10/28/2011 Winter Storm is coming, Boston to see some snow!

The first snow of the 2011-12 Winter Season came and went in the Boston area last night. Officially a trace of snow fell. With areas in higher elevations receiving up to 3" in some areas.

Also, officially at Boston, (and at my house) the temperature never fell below 32F (0C),  Boston 35.1, my house 32.4, so the growing season is officially still going in the immediate Boston area. Some frost was noticeable on some car surfaces, which can cool below freezing faster than the air.

Friday's weather looks to be cool, but sunny thanks to high pressure moving in overhead for the day, this cool high will stay parked over the Northeast until Saturday morning. Expect a high temperature today around 48, with a brisk northwest wind 10-15 mph.


Friday night - It will be clear and cold, however closer to the coast temperatures will not fall below freezing, but away from the coast, expect another hard freeze and frost by early morning. Boston will see a low of 35, outside of 128/95 around 28.

With the growing season still in effect, I will continue to give a detailed update on the Freeze Line so you can plan for your vegetation accordingly. Once all of the region has fallen below 32F, this map will no longer be given until the spring.

Saturday - a major coastal storm will form off the NC/VA coast during the morning hours and track up the coast, just south of Cape Cod.  Winter storm watches are in effect from Virginia to Maine!

A winter storm watch means that snow could fall in excess of 5-7 inches.

 

 

Storm Impacts:

Wind:  It will be windy, especially along the coast and Cape. Gusts as high as 50 mph could be expected on the cape with 30-35 mph along the Bay shore. This storm will Bomb out, or Bombogenesis (an official meteorological term - meaning the pressure will drop from 1000mb to 976mb in under 24 hours)  The storm will take on the appearance of a hurricane perhaps as it moves away from New England.

Snow:  With an east wind to begin off of the warmer Atlantic ocean, the storm will produce rain for the coastal areas and snow will begin to fall inland. However as cold air wraps into the storm (similar to last nights storm) the snow will filter in to the Boston area.  The video below shows the rate and times of the potential snowfall.

Map of potential snow. Rain will fall along the immediate coast, rain will mix with snow then turn to snow from Boston north in the Purple.

Snowfall Amount Forecast as of 10AM Friday