All posts by Lei Zhao

NYC Weather Update – Apr 24, 2017

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Today through mid-week, we will see mostly cloudy weather, along with soaking rains Tuesday which will also feature temperatures much below normal. Later in the week and into the weekend, we will see a warm up into summer-like weather that should last into the weekend as well. A Bermuda high sets up, a pattern more typical of late June. I will be in Cuba until May 2nd so this will be my last update for the next week at a minimum.

Rest of today – cloudy, high temperatures in the low-60s. Rain developing late and into the overnight Tuesday.

Tuesday – soaking and steady rainfall accompanying a slow moving coastal storm looks set to impact the area for the entirety of Tuesday. Along with this rain, a raw east to northeast wind will make the high temperatures in the low-50s feel even chillier.

Wednesday – showers may linger as Tuesday’s storm slowly pulls away to the east. Temperatures rebound nicely into the mid-60s, could go a touch warmer if clouds break up a bit.

Thursday – a warming trend begins on Thursday with temperatures climbing into the low-70s and mostly sunny skies.

NYC Weekend Weather – Apr 21, 2017

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A cool and dreary end of the week leads into a continued stretch of slightly below average temperatures for the weekend. Temperatures remain on the cool side with chances for rain to start next week before a warm up in the second half of next week. Far off in the Central Atlantic, a rare April tropical storm (Arlene) has formed.

Rest of today – rains moved through overnight and lingering showers this morning should end within the next couple hours. Cloudy with high temperatures only in the upper-50s to around 60°F.

Saturday – despite winds turning to the north with high pressure moving in from the west, temperatures should still rebound into the low-60s. Partly to mostly cloudy skies.

Sunday – mostly cloudy to overcast with temperatures hovering around 60°F.

Monday – the next chance for rain comes in along with a developing coastal low that lingers through Tuesday. Timing of this coastal storm remains somewhat uncertain, so it could end up being somewhat of a pest early next week.

 

Rare April Tropical Storm
We’re still 2 full months off from the official start of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, which makes the formation of the first named storm of the season even more of a meteorological oddity. Tropical Storm Arlene will spend its life churning up the waters of the Central Atlantic without any impacts on land. It’s still worth noting that this is only the second time since the dawn of the satellite era that a tropical storm has been detected in April.

TS Arlene is the tight circulation located at around 50° W, 40° N

NYC Weather Update – Apr 17, 2017

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The incredible run of summer-like weather we’ve enjoyed the last week comes to a close as a more seasonable weather pattern takes hold this week. Temperatures will range from average to slightly below average and we’ll see a chance for rain late this week.

Tuesday – mostly clear skies with high temperatures in the upper-50s, possibly reaching into the low-60s. An easterly onshore breeze induced by a high pressure center to the northeast will bring cooler these cooler temperatures.

Wednesday – cooler day on tap with increasing clouds and high temperatures in the low-50s.

Thursday – chances for showers as a warm front then cold front push through from Thursday into Friday. High temperatures a bit warmer in the low-60s before the cold front passes.

Friday – chance of rain diminishing through the day with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures again in the low-60s.

 

Drought Over, Cooler, Wet Pattern in Store

With bountiful spring rains recently and that late winter snow storm, we’ve fully recovered from drought conditions across almost the entirety of the state with the exception of parts of the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

Multiple rounds of storms are expected to favor a cooler and wetter medium term outlook.

NYC Easter Weekend Weather – Apr 14, 2017

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The weekend ahead brings some of the warmest temperatures yet for the spring season as a summer-like weather pattern takes shape. The warm up will be short-lived, by Tuesday temperatures will be taking a dip below normal in the upper-50s.

Rest of today – mild, partly cloudy, with high temperatures in the mid-60s.

Saturday – increasing clouds, temperatures cooler in the low-60s.

Sunday (Easter) – very warm, high temperatures in the low-80s. Fog early, sunny otherwise, but with a chance for strong thunderstorms late in the day. A warm front will push through overnight Saturday, and a Bermuda high will take hold. This will lead to very warm air surging from the southwest and the Gulf of Mexico into this region.

Monday – not quite as warm as Sunday, but still quite nice with high temperatures in low-70s and mostly sunny skies.

NYC Weekend Weather – Apr 7, 2017

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After a week of alternating days of wet and windy weather, we look ahead to improving conditions over the weekend and leading into next week. Sunny days with temperatures averaging anywhere between 5-10ºF above normal are right around the corner.

Rest of today – one of the last days of cooler than average weather we’ll see for a while. Temperatures hover in the low-50s with mostly cloudy skies. There is a chance for a passing shower with instability and moisture in the atmosphere from the backside of yesterday’s storm exiting east.

Saturday – skies clear, though temperatures remain below normal with high temperatures in the low-50s.

Sunday – a warm up begins as high pressure builds to the south of us. Clockwise flow around this high pressure brings warmer air in from the southwest. Temperatures warm into the mid-60s with sunny skies.

Monday – superb conditions for the Yankee’s home opener with sunny skies and high temperatures in the upper-60s to about 70ºF and sunny skies.

 

 

Drought Busted

The many rounds of rain we’ve seen over the course of the last couple weeks have finally busted the remaining drought conditions in the city itself and Long Island, just in time for the start of the growing season. Moderate drought still persists further north in the Hudson Valley.

NYC Weather Update – Apr 3, 2017

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wwwThe first week of April kicks off with multiple rounds of rain. Two separate storms are expected to bring drenching rains on Tuesday and Thursday. There may be some minor flooding concerns with 1″ of rain possible out of each system, on top of the rains we received last week.

Rest of today – cloudy, mild, with high temperatures in the upper-50s. Not a bad day for the Mets season opener.

Tuesday – late Monday, rain starts moving in ahead of an advancing warm front. Rain should begin around 10PM this evening and pick up in intensity overnight. Some thunderstorms are possible. Rain continues through most of the work day Tuesday, with some heavy rain possible. Mild again with high temperatures in the upper-50s.

Wednesday – brief respite between two storm systems, a gem of a spring day with high temperatures in the low-60s and mostly sunny to clear skies.

Thursday – temperatures cool off into the low-50s as the second storm system of the week impacts us and brings us yet another round of moderate to heavy rains.

 

NYC Weekend Weather – Mar 31, 2017

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March ends on rainy note. It’s been a cooler and wetter month than average, after a much warmer February. The snow and rain has made significant positive impacts on the drought in this region. We get one good day this weekend, before more rain moves in to start the first week of April.

Rest of today – overcast, periods of rain, heavy at times due to a slow moving low pressure center. The heavier rains look to come later this evening into the overnight hours. Easterly and northeasterly winds will make it feel cooler than the high of around 40ºF.

Saturday – due to the slow pace of this storm, rain is still likely to be falling early tomorrow. High temperatures will remain well below normal due to the continued onshore easterly winds and cloud cover, only reaching the mid-40s.

Sunday – with the low pressure center finally exiting east, we should see dramatically improved conditions with highs rebounding to normal levels in the mid-50s and lots of sunshine.

Monday – starts off similar to Sunday with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s. Conditions deteriorate later in the day as the next storm system starts moving in.

 

Average Temperatures, Above Average Precipitation to Start April

Due to the influence of several storm systems forecast to impact the area, we’re expecting normal temperatures and above average precipitation to start the month off.

NYC Weather Update – Mar 27, 2017

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Active weather pattern to start the week brings us multiple chances for rain. Things settle down mid-week, but another chance for rain comes up late week and into the weekend. Beneficial rains and the snow from the last Nor’easter has put a significant dent in drought conditions area wide. It looks like we’ve turned the corner legitimately towards spring with average to above-average temperatures expected for the foreseeable future.

Rest of today – rain tapering off by the early afternoon. Some clearing possible later. High temperatures in the mid-upper 50s.

Tuesday – mild, high temperatures around 60°F, slight chance for rain lingers throughout the day with a cold front approaching from the west.

Wednesday – rain is likely overnight Tuesday into Wednesday as this cold front moves through. On Wendesday itself, after the cold front pushes through, gradual improvement in weather conditions is expected with clouds breaking and a high in the mid-upper 50s.

Thursday – best day out of the week with high temperatures right around average in the low-50s and plenty of sunshine.

 

Temperature, Precipitation Trends and Drought Update

Over the course of the next week to week and a half, we’re expected to see average to slightly above average temperatures along with slightly above average rainfall. This bodes well for the overall drought situation which has seen marked improvement since the region received significant snowfall from the last Nor’easter and winter storm.

NYC Blizzard Update #2 – Mar 13, 2017

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The track of the imminent nor’easter and blizzard has continue to trend west of earlier model runs. This has introduced increasing uncertainty as to overall snowfall totals along the immediate coastal areas along with possible wintry mix/freezing rain. On the other hand, confidence is increasing in heavy snow for areas north and west of the city, with snowfall totals 18″+ looking likely.

Impacts – heavy snow north and west of the city, snowfall accumulations in the interior 16-20″+ looking likely. Sharp gradient in the heaviest snowfall totals approaching the coast where wintry mix, freezing rain, and even plain rain could mix in during the early afternoon Tuesday. The exact location of the extent of warm air intrusion off the ocean will ultimately determine the difference between routine totals over 1 foot and areas that receive much lower snowfall totals. The difference in some cases could be a matter of mere miles. This line could fall in and around NYC itself. Still expecting a period of blizzard or near blizzard conditions for NYC during the course of this storm even if a transition to mixed precipitation does occur. Snowfall totals could still pile up close to a foot or over prior to this transition. The possibility of freezing rain and ice introduces an additional hazard on the roads and when coupled with strong winds of 30-35mph and gusts 45mph+ could result in power outages.

Timing – light snow should begin to fall early into the overnight hours, progressively growing in intensity. In the city, overnight accumulations of 3-6″ possible, with a sharp increase in totals north and west. Heavy snow with sleet and wintry mix during the morning and early afternoon in the city, all snow in points north and west. Blowing and drifting snow with blizzard conditions possible. Snow begins to wind down during the evening hours.

Caveats – any further movement of the storm track west would result in drastically lower snowfall totals for NYC and points east along the coast. Correspondingly, an eastward shift of the storm track would put NYC itself squarely in the bullseye for the heaviest snows.

NYC Blizzard Update – Mar 13, 2017

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Classic major nor’easter to bring blizzard conditions to a large swath of the Northeast Tuesday just days from the official start of spring. Areas in and around NYC likely to see snowfall accumulations of over 1 foot, locally higher. This may end up being one of the biggest snowstorms/blizzards in history for the month of March in NYC.

Rest of today – the proverbial calm before the storm. Mostly sunny, cold, with high temperatures in the low-30s.

Tuesday – a major late season nor’easter will bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions to the area. Blizzard warning in effect for the entirety of Tuesday. Snow starts falling overnight into Tuesday. Heaviest snows forecast to begin around the morning rush and continue through most of the day. Blizzard conditions expected on the coast with steady north to northeast winds 30-35mph and gusts over 45mph. Visibility near zero at times. High temperatures at or below freezing. Widespread accumulations over 1 foot and approaching or exceeding 18″ expected around the NYC metro area. Details on the storm at the end of this post.

Wednesday – lingering chance for snow showers early with wrap around moisture on the backside of the departing nor’easter. Mostly cloudy with a high near freezing.

Thursday – skies clearing, high temperatures in the low-mid 30s.

 

Major Blizzard to Impact the NYC Region

Winter Storm Stella, as the Weather Channel refers to it, is set to bring widespread heavy snow to the area beginning overnight Monday and continuing throughout the day Tuesday.

Impacts – Snow accumulations over 1 foot, in many cases approaching 18″. Locally higher amounts, with some areas possibly approaching 2 feet. Heavy snow and blowing snow during the day Tuesday. Snowfall rates 2-4″ per hour and possibly higher in the heaviest snow bands possible. Thundersnow may accompany the strongest snow bands. Blowing and drifting snow with steady northeast winds 30-35mph and gusts 45-50mph will contribute to blizzard conditions with near zero visibility at times. East and northeast facing shorelines may experience moderate coastal flooding during high tide cycles. Heavy, wet snow at the coast combined with high winds may lead to power outages. Hazardous travel conditions, severe disruptions to aviation likely. High confidence in storm total snowfall at this point, but there is still uncertainty about whether and where mixing could occur.

Timing – Snow begins early in the overnight hours Tuesday. Light accumulations of 2-4″ possible by daybreak. Heavy snow likely beginning during the morning rush hour and continuing through most of the work day, as well as into the evening rush hour. Winds quickly intensifying from the morning and staying steady through the evening hours. Heaviest snow tapers off in the early evening hours, but snow showers could continue overnight. Winds remain strong overnight into Wednesday. Conditions improve going into the morning Wednesday.

Discussion – an area of low pressure that had its origins in the Pacific has made its way across the northern US, impacting the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with snow. This storm system will phase with a secondary, coastal low pressure system that is currently moving up the coast from the Southeast. As these storms merge, the coastal low will undergo rapid intensification and cyclogenesis, becoming a strong Nor’easter. This storm will be drawing on subtropical moisture, and will encounter an airmass that will be quite cold due to the presence of an Arctic high pressure system prior to the storm’s passage. These ingredients will set the stage for a classic major blizzard for the Northeast late in the winter season, only days from spring.

As always, uncertainty remains about the exact location of the heaviest snow bands with this storm. Areas that are impacted by these bands can easily rack up several more inches than surrounding areas that are spared. The storm is expected to track west of the 40°N/70°W benchmark. However, during the last model runs, the storm track has trended north and west, increasing the chances for the city itself to see the heaviest snow, in addition to areas north and west. If this track shifts west some more, warmer air off the ocean wrapping into the core of the storm from the south could induce mixed precipitation with rain cutting down on totals in the city and Long Island. If the track shifts east, heavier snow would fall over points east of the city.