March 2013 Climate Summary

Springfield/Chicopee

March 2013 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 45.0
Average Low: 25.8
Average: 35.4 (0.3° Below Normal)
Highest: 58 (3/9, 3/31)
Lowest: 13 (3/18)
Lowest High: 34 (3/14)
Highest Low: 42 (3/12)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 0
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 29
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 54 (3/12)
Lowest: -1 (3/18)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 0
Foggy Days: 1
Snow Days: 9

Precipitation
Total: 2.30" (1.15" Below Normal)
Total Snowfall: 15.1"
Highest Daily: 0.91" (3/12)
Highest Daily Snowfall: 11" (3/8)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 7
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 5
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 2
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 0

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 36 mph (3/23)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.48" (3/18)
Lowest: 29.50" (3/25)

Westfield

March 2013 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 44.7
Average Low: 27.4
Average: 36.1 (0.6°F Above Normal)
Highest: 59 (3/31)
Lowest: 14 (3/18)
Lowest High: 35 (3/3, 3/14, 3/19)
Highest Low: 41 (3/12)
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: 52 (3/12)
Lowest: -1 (3/18)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 0
Foggy Days: 1
Snow Days: 10

Precipitation
Total: 2.47" (1.63" Below Normal)
Total Snowfall: 13.5"
Highest Daily: 1.13" (3/12)
Highest Daily Snowfall: 7.5" (3/8)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.13" (3/12)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 7
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 5
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 2
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 1

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 44 mph out of the NW (3/14)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.47" (3/18)
Lowest: 29.50" (3/25)

Pittsfield

March 2013 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 38.2
Average Low: 23.2
Average: 30.7 (1.2°F Below Normal)
Highest: 52 (3/31)
Lowest: 10 (3/18)
Lowest High: 26 (3/3, 3/4)
Highest Low: 34 (3/12)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 9
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 30
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 48 (3/12)
Lowest: -4 (3/18)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 0
Foggy Days: 4
Snow Days: 12

Precipitation
Total: 1.96" (1.41" Below Normal)
Total Snowfall: 13.7"
Highest Daily: 1.01" (3/12)
Highest Daily Snowfall: 6" (3/8)
Greatest 24-Hour: 1.01" (3/12)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 8
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 6
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 1
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 1

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 47 mph out of the W (3/14)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.43" (3/18)
Lowest: 29.47" (3/25)

North Adams

March 2013 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 40.7
Average Low: 23.7
Average: 32.2 (1.7°F Below Normal)
Highest: 56 (3/10)
Lowest: 6 (3/21)
Lowest High: 29 (3/3)
Highest Low: 38 (3/12)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 3
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 28
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 47 (3/12)
Lowest: -5 (3/18)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 0
Foggy Days: 1
Snow Days: 14

Precipitation
Total: 1.85" (1.70" Below Normal)
Highest Daily: 0.94" (3/12)
Greatest 24-Hour: 0.94" (3/12)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 8
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 5
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 1
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 0

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 40 mph out of the W (3/15)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.46" (3/18)
Lowest: 29.53" (3/25)

Orange

March 2013 Daily Data

Temperature (°F)
Average High: 42.2
Average Low: 23.7
Average: 33.0 (0.6°F Below Normal)
Highest: 56 (3/31)
Lowest: 9 (3/18, 3/21)
Lowest High: 34 (3/3, 3/14, 3/19)
Highest Low: 40 (3/12)
Days with Highs 90 or Above: 0
Days with Highs 32 or Below: 0
Days with Lows 32 or Below: 29
Days with Lows 0 or Below: 0

Dew Point (°F)
Highest: 52 (3/12)
Lowest: -4 (3/18)

Weather
Thunderstorm Days: 0
Foggy Days: 3
Snow Days: 10

Precipitation
Total: 2.22" (1.26" Below Normal)
Highest Daily: 0.92" (3/12)
Greatest 24-Hour: 0.92" (3/12)
Days with 0.01 Inch or More: 9
Days with 0.10 Inch or More: 5
Days with 0.50 Inch or More: 2
Days with 1.00 Inch or More: 0

Wind Speed
Highest Wind Gust: 36 mph out of the WNW (3/23)

Sea Level Barometric Pressure
Highest: 30.46" (3/18)
Lowest: 29.51" (3/25)

Late-Season March Snowstorm: Snowfall Totals

Via NWS Albany and NWS Boston:

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   SAVOY                  9.0  1046 PM  3/19  WEATHERNET6
   CLARKSBURG             7.5   525 AM  3/20  WEATHERNET6
   LANESBOROUGH           4.0   427 PM  3/19  WEATHERNET6
   PITTSFIELD             3.5   450 PM  3/19  WEATHERNET6
   ALFORD                 2.0   515 PM  3/19  WEATHERNET6

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   SHELBURNE              9.5   332 PM  3/19  GENERAL PUBLIC
   HEATH                  9.5   259 PM  3/19  SPOTTER
   LEYDEN                 8.8   411 PM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   MONTAGUE               7.0   330 PM  3/19  SPOTTER
   CONWAY                 6.0  1028 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   LEVERETT               5.0   700 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER
   GREENFIELD             5.0   746 AM  3/19  GENERAL PUBLIC
   SUNDERLAND             4.5   700 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER
   ASHFIELD               4.2   700 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   LUDLOW                 7.5   541 PM  3/19  TRAINED SPOTTER
   SOUTHWICK              6.0   627 PM  3/19  TRAINED SPOTTER
   WESTFIELD              5.2   310 PM  3/19  MEDIA
   WEST SPRINGFIELD       4.5   345 PM  3/19  PUBLIC
   EAST BRIMFIELD         4.4   800 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER
   WILBRAHAM              4.0  1020 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   WALES                  3.0  1138 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   MONSON                 1.8   620 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   WESTHAMPTON            7.8   405 PM  3/19  TRAINED SPOTTER
   GRANBY                 6.2   302 PM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   WILLIAMSBURG           4.3  1037 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   WORTHINGTON            4.0   700 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER
   AMHERST                4.0   700 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER
   BELCHERTOWN            4.0  1017 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   HUNTINGTON             4.0   808 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO
   WARE                   4.0   700 AM  3/19  CO-OP OBSERVER
   SOUTH HADLEY           3.5  1018 AM  3/19  HAM RADIO

Late-Season March Snowstorm: What to Expect

Even though spring is only two days away, spring is nowhere in sight as another March winter storm is set to impact Western Massachusetts starting this evening into Tuesday. Hard to believe considering last year on this date, we were well into the 60s and 70s! The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued Winter Storm WARNINGS for all of Western Massachusetts for the threat of heavy snow and ice. This will be our second significant snowstorm of the month... the first as you may recall delivered widespread accumulations of 10-20" in Southern New England.

TIMELINE

Snow starts tonight for the Berkshires at first and gradually working northeast. School cancellations look to be imminent as the heaviest snow falls during the Tuesday morning commute. The roads going to be downright nasty and I would recommend staying inside if possible. During the midday on Tuesday, snow may start to changeover to a mix or rain in the Pioneer Valley as temperatures rise above freezing. I want to highlight that the threat of freezing rain is a possibility which may make things very slick outside. Meanwhile, north of the Mass Pike outside of the valley should stay mostly or all snow throughout the duration of the event. The heaviest and steadiest precipitation occurs Tuesday afternoon and will slowly but surely lighten up starting around 2-4pm. The Pioneer Valley may see a quick changeover back to snow at that time before precipitation halts Tuesday evening. By sunset Tuesday, as the low exits into the Gulf of Maine, conditions improve and snow ends. Can't rule out a stray snow shower Tuesday night, otherwise Tuesday night should be all clear and we shovel out on Wednesday!

SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS

2-5" is expected for the immediate Springfield area; 4-8" heading north into the Northampton/Amherst area. Route 2 going through Greenfield should see anywhere around 6-12". The most snow falls in the higher elevations of the Northern Berkshires (Savoy, Windsor, Lanesborough) where more than a foot is likely!

March 6th-8th Long Duration Snowstorm Recap: Snowfall Totals

This was one strange storm to witness and there were many aspects in play that affected the amount of snow that fell. A cut-off low pressure system way south of Southern New England stalled to our SE after interacting with an upper-level disturbance over the Great Lakes slinged moisture time and time again bringing substantial snowfall and heavy snow bands onshore. Even though many saw plowable snow, there were some that had considerably less which I want to address in the blog post.

Valley Shadowing

We saw an interesting range of snowfall totals across the region. The valley was under constant shadowing throughout the storm and only a few inches fell along the I-91 corridor. At UMass Amherst, I saw barely enough snow to coat grassy surfaces! Incredible gradient between the valley and the hilltowns... I know there has been valley shadowing in past storms but I've never anything like this before. Out in Eastern Hampden and Worcester County ten to twenty minutes away from the valley, there were reports of a foot and up to two feet of snow! Those spots were constantly under intense bands of snow. However, when they progressed westward, the snow bands severely weakened as they went across the lower elevations of the valley. Only upon reaching the eastern slopes of the Berkshires did they redevelop again. This pattern happened every single time and never relented. I believe the lack of a true cold airmass prevented the light snow from otherwise accumulating because snow rates were never high enough to do so.

Snow Hole in RI?

Snowfall map by NWS Boston showing the prominent valley
shadowing and the unexpected lack of snow in Rhode Island

I have to admit the valley shadowing was forecasted to occur (albeit not as severely as progged) but this definitely wasn't. Snowfall graphic by NWS Boston above suggested that mild temperatures and perhaps shadowing produced a lack of snow in Southern Rhode Island. It showed up as a distinctive hole on radar and it stayed there in one spot throughout the duration of the storm. Very, very strange and I have not come across a reasonable explanation why.

Snowfall Totals

Less snow fell up and down the Pioneer Valley where up to 6" of snow fell. But go a few towns east and west out of the low-lying areas and totals climbed up fairly quickly. The eastern slopes of the Berkshires and eastern Hampden County received the most snow with more than a foot. Here is a list of snowfall totals for Western Massachusetts:

NWS (merged with older PNS versions)

...BERKSHIRE COUNTY...
   SAVOY                 11.0  1104 PM  3/08  WEATHERNET6
   NORTH OTIS            10.0  1030 AM  3/08  PUBLIC
   LENOX                  9.6   542 PM  3/08  CO-OP OBSERVER
   PITTSFIELD             8.0   538 PM  3/08  WEATHERNET6
   SHEFFIELD              8.0  1005 AM  3/08  FACEBOOK
   LANESBOROUGH           5.5   444 PM  3/08  WEATHERNET6
   ALFORD                 5.0   544 PM  3/08  WEATHERNET6
   RICHMOND               4.5  1005 AM  3/08  FACEBOOK

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   HEATH                  6.5   328 PM  3/08  SPOTTER
   NEW SALEM              6.0   300 AM  3/08  PUBLIC
   LEYDEN                 5.0  1015 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   ASHFIELD               4.9   700 AM  3/08  COOP OBSERVER
   LEVERETT               4.0   700 AM  3/08  COOP OBSERVER
   EAST CHARLEMONT        3.5  1055 AM  3/08  SPOTTER
   SUNDERLAND             3.5   700 AM  3/08  COOP OBSERVER
   GREENFIELD             2.0   849 AM  3/08  GENERAL PUBLIC
   TURNERS FALLS          1.0  1001 AM  3/08  NONE

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   WALES                 21.0   350 PM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   MONSON                18.0   312 PM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   EAST LONGMEADOW       11.5  1139 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   LUDLOW                11.0   209 PM  3/08  TRAINED SPOTTER
   CHESTER                7.0   606 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   HOLYOKE                2.0   830 AM  3/08  SPOTTER

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   WARE                  10.8   700 AM  3/08  COOP OBSERVER
   BELCHERTOWN            8.0  1145 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   WORTHINGTON            6.6   700 AM  3/08  COOP OBSERVER
   HUNTINGTON             7.0   845 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   SOUTH HADLEY           2.5  1146 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   NORTHAMPTON            2.0   939 AM  3/08  HAM RADIO
   AMHERST                1.0   700 AM  3/08  COOP OBSERVER

CoCoRaHS
Stockbridge: 7"
Wilbraham: 8"
Westhampton: 3.6"

COOP
West Otis: 9.3"
Worthington: 7.3"
Sunderland: 3.4"
Ware: 10.8"
Leverett: 4.5"
Amherst: 1"

WWLP Springfield
18" Holland
18" Monson
17" Brimfield
16" Wales
15" Palmer
15" West Brookfield
14" Hampden
12.5" Warren
11" Wilbraham
10" Belchertown
10" Otis
9" Shutesbury
8" East Longmeadow
8" East Forest Park
8" East Otis
8" Plainfield
8" Middlefield
7" Chester
7" Ludlow
7" Blandford
7" Cummington
7" Worthington
6" Chesterfield
5.5" Granby
5.5" Westhampton
4.5" Goshen
4.5" Orange
2" Chicopee
1" Easthampton

http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/weather/us_wx_news/snowfall-totals-from-early-march-storm

WGGB Springfield

CBS3 Springfield