Wednesday Forecast Update

191 Comments

6:42AM

DAYS 1-5…
Happy July to you all! This section will spotlight the first 5 days of this new month, including the Fourth of July Weekend! Of most immediate concern is the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms across southern New England today. The most numerous activity will come in waves associated with a warm front passing through the region during this morning. Clusters of showers and thunderstorms are likely, some potentially strong with torrential rain, lightning, and gusty winds. There is a remote risk for hail and damaging wind. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. As we get to afternoon, the warm front will have passed through and a cold front will be approaching. A more humid and fairly unstable air mass ahead of the approaching cold front will promote additional scattered showers and thunderstorms, less numerous than the morning activity but still with the potential for an isolated stronger storm. By tonight, all activity will be diminishing and pushing offshore and then we enter a fairly quiet stretch of weather Thursday through Sunday, including the Independence Day holiday itself on Saturday. A couple weak waves of low pressure will stay south of the region but will throw some high cloudiness across the sky at times Thursday and Friday. In addition, you may notice a hazy look to the sky at times Thursday into the weekend. This would be due to smoke from forest fires in western Canada. This is not a highly unusual occurrence and takes place when smoke rises from the fires and is transported by the middle and upper level winds. See the comments section below for more on today’s weather. Onto the 5-day forecast…
TODAY: Mainly cloudy through midday with numerous showers and thunderstorms arriving southwest to northeast with some storms producing torrential rain and frequent lightning. Some storms potentially producing damaging wind and possibly hail. Variably cloudy including breaks of sun mid afternoon on with scattered to isolated showers and thunderstorms, still with a few potentially strong storms. Becoming humid. Highs in the 70s, may touch 80 away from the coast in any areas that see enough sun. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH this morning though may shift briefly to SW with moderate to strong gusts with any storms, then S to SW 10-20 MPH with stronger gusts near any additional storms this afternoon.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy with any lingering showers and thunderstorms ending early, then clearing. Becoming less humid. Lows 60-65, a few upper 50s interior valleys. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Sunshine filtered at times by high clouds and possibly smoke aloft, most clouds southern MA and RI in the afternoon. Highs 70s South Coast/Cape Cod, 80-85 elsewhere. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 60-65. Wind light W.
FRIDAY: Sunshine filtered at times by high clouds and possibly smoke aloft, most clouds southern MA and RI in the morning. Highs 70s coast, 80-85 interior. Wind light variable with light sea breezes.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows in the 60s.
SATURDAY – INDEPENDENCE DAY: Sunny to partly cloudy. Highs 70s South Coast, 80-85 elsewhere.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Evening temps in 70s. Overnight lows in 60s.
SUNDAY: Sunny to partly cloudy. Highs 70s South Coast, 80-85 elsewhere.

DAYS 6-10 (JULY 6-10)…
A weak trough is expected in the Great Lakes to the Northeast with a flat ridge of high pressure to the south and in the western Atlantic. This pattern keeps Summer heat at bay and weak disturbances promote a few episodes of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures overall expected to be close to normal with rainfall near to below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (JULY 11-15)…
Jet stream lifts a little to the north and the pattern shifts to one of near to above normal temperatures with continued near to below normal rainfall. This is going to depends on the orientation of upper level low pressure in Canada, which should elongate more west-to-east and weaken slightly, allowing for the northward shift in the jet stream.

191 thoughts on “Wednesday Forecast Update”

  2. Thank you TK and thanks for grabbing some posts from this morning.

    Time to make the donuts. More when I arrive at the office.

    later… 😀

  3. All the posts in the last hour…

    Old Salty says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:13 AM

    SERF Tornado parameters ever so slightly backed off

    Ingredients

    15Z

    http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/sref/gifs/latest/SREF_prob_combined_sigtor__f012.gif

    18Z

    http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/sref/gifs/latest/SREF_prob_combined_sigtor__f015.gif

    Parameter

    15Z

    http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/sref/gifs/latest/SREF_SIGTOR_MEDIAN_MXMN__f012.gif

    18Z

    http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/sref/gifs/latest/SREF_SIGTOR_MEDIAN_MXMN__f015.gif

    That 1 bulls eye is now gone, lessening the risk some.

    Old Salty says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:15 AM

    Pretty mean line of storms on the way for this time of day.
    One good thing, it is a line with no discrete cells, which is another good sign
    for non-tornadic activity, at least for now.

    http://www.wunderground.com/weather-radar/united-states/ma/boston/box/?region=bml

    Tom says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:19 AM

    Impressive ……

    Surface winds from the SE ……

    Old Salty says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:20 AM

    Good news from NWS this morning.

    WE DO NOT SEEM TO MAXIMIZE THE SHEAR AND
    INSTABILITY AT THE SAME TIME. THUS…NOT EXPECTING WIDESPREAD
    SEVERE WEATHER AT THIS TIME. THINKING IS FOR A FEW STRONG TO
    SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS…WITH THE MAIN THREAT BEING DAMAGING WINDS AND/OR HAIL.

    JimmyJames says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:23 AM

    Line of showers and storms just passed me. There were some flashes of lightning and briefly heavy rain.

    JimmyJames says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:25 AM

    SPC still maintaing a marginal risk.

    Old Salty says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:27 AM

    Look at this HRRR Helicity for 9AM

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00400_helicity_1km.gif

    best Cape doesn’t get here till 11AM

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00600_best_cape_cin.gif

    8Am helicity

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00300_helicity_1km.gif

    8Am simulated radar

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00300_sim_radar_1km.gif

    If anything bad is to happen, it will be in the 8-9 AM time frame where
    we have the most helicity. Don’t however, have the most CAPE.

    Old Salty says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:29 AM

    8Am surface winds SE

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00300_2m_dewp_10m_wnd.gif

    925mb winds more South

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00300_925_temp_wnd.gif

    850 mb winds SSW

    http://mag.ncep.noaa.gov/data/hrrr/09/hrrr_east-us_00300_850_temp_ht.gif

    Old Salty says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:40 AM

    HRRR has this first batch coming through Boston between 8 and 11 AM.
    Then shows more convection around 5PM or so.

    North says:
    July 1, 2015 at 6:42 AM

    Was just out with the dog and had lightening and thunder overhead. Getting interesting on the radar.

  4. Thanks TK !

    There was some hazy sun on the easternmost horizon 45 minutes ago that has quickly changed to a much darker sky …..

  5. I apologize that those posts don’t have the exact indentation you’d find on non-transferred posts. But I did remove little things that appear on my screen with edit options and the word “avatar” which shows up instead of a picture in copy/paste mode. So that means that Tom’s name does not appear to me as “avatarTom” which almost sounds like the name of some computer superhero. 😉

  6. What a huge difference in the appearance in my Lawn. Both front and back look terrific! I shut the sprinkler system off two weeks ago. $$$$$

    1. Amazing what a couple good rain events will do, even ones that don’t erase a drought. Lawns thrive on topsoil moisture. They don’t care so much about the subsoil. 🙂

    1. I was thinking more that it looked like someone blended tomato, pumpkin, and butternut squash………………with maybe some watermelon rind as well.

    1. Hi North!! .36 here and very little thunder and lightening and all in distance sadly. Sounds pretty much the same where you are.

  11. WIMPORAMA going on. Really moved in fast. NO thunder and lightning here
    that I can tell.

    Radar transformed from a line to a Blob. NOTHING remotely severe imho.

    SO, the question is, since it’s moving through so quickly (warm front will be through), what happens with destabilization with the warm and very humid air being lifted with
    the approach of the cold front later? Worst shear and helicity will have been gone by then. Garden variety thunder storms with “perhaps” a stronger one or 2 thrown in?
    OR will there be enough for possible severe storms?

  12. Thanks tk, moderate and heavy rain here in north, a few rumbles of thunder, looking too quickly move out 🙂

    2. Didn’t see it. Don’t see it now for sure. Perhaps it was very brief.
      I’ve been busy the last 40 minutes or so.

  15. I’m watching the lower level of cloud and they are moving off to the northwest….shouldn’t they be moving to northeast?

    1. Surface wind is from South East, so Low clouds would be seen moving towards
      the North West, I do believe.

  18. Very fortunate that area one is not living up to potential. It delivers decent rain but virtually no severe weather other than some local flooding and maybe a couple lightning strikes. We’ll see about the stuff near the Islands that still might have some good wind with it.

    I do still feel the support for the severe storms the rest of the day is more to the north though cannot rule it out down this way.

    1. When you say support, do you mean the shear for Severe Storms?
      From what I see, there will still be ample instability here, but not much
      shear. That would indicate convection, but not severe? Is that correct?

      Thanks

      1. I found this regarding shear:

        Severe and tornadic storms require increasing wind shear with height in the atmosphere. Both directional and speed shear are beneficial. The introduction of shear not only aids in the development and intensity of long lived severe storms, but it contributes to the picturesque beauty.

  19. hmmm
    maybe a touch of rotation now just SW of Martha’s Vineyeard. NWS
    did indicate chance of water spouts with that storm.

  24. I hope everything is ok on the Cape ………

    Just pondering ….. With better radar technology being able to detect rotation in a thunderstorm, its likely that we’ll see more tornado warning issued now and going forward.

    Of course, this has tv coverage on every warning. Thankfully and I hope its true of today, the rotation will not make it to the surface …

    But, I wonder if a possible consequence of this is that people get used to a lot of warnings and live coverage without actual tornadoes, allowing for complacency to set in on future warnings ….. and then, what if, on a future storm, an EF 1 or 2 is truly on the ground ……

    1. Tom agree 100%.
      Not only will it happen, it already is.
      The majority of these radar induced tornado warnings do NOT
      materialize. Sure occasionally they do, but most often they do not.

      Yes, human nature being what it is, that is exactly what is beginning
      to happen.

    2. I was thinking the same thing this am. People are notorious for having short memories. Some are already writing off warnings. They also are so busy complaining about meteorologists that they forget to use their own common sense. Also, too often, if the “weather” doesn’t occur where they are located, they think it didn’t happen.

  25. New storm just fired South West of Martha’s Vinyard. WOW!
    Just absolutely BLEW UP!!!

  26. I can’t remember the last time there was a tornado warning for Cape Cod.
    Sun is out where I am and will see if the atmosphere recovers for when the cold front comes through.

  28. As I said earlier I got the sunshine here its just a question of how much could the atmosphere recover and are any storms going to fire up.

  29. If one believes the 12Z NAM, no more convection until about 8 or 9 PM tonight.

    If one believes the latest HRRR model run, then we’re going to get clocked
    around the Noon hour or so.

    Waiting for additional frames to appear for the 13Z run

    1. Nope, HRRR has convection to the West and it shows it going POOF.
      Nothing until After 21Z sometime??? I dunno

      I have a feeling we have basically escaped, at least in Boston. Not sure IF
      anything happened on the Cape or not?

  34. From NWS out of Taunton
    SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS CLEAR SLOT ALONG AND SOUTH OF LI SOUND
    MOVING EAST AND THERE ARE BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS DEVELOPING ACROSS
    NJ AND SE NY. CROSS SECTIONS SHOW ENOUGH DRYING SO WE DO EXPECT AT
    LEAST PARTIAL SUNSHINE TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON. MODELS DO
    GENERATE DECENT INSTABILITY WITH SBCAPES 1000-1500 J/KG AND SPC
    MESOANALYSIS SHOWS SBCAPE 500-1000 J/KG ACROSS CT INTO SE NY.
    MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE DECENT…UP TO 6.5 C/KM. SO WE DO
    EXPECT SCT SHOWERS/TSTMS TO REDEVELOP IN WESTERN NEW ENG THIS
    AFTERNOON AND MOVE EAST. THERE IS OVERALL DRYING IN THE COLUMN AS
    PWATS AND KI DROP WHICH IS A NEGATIVE FACTOR BUT THERE IS STILL
    SUFFICIENT MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY FOR SCT CONVECTION PER THE
    HI-RES MODELS. BEST DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL BE MOVING TO THE EAST
    BUT STILL 35-40 KT WHICH IS PLENTY FOR ORGANIZED CONVECTION AND
    THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER. LOW LEVEL SHEAR IS DECREASING SO
    MAIN THREAT WITH ANY STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND AND
    HAIL…MAINLY IN THE INTERIOR.

    1. Not so sure that is going to be the case.

      I am getting a feeling we’ll see a watch from the SPC.

      We shall see.

  37. Hmmm

    HRRR showing a round of convection about 2PM and again about 7PM.
    Still some helicity hanging around according to the HRRR.

  38. Sun coming back out here after I just had a brief shower 30 minutes ago. Of course that sunshine is not good and will further destablize the atmosphere. Vivid lightning and strong winds look to be the primary risks for any storms that fire this afternoon.
    A lot of lightning here in CT earlier with that line of storms that came in with the warm front.

  39. 12z NAM EHI Values for this afternoon.
    http://meteocentre.com/models/explorateur.php?lang=en&map=qc&run=12&mod=nam&stn=EHI&comp=1&run2=12&mod2=nam&stn2=EHI&hh2=006&fixhh=1&stn2_type=prog&mode=latest&yyyy=latest&mm=latest&dd=latest&hh=009
    CAPE 1,000 -1,500
    http://meteocentre.com/models/explorateur.php?mod=nam&run=12&stn=CAPE&hh=009&map=qc&stn2=EHI&run2=12&mod2=nam&hh2=009&comp=1&fixhh=1&lang=en&yyyy=latest&mm=latest&dd=latest&mode=latest&stn2_type=prog&date_type=dateo
    LIFT -2 -4
    http://meteocentre.com/models/explorateur.php?mod=nam&run=12&stn=LI&hh=009&map=qc&stn2=CAPE&run2=12&mod2=nam&hh2=009&comp=1&fixhh=1&lang=en&yyyy=latest&mm=latest&dd=latest&mode=latest&stn2_type=prog&date_type=dateo

  40. We have not seen sun here all day. Very muggy although temp is low. ACs on for second time this year.

      1. Actually it did. Brief moderate shower in Winchester right at 2. Convection does not necessarily mean big storm. 🙂

        1. ha ha ha. 😆 😀

          The so-called simulated convection (one of the worst
          of all the model features) showed much more potent
          convection than you described. 😆

  44. I have a question, when we receive garden variety thunderstorms (90% here are) is lightening considered for it too be severe? If so I thought too be considered a severe storm you need nickel or bigger size hail, and or winds excess of 59mph, and or tornado, that’s what I thought, did they change the severe criteria? My area this morning was under a severe storm warning for essentially 2 claps of thunder and 2 strokes of lightening lol 🙂

    1. Does 2 claps of thunder and 2 strokes of lightening qualify severe weather criteria in New England? And is there different severe storm criteria from here too say Texas?

    2. I’m not sure what your first sentence is. You cannot have lightning without thunder. Well, maybe in Texas they can but not anywhere else LOL

      1. Right, but can you have a severe storm with just thunder and really bad lightning but not with the other severe storm requirements????

        IE no wind >58MPH
        IE NO Hail > 1 inch diameter
        IE NO Tornado

        At one point I thought that lightning was factored into the
        severe criteria. Apparently that is not the case.

        In order for a thunderstorm to be considered severe, it must create at least one of the following:

        From NWS office in Burlington, VT.

        What Constitutes a Severe Thunderstorm?

        Hail that is one (1) inch in diameter or larger
        Winds of 58 miles per hour (mph) or greater

        One important thing about lightning, it DOES NOT constitute a severe thunderstorm! As stated above EVERY thunderstorm has lightning.

        Link

        http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/?n=outreach_svr

        1. That was exactly my point re lightning alone not constituting. I simply didn’t know what Charlie was asking.

  45. Thanks, TK.

    Destabilizing sun is out brightly in Sudbury, now. Still lots of clouds, ‘though. This morning we got heavy rain, but it didn’t last too long – enough to cause some big puddles. And we got some thunder and lightning.

    Doppler radar now showing some showers/storms in West. MA and more out in ENY.

  48. OK, HRRR now says 3PM for storms in Boston.
    Simulated radar looks brutal. Cloud tops to 35-40,000 feet for boston.
    HRRR Calling for INTENSE FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

  49. Been down on the Cape in Orleans past couple days, great beach day yesterday! Home now. Was not in the tornado warning this morning but some pretty nasty storms came through. Tons of rain.
    As expected, it’s been a very exciting two weeks or so of New England weather. Bill, the big severe weather event last week, the rainstorm last weekend, and some more severe weather today. We’ve turned the page though. Little to no rain likely for most next 10 days at least. We’ll be going back from talks of localized flooding to regionwide drought. No extreme heat though. The drought has also been pretty well beaten back over these past couple weeks for most places, so we’ve bought some time there.
    Charlie- lightning is not a criteria in severe storms, the criteria is the same nationwide. Agree with you that the storm in our area this morning was nowhere near severe. The criteria are supposed to be the same everywhere but I have no doubt the offices up here issue warnings for less intense storms than what offices in the Midwest or South would issue warnings for. Just the way it is, not necessarily a bad thing given less awareness up here but if they’re going to do it the criteria should be changed.

  51. Bright sun gone. Overcast now w/a shower to the south, near Framingham.

    And it is sticky out!

  52. Bright sun has returned here and solid but hazy blue sky. I have a conf call from 2:30-3:30 and hope the storms remain at bay because I am never comfortable sitting at computer with lightening in the area – not to mention that my desk is in a window 🙂

  53. The storm that has been out by 495 for awhile now, appears to be pulsing quite a bit.

          1. As the last remains slip out South of the City.
            Now SUN the rest of the afternoon to set the
            stage for later convection? (Well according to the HRRR, yes. We shall see)

        1. The big round hole you are seeing is the actual radar site in
          Taunton. The breaks in the precipitation around
          attleboro is probably the actual CHARLIE HOLE. 😀

  54. Hmmm

    This HRRR is on again, off again.

    I want to wait for another run before I post, but for about the 8PM hour, the HRRR
    has introduced quite a bit of helicity, 150-200. It has surface winds SSE to S, 925 Winds
    and 850 MB winds WEST. With nice simulated convection. Not sure how that translates, but I don’t like it. We shall see.

  55. Rick FOGETCELLO is at it again. Toronto 8, Boston ZIPPO!!!!
    Ship the BUM out of town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  57. We’ll have to have a tutorial soon on what watches and warnings mean and why they are issued the way they are. 🙂

    1. Sure, but I am in agreement with others above about our NWS
      issuing Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for Sub-Severe Storms.
      They do it all of the time.

      1. That would be stupid too just issue a severe thunderstorm warning for non severe storms, this will make the average person ignore them overtime if not already

        1. But they do it way too often.

          You mean to tell me that EVERY SINGLE severe thunderstorm warning has WINDS > 58 mph?
          I’d wager the vast majority do NOT ever have winds
          that strong NOR do they have > inch hail. But I am jaded. Sorry.

          1. What if it has the potential – a real potential. Or is headed into an area that is conducive to further development? Can that be determined?

            1. That’s where the watch comes in.

              In my opinion and it is only my opinion.
              No Severe Thunderstorm Warning should be issued UNTIL such time that there is an actual severe thunderstorm. It should not
              be issued for potential or possibilities.

              That wording can all be placed in a watch.

  60. 1:50 PM Update from NWS Taunton:
    150 PM UPDATE…
    RADAR IS FAIRLY QUIET ACROSS SNE OTHER THAN AN ISOLD SHOWER/TSTM ACROSS CENTRAL MA. AIRMASS IS DESTABILIZING WITH MLCAPES APPROACHING 1000 J/KG AND SBCAPES 1500 J/KG ACROSS CENTRAL/W MA AND N CT UNDER SOMEWHAT FAVORABLE MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES 6-6.5 C/KM. PLENTY OF DEEP LAYER SHEAR WITH 0-6KM SHEAR AROUND 40 KT SO POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE. NOTING SOME DRIER AIR PUNCHING INTO SW CT AND MODELS SHOW PRONOUNCED DRYING MOVING ALONG THE S COAST AND SE MA THIS AFTERNOON WHICH WILL LIKELY PRECLUDE ANY CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA. MAIN THREAT FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WILL BE NORTH AND NW OF THE DRY SLOT ACROSS CENTRAL AND W MA. BEST LOW LEVEL SHEAR AND HELICITY HAS MOVED E OF NEW ENG SO DAMAGING WIND AND HAIL WILL BE PRIMARY THREAT WITH ANY STRONG STORMS THAT DEVELOP.

  61. I have just offically GIVEN UP ON THE HRRR Model for today.
    Piece of SHIT today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Please totally and completely disregard ANYTHING I posted that mentioned
    the HRRR. Absolute CRAPLOAD today. FICTITIOUS BULLCRAP!!!!!!!()@(#&*(!)@#(!()@*#)!(*@#()!*@)(#*)(!*@(*#####################))(!@*#(!@()&#*(!@&#*(!*(@&#(!*@&*(#&!*(@&#*(!&*(@&#!(*@&#(*!&@*(&#*!&@#*(^!(*@^#&(!@*(#&(!*&!(*@&*#&!*(&@#*(&!*(@#&*!&@*(#&!*(@#*(!&@*(#&*(!&@#*(&!*(@&#(!*@&#

    Watch the radar for the REAL story.

    1. And now for once, I AGREE with Charlie. The storms will NOT make it in
      here. NOT A CHANCE!

    1. Yup and that might be the single area that actually gets some action
      this afternoon.

      This reminds me so much of last year after the Revere Tornado.
      The atmosphere was soupy and ripe for convection. There actually was
      a severe thunderstorm watch up AND absolutely NOTHING happened.

  63. A little storm bubbling up out by Worcester. Are we getting a broken line together there? OR just a small renegade? We shall see. I’d guess a renegade.

  68. I think we have one on the ground up by Newburyport

    Rotation looks more defined and more intense.

      1. This did NOT look good at all. Very much like the rotational
        signature with the revere tornado. Only possible saving grace here
        is that Newburyport is much farther from the radar than
        the Revere one was. Therefore it is possible that the rotation
        is only aloft and not at the ground. Certainly one corker
        of a storm regardless. Watching for reports from the area.
        would NOT surprise me IF one were on the ground.

        We shall see. Won’t surprise me it there was not one either.

  69. Now we “may” have a water spout just off shore? I wonder. Wish I were in
    the vicinity to see.

    1. Even though it is off shore, that storm up there looks VICIOUS!!!
      VICIOUS! We’ll hear about this one, tornado or not. Even If NO tornado,
      I’ll bet there was some serious damage with winds.

  71. The Essex County storm got an even more impressive meso on it after it went offshore. 2 more rotating storms in southern and southeastern NH, south of Concord and west of Hampton.

    1. TK have you seen or heard any reports from the area?
      I can’t believe there wasn’t some sort of damage, either from a tornado on
      the ground or damaging straight line winds.

    2. No confirmation so far, there was a picture of one floating around but it turned out to be fake.

  73. I am noticing developing towering cumulonombus clouds ( sorry not sure how to spell it ( north of me around andover. Its exploding in front of my eyes. Would not be surprised if a new cell developes over NE MASD

    2. Yup, I think the highest average high is 83 occuring in the next week or 2 and drops a tad towards the end of the Month.. It “may” touch 84 on 1 day, but don’t think so. I think August starts at 81 or 82, but drops quickly ending at 77.

  75. OS, I echo ur thoughts about Porcelblow. He’s pitching like ur typical fat and happy baseball player. Guaranteed contracts are ruining the game. These guys have no reason to play hard knowing they will still get paid. Most guys who have signed these huge contracts have not lived up to them and it’s making the product on the field unwatchable. There are no more “stars” who really care about winning.

    1. I blame Cherington more than Porcello. Porcello has never been a great pitcher. He had one decent season. That’s it. He doesn’t throw hard. He’s a poor man’s version of Derek Lowe. Yet, Cherington extended Porcello’s contract inexplicably by 4 years for the tune of over $20 million a year. There was absolutely no need to extend his contract. He was signed for this season. Let him prove his value and then resign if he’s worth it. To me, Porcello’s extension is worse than Sandoval or Ramirez’s signings, and may be worse than Castillo’s (though that’s a close second).

      Baseball is being ruined by owners and incompetent GM’s who outbid themselves. There have been quite a few really dumb, unnecessary contracts in recent years: Hamilton, Zito, Sandoval, Porcello, Pujols, Santana. I can’t blame the players for signing. I can blame the GM’s for offering tons of guaranteed cash.

      1. True. I do agree with many points there about the GMs and ownership. In the end, it’s the players who go out there and play and fail to live up to the contracts. Most of them are getting paid for past performance and there’s no excuse for the decline post contract, e.g. Zito. No incentive and no fear of being cut as in other sports.

  76. Me and my wife go too 1 game a year in corporate seats right behind home plate, we don’t follow the sport closely at all. A matter of fact we had too do some investigating too find out who was on the ticket itself. Personally I don’t think people (especially the younger generation cares much about baseball, sure you will always have your die hards, but baseball will never be as popular as its hey days of the 90’s (when everyone was on steroids). A matter of fact listen too the sports stations, the majority of the baseball fans always say I’ve been a fan since the 60’s. Baseball is a fading sport, and with the redsox stinking, that doesn’t help the cause. It has changed dramatically the last 20yrs. The only true baseball city left where baseball gets better ratings than football is St. Louis. Even here football is #1 and it’s not close. In 3-4 weeks we will be talking something Patriots defending there championship. I see more and more people throwing the football around rather than playing catch. Good day!!

    1. I have too say Charlie, I have too agree with you on this town losing baseball fans. It’s beginning too feel like baseball has a very unique following much like hockey.

    3. And yet everyone from out of state wants to make fenway one of their top stops. And they cannot survive on out of town, I know. Charlie, in all honesty anyone who was a fan in the 60s (I date to 50s) will tell you it is so far removed from the game as it was. Prima donnas doesn’t begin to describe. So sad and on this Charlie we agree.

      1. Ur right Vicki, Fenway is a huge draw for everyone, not just fans. It’s a tourist attraction of sorts. Unfortunately, it alone won’t keep people coming on a consistent basis, much like the Olympics won’t create consistent jobs. Sorry, had to throw an Olympics comment in there 😛

        1. Fenway is easily one of the most historic parks in the country. But you are right. History won’t keep the sox alive.

  77. Last batch of convection is dying fast, then the front is not far behind.

    Haven’t heard a word about any possible damage in Essex County. Is it possible
    there was none? Hope so.

    1. But then, a new batch is blossoming near Worcester.
      Hmmm
      I’ll bet those die off soon as well.
      Hope so, we’re heading out and I don’t want to close the windows.

  78. Really? You have to be kidding me.

    Report: Bruins sign Matt Beleskey to 5-year, $19 million deal

  80. WOW!
    Glad I shut our windows. Just drove home through a DELUGE!
    Couldn’t even see to drive! WOW! was it ever raining!!!!!

    3. I was driving west along Storrow and watching this massive dark cloud system move quickly from Cambridge to the South End. It was scary. It went from nice summer twilight to darkness very quickly.

  81. Charlie, you bring up some good points. I think baseball may have peaked in Boston around 2004 in terms of fan interest. It should be noted, however, that fan interest is cyclical with few fans in the stands at Fenway in the 50s and early 60s, and throughout MLB attendance was low, despite there being such an incredible crop of players in that era. Interest in playing the game has sadly been declining for decades, in particular among blacks. I say sadly because I still think it’s a beautiful game. And, one of my sports heroes is Jackie Robinson. The sport may be fading a bit in America, but it is far and away the number one sport in parts of the Caribbean and Latin America. It’s close to being number one in Japan and Korea. And, in parts of Europe as well as Australia it has a sizable following. We can see the global reach of baseball in the numbers of talented players in the MLB that come from outside our borders. Not just Dominicans, also many players from Venezuela, Cuba, Korea, Japan, Australia, Aruba, Venezuela, etc … I like this global reach, which hockey and basketball have as well, to an extent. Football, on the other hand, remains more or less a uniquely American phenomenon, with little interest and few players from outside America.

    1. Ted Williams’ last game had only 10,000 fans. But as least the working folks could afford a seat. I prefer Fenway when the tickets are easy and the place far from sold out. Give me a make-up after a rain out- a day game mid-week – when I can buy a $12 standing room or bleacher seat. It is still baseball.

      The international nature of the game is amazing now, I agree.

      1. Sept 28, 1960 if I recall correctly. My mom was his guest at that game. She said there was not a dry eye in the stadium.

        1. And he was always somewhat (stress somewhat) sorry he didn’t tip his cap that day. But he said in the end it wouldn’t have been him.

          1. I have that book. It makes me cry. You are so very right about that being baseball. It bothers me to see what it has become knowing what it was.

            1. I love when a team like the Royals or possibly the Astros this year either win it all or come pretty close. They do with a low payroll and players who are hungry. They also do it with a front office and managers who know what they are doing and don’t let the inmates run the asylum. As much as Theo and Tito were bashed at times during their tenure here who would you all rather have at this point Tito/Theo or Ben/John?

              1. Also Porcello’s problem is that he’s actually throwing too hard and not controlling the sinker (as well as throwing too many fastballs). As a result his pitches are mostly up in the strike zone….as long as he does that he’s going to get hammered.

              1. Was I there? I was there for one of Ted’s home runs his last year, but I don’t think I was there his last game. 😀

  84. Hello…..
    Anyone home? Awfully quiet.

    Tom asked a question about the downpour last evening.

    NO Thunder and lightning that I could tell. Was driving, so my not have heard
    thunder, but certainly would have noticed lightning. None.

    Rain = YES! then some!

  85. New post! Not gonna grab the last few this morning because there are no links. And I’m sure people can still here O.S.’s “Hello” echoing on the other post. 😉

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