wx_observer

Why are so many winter storm warnings still up in MA?  It doesn’t seem like the forecast meets criteria.

Closings list is pretty long, for the day before anyway:

https://www.wcvb.com/weather/closings

22 minutes ago, powderfreak said:

What a crush job on the EURO.

 

A lot of QPF there in that area south of the snowfall line.  Doesn't matter if its sleet or freezing rain, it's not going to be pretty if that pans out.

1 minute ago, IowaStorm05 said:

Snowstorms are relatively safe enough to enjoy and feel good about. The casualties of major ice storms make them profoundly unwanted, if not tragic, as immediate effects to humans. Though I gather that ice storms actually act as some sort of cleansing and processing of deciduous ecosystems.

That 2008 storm did take down a lot of the weaker trees, for sure.  That was right around when the longhorn beetle showed up in MA—wonder if that storm slowed down or sped up the spread of the beetle with all the downed trees that got moved around.

20 minutes ago, RUNNAWAYICEBERG said:

Upton thinking advisory level ice is possible for their northern zones. Far from the ice storm warnings a select few are wishing for. 

No thanks on the ice storm warnings.  Would rather one of those fish falling from the sky events than an ice storm.  That one we had in 2008 was the last one of those I ever need to see…in a lifetime.

At least you can make snow cones with sleet…right?

1 hour ago, TauntonBlizzard2013 said:

Wonder if we see closures Friday?

School closures, probably.  I’m l ready hearing that it is expected to be a snow day. 

Harvey just mentioned about 1-3” sleet.  Better than getting it as all ice I guess…

11 minutes ago, Ginx snewx said:

This is pretty epic in itself for ORH

We're getting the best snow of the day right now

RadarScope just gave that band a storm cell...

Radar disintegrating  a lot since 5pm, between that dry slot, and the western edge of precipitation collapsing.  Enjoying that final band of heavier snow coming down in central MA.  What a rapid wind down, unless I'm missing something.

2 minutes ago, IowaStorm05 said:

The wind must do something bad to the snow, or snow growth because for how low this total is. It just seems like such a low amount for how good it snowed and how long it snowed

If it is any consolation, I was thinking this too.  I feel like I saw way more snow fall than what verified on the ground.  

That band threading the needle between 495 and 290 is picking up intensity…looks like the most potent band over land right now

2 minutes ago, burann said:

My In-laws just checked in with this from Taunton, MA 

This storm may have underwhelmed to the west, but with pics like that…it’s an epic storm regardless.

11 minutes ago, J Paul Gordon said:

We're neighbors. My street dead ends on the park, off Lincoln on one of our near vertical hills.

I’m a bit northwest, near Holden…Worcester has its fair share of near vertical hills for sure 

3 minutes ago, J Paul Gordon said:

Coming down harder now, flake seem a bit larger. Visibility is about 1/4 mile. Its been low all day but the flakes have been microscopic. Still a good 10 - 12 by the end, maybe a bit more. My front steps and walk were obliterated ( 3 ft + drifts) while the other side of the house is just a couple of inches.

I’m not far from green hill…same thing here.  Bigger flakes, low visibility, but less wind.  The flakes are finally falling more vertical than horizontal.

6 minutes ago, ORH_wxman said:

Is their an objective standard for “frequent”? 
 

I used to just look to see if it gusted to 35 each hour but not sure if there is a more stringent standard. 

If it’s gusts at least 35 mph each hour, Worcester would verify between 7:54 am - 3:54 pm. (Airport)

https://w1.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KORH.html

Do gusts count, or does it need to be 35 mph sustained winds to meet blizzard criteria?

Riddle me this—why reduce the speeds on the turnpike from NY border to Framingham, but not east of there?  Seems like the worst weather is east of there.

Radar is looking better in central ma—it looks like that gap between the bands just west of Worcester and at 495 is filling in.

Not sure if this was already posted—but 1:17 pm update still not backing down on totals

57 minutes ago, apm said:

Look at the size of this "dry slot"  

This is a pretty neat sat image…for both the double low, and the rippling of clouds between them. Will be interesting to see how that area evolves in the next few hours.

1 minute ago, MuddyWx said:

ORH right on the edge of one of those heavier bands—winds are picking up ahead of it.  Hopefully keeps westward pivot!

4 minutes ago, CoastalWx said:

Even for here this wind blown issue is bad. This is impossible to measure.

Same in Worcester.  I just went to the garage and had bare ground to 6” within a few steps of each other.

Not seeing updated maps yet from BOX.  Sounds like they pushed higher totals further west though.

Super-fine powder in Worcester…about an inch so far.  I was really hoping to wake up to that orangey looking night sky that happens when the light pollution from the city illuminates the clouds during storms like this, but no dice so far.  Nice band showing up on radar backing in towards I-90 / I-395.

Hopefully we can now collectively move past the angst of model rollercoasters and sit back and enjoy what looks to be a satisfying storm for most of the region!  A few weeks ago most of us would have been giddy at 6“ 

Happy blizzard day!