August Starts Off Perfectly

Tomorrow will be one of those days that you wish you could bottle up and keep for those rainy days we get in the fall and spring and snowy days we get in the wintertime. Tomorrow will just be nothing short of perfect for all season's lovers. Whether you are a winter lover or summer lover, you will appreciate tomorrow.

Highs will get into the mid 70's at the shores with temperatures maybe getting a degree or two above 80 degrees just inland. There will be abundant sunshine and a light breeze that will feel very refreshing. This will not last forever. Highs will get back into the 90's by Thursday and Friday. The NWS has also outlined an increased risk for severe thunderstorms around our area on Friday afternoon when a front from the northwest will try and squash the heat and humidity. It will not squash the heat as we will likely get back to around 90 degrees on Saturday, but we will cool a tad on Sunday, before we heat back up for Monday. Early indications are that we here in the East will start to bake, while the West Coast will get a chance to cool down. This looks like a good pattern shift all the way through the middle of August.

The tropics are really starting to heat up and I will have more on it tomorrow and I just want to say WELCOME KEVIN GARNETT and ERIC GAGNE. WELCOME to Boston guys.

Chantal Forms...More Development Possible Within 36 Hours

Last night, TD 3 was raised in status to a Tropical Storm. T.S. Chantal is rocketing to the northeast and will likely become extra tropical within the coming days. Chantal now has sustained winds of 50 mph.

...CHANTAL STRENGTHENS...BUT HEADED FOR COOLER WATERS...AT 1100 AM EDT...1500Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM CHANTAL WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 40.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 62.7 WEST OR ABOUT 305MILES...495 KM...SOUTH OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA AND ABOUT 660 MILES...1060 KM...SOUTHWEST OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND.

CHANTAL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 29 MPH...46 KM/HR...AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME INCREASE INFORWARD SPEED TODAY AND TONIGHT.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 50 MPH...85KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECASTDURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND CHANTAL COULD LOSE TROPICALCHARACTERISTICS TONIGHT OR ON WEDNESDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES...280 KMFROM THE CENTER.THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 999 MB...29.50 INCHES.REPEATING THE 1100 AM EDT POSITION...40.2 N...62.7 W. MOVEMENTTOWARD...NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 29 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...999 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT500 PM EDT.

The area of disturbed weather shown in the yellow box still is showing some signs of development, possibly within the next 36 hours, but it does not look as good as I thought it may be early this morning. Later this afternoon and evening there will likely be another flare up of storms and we will see if these storms will be able to manage the storm system and aid in further development.

I will try to get out a SNE forecast soon, but I will tell you that we will start to warm up and by late week we will likely be in the 90's.

Tropics Heat Up!

Breaking: TD 3 Forms...Chantal Immenent

Tropical Depression number 3 has just formed out in the Atlantic Ocean. This hurricane season started off quickly with a named storm before the actual start of the hurricane season, but has since cooled off in a big way, leading to a rather "boring" late June and much of July...UNTIL TONIGHT!

This storm is not the only player out there. There is another storm that is close to formation near the Carribean and Windward Islands. If Chantal forms, it will only be an interest to shipping lanes. You can easily see its path from the NWS. Its out there and not a factor in our weather.

In this satellite infared image provided by Accuweather we can see the two disturbed areas of weather in the Atlantic tonight. The one northwest of Bermuda and rocketing to the northeast attatched to an old front that died out over the water is our new Tropical Depression 3. This storm started to get organized yesterday and now has this public information statement from the Hurricane Headquarters out of Miami, FL.

"...TROPICAL DEPRESSION...THIRD CYCLONE OF THE SEASON...FORMS BETWEENBERMUDA AND CAPE COD...AT 1100 PM EDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION THREE WASLOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 36.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 66.0 WEST OR ABOUT 270MILES...435 KM...NORTH-NORTHWEST OF BERMUDA AND ABOUT 445 MILES...710 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CHATHAM MASSACHUSETTS.THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 16 MPH. ATURN TO THE NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTEDOVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/HR...WITH HIGHERGUSTS. THE DEPRESSION COULD BECOME A TROPICAL STORM OVERNIGHTBEFORE BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL BY LATE TOMORROW.ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1007 MB...29.74 INCHES.REPEATING THE 1100 PM EDT POSITION...36.1 N...66.0 W. MOVEMENTTOWARD...NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 16 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1007 MB.THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT500 AM EDT."

The Hurricane Headquarters have also sent our a Public Advisory from earlier in the day.

TROPICAL WAVE IN THE E CARIBBEAN IS TILTED FROM 24N66W ALONG 15N68W TO INLAND OVER SOUTH AMERICA NEAR 5N69W MOVING W NEAR 15 KT. BROAD LOW LEVEL INVERTED-V CURVATURE COVERING THE AREA FROM 62W-75W. ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE MOVING FROM THE LESSER ANTILLES ACROSS THE E CARIBBEAN BUT NO ASSOCIATED DEEP CONVECTION IS NOTED.

Earlier, the NWS was not as concerned with this potential storm system, but looking over the looping satellite images tonight, there is nice flare up of thunderstorms around the center of circulation, which has made it all the way to the surface as a low pressure system. Now if we wake up tomorrow morning and the thunderstorms around the center of its circulation start to fizzle, we probably do not have anything on our hands, at least for the next 48 hours, but if the thunderstorms continue to explode like they are showing tonight, we could have Tropical Depression 4 the day after TD 3. Check back in the morning on both of these systems.

Unusual Canadian Cold?

I usually do not check the maps during the summer, but I don't remember it being so cold in northern Canada during the dog days of summer. It may be totally normal, but that cold seems to stay there throughout the 15 day period, and infact seems to get stronger and more expansive by the end of the forecast period, mid August. Anyone have any knowledge of this...I'm sure it is totally normal, but cool to see the first signs of fall perhaps.

Extended Forecast

A Quiet Unpublicised Boston Heatwave

Interesting to note, Boston offically recorded its second heatwave of the 2007 Summer season today. We have had three consecutive days of 90 degrees or higher. Our last heatwave came at the end of last month and I'm sure there will be more to come. Who would have thought that we would be in the midst of an official heatwave around these parts on Monday when temperatures were in the 60's for afternoon highs! The weather can surely change dramatically around here.

Boston's heatwave stats went like this....

Wednesday's High 90

Thursday's High 92

Friday's High 92

That is an offical heatwave. Where I live in metrowest, I did not see a heatwave. Wednesday I only managed 88 degrees, Thursday I did hit 93 degrees and this afternoon I hit 92 degrees respectively. Tomorrow doesn't look like I will reach 90, likely topping out around 86 tomorrow afternoon, and Boston will likely top out around 85-88 degrees. Then the rain moves in tomorrow overnight and Sunday.

Lots of Rain...But There Will be Sun Too

The QPF for the next 4-5 days looks scary to vacationers. It really isn't though. The next 5 days, SNE stands to see anywhere between 1-3" of rainfall regionwide. It will not rain from tomorrow through Monday, but there will be times when the rain will be coming down in buckets, while other times we have hours upon hours of dry weather with sun too. The wettest day still looks to be Sunday, with numerous showers and thunderstorms and they may continue into the day on Monday as well. Both days look to be on the mostly soggy side, but even on these days, there will likely be dry periods as well. I cannot stress this enough. Although we are entering a wet and unsettled period of weather, there will be times of dry weather. It will not always be raining. The rain may come down heavy enough at times on Sunday and perhaps Monday that there is some brief street flooding. But there will also be times during the same day, possibly within hours when the pavement will be dry and the sun could be shining. So if you have plans for this Sunday or Monday, do not cancel, just have backup plans just in case. If you're having everyone over for an outdoor BBQ on Sunday, plan on having it outdoors, but if the weather turns, make sure its ok if everyone can make it inside. This unsettled weather should taper early next week and we will see the sun again. This last weekend of July, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, will feature lots of rain, but will be warm, in the 80's, so all those outdoor plans should go without a hitch, just a few rain delays.

Showers and Storms this Weekend....Early Next Week

FRIDAY: There will be partly cloudy skies and temperatures will get to between 87-92 degrees. If Boston hits 90, its the second official heatwave of the season. Storms will develop in western New England later in the day and be in western Vermont by 4-8PM. Don't worry about these storms here in eastern New England. Boston's showers and storms will likely hold off until Saturday.

SATURDAY: Showers and thundershowers will be possible, for all of New England with the best chance of showers and thundershowers after 1PM. Some of the storms could have heavy rainfall. Highs will be in the 83-88 range, coolest down on the Cape.

SUNDAY: The wettest day of the next several with heavy rainfall. Highs should get to around 80 in Boston, but temperatures in the 70's will be found along the North Shore and Cape. Rockport, MA may stay in the upper 60's.

Thereafter, the rain showers will likely stay for Monday and Tuesday, too early to say just how widespread or heavy these showers will be. Temperatures throughout the period will likely be in the 80's, just regular summer weather.

Second Heatwave of the Season for Some

We have ourselves at the beginning of our second heatwave here in southern New England. Right now at 12:30PM at Boston, the temperature is sitting at 87 degrees. Barring a seabreeze, Boston will have no trouble hitting 90 this afternoon. We will do it again tomorrow and Friday, but the humidity will get very high tomorrow and Friday and it will feel much more hot than what it feels like right now. Right now the dewpoint is sitting around 60, making it only feel slightly humid. Tomorrow, the dewpoints should get into the mid and upper 60's and by Friday and Saturday, we should get to near oppressive levels, nearing 70 degrees. With the increased humidity, the threat for rain will increase as well. The upper level low that drenched NYC with 2-3" of rain this past Monday will be heading back east, this time loaded with tropical downpours. It will link up with a front coming down from Canada, which will help to wring out all of the moisture in the air. Sunday looks to be the wettest day, but the rain should start as scattered showers and storms on Saturday, mainly in western and northern New England and then migrate east by late day to get eastern New England. Temperatures will be cooler with the rain cooled air, mainly in the mid 70's on Sunday, upper 70's on Monday, but we will not have to deal with the cold air we had on Monday with highs struggling to get out of the mid 60's, very odd for this time of the year.