BREAKING: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued and Official Heat Wave in Boston

Boston has come in with a temperature of 90 degrees the past hour, making it three consecutive days of 90 degrees or better. This is the first official "Heat Wave" of the early Summer '07 season. I'm sure there is plenty more heat to come this summer.

Also breaking, a *Severe Thunderstorm Watch* has been issued for all of CT, RI, and much of MA, through NH and ME for the possibility of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail, torrential downpours, and frequent lightning.

The *Severe Thunderstorm Watch* is in effect for the Boston/Providence metro areas until 10PM tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are starting to form over the Hartford, CT area at this time and are quickly forming and gradually heading east. CT and RI should be envoloped in thunderstorm activity by 5-7PM and the thunderstorms could conglomerate on the South Coast to give more of a beneficial rainfall.

Thunderstorms, severe at that, have developed in Maine as well. These thunderstorms just went through Bangor, ME with strong winds in excess of 60 mph. More should develop across the mountains and higher terrain of ME and head in a SE direction towards the sea coast and be there anytime now from 4PM and last through 8-10PM.

Whether we get thunderstorm development in the Boston metro area remains to be seen. Based on the computer models it looks like the Boston metro area from north of Springfield through Fitchburg, Worcester towards Boston, Lowell, Taunton, Quincy, could be sandwiched between the heaviest of thunderstorms and rain. However, we are currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10:00PM, so there is a good chance that thunderstorms will at least try and graze the Boston metropolitan area. Not a sure bet though.

Thats all for now, should any real heavy duty thunderstorm threaten the area, I will be back to post.

Cooler Air Arrives for the Beginning of July

Today is the last real day of heat and humidity for SNE. Temperatures this afternoon have arisen into the upper 80's to lower 90's as forecasted yesterday. Thunderstorms have not developed yet; there is a few showers scattered over western portions of New England, but most of the activity has stayed down to our south over the Mid Atlantic, where there is a *Severe Thunderstorm Watch* from New York City through Philadelphia and the Baltimore, Washington DC metropolitan areas. The NWS is concerned for severe thunderstorms in our parts too, especially along and south of the Mass Pike. The watch may get extended into parts of CT, RI, and MA as well later in the afternoon, should these storms start to explode. The NWS out of Taunton is playing it conservatively for the moment.

Either way, this front brings some cool air tomorrow with highs only reaching the lower to mid 70's, temperatures that have been our overnight lows the past few nights. Overnight lows will now fall into the 50's once again and even could fall lower on Sunday morning with lows falling into the upper 40's in a few locations. If you go out late, you may want to bring a light jacket or sweater with you!

The cool air lasts through early next week before it possibly warms up again by the 4th, back into the 80's.

Severe Weather Threat This PM

THUNDERSTORMS WITH DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES AND A FEW WITH DAMAGING WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON IN SOUTHERN NEWENGLAND...

THE HIGHEST RISK FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN 130 PM AND 530 PM ISFROM THE HARTFORD SPRINGFIELD AREA TO WORCESTER...BOSTON...WOONSOCKETAND MARSHFIELD.ISOLATED STRONG STORMS MAY DEVELOP IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN1230 PM AND 2 PM BUT THE MAIN EVENT SHOULD BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE MASS TURNPIKE DURING MID AND LATE AFTERNOON.

MARINERS ALONG BOSTONS NORTH SHORE SHOULD BE ALERT FOR A GUSTY THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN 1 PM AND 4 PM.MARINERS IN THE IMMEDIATE BOSTON AREA TO PLYMOUTH SHOULD BE ALERT FORTHE POSSIBILITY OF WIND GUSTS OVER 35 KNOTS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNINGSOMETIME BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM.

ANYONE WITH PLANS FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THUNDERSTORMSAND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER ON SHORT NOTICE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGINGTHUNDERSTORMS DURING MID AND LATE AFTERNOON.

THE RISK FOR A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL SPREAD INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERNRHODE ISLAND AS WELL AS SOUTH COASTAL SECTIONS OF MASSACHUSETTS LATE THISAFTERNOON OR EVENING...ESPECIALLY FOR MARINERS.

Heat Eases by Saturday

As mentioned in the previous post, the temperature outside right now just before NOON is absolutely ridiculous for Boston. Lower 90's before the NOON hour is almost unheard of for SNE. Its only going to get hotter this afternoon with temperatures rising another 4-8 degrees, maybe more. I would bet that Boston finishes the day around 97 degrees. Peak heat indices will likely be around 103.

Tomorrow is not as hot, but still pretty bad with an early jump on temperatures. Last night's low in Boston was only 76 degrees. Temperatures will be warmer this afternoon and with a much higher dewpoint than yesterday, the low temperature in Boston will be higher than it was this morning. Coupled with the urban heat island effect soaking in all this sunshine, lows in Boston overnight tonight will likely only bottom out at around 80 degrees around 5AM. By 7-9AM temperatures will be already in the lower to mid 80's and peak around NOON at 92 for a region average. Then clouds will build and the heavens will unleash with big boomers later in the afternoon. As advertised before these storms could be quite severe with frequent lightning, small hail, and torrential downpours.

Then the cool air from Canada will move into SNE. As I have been saying, the highs will be in the 70's for a while thereafter. No more 90's in the foreseeable future. Lows getting back to around 50 in the suburbs will feel nice and we will be able to turn off the a/c and open the windows at night. Won't that be nice. We will welcome in July with nice refreshingly cool air and say goodbye to the stiffling heat of late June. P.S. If the high tomorrow in Boston is 90, it will be the first official heat wave of the summer.

HEAT ADVISORY

A *Heat Advisory* is in effect for much of SNE at the present time. Currently at 11AM, temperatures in Boston and surrounding areas are already approaching the lower to middle 90's! The temperature where I live is already at 92 degrees and Boston's Logan International Airport is sitting at 92 as well. Coupled with dewpoints rising to around 69-72 degrees, the heat index makes it feel about 5-6 degrees higher than the actual air temperature. The heat index is sitting at 97 degrees for Boston right now and with a high temperature between 96-98 degrees, the real feel temperature will likely be in the 101-104 degree range.

Here is what the Heat Advisory entails for SNE at the present time:

...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON...

THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FORTHE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AWAY FROM THE SOUTHCOAST.AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 94 AND 98 DEGREES WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 98 AND 102 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS AFTERNOON.

A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TOCOMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES RESULTING IN HEAT INDICES OF100 DEGREES OR GREATER. AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN OR INPOORLY VENTILATED AREAS. ALSO...DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND TRY TO STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT.

So be smart and stay cool this afternoon and limit exposure to the sun's peak hours from now 11AM to 4PM. More updates later and if we break the record in Boston, which is 96 degrees for today...I think we will come close if not break it.

One Brutally Hot Day

Tomorrow will be the last dangerously hot day in SNE. Today many towns got as high as 95-97 degrees, but many stayed within the 92-94 degree range. Boston officially hit 95 as of last check. Where I live, we only made it to 93 in my backyard. The temperature is not really going to drop much tonight. Lows in Boston, for example will likely stay in the mid-upper 70's. The suburbs will likely bottom out between 70-72 degrees tonight, a night to have on the a/c. This will be a nice starting point tomorrow with temperatures already nudging 80 degrees by 7-8AM. By noontime, temperatures will already be going over 90, in the 89-93 range. By 2PM temperatures should be in the mid 90's and around the 3-4PM hours we will be seeing our daytime highs between 94-98 degrees, with dewpoints in the 65-70 range, the real feel temperature will likely be in the 100-105 degree range. Expect another uncomfortable night for sleeping tomorrow night, again in the 70's.

For Boston to get our official heat wave, the high needs to hit 90 degrees on Thursday and I think they will be able to do it before the cold front moves in with showers and strong to severe thunderstorms. We could be setting ourselves up for the highest dewpoints at this time right before the strong cold front moves in. Today in the Chicago, IL area, dewpoints were in the 73-78 degree range ahead of the front which was in the Minneapolis, MN area around 12PM CDT. I believe the dewpoints will be very tropical around these parts, and will be in the 70-75 degree range. Coupled with temperatures around 90, the heat index will once again get into the upper 90's to around 100 degree range. Thunderstorms will mark the end to this oppressive heat and humidity and there could be a lot of severe storms out there as well, we will just have to stay tuned and report as they develop. Right now, everyone is fair game for these storms. We are now going out of the likely category for the development of these storms, towards the definite category, currently 80 percent sure.

After the severe weather Thursday night, we are back to refreshing New England air and temperatures in the 70's for several days after. We may warm up again late next week, but that is so far out I'll leave it at that.

Dangerous Heat

Many towns will be experiencing their first real heat waves in quite some time the next 2-3 days. Some towns will just squeak by with a 3 day heat wave, but others will have a bonafide 4 day stretch of temperatures at or above 90 degrees. Tomorrow will be an easy day to reach 90 in many locales, except the immediate South Coast and Cape. Here, temperatures will be right around 80. Temperatures will be widespread approaching the mid 90's, even towards the beaches, which I think will be packed. Temperatures will only rise for Wednesday with many towns well into the mid to perhaps upper 90's.

Thursday comes the risk for some thunderstorms, some of which may be severe and that will usher in some nice dry comfortable air with highs in the 70's and lows getting back down into the 50's for much of SNE. Some places up north will get back to the 40's for overnight lows by then after experiencing mid 70's for lows come midweek. Enjoy the heat.

HOT HOT HOT

Some of the highest heat in over a month is ready to move in. Some places hit 90 today and will do it again the next two days and possibly again on Thurday. Tomorrow will be very hot with temperatures into the lower to middle 90's regionwide, except a refreshing 77 degrees on Nantucket. A high for Boston will be around 95. Humidity will start to rise a tad tomorrow with dewpoints in the 62-66 range by late day. Heat indices will be approaching the upper 90's to around 100 in many areas tomorrow afternoon and temperatures on Wednesday could be about 2-3 degrees hotter than the forecasted temperatures for tomorrow with higher humidity with dewpoints reaching oppressive levels, nearing 70 degrees. Either way its going to be hot, so get that a/c in or plan on staying at the beach or pools the next few days. Severe thunderstorms are likely around these parts Thursday. More on that tomorrow.

Monday Forecast

First Boston Heat Wave in Years?

Our first real shot at a Boston heat wave, three or more consecutive days with temperatures at 90+, is a real possibility this week. I have no problem saying that Boston will be in the 90's on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the two bordering days Monday and Thursday will be a close call if Logan actually hits the 90 degree mark. Either way I think that Boston has a good shot at offically having a heat wave. We could have a four day heat wave.

Notice the overnight lows. Tomorrow morning should be manageable with lows in the upper 50's to around 60, but then it really starts to get steamy overnight around here on Tuesday through Thursday mornings. Lows in the mid 70's after having highs in the mid and upper 90's is really harsh and many without a/c should think about staying with a friend or family member that does have a/c because not only will it just be plain uncomfortable, but it could become quite dangerous as well. Don't worry though, this will only be a four day stint. We are back to our great refreshing New England air by late week with a wind off the water by Saturday keeping eastern New England near 70 with unlimited sun. Everybody gets what they want with this forecast.

Long Range Suggests Major Cooldown After Early Week Heat

I was looking through the NWS site today and found this graphic showing exceptional below average temperatures for the northeast and even Mid Atlantic the next 8-14 days. All the while, the West will be really baking with many above average temperatures on the order of +3 or more degrees above the normal. In the light blue, temperatures could be either -1 to -2 degrees below the norm. In the darker shade of blue in PA and Upstate NY, temperatures over the next two weeks could average -2 or cooler than the norm. This is interesting because the next 3-5 days should be exceptionally hot for this area in the blue shading in the East. Many areas will be in the 90's to near 100 degrees come Tuesday and Wednesday. However, there are indications that temperatures will be very cool "for this time of year" after this heat wave. We are talking about averages near 80 degrees in the Northeast to nearing 90 in the Mid Atlantic and NC, TN. So temperatures will be in the 70's in the Northeast and 80's in the Mid Atlantic to cause temperatures to average a tad below. You won't need the jeans and scarfs with this cool period, but if you're heading out West, bring the extra cool weather gear and prepare for some intense "dry" heat. Temperatures in MT could get well into the 100's and Death Valley, CA will likely surpass 120 degrees for the first time this year.

Hottest of the Year

The hottest air of the year is on its way to SNE this week. First, we get to experience another radiational cooled night tonight with lows getting back into the mid-upper 40's in the suburbs of SNE to around 50 in urban areas. Tomorrow will feature clouds bubbling to give a few showers and thunderstorms in the afternooon because of a setup similar to yesterday's. However, I do not think that there will be as many showers and thunderstorms as we had yesterday. Highs will be the coolest we will see for a while, mainly in the mid 70's. We step up by ten to fifteen degrees on Monday with highs into the upper 80's. Tuesday is when the real steam heat is here with highs likely into the mid 90's all the way to the beaches. It is going to be a scorcha. Low and middle 90's are likely Wednesday again before storms arrive Thursday and we start to really cool for late week. We are back to the mid 70's by Friday. But in the stretch of steam heat, we will have overnight lows in the upper 60's in the coolest rural areas, but urban areas will have a hard time dropping below 70-75. That means the a/c will be working overtime this week.

Showers Friday and Sunday Before Heat Arrives

There are a few showers out there and developing this Friday afternoon. These storms could develop and cluster into more formadible storms that could produce some brief frequent lightning and maybe some small hail just because the air up above us is so cold. It won't take much to get the air mixed up enough to get some hail down to the surface. Right now around 12PM, there has been just some plain showers developing out through Vermont and New Hampshire. All this will lead to another cool day on Saturday with temperatures in the lower 70's, after seeing very cool morning lows in the upper 40's in some of the suburbs tonight. The urban areas will likely stay above 50 tonight. Boston will likely stay around 55. Sunday we will warm up a tad before some thunderstorms possibly arrive in the afternoon. These thunderstorms will mark te return of the heat and possibly humidity. Highs Monday should be tolerable, highs should get into the mid 80's. Tuesday and Wednesday, temperatures should get into the lower to mid 90's regionwide and if dewpoints make it into the 65-70 range, heat indices could top 100 degrees and the NWS would have to put up a Heat Advisory for SNE at this time. That is to be seen at the current time, so we'll see, but its something to watch nonetheless. Either way, its going to be HOT. A cold front will move towards us later in the week and cool us down eventually, but the timing is unsure at the current time.

Cool Weather the Next Few Days

The weather pattern will feature cool refreshing breezes the next few days in the Northeast. Temperatures will not be steamy like much of the rest of the nation this weekend. In fact, tomorrow will be a little unsettled with a few afternoon showers and storms in eastern New England from a stubborn area of low pressure near Nova Scotia. Maine and northern New England will see the most rain tomorrow with a more widespread area of showers and isolated storm or two. Further south into SNE, there will be more widely scattered showers and maybe a rumble or two of thunder. Highs should range from the upper 60's to lower 70's regionwide. Tomorrow night, temperatures will fall into the mid 40's in NNE to mid 50's south. We step a bit lower on Sunday morning with temperatures bottoming out. Many suburbs of SNE will see overnight lows drop into the upper 40's. NNE will mainly be in the lower 40's, but a few places like Berlin, NH will drop into the upper 30's. We slowly warm up early next week, but I will talk about that some other time.

Welcome Summer 2007!

The summer season is officially here at 2:06PM Thursday. The sun's rays will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at this time and we will have our longest day, in terms of daylight. After tomorrow the sun's direct rays will be migrating southward towards the Equator and eventually Tropic of Capricorn. Don't worry though, as the daylight will slowly decrease during the summer months, the peak normal temperatures for us in SNE will not peak until about the second to third week of July, normally. And to start we will only be losing about 30 seconds of daylight in the beginning, but then come mid-late fall, we will be losing 3-4 minutes per day, but won't have to turn the clocks back until November, so thats a plus.

Anyway, have a nice summer...don't let it fly by, or you'll miss it.

A Pleasant Warm Week Ahead

Warm weather is in store for tomorrow. Highs should reach into the 80's for much of SNE, but there will be a risk of a few afternoon thunderstorms for some of the area. Most places will stay dry for Father's Day cookouts, so don't postpone plans. Most of the showers and storms should stay out west towards the Worcester-Springfield-Hartford area like it has for the past week or so. That will all clear out tomorrow night and we are clear sailing until Wednesday's next threat of a few thunderstorms or showers. Highs on Monday will be in the mid 80's and on Tuesday, temperatures should be in the upper 80's to lower 90's. After Wednesday's storms, we will see a refreshing airmass move into SNE with temperatures only in the mid 70's for next weekend with lows getting back into the lower to mid 50's away from the city.

The June Chill Departs...The Summer Heat is Near!

Wow, we have been under the inflence of some really chilly marine air for the past couple of days. Yesterday, at my house, the temperature never got above 57 degrees and I am a good 15 to 20 miles away from the coastline. Some places on the North Shore did not get above the lower to mid 50's for highs yesterday, which is some real cold for this time of year. Today, I hit 60 for about 45 minutes around 3PM this afternoon, but the clouds stayed thick and the temperature is now sitting in the lower 50's at this time.

Tomorrow will be another chilly one for SNE. Highs should range from the upper 50's to around 60 on the immediate coast, lower to mid 60's just inland out to Worcester and then if you travel west of Worcester towards the Berkshires, Springfield and Hartford, the temperature could nudge 70. Saturday will warm by ten degrees and then it is all in for the heat next week. We could be budging 90 on Sunday with a few afternoon thunderstorms marking the beginning of a very hot and humid airmass moving into the eastern third of the US for early next week. Some spots will push the mid 90's on Monday and I would not surprised if some places push 95-100 degrees on Tuesday, possibly extending into Wednesday, depending on the speed of the front. Either way, temperatures will likely be in the 90's for early next week with dewpoints reaching very sticky to oppressive levels, in the upper 60's to around 70, which is about as high as it gets here in the Boston area. The highest I have seen it at Boston's Logan Airport was 77 degrees and that was a sultry day in August when we usually see out dewpoints max out before the cool fall-like air arrives in mid-late September.

Its going to get hot around here and with many schools finally getting out tomorrow and early next week, you can bet that a lot of our beaches will be jam-packed come the middle of next week with the oppressive heat. Welcome to summer...we're almost there.

Extended Forecast

A Rainy Saturday

Rain and lots of it is in the forecast for today. There has been a persistent band of moderate to heavy rain between Route 495 and I-95 today. This band of heavy rainfall is slowly drifting south-southeastward and is now invading parts of Route 128, starting to rain in places like Stoneham through Waltham. Between 495 and 95, the rain has been sitting and producing copious amounts of rain in a short time period. Dopplar radar estimates are anywhere from between 1-2" of rainfall has already fallen and usually it is a little conservative, so some places may be going on 3" of rainfall with the rain falling between 1/4 to 1/2 an hour. I am going for 2-3" of rain for this area with lighter amounts to its west, where if you go out to Springfield, there hasn't been a drop of rain and likely will not see any rain. The band will move into Boston around 1-2PM and then the Cape later this afternoon around 5-7PM. Here I'm going for a general 1". Tomorrow will be a better day. Today is a good movie day or go get a good book and sit back and read. Thats all for now, I may try to get an extended forecast out later.

Rain on the Way for Most...

Today has turned out to be a little cooler than I expected. I thought that we would easily make it into the mid 70's, but we have struggled to get there and it is much cloudier than I thought. Right now skies are nearly overcast. The clouds are in advance of an approaching warm front that will warm us up for a one day stand tomorrow. I don't think we will bake tomorrow, but it will be much warmer than it has been the past two days. Highs tomorrow will have no problem getting into the lower to middle 80's, as I see it now. A few spots in western New England will see highs approach 90, but that will be a far cry from the lower to mid 90's with oppressive humidity in the Mid Atlantic where they are currently under a Heat Advisory. We won't get that hot here in Southern New England. Hartford, CT could squeak out a 90 or 91 tomorrow though. Showers and thunderstorms will turn severe tomorrow afternoon in Upstate New York. These storms will traverse into western portions of New England, but will likely weaken as they approach the eastern shores of New England.

These storms will transition to a solid plain rain and likely stall with a low pressure system developing out over the ocean. This developing low will push back towards the coast and give the chance of rain showers from the eastern parts of Maine, through eastern New Hampshire and eastern Massachusetts. The rain could be quite heavy at times Friday night into early Saturday morning along the coast of Maine into New Hampshire, including Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH. This heavy band of rain could make it into the North Shore affecting places like Newbury, MA and Gloucester. Further inland of SW, the rain will be a little lighter, but even here, anywhere east of the CT/RI border, just west of Worcester, through Manchester, NH will still see good soaking rains during this timeframe with some spots picking up between a 1/4" and 1/2" of rain. Where the heaviest rain occurs, up to 1" to 1.25" is possible, but these amounts will be scattered at best.

We will try to clear this out for Saturday afternoon, but this is all dependent on the speed of the low pressure system out in the Gulf of Maine. If it develops quickly and moves out quickly, we could see clearing in the afternoon especially for eastern SNE, with the showers tapering. However if it doesn't move out quickly, we could be mired in showers through the afternoon and it could just be a cool, damp day.

There is an unstability shower chance on Sunday with puffy clouds billowing up in a cold unstable atmosphere, looking like a fall day almost. With the sun heating the ground, a few clouds may billow up enough to produce a brief shower or even thundershower, but that is just a slight chance at this time. It will be cool with highs on either side of 70. We clear out for good on Monday and thereafter, with temperatures seasonably mild, in the mid 70's. Can't ask for better, in my opinion.

More Quiet Pattern

Beautiful weather is in store for tomorrow. Tomorrow will be a tad warmer than this afternoon and we will have more sun tomorrow to make it feel even more nice. In the morning, you may want to bring a light weight coat with you to the bus stop because it will be quite chilly for June, especially in the suburbs. The far NW suburbs of Boston, near Worcester, will likely fall to between 40-45 degrees tonight with upper 40's closer to Boston and around 50 in the cities. Tomorrow will rebound nicely into the mid 70's and we warm more on Friday, into the mid 80's.



Then I am a little concerned for the weather on Saturday. I am hesitant to go out and say that the high will be 65 regionwide because there will be a backdoor cold front with rain showers moving along that front which could deposit a tenth to quarter inch of water for eastern New England. This may be coupled with a stiff NE breeze and we know what happened last Sunday with the NE breeze and drizzle much of the day; temperatures dropping through the 50's in the afternoon. Could that happen again? Possibly, but I feel mid 60's are a good call at this point. If tomorrow it looks like that front will not penetrate this far SW, I will bump temperatures up by 5-10 degrees for eastern New England. Either way, if you live west of the CT River Valley, you will likely be in the 70's to around 80 on Saturday. We cool for Sunday before turning mild and sunny thereafter for much of next week.

Snow in June!

Snow and lots of it in fact is in the forecast for parts of the country tomorrow night into Thursday. The upper Rockies states, in Montana with elevations of 6000 feet or higher are currently under a Winter Storm Watch for heavy accumulating snow. An upper level low has moved into the NW part of the US and has brought with it rain and wind to the Seattle and Portland, OR areas. This wind and rain translates to snow and wind in the mountains of Montana and Idaho.

Tonight snowfall of 3-6" is possible in the central mountains of Idaho. Tomorrow the cold air moves in with the snow to the mountains near Great Falls, MT. Snow will become quite heavy towards nighttime as temperatures cool to below freezing, which will allow for the snow to accumulate as quick as it can in early June. We are not talking about a little dusting of snow either. Most areas about 6000 feet will pick up anywhere between 8-12" of snowfall and a few of the higher mountaintops over 7400 feet will likely wind up with closer to 12-24" of the white stuff. Is this rare? Well, it would surprise you that it is not that rare. The rare thing is that just a few days ago in the places that will see near blizzard conditions tomorrow night on early-mid June, they were setting record highs well into the 80's and 90's. Tomorrow night these same places will be in the upper 20's with moderate to heavy snow much of the time.

That is the amazing thing. This doesn't translate into a SNE freak June snowstorm, as we will stay safely above freezing for likely until early-mid September. So don't worry, I just thought this would be a cool thing to post for weather enthusiasts like me out there.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Most of the storms have missed the immediate eastern part of SNE this afternoon. Storms, severe with strong winds, hail, and frequent lightning moved through Worcester County, NW Middlesex County, and southern New Hampshire earlier this afternoon around 2PM. Currently much of NNE is under the gun for heavy thunderstorms. A few thunderstorms have developed in CT at this time, but most if not all will likely miss the Boston metro area.

A *Severe Thunderstorm Watch* was issued earlier this afternoon for much of New England and we will all continue to be under the gun until later this evening and tonight. Here is an excerpt from the NWS and the watch...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THISAFTERNOON...

THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THISAFTERNOON. SOME THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS...ANDPOSSIBLY SOME LARGE HAIL. THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR POTENTIAL DAMAGINGWEATHER WOULD BE FROM 1 PM TO 7 PM.WHILE THESE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE IN ANY PART OF SOUTHERN NEWENGLAND...

THE MOST LIKELY LOCATION WOULD BE IN AREAS NORTH AND WESTOF THE CITIES OF BOSTON AND PROVIDENCE. THIS AREA INCLUDES THE CITIESOF LAWRENCE...MANCHESTER...KEENE...WORCESTER...GREENFIELD...SPRINGFIELD AND HARTFORD.

IF ANY THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH YOUR LOCATION...YOU SHOULD TAKE COVERIMMEDIATELY. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BESTRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

So it looks like the main threat of severe thunderstorms is over for most of us, but it cannot be ruled out until the front passes sometime this evening, primarily after 7-8PM. Stay tuned.

Damaging Storms Likely This PM

Severe thunderstorms are likely this afternoon in much of New England. Some of these storms could become quite severe with damaging winds in excess of 60-70 mph, brief torrential rainfall, frequent cloud to ground lightning, and large hail in diameter of over the size of golf balls. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out as well. Don't let the partly cloudy and calm skies fool you this morning. Anytime after 3PM, we are all under the gun for these potentially life threatening storms. So if you are on the baseball field this afternoon and the sky darkens and storms look immenent, you know the drill, get to a shelter and be safe.

Here is the statement for today's severe weather from the NWS out of Taunton, MA...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE TODAY ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.THE GREATEST THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON IN THE INTERIOR...MAINLY NORTHWEST OF THE I95 CORRIDOR. THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD WEAKEN AS THEY APPROACH THE COAST EARLY THIS EVENING.

A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE TODAY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AHEAD OF THIS FRONT THIS AFTERNOON AND MAY ORGANIZE INTO A SQUALL LINE. DAMAGING STRAIGHTLINE WINDS GUSTS WILL BE THE PRIMARY THREAT...BUT LARGE HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE.

I will update the situation later this afternoon around 2-3PM, when any watch would be already in place.

Strong Storms Possible Tuesday PM

Strong to severe storms are possible tomorrow afternoon in SNE. Right now we are under the loosening grips of Barry's rains. It came down pretty good for a time around 2PM where I live and now has lightened to a few showers and sprinkles. The temperature is also around 60 degrees, a good rebound from the lower 50's this morning.

This will clear out tonight, but still be very humid. Tomorrow breaks of sun will be likely that will propell temperatures into the mid 80's with very humid conditions. Dewpoints will likely be in the lower to middle 60's, which is very humid for early June or any month in SNE for that matter. A cold front will move in later in the PM and spark a line of thunderstorms that may be strong to severe with the main concern strong winds and heavy rainfall. A few storms may put down some small hail as well.

I will be posting tomorrow if any watches or warnings are issued by the NWS, so until then, stay dry this afternoon and evening.

Barry's Rainstorm Arrives Tonight...

I was way off with the temperatures for this afternoon. The temperature at my house near Boston, MA was around 59 this morning, then the overcast thickened and drizzle has commenced and the temperature has been dropping through the 50's, now sitting at 54. The temperature won't rise much from that as we have a persistent ENE breeze off the ocean this afternoon.

Barry's rains arrive tonight as they are now drenching DC through Philadelphia at the moment. The rains are nearly in New York and will be there by later this afternoon. They will make it into SNE around 10PM this evening, so the Red Sox/Yankees game could be in jeopardy. The rain will be heavy all day tomorrow and continue into the first part of Tuesday as a few widely scattered showers. All said and done, rainfall will total to around 1-3" in eastern New England, from the Cape to Providence, Boston, and southern New Hampshire. Western New England from Hartford through Pittsfield, much of Vermont, will see heavier rainfall amounts totaling to around 2-4", locally 5" or 6" cannot be ruled out. Winds could be strong, especially at the shore. Gusts could top 50 mph tomorrow. All the SE winds will cause the water to build up on the South Coast, which has caused the NWS out of Taunton to issue a "High Surf Advisory" for seas building up to 10 to 20 feet! Riptides will be quite strong, so be careful if you decide to be a dare devil and go surfing tomorrow in the peak of the storm, which is not that smart.

We clear out for Wednesday with temperatures very cool, in the 60's for eastern New England; 70's inland. Thursday will be another dry day and warmer, after a chilly start in the lower 40's in suburbia, lower 50's in Boston. Showers may arrive for the beginning of next weekend, but thats so far away lets not get bogged down in detail. Don't leave without an umbrella tonight if you are heading to Fenway to see Beckett square off against the dreaded pinstripes and Pettite.

BREAKING: Tornado Warning for Essex Co.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A* TORNADO WARNING FOR...

NORTH CENTRAL ESSEX COUNTY IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF NEWBURYPORT...* UNTIL 715 PM EDT*

AT 650 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR NEWBURY... OR ABOUT 7 MILES WEST OF NEWBURYPORT...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.* THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR... AMESBURY BY 700 PM EDT... NEWBURYPORT BY 705 PM EDT... SALISBURY BY 710 PM EDT...

THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER AWORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE. IF NO BASEMENT ISAVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN ANINTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET. USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TOCOVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE ASUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THENEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDTSATURDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS ANDSOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 8PM

With the increased humidity and heat the risk for strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon has caused the NWS out of Taunton to issue a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH until 8PM for much of New England, except the South Coast, Cape, and far reaches of NNE. Some storms are already starting to develop in western New England with a severe thunderstorm warning already in effect for Hartford, CT. More storms are developing in Vermont and central New Hampshire as we speak. Many storms will develop further and push southeastward towards the Boston, Providence corridor by 6-8PM. Further N&W, the thunderstorms will be heaviest in the 4-6PM timeframe. The storms will likely lose their severe characteristics by the time they reach the South Coast and Cape, but a few could bring some frequent lightning and heavy gully washers between 7-9PM. So, I just wanted to post this for those who went to the pool or beach this afternoon because it has turned into a beautiful day with temperatures soaring to around 90 with abundant sunshine. Once you see the sky darken and can hear thunder in the distance, be smart and get to shelter. Being in the pool, beach, or on the golf course is not a smart place to be during severe weather.

T.S. Barry to Affect Southern New England

Right now Barry has been downgraded to a tropical depression with winds of 35 mph as it enters western Florida, around Tampa Bay. Winds were at 55 mph, gusting to around 65 mph earlier this morning. This will bring beneficial rains to fire ravaged regions of Georgia, northern Florida, and South Carolina. Sunday will be much cooler after today's warm and humid temperatures in the mid to upper 80's with scattered but very severe thunderstorms later this afternoon. With these thunderstorms, there could be large hail, frequent lightning, and torrential rainfall. Highs tomorrow will be in the lower to mid 70's with the chance of a thunderstorm or two as well.

Then it gets interesting for Monday with Barry moving up the coast as either a tropical depression or a tropical storm. Right now the NWS is forecasting Barry to be a T.S. off the South Coast. Winds are forecasted to be at 45 mph at this point, but with water temperatures in the mid 60's at this point, I would find it hard to believe that it could maintain its tropical characteristics all the way this far north. Nonetheless, heavy rains and strong gales, especially along the coast, are likely on Monday with much of SNE and eastern NNE receiving 1-3" of rainfall, with locally 4" of rain. In fact, the entire east coast of the US will see beneficial rains on the order of a general 2-4", with some parts of drought-stricken Florida picking up over 6" of rain. Scattered showers hang on for Sunday, but it will dry out on Wednesday through the end of next week with temperatures warming back up into the 80's by this point. I will give you the latest on Barry in tomorrow's discussion.