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)