2012 in Review: My Top 5 Weather Events!

Hello guys, another year has flown by and for weather lovers, 2012 did not disappoint! The Northeast experienced its share of wild weather and I would like to present a recap of what my favorites of 2012 were based on my first-hand accounts and their significance and overall impact. Without further ado, here is my list from number five to number one:

5. March Heat Wave and Drought

April 17th U.S. Drought Monitor shows severe drought across Southern New England

As you may know, last winter was one of the most lackluster seasons following the incredible, "once-in-a-lifetime" October nor'easter (dubbed "Snowtober" by media outlets) which I will remember for a long, long, long time. But it is not easily forgotten the winter of 2011-2012 brought together an incredible heat wave during the month of March. Warm air surged from the south into the Midwest and Northeast and broke numerous high temperature records everywhere. Locally, between March 18th-23rd, temperatures rose above 70 degrees and even lower 80s were seen in the Springfield area. On March 22nd, the thermometer reached 82°F in Springfield. Normal highs for this time of year is mid 40s! If my math is correct, that is 30°F+ above average! Remarkable! In some days, daily lows were higher than normal highs. Crazy. I think many could attest that it was very strange wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts outside while the calendar still showed March.

Also, the heat wave caused abnormally dry conditions in Southern New England and during the time we saw Red Flag Warnings hoisted due to the lack of precipitation. On April 4th, a major brush fire damaged 52 acres in Brimfield, MA. In mid-April, at its worst, the U.S. Drought Monitor had Southern New England under a moderate to severe drought. Beneficial rains finally arrived near the end of April and slowly but surely, the drought eventually subsided.

4. May 29th Moderate Risk

May 29, 2012 4:23PM EDT - Squall line producing a ton of lightning. At that
time, a tornado warning was issued for Vermont.

Here in New England, boring spring rainstorms are an ordeal you have to go through before thunderstorms start appearing in the summertime. There already a few severe ones as early as March but none that matched the scope of this one. On the morning of May 29th, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a moderate risk across the border in eastern NY for severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. Since the date was very close to the first anniversary of the Springfield tornado, I became concerned about potential damage from this latest severe weather outbreak. NWS Albany issued a Tornado Watch for Eastern NY and Berkshire County in Western Mass out ahead of the massive squall line that had taken shape across VT stretching all the way down into TN! It was huge! Looking at radar images, the squall line possessed amazing structure and I was excited but concerned at the same time because the line was bearing down on my area. Despite a few tornado warnings issued in NY and VT, the line weakened upon approach and we were spared from the worst. An EF0 tornado did touchdown in the Northeast Kingdom of VT but fortunately it was in a rural area.

3. August 10th "Landicane"

August 10, 2012 4:27PM EDT - Mesoscale Convective Vortex over Hartford
prompting tornado warnings. Rotation evident on radar.

Landicane is a made up term for a phenomenon called mesoscale convective vortex (MCV). Basically, on radar, it looks like a hurricane on land hence the name.  A distinctive "eye" could be seen along the center of the swirling low pressure system. On August 10th, the center of a beautiful mesoscale convective vortex went across the Connecticut River Valley prompting severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings. A confirmed tornado touched down on Block Island in Rhode Island, a first for that area on record. As the center moved toward Hartford, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning east of the city. That tornado warning extended into the Monson area which was a region devastated by the tornado last year. What was strange throughout was the fact that there were few lightning detected, if at all! It looked and felt like a tropical cyclone on land. Thankfully, nothing really came out of it and thereafter it began to lose its structure as it moved northward.

2. July 26th Northeast "Derecho"

WHOA is right!

July 26, 2012 5:52PM EDT - "Derecho" at its late stage approaching CT. It
moved southeast and weakened.

Entering this event, there was a lot of hype about another derecho following the one that barreled through the Mid-Atlantic causing widespread damage everywhere. SPC issued a moderate risk in its Day 2 Convective Outlook...an unprecedented move here in the Northeast! Something big was cooking. The line began over Lake Erie and spread across Ohio and Pennsylvania prompting severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings along its path. The line really began to bow. During the peak of its life, the SPC became very concerned and even thought about issuing a HIGH RISK for the Northeast. Say what? High risk? The only other time the Northeast had a high risk was on May 31, 1998. So basically it's very rare to see one issued. If they did go ahead and place my area under a high risk, I would have fallen out of my seat! Anyways, as almost all promising storms do, once it neared Southern New England, the line weakened into a mere gusty rainstorm and by the end of it, I was just lucky to hear thunder. However, places in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio bore the brunt of the storm and widespread power outages occurred there. An EF1 tornado touched down in Elmira, NY causing extensive damage.

1. Hurricane Sandy

Satellite image of Hurricane Sandy

Overwhelmingly, the top weather story of 2012 belongs to Hurricane Sandy. There's no words to describe the damage done along the coastlines of New Jersey, New York City, and Connecticut. Devastating. It's all too real when you see stories of people that don't have anywhere to go after their homes were severely damaged from flooding and winds. It reveals just how vulnerable the Northeast is to hurricanes. Even though it was a Category 1 upon landfall (yeah, I'm not going to go into the story about how the NHC failed to issue hurricane warnings), the storm was MASSIVE, even larger than Hurricane Irene last year. I felt like people failed to take proper precautions until the final days when it appeared imminent, like they didn't think it would happen to them until reality strikes them. Even making the situation worse were the mixed messages government officials made in the handling of Sandy. The mayor of New York City, Mayor Bloomberg, at first opted not to evacuate low-lying areas of the city before doing a 360 and saying the storm was "serious and dangerous" and called for immediate evacuations in certain zones. Really? You should have told us in the first place or better yet if you're unsure, not say anything until details were clearer.

Anyways, rant over. Even though management could be improved, this is not to take away the power and devastation of Sandy. Computer models were showing a potentially significant hurricane hitting the Northeast weeks ago. Usually hurricanes that make it to the Northeast race north and weaken into an extratropical cyclone as it encounters colder waters. Sandy took a very unusual track never before seen; it swerved right out to sea before turning north and eventually northwest toward the East Coast. Also, Sandy strengthened due to baroclinic instability even though Sandy was barely Category 1 strength, the enormity of Sandy and the flooding rainfalls associated with it made Sandy a formidable storm, a "superstorm" as coined by media. And not to mention Sandy formed near the end of October, a time usually unfavorable for hurricane development. Sandy made Irene of last year a walk in a park. Although Sandy was impressive, I still think it doesn't match the power of the 1938 New England hurricane. I can't imagine the Northeast today withstanding a repeat of the 1938 hurricane. Power grids could be knocked out for months on end. Overall, I hope Sandy taught us many lessons going forward and I hope we can apply those lessons toward future hurricanes. It's not a question of if, but when the next one may strike. And as history has shown, it could be even stronger than Sandy.

Notables

Northern MA March Severe Thunderstorms

March 14, 2012 1220AM EDT - TVS indicated in severe cell near the Fitchburg area

The incredible March heat wave contributed to a round of severe thunderstorms. On the night of March  13th, a small line of thunderstorms moved through northern MA. It became severe just east of Greenfield and the National Weather Service in Taunton issued a rare severe thunderstorm warning in winter. As it continued its trek, another severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Fitchburg area 10 minutes after midnight. Reports of hail came in. What was most amazing and why it deserved to be notable was the fact that a TVS (Tornado Vortex Signature) was spotted on radar showing signs of broad rotation. Crazy for winter! Thankfully, the radar was wrong and no tornadoes touched down.

Maine Earthquake

October 16, 2012 7:12PM EDT - 4.0 earthquake struck 4km west of Hollis
Center, Maine

I know, technically not a weather event, but I love earthquakes as much as the weather. So when an earthquake strikes the East Coast, I become excited because they are rare and far in between. The Virginia earthquake last year provided me a thrill because it was the first time I ever felt an earthquake! On October 16th, a 4.0 earthquake struck Maine. There were reports of it being felt across New England. This time around, I did not feel a thing though others near it would say otherwise. Fortunately, no damage was reported. Who would have thought we have two earthquakes along the East Coast in a span of two years? We're not California, jeez. ;)

November Nor'easter

November 7, 2012 9:45PM EST - Satellite image of the nor'easter exiting
out to sea

About 10 days after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, a rare, early-season nor'easter hit regions that were devastated by Sandy. Talk about insult to injury! The weird thing was I received next to nothing because of the dry air in place north of the Mass Pike while the coast got drilled by inches of snow. Accumulating snow along the coastlines damaged by Irene hampered recovery efforts.

December 29th Nor'easter

This happened recently. Refer to my last few blog posts for details. :-)

I hope you enjoyed reading! Odds are 2013 will bring another round of active and exciting weather!

December 29th Nor'easter Recap: Snowfall Totals

Another snowstorm impacted New England and we saw locations received additional snow on top of the snow that had already fallen not so long ago on Wednesday. This time around, no mixing was involved here in Western Mass although near the coastlines, precipitation initially started out as rain before turning back over to snow. What was most impressive about this system was the massive drop in the central low pressure in a short period of time resulting in it undergoing rapid cyclogenesis, or "bombing out", so to speak. Areas southeast in CT, inland RI, and southeast MA received the heaviest snow. In my eyes, the storm definitely exceeded expectations and overperformed. Here are snowfall totals from the National Weather Service in Western Massachusetts:

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   LANESBOROUGH           6.0   809 AM 12/30  WEATHERNET6
   PITTSFIELD             5.2   845 AM 12/30  WEATHERNET6
   ALFORD                 5.0   718 AM 12/30  WEATHERNET6
   RICHMOND               5.0   632 PM 12/29  SPOTTER
   SAVOY                  5.0  1052 PM 12/29  WEATHERNET6
   BECKET                 4.5   600 PM 12/29  SPOTTER

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   DEERFIELD              7.5  1237 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   TURNERS FALLS          5.5   910 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   ASHFIELD               5.5   645 AM 12/30  TRAINED SPOTTER
   SHELBURNE              5.0   556 AM 12/30  GENERAL PUBLIC
   LEYDEN                 5.0   909 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   SUNDERLAND             4.9   800 AM 12/30  CO-OP
   GREENFIELD             4.5   712 AM 12/30  GENERAL PUBLIC
   CHARLEMONT             4.5   750 AM 12/30  TRAINED SPOTTER
   HEATH                  3.8   855 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   LUDLOW                10.3   730 AM 12/30  TRAINED SPOTTER
   SOUTHWICK              8.2  1151 PM 12/29  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WESTFIELD              8.0   830 AM 12/30  CO-OP
   MONSON                 7.5  1108 PM 12/29  HAM RADIO
   AGAWAM                 7.0   119 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   WEST SPRINGFIELD       7.0   908 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   CHICOPEE               7.0   909 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   WALES                  6.5  1035 PM 12/29  HAM RADIO
   CHESTER                6.0   850 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO
   BLANDFORD              5.5   909 AM 12/30  HAM RADIO

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   WARE                   6.2   830 AM 12/30  CO-OP
   WORTHINGTON            5.6   720 AM 12/30  CO-OP
   NORTHAMPTON            5.2   926 PM 12/29  HAM RADIO
   EASTHAMPTON            5.0   920 PM 12/29  GENERAL PUBLIC
   AMHERST                3.9   800 AM 12/30  CO-OP
   AMHERST CENTER         3.8  1258 PM 12/30  NONE
   GRANBY                 3.5   100 PM 12/30  NONE
   BELCHERTOWN            3.5   107 PM 12/30  HAM RADIO

December 29th Snowstorm: What to Expect

The first week of winter has gone by and what a way to kick things off! We are already into our third "snow event" of the season (fourth if you count the November one) which is remarkable considering how dull last year's winter was. So here are the details on what to expect today. In the morning, clouds will increase and gradually light snow overspreads the region by mid-morning or early afternoon. The good news is it should be a quick mover and be gone by Saturday night or very early Sunday at the latest. Also, we won't have to deal with mixed precipitation which is always good and the snow coming down should be "fluffier" and therefore easier to shovel unlike the previous storm three days ago. As low pressure passes across coastal waters southeast of Southern New England, light to moderate snow develops in the afternoon hours. Heavier bands could form the further southeast one is. Be advised that snow can reduce visibility to less than a quarter miles at times and road conditions will be slick. Conditions should improve starting around dinner time and end by Saturday night but not without leaving plowable snow behind for much of the area.

Due to the inconsistency of computer models on how they are handling this strengthening storm, my confidence is fairly low. That means impacts could potentially be lower or stronger than previously thought. A thing that has me concerned is if the system moves slower or closer as suggested by a few computer models, that would mean a stronger, more powerful storm in turn increasing snowfall totals substantially. If I were to bust (not saying I am!!!), most likely it would be on the high side. It is awful to have low confidence going into an event but it is what it is. So with that in mind, here are the amounts I am forecasting across Western Massachusetts. Most of the region should see a general 2-4" of snow with higher amounts across Eastern Hampden County where 3-6" is likely since they are closer to the center of the storm. Further away to the northwest, 1-3" is expected. I have also included a Southern New England snowfall map which shows where the jackpot amounts are located: Northern RI, Northeast CT, and parts of inland Southeast MA. 4-8" is my best bet in those areas. After the storm departs, colder air arrives in time for next week and New Years. As always, you can follow me on Twitter (@SenhW) where I will bring you the latest developments of this impending snowstorm. Stay safe everyone and keep warm!

Post-Christmas Snowstorm Recap: Snowfall Totals

Well, here it is, our first solid snowpack of the season! After receiving a light coating of snow in most places on Christmas to much of everyone's delight, two days later we were treated with another round of snow! This time, Western Massachusetts saw an appreciable accumulating event. Snowfall accumulations ranged from a couple of inches in the valleys to more than a foot across northern regions. Generally the further north a location was, the higher snowfall totals were. Rain and sleet mixed in limited the amount of snow in southern parts of the region. Heath, MA in Franklin County claimed the jackpot where they received 15" of snow! Here are snowfall totals reported by the National Weather Service throughout Western Massachusetts:

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   WINDSOR               13.4   203 PM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER
   STOCKBRIDGE           12.0  1115 AM 12/27  AMATEUR RADIO
   NORTH OTIS            11.5  1150 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER
   ADAMS                 10.5   525 PM 12/27  METEOROLOGIST
   LANESBOROUGH           7.5   458 PM 12/27  WEATHERNET6
   ALFORD                 5.5  1148 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6
   WILLIAMSTOWN           4.5   948 AM 12/27  SPOTTER
   PITTSFIELD             4.0   719 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6
   HANCOCK                3.0   720 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   HEATH                 15.0   241 PM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   SHELBURNE             14.0   246 PM 12/27  GENERAL PUBLIC
   CHARLEMONT            11.0  1248 PM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   LEYDEN                11.0   305 PM 12/27  NONE
   GREENFIELD            10.5   157 PM 12/27  NONE
   SUNDERLAND             5.6   700 AM 12/27  NWS COOP

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   CHESTER                9.0   328 PM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   SOUTHWICK              8.3   347 PM 12/27  NONE
   BLANDFORD              7.5  1143 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   WESTFIELD              6.3   102 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   MONTGOMERY             6.0   706 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   LUDLOW                 6.0   240 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER
   HOLYOKE                6.0   649 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   PALMER                 4.0   648 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   WEST SPRINGFIELD       4.0  1159 PM 12/26  HAM RADIO
   WALES                  4.0   103 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   CHICOPEE               3.0  1125 PM 12/26  HAM RADIO
   MONSON                 2.0   920 PM 12/26  HAM RADIO

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   PLAINFIELD            14.3   343 PM 12/27  NONE
   CUMMINGTON             9.3   907 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WORTHINGTON            7.9   700 AM 12/27  NWS COOP
   WESTHAMPTON            6.5   200 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER
   NORTHAMPTON            6.2   732 AM 12/27  NONE
   SOUTH HADLEY           6.0   120 PM 12/27  NONE
   EASTHAMPTON            6.0   745 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   GRANBY                 5.7   806 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   BELCHERTOWN            3.5   930 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO
   AMHERST                3.2   730 AM 12/27  GENERAL PUBLIC
   WARE                   3.0  1116 PM 12/26  HAM RADIO

Post-Christmas Snowstorm: What to Expect

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

A large storm system that produced numerous tornadoes and wintry conditions across the Deep South Christmas Day is set to impact the Northeast and New England later this afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Warnings for all of Western Massachusetts for heavy snow with the possibility of icing as well. I expect snow to enter the region this evening from southwest to northeast. As temperatures drop overnight, heavy snow may fall especially across the higher regions of the Berkshires. From Wednesday evening to Thursday morning is where the heaviest activity will occur before warmer air gradually takes over and changes over to rain in the valleys tomorrow afternoon. But before the changeover, I expect 4-8" for the Springfield area up to Northampton; 5-10" directly outside those locations and up to a foot possible across the Berkshires and Franklin County including Greenfield. Check out the snow map above for further details. Colder air should be harder to budge in locations north and west of the Pioneer Valley and we may stay all snow or in the most likely case, a changeover to a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain. So, in short, rain in the valleys and a wintry mix for points north and west of the valleys Thursday afternoon. After the low exits the area, rain should turn back to snow for a short period Thursday evening before it is said and done around 10PM Thursday. Stay safe and check my Twitter (@SenhW) for continuous updates throughout the storm!

Autumn 2012 Climate Summary

These are the Autumn of 2012 climate summaries plus daily weather data for the five ASOS stations in Western Massachusetts. Once December is over, expect a monthly recap and a yearly roundup as well!

KCEF (Springfield/Chicopee) Autumn

September 2012 Daily Data
October 2012 Daily Data
November 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 62.1
Average Low: 40.6
Highest: 88 (9/7)
Lowest: 15 (11/6)
Lowest High: 34 (11/27)
Highest Low: 68 (9/7)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 0
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 28
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 74 (9/5)
Lowest: 3 (11/30)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 6
Foggy Days: 22
Snow Days: 3

Precipitation
Total: 7.90"
Highest Daily: 1.16" (9/28)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 29
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 15
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 8
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 1

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 53 mph (9/8)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.73" (11/18)
Lowest: 29.04" (10/29) *SANDY*

KBAF (Westfield) Autumn

September 2012 Daily Data
October 2012 Daily Data
November 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 62.2
Average Low: 41.8
Highest: 87 (9/1)
Lowest: 17 (11/6)
Lowest High: 34 (11/30)
Highest Low: 66 (9/1, 9/5, 9/7)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 0
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 23
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 72 (9/5, 9/8)
Lowest: -2 (11/30)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 3
Foggy Days: 11
Snow Days: 5

Precipitation
Total: 9.36"
Highest Daily: 1.36" (10/19)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.37" (9/8-9/9)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 31
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 15
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 6
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 4

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 51 mph out of the NE (10/29) *SANDY*

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.74" (11/18)
Lowest: 29.04" (10/29) *SANDY*

KPSF (Pittsfield) Autumn

September 2012 Daily Data
October 2012 Daily Data
November 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 57.5
Average Low: 39.8
Highest: 82 (9/1, 9/7)
Lowest: 18 (11/6)
Lowest High: 32 (11/25)
Highest Low: 63 (9/4)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 1
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 24
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 70 (9/4, 9/5, 9/8)
Lowest: 8 (11/30)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 3
Foggy Days: 21
Snow Days: 7

Precipitation
Total: 11.38"
Highest Daily: 2.16" (9/18)
Greatest 24-Hour: 2.25" (9/18-9/19)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 31
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 17
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 10
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 3

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 58 mph out of the E (10/29) *SANDY*

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.71" (11/18)
Lowest: 28.98" (10/29) *SANDY*

KAQW (North Adams) Autumn

September 2012 Daily Data
October 2012 Daily Data
November 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 59.7
Average Low: 39.8
Highest: 83 (9/1, 9/7)
Lowest: 17 (11/6)
Lowest High: 34 (11/25)
Highest Low: 63 (9/4)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 0
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 26
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 71 (9/5)
Lowest: 2 (11/30)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 2
Foggy Days: 11
Snow Days: 6

Precipitation
Total: 9.68"
Highest Daily: 1.92" (9/18)
Greatest 24-Hour: 2.00" (9/18-9/19)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 32
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 15
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 7
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 3

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 54 mph out of the SE (10/29) *SANDY*

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.75" (11/18)
Lowest: 29.05" (10/29) *SANDY*

KORE (Orange) Autumn

September 2012 Daily Data
October 2012 Daily Data
November 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 60.1
Average Low: 38.9
Highest: 84 (9/1, 9/7)
Lowest: 15 (11/6)
Lowest High: 34 (11/27)
Highest Low: 64 (9/7)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 0
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 31
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 72 (9/4, 9/5, 9/8)
Lowest: -3 (11/30)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 5
Foggy Days: 24
Snow Days: 3

Precipitation
Total: 9.91"
Highest Daily: 1.71" (9/5)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.88" (9/4-9/5)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 32
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 16
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 6
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 3

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 43 mph out of the E (10/29) *SANDY*

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.75" (11/18)
Lowest: 29.17" (10/29) *SANDY*

Summer 2012 Climate Summary

The following are the Summer of 2012 summaries plus daily data for each month in a spreadsheet for the five ASOS (Automated Surface Observing Systems) stations in Western Massachusetts. I plan on releasing an autumn climate summary in December and thereafter a summary for each month with seasonal updates as well. Hope you find them useful!

KCEF (Springfield/Chicopee) Summer

June 2012 Daily Data
July 2012 Daily Data
August 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 83.6
Average Low: 58.1
Highest: 98 (7/17)
Lowest: 45 (8/30)
Lowest High: 56 (6/4)
Highest Low: 72 (8/5)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 23 (6/20, 6/21, 6/22, 6/29, 6/30, 7/1, 7/4, 7/6, 7/8, 7/12, 7/13, 7/14, 7/16, 7/17, 7/18, 7/24, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, 8/5, 8/8, 8/9, 8/31)

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 77 (8/5)
Lowest: 44 (7/10, 8/29)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 16
Foggy Days: 28

Precipitation
Total: 9.62"
Highest Daily: 1.81" (6/2)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 31
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 20
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 6
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 4

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 38 mph (6/23)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.35" (6/16, 8/26)
Lowest: 29.56" (7/24)

KBAF (Westfield) Summer

June 2012 Daily Data
July 2012 Daily Data
August 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 84.5
Average Low: 59.5
Highest: 100 (7/17)
Lowest: 46 (6/7)
Lowest High: 57 (6/4)
Highest Low: 73 (8/5)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 23 (6/20, 6/21, 6/22, 6/29, 6/30, 7/1, 7/4, 7/6, 7/7, 7/8, 7/11, 7/12, 7/13, 7/14, 7/16, 7/17, 7/18, 7/24, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, 8/5, 8/31)

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 75 (8/5)
Lowest: 40 (8/29)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 11
Foggy Days: 12

Precipitation
Total: 13.84"
Highest Daily: 2.90" (8/15)
Greatest 24-Hour: 2.90" (8/15)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 33
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 16
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 8
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 6

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 52 mph out of the NW (8/15)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.35" (6/16)
Lowest: 29.55" (7/24)

KPSF (Pittsfield) Summer

June 2012 Daily Data
July 2012 Daily Data
August 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 78.9
Average Low: 56.7
Highest: 91 (6/20, 7/17)
Lowest: 43 (6/5)
Lowest High: 55 (6/4)
Highest Low: 70 (8/5)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 3 (6/20, 6/21, 7/17)

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 74 (8/5)
Lowest: 42 (6/5)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 16
Foggy Days: 30

Precipitation
Total: 8.82"
Highest Daily: 1.53" (8/11)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.54" (8/11-8/12)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 32
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 20
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 7
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 2

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 38 mph out of the NW (8/17) and 38 mph out of the WNW (8/18)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.34" (6/16)
Lowest: 29.54" (6/29)

KAQW (North Adams) Summer

June 2012 Daily Data
July 2012 Daily Data
August 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 80.7
Average Low: 55.8
Highest: 94 (7/17)
Lowest: 43 (6/8)
Lowest High: 57 (6/4)
Highest Low: 67 (8/5, 8/10)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 7 (6/20, 6/21, 6/29, 7/13, 7/17, 8/3, 8/4)

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 73 (8/5)
Lowest: 40 (6/2, 7/21)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 15
Foggy Days: 22

Precipitation
Total: 7.97"
Highest Daily: 1.52" (8/11)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.52" (8/11)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 37
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 18
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 3
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 2

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 37 mph out of the ESE (6/1)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.36" (6/16)
Lowest: 29.58" (6/29, 7/26)

KORE (Orange) Summer

June 2012 Daily Data
July 2012 Daily Data
August 2012 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 81.9
Average Low: 57.0
Highest: 97 (6/20)
Lowest: 46 (8/30)
Lowest High: 55 (6/4)
Highest Low: 71 (7/18)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 15 (6/20, 6/21, 6/22, 6/29, 6/30, 7/1, 7/12, 7/14, 7/16, 7/17, 7/18, 8/2, 8/3, 8/4, 8/5)

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 74 (6/20, 8/5)
Lowest: 37 (6/1)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 14
Foggy Days: 20

Precipitation
Total: 8.83"
Highest Daily: 1.81" (6/2)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.81" (6/2)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 34
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 18
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 4
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 2

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 43 mph out of the NNW (6/23)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.36" (6/16, 8/26)
Lowest: 29.56" (6/29, 7/24)

November Nor'easter Recap: Snowfall Totals

Many places in Western Massachusetts saw their first snowflakes of the season thanks to an early season nor'easter. We saw accumulations mainly along and south of the Mass Pike but north of it we had a hard time accumulating. The reason behind this was that there was too much dry air in place due to low dew point values. So even though the radar showed snow, none of it was reaching the ground (virga). The coast of Connecticut ended up as the jackpot where up to a foot of snow fell! Impressive for November and we broke many daily snowfall records across Southern New England. Monson had the highest snowfall total in Western Massachusetts with 7.5" of snow.

Snow accumulations:

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   MONTEREY               3.3   450 PM 11/07  TRAINED SPOTTER
   OTIS                   3.0   435 PM 11/07  TRAINED SPOTTER
   1 N OTIS WOOD LANES    2.0  1000 AM 11/08  SKI AREA
   ALFORD                 0.2   454 PM 11/07  WEATHERNET6
   SAVOY                  0.1   358 PM 11/07  WEATHERNET6

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   MONSON                 7.5   918 AM 11/08  HAM RADIO
   CHICOPEE               3.5   515 AM 11/08  NONE

**********************24 HOUR SNOWFALL**********************

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   2 SW WESTHAMPTON       0.2   600 AM 11/08  COCORAHS

From WGGB Springfield:

Snow Totals Map: http://www.wggb.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Snow-Totals1.jpg

Holland: 4"
Otis: 4"
Blandford: 3"
Hampden: 3"
Monson: 3"
Palmer: 2"
Agawam: 1"
Chicopee: 1"
Northampton: 1"
Springfield: 1"
Greenfield: Trace
Pittsfield: Trace

From WWLP Springfield:
Monson: 6"
Wales: 6"
Granville: 5"
Hampden: 4"
Holland: 4"
Brimfield: 3"
Enfield, CT: 2.1"
Suffield, CT: 2"
East Longmeadow: 1.5"
West Springfield: 0.5"
Chicopee: Coating
Goshen: Coating

Early November Nor'easter: What to Expect

After nine days since Superstorm Sandy, we have another storm bearing down on us. This time around though, instead of a hurricane, we will be dealing with a combination of snow/mix/and rain due to a dynamic nor'easter as we get an early taste of winter here in Western Massachusetts. A Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin County from 2PM this afternoon to 7AM Thursday for accumulations of snow between 1 and 4 inches followed by the potential for some light freezing rain. It doesn't take much snow to cause roads to become slippery out there so take it easy while driving this evening. In addition, winds will gust up to 45 mph in spots making it feel very chilly! Stay tuned by following my Twitter (@SenhW) where I will be posting updates and live coverage of the event.

Below is my snowfall map from yesterday. Click map to enlarge image.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1021 AM EST WED NOV 7 2012

...ACCUMULATING SNOW FOLLOWED BY A LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE IS EXPECTED
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>004-008>012-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001-072330-
/O.CON.KBOX.WW.Y.0012.121107T1900Z-121108T1200Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION...
VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...
ORANGE...BARRE...FITCHBURG...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...
NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...MILFORD...WORCESTER...AYER...
JAFFREY...KEENE...MANCHESTER...NASHUA...PETERBOROUGH...WEARE...
FOSTER...SMITHFIELD
1021 AM EST WED NOV 7 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY...

* LOCATIONS...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...WESTERN AND CENTRAL
  MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND FAR NORTHWEST RHODE
  ISLAND.

* HAZARD TYPES...ACCUMULATING SNOW FOLLOWED BY THE POTENTIAL FOR
  SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION BETWEEN 1 AND 4 INCHES...
  ALONG WITH UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE. THE BEST CHANCE
  FOR THE HIGHER SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ACROSS THE HIGHER
  TERRAIN.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM SOUTH TO NORTH.
  THIS WILL OCCUR BY MID AFTERNOON IN AREAS SOUTH OF THE
  MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. THE SNOW WILL ARRIVE ACROSS INTERIOR
  NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE BY LATE
  AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL THEN CHANGE TO LIGHT
  FREEZING RAIN AND PERHAPS EVENTUALLY PLAIN RAIN IN SOME
  LOCATIONS LATER TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...UNTREATED ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND
  SLIPPERY. THE EVENING RUSH HOUR WILL BE IMPACTED IN SOME
  LOCATIONS.

* WINDS...NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...NEAR FREEZING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS
FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND
WALKING DIFFICULT...BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE...ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS
AND SIDEWALKS.  WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING...MOTORISTS
NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE
SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.

Sandy Post-Storm Recap

As far as impacts here locally, Hurricane (or "Superstorm") Sandy did not severely impact Western Massachusetts and power outages here were less than initially feared. That was great news! Gusts of 40-50 mph were commonly felt throughout the region but wind damage were fortunately minimal. Flooding was a non-issue here as well as rainfall totals were unimpressive for the most part. In fact, in my opinion, Irene from last year was a more powerful storm here because Irene caused several rivers to reach flood stage. Part of the reason why we escaped the worst was the fact that only the outer fringes of Sandy impacted Western Massachusetts while Irene directly made a run at us.

On the other hand, coastal areas weren't so lucky and sustained major damage from storm surge, wind, and flooding. The worst hit was along the southern coast of Connecticut, Long Island, the New York City area, and New Jersey. Pictures I have seen on Twitter showed incredible flooding and infrastructure damage. Parts of the Atlantic City boardwalk in New Jersey even washed away! It's been almost a week since Sandy made landfall but there are still millions out there without power and are suffering in the cold in the wake of Sandy. To make things worse, a nor'easter could impact devastated areas middle of the week which is not good! The last thing they need is another powerful storm. My thoughts and prayers go out to those impacted by Sandy and I wish them a fast and full recovery. Superstorm Sandy broke many records along the way and will go down as one of the most destructive hurricanes ever causing an estimated $50 billion dollars of damage.

Here are figures from Superstorm Sandy:

Totals across the country

The Stats Are In: Superstorm Sandy Totals: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/sandy-statistics-rain-wind-snow/876665

Totals across Western Massachusetts

HIGHEST WIND GUSTS:
Pittsfield: 58 mph
North Adams: 54 mph
Chicopee: 51 mph
Westfield: 51 mph
Orange: 43 mph

From NWS Albany:

...MASSACHUSETTS...

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
1 NE HANCOCK                               443 PM OCT 29      77 MPH
3 SSE OTIS (1450 FT)(APRSWXNET)            423 PM OCT 29      61 MPH
PITTSFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (ASOS)        919 PM OCT 29      58 MPH
HARRIMAN-AND-WEST AIRPORT (ASOS)          1105 PM OCT 29      54 MPH
2 NNW SHEFFIELD (662 FT)(MESOWEST)         330 PM OCT 29      46 MPH
2 WSW EAST WINDSOR (1894 FT)(APRSWXNET)    400 PM OCT 29      45 MPH
PERU                                       450 PM OCT 29      45 MPH

HIGHEST SUSTAINED WIND SPEED:
Pittsfield: 35 mph
Chicopee: 33 mph
North Adams: 32 mph
Westfield: 32 mph
Orange: 30 mph

RAINFALL TOTALS:
Orange: 1.36"
Pittsfield: 1.23"
North Adams: 0.69"
Chicopee: 0.62"
Westfield: 0.30"

From NWS Albany:

MASSACHUSETTS

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   SAVOY                 1.60  1200 PM 10/30  WEATHERNET6
   LANESBOROUGH          1.00   638 AM 10/30  WEATHERNET6
   CLARKSBURG            0.84   627 AM 10/30  WEATHERNET6
   PITTSFIELD            0.70   659 AM 10/30  WEATHERNET6

LOWEST SEA LEVEL BAROMETRIC PRESSURE:
Pittsfield: 28.97" Hg (981 mb)
Chicopee: 29.04" Hg (983 mb)
Westfield: 29.05" Hg (984 mb)
North Adams: 29.06" Hg (984 mb)
Orange: 29.18" Hg (988 mb)

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°

Rare Moderate Risk Issued for the Northeast Tomorrow (7/26/2012)

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has outlined a rare moderate risk of severe weather for the Northeast in their Day 2 Convective Outlook which includes Western Massachusetts. Such a thing is quite rare here especially one day out so I can't stress enough that it needs to be taken seriously. The top left image indicates a moderate risk for portions of our area (slight risk elsewhere). The top right image indicates a 45% chance of severe weather at any one location inside the moderate risk. Severe weather ingredients are coming together for a possible severe weather event on Thursday. Temps near 90° and dew points in the low to mid 60s will provide 2500-4000 J/kg Surface CAPE and -5°C to -7°C Lifted Index which are sufficient for severe weather here. Combined that with about 40-50kts 0-6km bulk shear, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Timing of the storms seems to be afternoon into the evening hours but we may contend with a few showers in the morning. Tomorrow's event is highly dependent on how much daytime heating we get and if we can get rid of the morning clouds/debris quickly. Main threats are damaging winds, large hail, heavy flooding rains and maybe even an isolated tornado. The SPC did mention a derecho but I'm hesistant if there really is one tomorrow. No question the potential is there for a widespread wind damage but there are criterias that need to be met for a true "derecho" like length of the squall line, duration, and continuous severe wind reports along the way. But having the SPC mentioning it upfront is certainly telling that this is no ordinary threat. Stay tuned and follow my Twitter (@SenhW) for the latest on the severe weather potential tomorrow!

Post-Storm Summary, Highs for Today (7/24/2012)

Post-Storm Summary: We had showers and thunderstorms today but most of the action centered in Northern New England and Central and Eastern Southern New England. NWS issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties until 8 PM but it expired early. A round of thunderstorms entered our region exiting from Vermont around 2 PM. These thunderstorms tracked southeast overspreading heavy rain and downpours across the region. One such thunderstorm strengthened upon exiting the Orange, MA area and became severe in Worcester County. Otherwise, most of the region primarily dealt with showers and downpours and occasional lightning. No storms here were severe.

Local Storm Reports (1):
3:22 PM - Thunderstorm Wind Damage - Ware, MA (Hampshire County) - TREE DOWN ON ROUTE 32

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 93°
Chicopee - 91°
Orange - 87°
North Adams - 85°
Pittsfield - 85°

Highs for Today (7/23/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

North Adams - 87°
Westfield - 87°
Chicopee - 86°
Orange - 85°
Pittsfield - 82°

Highs for Today (7/22/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Chicopee - 88°
Westfield - 88°
North Adams - 86°
Orange - 86°
Pittsfield - 84°

Hot, Humid, and Stormy Mon & Tues, Beauty by Mid-Week! (7/22-7/28)

After experiencing very comfortable and beautiful weather the past few days, the humid airmass once again arrives in time for the work week. With it brings the chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday. Dew points will soar into the upper 60s and between 1000-2000 surface base CAPE values are forecasted per models both days. These values increase the potential for development of severe weather. Tuesday looks to be more conducive for severe weather than Monday as instability increases in response to a cold front passing through. At this point, the rain does not look like to be widespread which is unfortunate because we do need the rain badly here. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor graphic confirms that Western Massachusetts is under a moderate drought (see graphic). Generally, expect afternoon and evening thunderstorms both days with an increased coverage of thunderstorms on Tuesday. Highs will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s with heat indices making it feel near mid 90s at times. Best chance of a pop-up thunderstorm on Monday is in the western portions of the region while on Tuesday, the best chance is east. A reminder... any thunderstorms have the potential to produce heavy rain in a short period of time. Also, be wise and get indoors if you hear thunder. Heed the warnings if a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is issued for your area. Once the cold front kicks away the muggy airmass, we are awarded with two days of splendid, sunny, summer weather on Wednesday and Thursday. Both days feature less humidity, sunny skies, and highs in the lower to mid 80s. After Thursday, things become uncertain. There could be another front working its way here bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms or the nice weather continues into next weekend. Time will tell. That's it folks...enjoy the upcoming week and make sure to keep it locked here and follow my Twitter for the very latest on the severe weather potential!

Highs for Today (7/21/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Chicopee - 84°
North Adams - 83°
Westfield - 83°
Orange - 82°
Pittsfield - 82°

Highs for Today (7/20/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

North Adams - 72°
Orange - 72°
Westfield - 72°
Chicopee - 71°
Pittsfield - 68°

Highs for Today (7/19/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Chicopee - 86°
Orange - 84°
Westfield - 84°
Pittsfield - 82°
North Adams - 81°

Highs for Today (7/18/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 99° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE - 3 consecutive days of 90° or above)
Chicopee - 95° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE - 3 consecutive days of 90° or above)
Orange - 92° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE - 3 consecutive days of 90° or above)
Pittsfield - 88°
North Adams - 84°

Also, of note, Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT reached a high of 100° today which broke the record of 99° set in 1982.

Highs for Today (7/17/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 100° (2 consecutive days of 90° or above)
Chicopee - 98° (2 consecutive days of 90° or above)
Orange - 96° (2 consecutive days of 90° or above)
North Adams - 94°
Pittsfield - 91°

Per NWS Taunton: AT LEAST ONE LOCATION HIT THE CENTURY MARK TODAY...WESTFIELD /KBAF/ MA WITH A HIGH TEMP OF 100F AT 242 PM!

Highs for Today (7/16/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 94°
Chicopee - 92°
Orange - 90°
North Adams - 86°
Pittsfield - 86°

Hazy, Hot, and Humid Week Ahead... Relief After! (July 15th - July 21st)

We are in the midst of a summer pattern here in the Northeast and there's no stopping it! We are finally getting much-needed rain tonight in the form of showers and thunderstorms but it won't be enough to overcome our dry spell we have experienced in the last couple of weeks. After the showers clear out, hot and humid conditions once again return thanks to a subtropical ridge across the Central United States advecting warm air into our region. Monday-Wednesday will mark another grueling heat wave in the Northeast. Low to mid 90s are forecasted for Monday under mostly sunny skies. Tuesday is when we REALLY turn it up. We're talking about temperatures reaching into the upper 90s and a few isolated locations may make a run at the century mark (100°F)! Best chance of that occurring will be in the Connecticut River valley. Wednesday is interesting as a cold front is slated to move through sparking a round of thunderstorms. It is unclear whether these thunderstorms will be severe or the run-of-the-mill types so stay tuned here or follow my Twitter for the latest. As far as temperatures go, upper 80s to lower 90s are expected on Wednesday. Having said all of that, the Berkshires and other higher elevation locations will miss out on the upcoming heat wave. They should remain 5°F and, in some instances, as much as 10°F cooler than their valley counterparts. Regardless of where you are, one thing is certain: the second half of the week looks cooler (in regards to summer) and refreshing! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday feature sunny skies and average temperatures for this time of year. Hang in there... relief is just around the corner!

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 88°
Chicopee - 87°
Orange - 86°
North Adams - 85°
Pittsfield - 82°

Highs for Today (7/14/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 93° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE - 4 consecutive days of 90° or greater)
Chicopee - 91° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE - 3 consecutive days of 90° or greater)
Orange - 91°
North Adams - 86°
Pittsfield - 84°

Highs for Today (7/13/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Chicopee - 92° (2 consective days of 90° or greater)
Westfield - 91° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE - 3 consecutive days of 90° or greater)
Orange - 89°
Pittsfield - 89°
North Adams - 88°

Highs for Today (7/12/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 92° (2 consecutive days of 90° or greater)
Orange - 91°
Chicopee - 91°
North Adams - 88°
Pittsfield - 88°

Air Quality Alert for Friday 7/13/2012

The NWS has issued an Air Quality Alert for Hampden County and Eastern Hampshire County from 11 AM to 11 PM EDT tomorrow.

CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-
EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FRAMINGHAM...LOWELL...LAWRENCE...
BLANDFORD...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...MILFORD...
WORCESTER
445 PM EDT THU JUL 12 2012

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM EDT FRIDAY...

THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS ISSUED
AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR GROUND LEVEL OZONE...IN EFFECT FROM
11 AM TO 11 PM EDT FRIDAY.

AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY MEANS THAT GROUND LEVEL OZONE
CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE REGION MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY
STANDARDS.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT THE
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WEBSITE AT...

HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.DEP.STATE.MA.US/MASSAIR
/ALL LOWERCASE LETTERS/...OR CALL 1-800-882-1497.

Highs for Today (7/11/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 90°
Orange - 88°
Chicopee - 87°
North Adams - 86°
Pittsfield - 85°

From my Twitter (@SenhW): So Westfield DID make it to 90 degrees today in its between hours observation. Sneaky 4 day heat wave today, Thu, Fri, & Sat there? Maybe...

Highs for Today (7/10/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Chicopee - 86°
Westfield - 86°
North Adams - 82°
Orange - 82°
Pittsfield - 82°

Highs for Today (7/9/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 87°
Chicopee - 85°
Orange - 82°
North Adams - 79°
Pittsfield - 79°

Highs for Today (7/8/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 92° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE)
Chicopee - 90°
Orange - 88°
Pittsfield - 85°
North Adams - 84°

Highs for Today (7/7/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 92°
Chicopee - 89°
North Adams - 82°
Orange - 82°
Pittsfield - 82°

Highs for Today - Another Hot One! (7/6/2012)

Yes, it's another balmy day out there as summer is out in full force! Tomorrow is going to be even hotter than today with temperatures reaching into the lower 90s in the higher elevations and mid 90s in the valleys. Also, of note, strong to severe thunderstorms could impact our area in the late afternoon and evening hours. If you see dark clouds overhead and hear thunder, please be smart and head inside as soon as possible! Be sure to follow my Twitter for the latest on tomorrow's severe weather potential. Sunday is looking sunny with temperatures in the 80s. We may barely miss out on a heat wave in the valleys as NWS is forecasting temperatures in the upper 80s. Certainly something to keep an eye out in case Sunday trends warmer. At this point, early next week looks gorgeous and a much-needed reprieve from the heat and humidity! Enjoy the weekend folks and stay cool!

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 92°
Chicopee - 90°
Orange - 88°
North Adams - 87°
Pittsfield - 87°

Highs for Today (7/5/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 87°
Chicopee - 84°
Orange - 82°
Pittsfield - 81°
North Adams - 80°

Highs for Today - July 4th (7/4/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 91°
Chicopee - 90°
Orange - 88°
North Adams - 87°
Pittsfield - 86°

Highs for Today - Final Day of Heat Wave (7/1/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Chicopee - 91° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE)
Westfield - 91° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE)
Orange - 90° (OFFICIAL HEAT WAVE)
North Adams - 87°
Pittsfield - 86°

Indications are another heat wave is possible in the second half of this week. Also monitoring the chance of storms on Independence Day (July 4th) and next weekend of which a few could be severe. Stay tuned!

Highs for Today - 2nd Day of Potential Heat Wave! (6/30/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 93°
Chicopee - 92°
Orange - 90°
North Adams - 86°
Pittsfield - 86°

The heat wave is still a go for Westfield, Chicopee, and Orange but the third day will determine who gets it and who doesn't. Tomorrow should be a few degrees cooler than the past two days with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. It should be close! That said... whether your location gets an official heat wave or not, one thing is certain... it will still be hot tomorrow!

Highs for Today - 1st Day of Potential Heat Wave! (6/29/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 96°
Chicopee - 95°
Orange - 93°
North Adams - 90°
Pittsfield - 88°

Today could mark the start of a heat wave (3 consecutive days at or above 90°) in the traditionally warmer areas. Best chance of a heat wave is across the Pioneer Valley!

Highs for Today (6/28/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 87°
Chicopee - 86°
Orange - 85°
North Adams - 83°
Pittsfield - 81°

Highs for Today (6/27/2012)

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass:

Westfield - 80°
Chicopee - 79°
North Adams - 78°
Orange - 76°
Pittsfield - 75°

About Me

All about me...

Hi, I am a weather enthusiast! I've started to become interested in weather and how it works during my middle school years. My interest has only grown from then on and after the record-breaking 2010 winter season, the Springfield tornado, Tropical Storm Irene, and Snowtober all of which occurred in 2011 (not to mention the East Coast earthquake!), I became instantly hooked! Now, in my spare time, I forecast and tweet about weather affecting Western Massachusetts and Southern New England. This blog is meant to be my own personal site where I can share my love of weather. I am always learning so if you have any tips or comments about weather or even anything in general, leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail and I will reply as soon as possible. Thanks!