Storm Update (Tuesday Afternoon)

221 Comments

1:56PM

Storm has now pulled most of its snow right into eastern and parts of central MA and southeastern NH as well as eastern CT across RI. The heaviest snow band stretches from the NH Seacoast down through eastern MA including Boston. This band will vary and wobbled around a little as it slowly starts to weaken during the afternoon, and additional weaker bands may try to form into the evening but overall the entire system will begin its departure phase from now through around midnight or shortly after. Another band is still hanging around 495 to near Worcester but should weaken and pull eastward during the afternoon.

Additional accumulations of 3-6 inches are possible under the heaviest bands, with lighter amounts elsewhere where snow continues to fall. This results in total storm accumulations in the 18-25 inch range in many areas but pockets of 25-33 inch amounts in some locations including the 495 belt NW of Boston down through the Worcester area into the far southwestern suburbs of Boston, and in some sections of northeastern MA from Cape Ann down to near Boston and in parts of the South Shore. The 18-25 inch band will include most of Cape Cod except for lesser amounts on parts of the Outer Cape and down across the Islands.

For this update I will post the forecast from before. An evening update will include a fully updated discussion and forecast with a better look at the weekend and early next week, which present a couple more snow threats.

Heading outside to start moving some of the snow, with help thankfully. 🙂 See you this evening!

SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FORECAST…
THIS AFTERNOON: Snow, heavy at times, but may mix with sleet/rain Nantucket and even taper off there for a while before resuming as all snow. Blowing and drifting snow with possible blizzard conditions especially eastern coastal MA and higher elevations more exposed to wind. Less drifting where snow is not as fluffy across Cape Cod and the Islands but still considerable blowing snow there. Chance of lightning and thunder at times. Temperatures steady 15-25 in most areas, still coldest to the northwest, but may rise briefly to the lower 30s Nantucket. Wind NE to N 15-35 MPH gusting 45-55 MPH inland, 25-45 MPH gusting 55-65 MPH coastal areas. Peak gusts of 65-75 MPH or even briefly stronger may take place in isolated coastal locations especially Cape Cod.
TONIGHT: Snow ends gradually west to east in eastern areas. Additional blowing and drifting snow. Lows 10-20. Wind N to NW 15-35 MPH, higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Chance of snow showers. Highs 25-30. Wind W 10-20 MPH.
THURSDAY: Sunny. Low 10. High 25.
FRIDAY: Cloudy. Chance of snow. Low 15. High 30.
SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 5. High 20.
SUNDAY: Sun to clouds. Snow at night. Low 0. High 25.
MONDAY: Snow early, then clearing. Low 10. High 20.

221 thoughts on “Storm Update (Tuesday Afternoon)”

  2. Kane, in response to your comment on the last blog, I think a lot of people are measuring in snow drifts or including the snow already on the ground in their measurements as TK said. Some very skewed reports of 17 and 19″ in the towns adjacent to me in CT whereas I measured only 14″ here. People need to be taking several measurements in multiple different locations and average them.

  3. Thank you TK. I agree Mark and as I said on last blog also, this person has a history of numbers higher than I think they should be. Not that I am the only true reading.

  4. Looking ahead:
    12z Euro has the Monday storm as an inland runner, tracking up thru the Appalachians and delivering snow to rain in SNE. GFS has a colder/off shore solution with what looks like all snow for most with 6″+, except far SE MA and Cape where there is mixing.

  5. Can we give a little love to the NAM please. It gets kicked around so much, I think we need to be fair on this one.

    1. Yes definitely. I think the RGEM needs some love too. It really pinned down the banding and location almost exactly.

  6. I took mine in 3 locations without old snow and averaged my numbers. I am comfortable with the 27.9 as of 2 pm ish.

    1. It is unreal…I just woke up again after a quick 40 minute nap. Still snowing like crazy here…maybe a little lighter than an hour ago but the wind is picking up here again. I have to get outside to start shoveling.

  10. ok, 21.6″ in Sherborn at 2:30PM.. do not think we are going to add much more to that total.. thought we had a shot at 24″, but the bands were closer to Worcester and/or I-95 for most of the morning.

  11. My numbers might be wrong bc it seems high but I was very diligent in the way I measured. I don’t want the numbers to be skewed. I will remeasure in a little bit.

  12. Old Salty says:
    January 27, 2015 at 3:14 PM
    Hadi will choke, but I just came in for a break from shoveling. Made a zillion
    measurements. Sorry, but my best average measurement is 21.0 inches. 😀
    Reply
    avatarOld Salty says:
    January 27, 2015 at 3:20 PM
    Radar breaking up. Snow about to stop here. REALLY lightened up.
    Reply

  14. 31.5″ and still coming down. The snow is so fluffy. Lot’s of air in it. Easy accumulation.

    I imagine it’s like the consistency of lake effect.

  15. I just went back out and took 3 measurements and it’s now at 28.2. Not sure why the diffrence from OS. Looking at observations around the area I feel confident with my numbers.

      1. Lets hope Vicki …..

        Where the break is, that part of town faces east AND has a piece of the Brant Rock Village, almost as a land barrier to its left, if you are staring out into the open ocean. I’m hoping that will help.

        But, some parts of our town’s coastline almost face due north, such as at the seawall just before you come into Brant Rock Village.

        The waves there, with the passage of a normal cold front and a resulting NW wind, come directly into shore, so, I figure that little area of town must be getting lots of water spilling onto the road.

        And of course, the water flies down the hill into Brant Rock Village as the roadway descends about 3 or so feet at that exact point.

  18. My measurement is 23.2 inches in Back Bay: Average of 3 measurements.

    Now it’s on to freeing up my car, which is parked on a street that is truly impassable at the moment. I’m talking 4 to 5 foot drifts. Has not been plowed yet, so once it is those drifts will be higher still. Snow is easy to move around, thankfully.

  19. If I’m reading the Logan ob correctly, listed over hrs and hrs and hrs ……..

    Here’s what I keep getting for total melted from the storm at Logan …….

    1 inch.

  22. Just heard from my in-laws in West Roxbury, they measured 22.5 a few mins ago. Heading out now to do a cleanup before dark sets in

      1. Just called the Mayor’s hot line. I got happy horse shit about
        needing to attend to the main roads blah blah, but they would do
        the best they can. yada yada yada LIP SERVICE. I hope I get
        plowed before morning. I do NOT want to take the cattle car
        to work!!!!! Yes that is what I call the T. The most disgusting mode of transportation on the planet. I’d rather ride a DONKEY to work. 😀

        1. You’re alright in my book. Thanks for the thought.
          Funny, NEVER a problem with Menino. BIG problems
          prior to Menino. Menino was A neighborhoods kind of Mayor.

  26. Framingham now reporting 32. We have not had 2 inches since 30 report. And that is measuring bare ground.

  29. Someone mentioned the EURO

    IF THIS HAPPENS you’ll ALL here me SCREAM where ever you are!(@*(@*#(!*)@

    I’m pissed off just looking at it!@(#()*!()@#*()!@*#(*!@()#*(!@*#()*!@()#*()!@*#(*!@()#*!(@*#!*)@(#*!()@*#()!*@(#*!*)@#(

    👿 😈 👿 😈 👿 😈 👿 😈

  30. Give it time. I’m sure the Euro will move further east. I think the GFS is still showing an east coast storm.

  32. Rain on Monday would NOT be good, for obvious reasons. I doubt it will rain. I do think we’ll have a mixed bag, with really cold air working its way in after that just to ice over the glop on top of all the snow.

    1. That would make more sense than what the Euro portrays. Still plenty of
      time for things to shake out.

  33. Huh?

    RECORD EVENT REPORT
    NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
    428 PM EST TUE JAN 27 2015

    …RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT BOSTON MA…

    A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 18.5 INCHES (SO FAR) WAS SET AT BOSTON MA
    TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 8.8 SET IN 2011.

    1. RECORD EVENT REPORT
      NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
      428 PM EST TUE JAN 27 2015

      …RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT PROVIDENCE RI…

      A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 14.2 INCHES (SO FAR) WAS SET AT PROVIDENCE RI
      TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 6.7 INCHES SET IN 2011.

      1. RECORD EVENT REPORT
        NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
        428 PM EST TUE JAN 27 2015

        …RECORD DAILY MAXIMUM SNOWFALL SET AT WORCESTER MA…

        A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 28.4 INCHES (SO FAR) WAS SET AT WORCESTER MA
        TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 11.0 INCHES SET IN 2011.

        1. Oh now I see. ONLY the snow that fell today, 1/27.
          Does NOT include any from last night. OK, I get it. 😀

  34. With this storm and the multiple storm threats coming up. I will never predict a winter out come, by the weather we had in December. This could be a repeat of 2012/2013, but 2 weeks earlier!!!

  35. Hope everybody enjoyed there Blizzard. I did even though i did not get as much as you guys about 12-14″ it blew everywhere, tough to measure.

  37. Looks pretty obvious now ONE MORE band rotating in from the OCEAN.

    Not sure how intense the snow will be, but looks to be some more snow.

  38. Just got in from shoveling the walkway to the street About maybe 18 ft max….took almost an hour. I walked around to measure and it’s nearly impossible here as the winds are really picking up and wouldn’t surprise me if we have some power outages around here later. Basic drifts around my house are hip high with some higher. Snow banks along the walkway are almost 6 ft high. I found several level places that were somewhat sheltered from the wind and the average depth seems to be 26-28 inches. Won’t dig out the front end of the driveway until later after what looks like a couple of more bands of snow may come through. No way I’m doing the sidewalk today or tomorrow. Might start to chip away at it on Thursday.

  40. Looks like I’m done unless a band starts acting up again.

    Total: 32″ (.5″ shy of tying my personal home record) What a shame lol!

  41. Anybody who got 2′ or more, add 4.5-5′ to that and thats what buffalo got in november over a couple days. Would love to see it but hard to imagine that much snow at once!!!

  42. Still coming down pretty good in Methuen anyone see how much we have here? I saw 27 inches, but that was a several hours ago

  44. Travel ban lifts at midnight. T on schedule tomorrow and buses TBD. Only critical state workers to report to work.

  48. Here comes the final punch…
    Light snow & blowing snow but it may go moderate from the northern suburbs right into the city with another 1-2 inches through 8PM. After that, it’s flurries then done.

    O.S. .. Don’t worry about the ECMWF’s solution for February 2. Not happening. Right now that model can’t forecast its way out of an open door.

      1. Something is coming by here. I just don’t believe that it’s heading up the St. Lawrence.

        Working on that now… 🙂

    4. Good to hear. Thanks TK. You know I was saying that crap just for humor and dramatic effect. Although I’d like it to snow, it will do what it will do and I shall accept that. 😆 😆

  50. We have to keep an eye on that innocuous looking thing for Friday. It may do a ka-boom just off the coast.

    2. Even if it goes KABOOM, isn’t it likely to be too late and perhaps a tad
      too far North? OR do you have an idea that it might go KABOOM say near
      Nantucket or so????

  52. Final clean up done. Got about 3″ since noon, total of 19″ here in Sharon. Can we squeek out another inch from this last band? Pleeease? Want to join the 20 something club 😀

  53. I’m convinced that a whole lot of the top amounts being reported are incorrect. They are including snow that was ON THE GROUND BEFORE THE STORM.

    INCORRECT!

    I’ve been around the weather world for a long time and I know when that’s going on.

    2. yep…and this afternoon I was guilty of that too in my 26-28 inches. Just knock 3 crusty inches off that 🙂

      1. It happens. I know you wouldn’t do it on purpose. I wrote to the National Weather Service just a moment ago asking them to post a reminder about snow measurements.

    3. Mine were on homemade snow board. I’m real careful with measuring. Don’t want to be a hack that’s for sure.

  55. In the end we received 31 inches (average of 3 spots). I had made sure to shovel out the snow from the previous storm before this one to get an accurate reading.

  56. Sooo is it odd when my grandson asked me why it snowed so much and I explained climate is changing and, although it isn’t the only reason, we need to take care of our planet …..and his mom gives me a funny look 🙂 I love being a nana !!

  57. Barry is calling for a few inches on Friday and a somewhat warmer solution for the Monday storm with Snow/Rain and temps around 40.

    3. On Friday’s event, we could have more snow than is being forecast. Depends on track and low development off the coast. My guess is it’ll be a nuisance event at best with a low intensifying after it passes us by.

      Regarding Monday, Barry’s splitting the difference between GFS (cold) and the Euro (warm) model. I’d be inclined to choose the model that’s done the best in recent times. We’ll see.

  58. The problem with the ECMWF model in regards to Monday’s threat is its chronic issue of over-developing things. It does that with the Friday system after it gets offshore, moves it too slowly and leaves the trough too deep. The resultant upstream ridge ends up too amplified in the southeastern US, and that results in the next storm taking a track to the north.

    I think that solution going to fail.

  60. I also made sure I cleaned up the snow before measuring. I went again and had my being our measure in his area. He has lived here for 70 years. He came up with 26.7.

  61. I know there was some talk last night about ratios not being high. Really curious what ratios were like just away from the coast. No wet snow here, very dry and powdery. If i had to guess, I’d say at least 12:1 and probably more like 15:1 or more.

    1. I’m feeling good with mine in there from Holden at 32″ . Within 1″ of the airport and two hours later than theirs so I bet we damn near match. I’m at nearly the exact same elevation and probably three miles from there as the crow flies.

    2. Thanks for sending. Very impressive numbers, especially near Plymouth and the Cape Cod canal!

      Snow is still falling in Boston, adding to the total a bit. My measurement of 23.2 inches is accurate, I believe. I am in Back Bay. Did not include the previous snowfall. We can probably add at least a half inch to that, if not more.

  63. Regarding snow ratios. I have to say that even though the snow was DRY, it was HEAVY. That was the HEAVIEST Powder snow I can ever remember. OF course it could be because I am really get old. 😀 😀

    I bet it was closer to 10:1 than it was to 15:1

    Tk you must have an answer to that?

    1. If I’ve listened to TK and JMA, its more about the temp in the snow growth region and less about the surface temps …. But, dont hold me to that. 🙂

    2. I believe it was close to 12:1, maybe 15:1 further inland where the entire profile of the lower and middle atmosphere was colder.

  66. One thing Mike Wankum is doing that I think is excellent :

    He is using the tidal guages to explain why this morning’s tide was the worst tide of the storm.

    Many at 5pm, on live TV, were saying they thought that tide was going to be a lot worst than it ended up.

    But the tidal guages are huge at giving advanced notice about surge.

    The surge starting to lessen began showing up on the guages around 2 to 3 pm.

    On the flip side, the guages can be used, perhaps by emergence responders, to see the worst tide coming, because you can see the surge building on the guage. Its plotted with its own green line.

    Again, kudos to Mike Wankum and these guages should be used more often.

    1. Wankum owns a house right on the water. They showed video from it earlier. He’s a coastal guy and pays very close attention to tides. 🙂

      2. Yes and he owns 2 homes one for him and one for family when
        they visit. He is a Scituate home owner.

  69. I’m watching ch 5 coverage ….

    Some of these snow bands are still, occasionally, gaining a bit of intensity.

  73. My friend who is now chief observer at Blue Hill (I’m a part time observer there as well as I think I’ve mentioned) reports 29.7″ of snow there through 7PM. He’s been manning the station around the clock since Monday morning. That’s good for 6th on record there, but only 0.7″ more will bring it to 2nd on record. Big clustering of storms right around that 30″ mark. I think they make it to 2nd. Number one is 38.7″ in February of 1969, so that’s way out of reach.

    Looks like Logan will not get to 27.5, not much of a surprise but still high on the list for them too.

  74. Nantucket, on every ob it made btwn 0308z (10:08pm last night) until 2153z (4:53pm his afternoon ) …….. reported a wind gust of 50 knots or stronger.

  75. 18z GFS wants to give a moderate snowfall across region six seven inches for early next week.
    If GFS is right there is going to be aquite a snow depth across SNE.

  78. Boss called. OFFICE CLOSED TOMORROW.

    Lucky me!!!

    I had to record a message and do a robo call blast to all employees.
    Small price to pay for the day off. 😀

      1. With the mess likely to clean up in Brant Rock and Humarock …. and, if I heard correctly, there are several homes structurally unsafe to return to (they use our Middle School for shelter), plus all of Brant Rock is in the dark due to a transformer exploding, I’m kind of wondering if they’ll have all these things resolved for school Thursday.

        Its still snowing decently and the wind is still pretty strong, so, they probably havent gotten to the sidewalks yet either.

  80. Gee, wasnt this storm a perfect 300 ?

    If you get that, dont you stop bowling and go home ? 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    1. Is that something that is schedule based or is it dependent on when the storm finishes and you have the area in good condition ?

  82. South Boston came in at 27 inches probably a better reading than Logan, it was also from a trained spotter. I liked seeing that number as it matches well with all my readings.

  83. I have never bowled at 300. My highest game is 246.
    If I did get a 300 I would stop bowling and go home just like I would if I got a hole in one on the golf course.

  85. I feel like we are primed for snow now. Hopefully February is a good month for snow lovers. Because come March, most of us will be itching for some warmth, I’m willing to bet!

  86. I like candlepin also. I used to manage the company league. Mac and I met at the bowling alley on rt 2 Cambridge. He worked in a different location. Haven’t played since we were in Nova Scotia several years ago but once I got back into it whipped the younguns.

    1. I love candlepins but also like 10 pins too (not as much tho). Never had the chance to bowl duckpins. Are there any lanes still around. I know there used to be some down in the Fall River and New Bedford area.

      BTW still snowing moderately here 🙂

  90. I used to go bowling with a group of people every Sunday night back in the late 1980s into the 1990s, which included Brad Delp, the lead singer of the band Boston. He had his own bowling balls that he’d let me use. One of the nicest guys I ever met. Was quite sad when he passed away. But what great memories we have of him. 🙂

  92. According to the totals reported on the NWS site, my town of Lunenburg has the highest measurement at 36″. After clearing the driveway, I know that we got a lot of snow, but I do not think that we got 3′.

    1. Hingham, Cohasset, and Weymouth seem to be adding some snow to their already impressive totals. I don’t think you’re done quite yet. Not much left, but perhaps an inch or so. The Cape snows may last a while longer. Sandwich and a few other towns may go over 30 inches. I think that is worth reporting. It’s rare that the Cape sees that much snowfall. Most of the big storms I remember produced some snow on the Cape and Islands, but also a lot of rain. This storm did not go to the benchmark. I think it was well east of the benchmark, which meant a much colder solution applied. Yet, the storm had enough reach to give places like Groton 30 inches and Sandwich.

  94. I live right by the Greenbush line Commuter rail and they just sent a plow train by…it was having a tough time of it for some reason.

    1. Son just arrived here from Boston and said boston roads not a whole lot better than this am. Many not done and all he was on need attention.

      1. The road by our house is snow packed (maybe a few inches) but passable. Hingham does a pretty good job for the most part. Norwell not so much.

    1. Did that surpass April fools? I think it did but for some reason city of Worcester doesn’t count that storm

  97. NWS Tweet.

    @NWSBoston: Worcester broke its all-time record snowfall with 33.5″ as of 7 PM, beating 33.0″ set back on April 1, 1997. Records kept there since 1905.

  98. 28 inches of snow, Not as much as the 2013 blizzard they way i knew was by looking out my bedroom window. in 2013 blizzard, it was half covered it was a little bit less also, i know we missed it by about 6 inches

  100. I’m not sure how trash pick-up is going to work in Boston, tomorrow! I think I’ll just throw a trash bag on top of the snow bank, and deal with recyclables next week.

  103. Snowing again in Boston. It’s almost as if a tiny Low was formed over Massachusetts Bay as the coastline down to Cape Cod has really gotten more snow in the past 4 hours than I expected. Small bands seem to be forming and coming in from the ocean.

  104. snowing here in billerica, looks like just some snow thats lifting up the east side of billerica, looks like ocean snow

  107. Billings, Montana was 68 today, average high 37. Guess that ridge was very far to the north out west! That would be great to have for our January thaw but not now with all of this snow.

  109. I saw a report that said pembroke received 23 inches of snow and I believe it had 24 for marshfield . A few more things to do and than this storm will be a memory . What day is it again lol .

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