Playing Out Sandy's Strike

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Late this afternoon, on a group conference call with Louis Uccellini, the director of the National Center for Environmental Prediction, and James Franklin, branch chief of the National Hurricane Center, I was struck by the confidence they showed with

1) Sandy's landfall in the United States

2) The time of landfall (Monday Night)

In a time of uncertainty, it was nice to know we're confident - and can prepare - for those outcomes. Dr. Uccellini was about 90% certain of a landfall in the Northeast Monday Night.

So the time to prepare is now. Although you may hear reports that Sandy has weakened to a tropical storm - clearly a possibility in the days and hours ahead, this is only temporary. As the jetstream hooks into Sandy on Monday, it will enfuse her with massive amounts of energy, resulting in a reintensification of the storm - to possibily a nor'easter of record, in fact.

That's significant because as the storm drops from hurricane to tropical storm, its ability to pile up water and churn the ocean decreases. However, with a restrengthening, that ability is renewed. Moreover, if Sandy decides to loop farther offshore, the greater her chances of striking New England.

Lots of things to consider in the long range. That's why it's important to be vigilant, but not panicked.

Prepare for scattered power outages, a long duration storm (from Monday through Tuesday night), 2-5 inches of rain (possible river flooding as a result) and coastal flooding and beach erosion.

These matters are not to be taken lightly, but with a track over New England looking LESS likely, we are not looking at an epic, devastating storm.

Pete

Like A Waterfall

Posted by Pete Bouchard

If you were caught in those 'cloudbursts' today, you had more than you could handle in the rain department. Torrents fell in a short amount of time - what we deem 'flash flooding' in the weather biz. Since it happens suddenly, the National Weather Service has adopted the acronym TADD:

Bam! Pow!

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

Bam. Pow! Those were some nasty storms last evening with some towns in metrowest & the city itself blasted with locally heavy rain, hail, lightning and strong wind gusts. A cool front is the culprit and that front will linger across the region again today. That means another round of some scattered showers & t-storms likely.

Thunderous Start to Workweek

Posted by Pete Bouchard

Heat and a bit of humidity fed a strong - and sometimes severe - line of thunderstorms today. By the time the dinner hour rolled around (6pm-ish), the storms had consolidated into a line. Everyone got a drink of water and a big drop in temperatures - some falling nearly 20 degrees in minutes!

Rear-view Mirror

Posted by Jeremy Reiner

As we exit our recent soggy pattern we do so with one more weather system capable of producing scattered showers & t-storms. This cool front is a slow mover (aren't we all on Monday mornings?!) up in northern New England right now. This slow moving front will settle into our part of the world very late this afternoon bringing a chance of some scattered t-storms between 4-pm. Until then you have a great day with mostly sunny skies along with temperatures in the low 80s. For some, a bit on the humid side for much of the day.