routed out .Pump is going off around once every 20 seconds right now. As long as we don’t lose power (knock on virtual wood!) I will be good. Thanks for asking. You?

      2. So it is coming down the walls and into the system or up from the ground? My issue is usually from the ground.

        1. Both. Well from the ground I don’t see as it goes right into the pipe. A few of my window wells filled up and water got through the windows. At the point, it runs down the foundation walls and into a catch strip that routes it directly into a the system. It never touches the ground and puddles.

          1. Nice. That is the way mine works as well. My pump didn’t turn n for the first when needed last March and they came out and replaced it. Which company did you end up using. I haven’t been down there today. We have been drier here overall.

              1. Nice. I used ValueDry. I elevated my issue to the CEO when it happened. I know have a direct connection to him in case I have a future issue.

                1. HAHA awesome. Funny 10 or so years ago only a few places did it, like B-Dry. Now there are tons of options.

      1. It’s right down by the Home Depot on Route 228. I work right down the street and wind funnels around there pretty good. Getting out of here will be interesting tonight.

  52. Gusting to low 20s here and 2.08 inch of rain thus far.

    Was just out and the Sudbury River is as high as I have seen it in a very long time. Came home Pelham Island Road (that’s the road that always floods in Wayland where they send the Duck Boats to transport people in and out). Where it floods first is no more than 3 feet from the road. Feast or famine but great to see it high.

    Driving nasty as there is a lot of puddling on the sides of the roads and it grabs the car’s wheels.

  53. NWS Boston ‏@NWSBoston 14m14 minutes ago
    Thanks. MT @WX1BOX: High Wind gusts: Fairhaven: 62 MPH. Scituate, MA: 61 MPH, Barnstable (Marstons Mills), MA: 57 MPH in past hour.

  54. So …. as we just found out again …. the EURO is superior to the GFS in the medium to long range.

    Remember 5 days ago, when the EURO had today’s storm and the GFS did not ….

    So, now that I have learned that lesson once again !!! 🙂 :), its not looking too hopeful for any snow in the next 10 days on the EURO. The GFS looks more hopeful, but for reasons above, I am skeptical. Watch, it will be right now …… 🙂 🙂

  55. RECORD EVENT REPORT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
    420 PM EST TUE DEC 09 2014

    …record daily maximum rainfall set at boston ma…

    a record rainfall of 1.53 inches was set at logan international
    airport in boston today. this breaks the old record of 1.29
    inches set in 1956.

        1. Well ….. if the ground was decently frozen, then most of this ran off and well ………… 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        2. After seeing Sudbury river today even I was thinking you are correct. However, if winter is dry……..

            1. The Sudbury was higher than it has been in a while too. As it continues to rise after today I wonder if it will go over banks also

  57. From what I can see it looks like the center went right about over the canal or a tad East of there.

  58. As of 4PM, both North Adams and Pittsfield reporting RAIN. SO where’s the snow
    for the Berks? Oh, it doesn’t exist!!

  59. Going, going, GONE….

    RECORD EVENT REPORT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
    420 PM EST TUE DEC 09 2014

    …record daily maximum rainfall set at boston ma…

    a record rainfall of 1.53 inches was set at logan international
    airport in boston today. this breaks the old record of 1.29
    inches set in 1956.

      1. There’s that copy and paste problem where I get the previous
        copy. I must NOT be clicking the mouse properly or some other age related Malady. 😀

  60. ** ATTENTION BILL ***
    Your post has been approved. Glad you enjoy the blog and thank you for your post! Hope to see more. 🙂

    For the rest of you, post was at 1:51PM today regarding the December 9 2005 storm. Scroll up to see it. 🙂

    1. Bill I mentioned that Storm above as I remmember it so well. I actually measured about 6 inches in an hiur and half. Thanks for sharing the info.

  61. Well, now that the meat of this event is done …….

    Problem if you want winter ……

    Canada is not excessively cold and south of say 60 degrees north latitude, its not really going to be anytime soon.

    And thus, save for dynamic systems with exactly the right track and not too much ocean influence ( you get the idea ), winter’s going to have an uphill battle.

  62. I had 2 gusts around 30 MPH this afternoon, enough to knock over a trash barrel (that was empty so not that hard to do).

    All outdoor lights and decorations are in fine and functional shape here.

    Anybody remember the December 23 1994 storm? It produced very mild rainy conditions and very strong wind gusts. I believe it was determined later that the system had tropical characteristics, or was at least a hybrid.

  65. JMA, you may be right. Though I think we stair step toward a colder pattern the full on change is not likely to take place before very late December.

    Joshua, I’d venture to say we are out of drought now. I do think we have to watch 2015 as we can slip right back into it with many areas still running a couple inches deficient for the year. We’ll see how the pattern goes in the first 3 months of 2015. That will be telling.

      1. I was at my girlfriend’s (now my wife) apartment in Waltham she was sharing with a friend of mine at the time, and some siding blew off the house during the strong wind gusts.

  67. It is fascinating to me to experience this storm today. Certainly not the strongest rainstorm we’ve ever had, but just to be underneath this giant circulation made by the atmosphere which is attempting to attain balance while being continuously thwarted by the sun…amazing to witness it while in it, and with the help of technology from many other angles.

  68. My greatest 1 hour snow total I have ever recorded: December 9 2005. 4.5 inches. The lightning & thunder was like that of a Summertime thunderstorm for a while. It was amazing at the end of the day when the snow ended and you could see a clearing line to the west just after sunset while just miles to the east it was still “torrential snow”.

    1. That storm I remeber well. We recorded just under 6 inches in an hour and couldn’t even see the house right across the street. Lost electricity. December 9 is a truly magical day 🙂

  69. This thing seems to be in no hurry to go…I see the end in the radar then it suddenly fills in again. I need a canoe to use my driveway.

  71. The Green Line is flooded between Kenmore and Fenway Stations.

    Is the Muddy River the source OS?? Frankly I thought that was resolved years ago after the October 1996 floods.

  72. Lingering ring of rain around the I-95 loop for a bit otherwise it’s winding down with just showers left. The axis of heavy stuff is FAR to the north already.

  74. I’m not sure how good they are, but I can scope out 3 shots at snow before Christmas: December 17, 21, 23, plus or minus 1 day on each event.

    1. You can put that in the bank I’ll bet anything plowable snow right before Xmas or right after. Could it possibly be a white turkey day and Xmas for some in the same year yes. Time for bed as last time I did that was Sunday.

      1. From a model that has a clear bias of tracking lows too far south and east at that range, I’d say the odds of snow go up slightly, given that forecast. 😉

    1. I’m telling you…December 9 is a magical day. I wonder if there is another single day that has had significant storms

  78. It was December 6-7 2003. I made mention of it last Saturday. Parts of the North Shore had close to 3 feet of snow.

  79. Just talked to brother in law who lives just east of San Francisco. They are expecting quite a storm starting tomorrow night People are being asked to stay home Thursday if they can as winds forecast to be hurricane strength in the higher elevations.

      1. Thanks for sharing, Vicki. I have friends and a relative out there. Beautiful part of the country. Unfortunately, afflicted by serious, serious drought. They had a major system push through last week bringing much needed rain. Will this one also bring lots of rain, TK? I was shocked at what I saw in terms of wildfire damage and entire hamlets destroyed during the summer of 2013. I realize full well that such devastation is a rather normal occurrence, at least once in a while. However, seeing the lack of water in the reservoirs, streams, rivers, and even lakes, suggested an unusually bad drought.

          1. BIL said there is a big concern re downed trees because of the rain they have had. He doesn’t feel drought now is as bad as the last one was in SF area

  80. Today was the earliest sunset of the year.

    Why ….

    Boston lost just about 54 seconds of daylight today. One might think that should mean a 27 second later sunrise and a 27 second earlier sunset.

    But, when solar noon ( the high point of the sun ) during each day is not constant. Currently, it is slowly moving forward a bit each day.

    By how much ….. well, 27 seconds. So thats a 27 second shift forward of all the day’s available light.

    So, the sunrise came 27 seconds later today (by the shortening day) and an additional 27 seconds later by the moving forward of solar noon. Thus, sunrise was about 54 seconds later.

    BUT … Sunset would have come 27 seconds earlier today, but that was offset by the 27 second move forward in the solar noon time and thus today’s sunset was the first that was not earlier than the day before.

    Tomorrow, it starts getting later.

    Boston loses 50 seconds, but with solar noon another 27 seconds later …

    Sunrise will be 25+27 = 52 seconds later, but sunset will be -25 + 27 = 2 seconds later !!

    This also supplies the reason that earliest sunrise is June 14th, latest sunset is June 26th and latest Sunrise is January 3rd.

    1. Nice stuff Tom. Nice explanation.

      I saw this recently via a link from the NWS.

      A bit complicated, but you explained it perfectly. Many thanks

  81. This is all I could find. I think the Muddy River was the culprit. It was really
    flooded big time. Waaaay over banks.

    Subway Service Alerts
    Green Line: Current

    Branches Affected: D
    Shuttle buses replacing Green Line D branch service between Kenmore and Fenway due to flooding. Expect severe delays in service.
    Affected stops:
    Kenmore
    Fenway

    Last Updated: 12/9/2014 5:37:26 PM

    1. NWS Boston ‏@NWSBoston 5m5 minutes ago
      [920 pm] The Muddy River in Brookline, MA has crested and was beginning to fall. It still will remain in flood for another few hours.

        1. Vicki, main stem rivers typically take longer to react to heavy rain events. Smaller, tributary streams and rivers respond much quicker. Also, the Muddy River.is in a heavily developed, highly impervious, urban area. Stormwater runoff volumes and rates are much higher for those types of rivers. Thus they are much more “flashy” in their response to heavy rainfall rates.

  82. My sturdy umbrella which I purchased for my trip to Edinburgh 3 weeks ago survived Scotland unscathed. Well, there was some damage, but the umbrella withstood the gale-force winds. Today, however, that same umbrella died a tragic death as I crossed the Mass Pike on Mass Ave on my way to a conference where I had to present. A gust of wind caused 4 of the arms to snap, releasing several pins and tiny screws into the air. They found their way onto the Mass Pike, I guess. I chucked the remainder of my umbrella (which I had named Nessie while over in Scotland) when I arrived at the conference venue, and bought a new el cheapo one at a local convenience store.

    1. When I use to work downtown, during windy days, I would pass by all the barrels all over the sidewalks and they would be overflowing with inverted umbrellas.

      1. My sump pup finally started WeatherWiz. Hope yours has stopped going on as regularly as it was earlier today.

        1. Oh yeah it stopped almost immediately after the water outside the garage filtered through which was 9 or 10pm. Funny I just cleaned the pit last week with bleach and water for the winter and it was wasted effort after this storm. Glad yours is working…still going off?

          1. Yes but not too frequently. Just some water coming up from the ground but not as high as the pipes that come into the pit so those aren’t adding water in.

            1. I take that back the pipes are draining some water into the pit now. Should start to subside later today. Think it had more to do with the large amount of rain that we had in a short time.

  84. Lester is not coming back and to be honest I would not have pain a 155 million for a 31 years old pitcher. If he Sox really wanted him they could have done this last year for 5-100 million but low balled him. Good luck with the Cuba who are perinal losers.

    1. Agreed. In fact both sides are to blame here. The Sox for low balling him last year and Lester for not being more open (at least in public) about what his “hometown discount” really was. On to Hamels, Shields, etc. On a side note the Red Sox were named the top organization in baseball for the 2nd time in three years.

      http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/12/red_sox_named_topps_organization_of_the_year.html

      Yeah I know they finished last in 14 but the award is more about talent in the organization, etc than anything else.

    2. The Red Sox CLEARLY did NOT NOT NOT want him, ELSE he would have
      been signed During Spring training last season. Period. End of Discussion.

      Not sure what their reasoning was. The beer and chicken fiasco? I dunno.
      I hear all sort of other unsubstantiated rumors, so I’ll just assume they
      didn’t want him and they had reasons to pause for that much money and years.
      Yes, eventually the upped the ante, but in the end NOT enough. Not sure Lester was enamored with the Red Sox either.

      Good luck to him.

      IF HAMELS and/or Shields comes here, I’ll be SICK!!!!

      Pichingwise the Sox are in the Crapper.

        1. Respectfully disagree, but do agree he is Probably the
          guy they get. And it WILL COST them (young players and $$$). The Sox management are IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          1. Did you see the the article about the Sox being voted the best organization? There’s a reason for that and NO THEY DON”T SUCK..stop shouting please. They are loaded for bear in the minors and can afford to make some trades involving those prospects…That’s what GOOD organizations do. End of Discussion 🙂

      2. Cmon OS…that’s a little over the top. It’s not the end of discussion at all. The Sox played the game and lost. But a 6 year 132 mil offer is nothing to sneeze at. If they had no interest they would have moved on the Scherzer, etc right away. As far as your assessment of Hamels….you and I had this same conversation earlier in the year. Hamels stats in a park that is worse for pitchers than Fenway are just as good if not a little BETTER than Lester’s. Check the stats out for yourself before rushing to judgement. And if you think the Sox pitching is in the crapper you are dead wrong…while not the best rotation they have some young stud arms (we talked about this before too) and those in a combination with hopefully picking up a couple of vets should make us more than compatible in weak AL LEAST.

        1. It is funny that a couple of years ago the AL East was the top dog division…not so much anymore…The west and central are much better.

        2. We disagree. I did check out the Hamels stat and admittedly I was surprised. I’m still not impressed by him. Hope I am proven wrong.

          Yes I know what the Sox have. All I meant was that
          they COULD have had Lester for far less then he took
          from the Cubs IF they got off of their fat asses last
          Spring. What was the problem? They didn’t want him,
          UNTIL it was too late.

          And UNTIL the young guys prove themselves, right
          now they have NOTHING for pitching.

          Masterson may help. I dunno for sure. Hitters often
          figure him out.

          And despite what you say, I am NOT impressed with
          the Red Sox organization. Not at all.

          I am entitled to that opinion as you are to yours.

          Hope you are correct.

          1. Not impressed??? 3 WS titles in 11 years….okay. Would you rather be the Yankees right now? No minor league talent and when did they last win a WS? If I had to pick the top 3 Organizations in baseball right now (not in any order) it would be Boston, St Louis and Detroit.

          2. Oh and your statement about “they didn’t want him” is a little off the mark. If I’m running a business and don’t want someone I’m not going to offer them 132 mil.

            But you are right we are both entitled to have different viewpoints.

            1. IF they wanted him, they WOULD have gotten him last Spring. IF they wanted him, why did they trade him?

              You connect the dots.

              1. Here’s another opinion

                Gary Tanguay ‏@Gary_Tanguay 22m22 minutes ago
                Sox over pay for Hanley but won’t for Lester. Sox blew it. @CSNNE

                1. Tanguay…Consider the source. He and others like him bitched last year when the Sox couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag and now they all have forgotten that. The Sox needed Hanley and the Panda. The other thing that does is allows them to trade Cespedes for pitching. Sorry on Tanguay his thoughts are high and outside LOL IMHO

              2. Connecting the dots isn’t as simple as it seems (not sure I like the implication that I can’t do that…don’t think I’m stupid) The Sox tested the market and blew it at that point (yeah I’ll admit that and I said it earlier) but I also said Lester takes some of the blame here too…If you and I had all the answers we would be the GM and not Cherington.

                2. At this point I think I’ll stop this conversation on my end. Passions and knee jerk reactions are the bane of sports arguments…thankfully it’s too early to add alcohol to the mix 🙂

  86. Quite a foggy start here and whatever slight wind there is, I’m pretty sure its coming in from the S or SW, so perhaps this low is stalled just to our west ?

  88. WSI Energy Weather ‏@WSI_Energy 2m2 minutes ago
    Christmas magic in the making? High-res GFS op sniffing out a Christmas Nor’easter.. only 20% support by ECMWF EPS

  89. Following the Jon Lester SMEAR CAMPAIGN with Toucher and Rich. Pretty funny.

    Here an example:

    Toucher and Rich retweeted
    Tom ‏@Tim_Hardy 5m5 minutes ago
    @FredToucher @Toucherandrich Jon Lester started the fire that interrupted John Henry’s victory speech. #smearcampaign

  91. Good morning!! Heading out! Better that it’s rain than snow so it doesn’t cause havoc for the majority of us. Good day to get stuff done,,, indoors.

    I still don’t see any meaningful snow looking out as far as I can see, Christmas is now only 2 weeks away, also sunset is now 4:12pm, we gained est 44 sec for sunsets 🙂 stay dry 🙂

  92. Good Morning. I asked TK if I could post some Christmas quizzes on non-weather days. I am not sure if this really qualifies as a non-weather day (or any day does for that matter). But thought I’d start this morning. Answers this evening to the first two. The third was compliments of TK so I do not know the answer.

    1. In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, what made the squirt gun a misfit toy?
    2. Who portrayed Scrooge in the 1951 version of Scrooge?
    3. On what date did the “storm of storms” begin at the North Pole in Red-Nosed Reindeer?

    1. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

      I DUNNO

      1. I don’t know date for TK’s either. I’m going to guess Christmas Eve but suspect the storm started well before that and I have no idea the year.

  93. Keith-Hingham.

    I just want you to know that I respect your thoughts and opinions.
    I still happen to disagree, but that’s OK.

    Let’s check back mid season and compare notes.

    I do hope your assessment is correct. 😀

    1. Agreed…Sports arguments are both fun and frustrating because in the end no one will know until everything shakes out.

      Mid Season notes will be interesting…I’ll prepare the crow dinner…for myself 🙂

  95. Cubs’ signing of Lester does NOT surprise me. But, it does disappoint me. Once again, a player goes for top dollar, in spite of suggesting a hometown discount was in the offing. I realize the Sox did not do a good job with Lester, low-balling him in March. However, Lester is like Clemens, Vaughn, Damon, and many others who left town “for respect [i.e., MONEY].” I do think Chicago offers Lester something unique that Boston and the others do not: A chance to contribute to giving a perennial loser a championship.

    What’s ruining baseball is not the length of the games, commercials, or quality of the sport, in my view. Besides hockey, commercials are ubiquitous part of all the major sports, games are long and full of breaks in all sports (except hockey), and baseball is being played at a very high level. The excessive amounts of money being paid baseball players is ruining the game. It keeps small markets small, and big markets big. Sure, sometimes we get to see a team like the Royals who are fun to root for. But generally it’s the big market teams that are in the hunt, get the spoils, rings, etc …

    Regarding the weather, this is really bad, folks. A spring cut-off low in December. I know. We’ve had these before. But, this one bites. I may take John Boehner’s cue and head to a tanning salon this afternoon … Just kidding.

  96. I am somewhat surprised by all the moisture being wrapped back into northeast Mass and New Hampshire.

    I guess I was expecting the big precip area to be currently in far northern New England, extending southwestward into eastern and central NY State.

  97. Re : Lester ….

    I think this will be a win/win for both the Cubs and Red Sox

    For the Cubs …. Lester in the NL with those lineups that don’t have a DH and the pitcher hitting ….. Pencil him in for 20 wins and I think he holds up into his mid 30s, so he will be an effective starter for most of the 6 years.

    For the Red Sox …. Say they got Lester, um ….. who exactly was going to be their #2 starter, their #3 ?????

    Take that 25 million per year, I hope they don’t sign Sherzer, you still have the same problem.

    Maybe big game James Shields and another #3 or #4 pitcher, then you’d have Shields, Joe Kelly, Buckholz (bahahahahahahahahahah ……) and hopefully someone emerges and you try to win 90 games by outscoring teams.

    1. Yes, agree with your comments. However, if the RS make the playoffs (huge if) you still need to win some games in the playoffs. And the current rotation, even if Shields is added, doesn’t cut it. I do think that every winner of the WS has a true ace who can pitch in big games. The Sox don’t have that now for sure, and will likely not have that even if they sign someone.

    2. Agreed…I really hope they pull off the rumored trade to the Tigers (Cespedes for Porcello…he’d make an excellent #2)

      1. Say 2 of the following three Hamels, Porcello, and Shields. The rotation would be as follows Hamels, Shields (or Porcello, Shields), Buch, Joe Kelly and Rubby. In the AL Least that might be enough…in the playoffs (as Joshua says) no way. Now if that were the rotation I’d say look for Henry Owens to join the club mid season. The Sox would really hit a home run if they were able to get Hamels, Porcello and Shields.

  100. A bit absent today. Crazy day. Will update sometime this afternoon.

    Trivia. I know all 3. But let’s get a few more guesses.

  103. this is cute

    Dan Shaughnessy ‏@Dan_Shaughnessy 19m19 minutes ago
    This Lester fiasco reminds me of Haywood Sullivan losing Fisk after neglecting to mail his contract. Took years to recover from that. This??

    1. You can always count on Shank to slam the Sox…why does he even write about them when he hates them so much. Reminds me of Ron Borges who hates the Patriots. Now when Steve Buckley, Sean McAdam, Peter Gammons or Chad Finn writes or says something then I’ll listen 🙂

      1. And just a reminder it wasn’t just Fisk…it was also Fred Lynn. And there were a few other “incidents” that took place under Sullivan’s reign that fed into what Shank is talking about. Also we get over things a lot quicker in this era as opposed to 30 years ago.

    1. I agree OS…as long as the high to the north stays in position we should be all set for a white Christmas for sure. 😀

  106. I continue, as I mentioned earlier, to be quite surprised at how much moisture is rotating in off of the ocean today. From the Mass/ME, Mass/NH, Mass/VT border points northward there is quite a lot of precip falling.

    In the Berkshires, this is now falling as steady snow.

    1. I am also surprised that there haven’t been any reports of flooded basements. My basement is quite wet, but fortunately the water didn’t reach my heating system and no other damage that I can see. I have a drain that I open up prior to a rainstorm and the water flows down it and out of the basement.

      Also the radar is interesting. The rain/snow line in the CT Valley in MA doesn’t have a “mix” in between.

  107. Also, after the past event, I cant take the GFS serious out beyond 3 days …..

    So, looking at the 12z EURO, through the 20th, I am not really overwhelmed by any prospects for snow.

    At their coldest, we seem to have 850 temps that here and there get to somewhere btwn 0 to 5C below. And those times don’t seem to be matching up with much storminess.

    And, I love to use Instant Weather Maps and call up the EURO for Canada. Run any of the times 850mb temps for Canada and you’ll clearly see real cold struggles to get south of 60 North Latitude.

    I don’t know, seem to see a lot of high 30s and 40s for high temps and rather ho hum weather. FWIW, that is fine with me, NO snow days. 🙂

  108. Taking Mom on an appointment. If all goes well, an update will be posted shortly after 5. I have to squeeze dinner in there and then to a parent-teacher conference at 6PM at the school. Going to Zion Mountain tonight too. 😉

  110. TK hope your moms appointment goes well.

    You didn’t answer questions. One was for you :). Also, I’ll wait to post answers till you post your answer

  111. The answer to #3 is December 22.

    In the narration, Sam the Snowman says: “…when suddenly, it hit! The storm of storms! And only 2 days before Christmas Eve!”

    I know #1 and #2 so I disqualified myself from them. Vicki, post the answers when you want. 🙂

    1. Hahaha. It is ok to know and answer. Just don’t say you know

      And darn that is right. How quickly I forget

      1. Funnier even how it didn’t bother anyone back in the day and kids just had a good feeling about the show…..

  113. The questions were

    1. In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, what made the squirt gun a misfit toy?
    2. Who portrayed Scrooge in the 1951 version of Scrooge?

    The answers were
    1. It squirted jelly
    2. Alastair Sim

    And TK – again – it is ok to answer if you know – Others had the correct answers 🙂 I have to admit I was surprised that anyone knew 2 …well done, Philip!!

    1. I always wanted jelly when I saw that.

      I LOVE Alastair Sim’s portrayal of Scrooge. Excellent. And Kathleen Harrison’s portrayal of Mrs. Dilber is out of this world. The entire scene between the 2 of them on Christmas morning is pure magic.

      1. :). I know I saw it a hundred years ago. I think based on your wonderful description I’ll have to see if I can find it this year

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