It was a Saturday, 12:15 pm March 29, 1997 up at UML. Over the previous hour I had been looking over weather charts from Unisys internet site; the ECMWF and the MRF 12Z runs were updating ever couple of frantic mouse click moments. Over my shoulder, up upon the WX Lab monitor, the temperature read 63.3F ... despite what those model presentations were telling me.
I recalled in the moment how an early week broadcast, Harvey Leonard was did his 20 second synoptic rundown before he gave us the numbers. He spoke in deference to "...A strong disturbance... closing off as it is crossing New York State.." He waved his hand in a rotational gesture and added, "...Should this vigorous feature manage to pass under Long Island, we'll be watching this for having much more important implications..." - may not have been his exact words, but after 30 years, that was in principle. I remember in that moment I sat there looking at those charts ... 'Yeah, that's exactly what these models are doing, now.'
Moments later I walked across the University Ave bridge that spans the Merrimack in some of the most utopia sun drenched spring conditions physically make-able on planet Earth. It shown intensely through a random smattering of picturesque fair weather cumulus, leaning their shallow turrets south like the tipping masts of dinghy race. That sky and those clouds in no way shape or form inspired what would transpire a mere two days from now. Lawns were already well green. And bumble bee bobbed temporarily by like something out of Disney.
I thought about just how non suspectingly oblivious everything about that reality, and the scene within it, were.
This dichotomous memory came back to me as I stood in under that sun during lunch ... though there is no storm like that coming, just the idea that it was that way it was, outside, just yesterday, and now it is 51 here with steaming streets under fervent spring sun, and knowing that 4.5" of snow followed by more glaze is due on deck ... it's amazing how we do this revolving door seasonality in spring around here.
