Category Archives: Rain

NYC Snowstorm Update – Feb 08, 2017

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We’re in for a wild ride over the course of the next 24 hours as our weather goes from possibly record-breaking warmth to what is expected to be the most significant winter storm so far this season. Significant snow accumulations over 6″ and possibly as much as a foot are expected across the region, resulting in a winter storm warning for all of the NYC metro region.

 

Timing

Judging by the amount of sun we’re getting, temperatures will likely hit record-breaking levels in the low-60s in the city today. They will drop steadily to around 50ºF by the evening commute as a cold front pushes through and Arctic air flows in from the north. Overnight, temperatures will continue falling rapidly to around freezing. Precipitation is expected to begin around 3-4AM Thursday here in the city and continue through the early afternoon. Unfortunately, the timing of the heaviest precipitation does look to bring significant impacts to the morning commute.

North American High Resolution simulated radar 1km resolution, tomorrow at 8AM.

 

Impacts

Rain/snow mix to start, but by the morning rush, expecting all snow through the region. Heavy snow at times possibly reaching 1-2″/hr. Some thundersnow could occur. Hazardous travel conditions during the morning rush as plows will have trouble keeping roads clear with traffic and the moderate to heavy snow. Gusty winds could produce near-blizzard conditions with low visibility.

 

Snowfall Totals

Here are some graphics for snowfall totals from our local National Weather Service Forecast office. The general forecast calls for 6″-12″ in the city. The exact extent of totals will depend, as is generally the case with this type of storm, on where the heaviest snow bands set up and for how long they sit over an any given area.

Probabilities for 4″+ and 6″+ of snow respectively

 

Discussion

An shortwave that’s made its way rapidly across the country from the Pacific will move along the cold front that is pushing through today. As it does so, it will spawn a secondary low off the Mid-Atlantic that will strengthen rapidly as it moves over open water. At the same time, plenty of cold air will wrap around the deepening coastal low with high pressure to the west. This will put in place all the ingredients for a classic coastal winter storm for this area. The only thing keeping this storm from being a major blizzard with snowfall totals exceeding 2 feet is the fairly quick pace that it’s expected to move at.

This coastal storm will drive the expected heavy snows tomorrow. Its track is expected to take it just outside the 40ºN 70ºW benchmark, a spot that from a climatological perspective has translated to heavy snow storms for this region.

 

NYC Weather Update – Feb 06, 2017

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The weather story of this week will be some wild temperature swings as we encounter two storm systems Wednesday and Thursday.

Rest of today – mostly sunny to clear skies with high temperatures topping out in the low-40s.

Tuesday – temperatures start to warm up with an approaching warm front. A low pressure system north of us will pull lots of warm, moist air ahead of it as it moves through the region. High temperatures are expected to hit the low-50s with periods of rain throughout the day.

Wednesday – overnight, temperatures will actually rise due to the influence of warm air flowing into the area following the passage of the aforementioned warm front. Rain should end by the morning commute, giving us a chance to break some record high temperatures in the area. High temperatures are expected to range in the upper-50s to the low-60s with any significant breaks of sun.

Thursday – the warmup does not last. As the low pressure system above continues to track northeast across Quebec, a secondary low pressure center will form along a trailing cold front attached to this first low. High temperatures will only be in the low-30s, almost 30ºF cooler than Wednesday. Overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, it should get cold enough for the secondary low pressure center to spark some accumulating snows in the city. Snowfall totals are expected to be light, 1-3″ max in the city.

 

NYC Weekend Weather – Jan 20, 2017

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We get a round of light rain late today and overnight. Temperatures warm up Saturday, then moderate Sunday as a storm system approaches from the southwest. Temperatures will remain above normal as this storm system looks set to bring soaking rains Sunday and Monday.

Rest of today – cloudy, with light rain arriving around 3PM and lasting till about midnight. Temperatures will drop from the mid-40s to low-40s overnight.

Saturday – warm, mostly cloudy, with high temperatures in the mid-50s.

Sunday – chances for rain increase in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy otherwise with a high in the upper-40s.

Monday – a low pressure system will be moving off the shore of North Carolina and Virginia. With this strengthening low and a high pressure center over Quebec, a tightening pressure gradient will build resulting in steady and increasing winds. Rain and wind will be constant on Monday with high temperatures in the mid-40s.

Drought Update

Recent storms have brought beneficial rains and snows to the region, but a drought continues, especially in the downstate area. This next storm should continue to help alleviate the drought here.

NYC Weather Update – Jan 10, 2017

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The latter half of this week will bring welcome relief from a period of below average temperatures. Temperatures will rise well into the 50s by the end of the week. Winter returns for the weekend as temperatures fall back to seasonal levels.

Rest of today – there are some light snow showers far west of the city. Some of this might make it to the city, with a chance for snow and wintry mix and a high around 40ºF.

Wednesday – overnight, temperatures barely drop, while a storm system moves through. A chance of wintery mix transitions to all rain by daybreak. Rain ends by the early morning hours and

Thursday – a second storm system moves through Wednesday night into Thursday, with high temperatures rising well into the mid-50s. Mostly cloudy skies will prevail.

Friday – more clouds than sun, with high temperatures dropping back a bit to about 50ºF.

 

NYC New Year’s Weather – Dec 30, 2016

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A quick update here to give you all the weather for the upcoming New Years’ Eve celebrations this weekend. It should be a good night for festivities on Saturday, with only a slight chance for any precipitation. More substantial rains come Monday, cleansing us of the past year!

Rest of today – some widely scattered light snow showers are possible. Should be a mostly sunny day otherwise. Temperatures will be dropping to around 30ºF in the city overnight.

Saturday (New Year’s Eve) – partly sunny through the day but then mostly cloudy in the overnight hours as a weak storm system approaches from the west. This may bring a glancing shot at some rain showers overnight. High temperatures in the low-40s. Overnight lows should be not too chilly, in the upper-30s.

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Sunday – New Year’s Day should see clouds decreasing, but clouds will increase again overnight as a more vigorous storm system approaches. High temperatures warm up a bit before this frontal boundary passes late on Monday, should top out in the mid-40s.

Monday – chance of a rain/snow mix in the city early in the day as temperatures will be cold enough, but this should transition to all rain by the afternoon hours with high temperatures in the mid-40s again.

NYC Christmas Weekend Weather – Dec 23, 2016

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Temperatures for this forecast period will remain consistently 5-8°F above normal for this time of year. That sadly means no white Christmas for us around here. On the other hand, with the exception of Saturday, we are expecting mostly sunny skies.

Rest of today – sunny, with a high in the upper-40s. Increasing cloudiness late with an approaching storm system.

Saturday – about the same temperature as today, but with widespread rain transitioning to scattered showers and mostly cloudy skies later in the day.

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Sunday (Christmas Day) – a few degrees cooler in the wake of the frontal system passing Saturday. High temperatures expected to be in the mid-40s with mostly sunny skies.

Monday – slight chances for rain in the afternoon and overnight, otherwise mostly sunny with a high in the upper-40s.

Drought Update

Drought conditions persist throughout much of Eastern New York State, but slight improvements have occurred the last few weeks with an increase in precipitation. Monthly and seasonal outlooks from the Climate Prediction Center now call for persistence but improvement in the worst hit areas.

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NYC Weather Update – Dec 19, 2016

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We leave behind wild temperature swings that occurred the last few days as high pressure maintains steady and sunny conditions for most of this week. High temperatures should run just a few degrees above average, with some chance for passing showers on Thursday.

Rest of today – cold with below average high temperatures in the low-30s.

Tuesday – slightly warmer, but still below average with high temperatures in the upper-30s.

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Wednesday – warmer with high temperatures in the mid-40s.

Thursday – a chance for showers as a weak storm system passes by, with a high again in the mid-40s and mostly cloudy skies.

NYC Weather Update – Nov 29, 2016

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It’s the tale of two very different weather regimes this week. Starting the week, we have mild, rainy conditions accompanying a couple storm systems. This rain is still desperately needed as a drought continues to grip the area. Later in the week, things dry out, but temperatures also move in a downward trend back below normal.

Rest of today – mild with a high temperature near 60°F, rainy, with rain moderate to heavy at times. Rain tapering off by about 7PM this evening.

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Wednesdaay – a complex set of of frontal boundaries move through the area tomorrow in association with a low pressure developing over the Great Lakes. In terms of sensible weather, expect a brief pause from the rain early Wednesday, but another round of overrunning rain that could then lead to a line of stronger storms with gusty winds late in the day as the cold front pictured below pushes through. Mostly cloudy with high temperatures again around 60°F.

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Thursday – becoming sunny with high temperatures still holding up in the upper-50s.

Friday – cooler with high temperatures dropping to around normal in the low-50s with sun and clouds.

Drought Still Not Abating

Despite plenty of rain recently, large deficits built up from earlier in the year are still hard to beat, with many areas still in a moderate to severe drought in the NYC region.

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NYC Thanksgiving Weather Update – Nov 22, 2016

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Winds finally abate after today. Temperatures rebound later this week, but remain below normal for the forecast period. There is a chance for rain on Thanksgiving Day, as well as Friday. Looking ahead into the first week of December, there could be a couple storms rolling our way.

Today – sunny, less windy, but still cold with temperatures again only in the low-40s. A good day for travel.

Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) – cloudy, warmer with a high near 50°F. There is a chance for rain, but that the timing of the rain favors the afternoon after the parade ends. What rain there might be will be light. Winds also will be light, so those balloons at the Macy’s Day Parade should have no problems.

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Friday – rain chances persist, along with temperatures warming to near normal in the low-50s as warmer air flows in ahead of a cold front from the southwest.

Saturday – the frontal system affecting the area Thursday and Friday finally will clear the area. Showers may pop off early, but the skies should slowly clear as temperatures remain around normal in the low-50s.

NYC Weekend Weather – Nov 18, 2016

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An extended period of well above normal temperatures comes to an abrupt end this weekend as a strong cold front pushes through overnight Saturday into Sunday. On the back side of this frontal boundary, temperatures will average around 15ºF lower than we’ve seen this week. If you like it mild, go out and enjoy this weather before Saturday!

Rest of today – sunny and mild with high temperatures in the low-60s.

Saturday – another mild day on tap with lots of sun and a high around 60ºF. Chances for rain increase into the overnight hours, at this point peaking around midnight. Winds will pick up first from the southeast ahead of the cold front, then to the west. Sustained winds of 15-20mph with gusts over 30mph are possible.
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Sunday – rain chances taper off but winds remain in the 20-30mph with strong gusts up to 40mph. High temperatures will be significantly colder than we’ve gotten used to and below normal in the mid-40s. A tight pressure gradient sets up between the departing low and a high pressure center to the southwest, blasting us with cold Canadian air as a result.

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Monday – clouds diminishing gradually, winds still pretty breezy, and a high only in the low-40s.