Tropical Threat Looming Early Next Week?

Today, there has been much talk in the weather community after models have picked up on a future tropical system threatening the East Coast early next week. This is all due to a disturbance (Invest 99L) sitting in the Caribbean with a 70% chance of development in the next 48 hours according to the National Hurricane Center. If it does form into a tropical storm, it would be named Sandy. Major computer models such as the GFS and the Euro have hinted at taking future "Sandy" up the coast posing a threat to the U.S. coastlines and perhaps Southern New England as well. The threat is at least seven days away so there is no immediate cause for concern but it is something we need to monitor in the coming days. Being at least a week away, it is hard to pinpoint specifics at this time. However, keep in mind Invest 99L has not formed yet so it is hard to get an idea of the general path of the storm. There is the chance a front may push "Sandy" out to sea. Also, models are never reliable more than 5 days out. It is premature to say with certainty that it would be an East Coast threat since there is just too many variables to sort out. This is an interesting scenario with high impacts if it were to verify. Overall, this week, we should have a clearer picture on the potential threat so be sure to follow my Twitter (@SenhW) for the very latest.

Rainfall Totals for 9/28/2012

Here are a few rainfall totals from yesterday's rainstorm:

Orange - 1.57"
Chicopee - 1.42"
Westfield - 1.33"
Pittsfield - 0.82"
North Adams - 0.68"

Additional unofficial observations from the Public Information Statement issued by NWS Albany at 6:39 PM yesterday:

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   LANESBOROUGH          1.25   430 PM  9/28  WEATHERNET6
   SAVOY                 1.10   455 PM  9/28  WEATHERNET6
   PITTSFIELD            0.90   533 PM  9/28  WEATHERNET6
   ALFORD                0.75   554 PM  9/28  WEATHERNET6

From the Public Information Statement issued by NWS Taunton at 10:02 AM today:

********************STORM TOTAL RAINFALL********************

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   GREENFIELD            3.32   937 AM  9/19  MEDIA
   SHELBURNE             3.13   539 AM  9/19  GENERAL PUBLIC
   ASHFIELD              2.67   800 AM  9/19  STORM TOTAL
   CHARLEMONT            2.34   733 AM  9/19  HAM RADIO
   EAST CHARLEMONT       2.30   815 AM  9/19  STORM TOTAL

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   GOSHEN                3.52  1017 PM  9/18  NWS NEPP
   WESTHAMPTON           3.26   920 AM  9/19  STORM TOTAL
   WORTHINGTON           2.43   800 AM  9/19  STORM TOTAL

**********************24 HOUR RAINFALL**********************

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   2 SSW WILBRAHAM       0.97   800 AM  9/19  COCORAHS
   1 ESE SPRINGFIELD     0.96   800 AM  9/19  COCORAHS

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   2 SW WESTHAMPTON      3.26   700 AM  9/19  COCORAHS

Highs for Today (7/26/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 89°
Chicopee - 87°
North Adams - 85°
Orange - 84°
Pittsfield - 79°

Highs for Today (7/25/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 86°
Chicopee - 84°
Orange - 83°
North Adams - 79°
Pittsfield - 79°