Posts

Images, updates as massive Nor’Easter slams Cape Cod

What may eventually be the strongest Nor’Easter in the past 20 years or more is currently developing to the south and east of New England, deepening rapidly to some of the lowest pressures observed in a non-tropical storm system in the Northwest Atlantic on record. Although the storm system spared our area major impacts, parts of Cape Cod and especially Nantucket are feeling the brunt of the developing low pressure system. We’ll follow along today and post some of the latest images, information and news as it comes through.

Water Vapor satellite imagery showing massive storm system in the Northwest Atlantic

Water Vapor satellite imagery showing massive storm system in the Northwest Atlantic

Read more

Live Blog: High impact coastal storm through Thursday

A high impact storm system will affect the area beginning later Wednesday evening, and continuing throughout much of Thursday. Significant amounts of snow, periods of rain and sleet, gusty winds and coastal flooding are all expected hazards. Wednesday night a strong storm system will develop off the Carolina coast, owing to a powerful mid and upper level trough and shortwave. Phasing disturbances aloft will eventually reach the East Coast, which will help shift the coastal system  north and eventually northeastward from the Mid Atlantic to the shores of New England.

With significant impacts expected, we have opened up our live blog for discussion throughout the overnight period beginning at 7:00pm February 12th, 2014. Throughout this time, our meteorologists will check in and continue to update the live blog (and the website products, of course) with information. Even better, the live blog will feature our staff’s thoughts on the event as it is unfolding. This way, you’re never in the dark when it comes to the forecast or the storm which is evolving. Keep it right here tonight and during the storm on Thursday. We have included some handy links to our recently issued products below, followed by the live blog below that. Note: We are using a brand new software, so bear with us if there are any kinks (and let us know, if you can). If we have any significant problems, we will revert to our basic text update system.  (Click read more if you are on the homepage to see the live blog)

Read more

Tranquil weather will give way to weekend nor’easter

Colder, but more tranquil weather has settled into the forecast area to end the holiday week. After some light snow showers associated with a weak front and coastal system on Thursday, pleasant weather is expected on Friday and Saturday. Additionally, there will even be a bit of a warming trend both days, as high temperatures reach into the 40’s. The arctic air which stepped into the area earlier in the week won’t have any reinforcement until early next week, and so airmass modification will allow for temperatures to push warmer on both Friday and Saturday especially as the surface high pressure slips off the East Coast.

By Sunday, the weather becomes more active as a southern stream disturbance will slingshot up the coast. The system will ride on the eastern periphery of an incoming trough over the Central United States which, in its own right, will carry a ton of cold air with it. This means a few things, however. First, the system looks to be progressive despite its deepening off the coast. Second, the system will have plenty of warm air with it — and the cold air will have already modified out of the Northeast US. The aforementioned antecedent airmass won’t hold much potential for wintry precipitation. As such, the main concerns for this weekends system are a period of heavy rain and some gusty winds.

NAM model forecasting a coastal storm system on Sunday, providing the area with heavy rain.

NAM model forecasting a coastal storm system on Sunday, providing the area with heavy rain.

Read more

Cold air, snow showers to close out the week

This holiday week has generally been characterized by the return of colder air (after quite a warm start from the tail end of the weekend) and chances for light snow. Much of the same will continue on Thursday, as temperatures in the 20’s to near 30 will be common during the afternoon and a weak disturbance passing through aloft will spark the development of snow showers throughout the area. The weak low pressure system forming offshore and the relative lack of moisture means that precipitation will be spotty at best — but nevertheless, some flakes should fly especially across New Jersey and much of the interior. Accumulations are expected to be extremely light.

Another cold night is expected from late Thursday into Friday, as the aforementioned developing low pressure system pulls down one more reinforcing shot of cold air. Low temperatures in the teens and 20’s should be rather common by early Friday morning. Despite the light snow over the past several days, the weather pattern has been generally quiet. But beginning with a storm system late this weekend, the activity looks to kick up once again as we make our way into January.

Northeast US surface analysis on December 26, 2013 showing a weak coastal low forming offshore.

Northeast US surface analysis on December 26, 2013 showing a weak coastal low forming offshore.

Read more