radarman

Segment lifting north of Enfield into Agawam, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham looks strong atm.

The hail core was quite well defined as it crossed the river.  Held together and tracked straight overhead here in Btown and then to Quabbin.

Slammed with half inch hail... Nuts!

The high res nammy sends a cold front through the Berks around 5pm tomorrow.  By then it's probably pinging more than accreting, but the wind shift could bring down a few.

1 hour ago, PowderBeard said:

I have zero knowledge on ice storms but found this very easy to comprehend. Interesting conclusions on the lower dew points, and falling at night increasing accretion. 

 

https://www.weather.gov/media/box/science/December_2008_Ice_Storm.pdf

Thanks, it is a nice writeup.  As an eyewitness I disagree with their comments about the east slope and the berks.  It was catastrophic there, for sure the equal to pics from N ORH county, albeit with the worst accretion slightly higher up in elevation. (Esp over ~1200')   Single most impactful weather event I've ever observed for sure in parts of Ashfield/Goshen/etc..  Crushed.

Even at Umass there was a significant electrical disturbance and dirty power.  The MA1 radar held up valiantly for a while and we observed strong echoes out on the east slope, pouring, but the UPS batteries only last an hour or two.

Berkshire East was exceptionally pleasant, April-esque, sweet cord softening as we go, sunny and beautiful.  Lovely day to be outside in the snow.

4 minutes ago, CoastalWx said:

What did you get in the biggie back early month? 

24", which was really 7.5, 15.5, and an inch total in between and the day after.

FWIW, these are the only months on record over 30" in the Amherst Coop dataset

Just now, ORH_wxman said:

Oh, I thought you were up the hill a bit from Amherst in Belchertown/Pelham area. So that would have been a higher threshold....30" in Amherst in the valley could def be a record.

I'm at 540', but Belchertown rises sharply headed toward Pelham which is over 1k'.   Climatologically speaking we behave a little more like the valley I'd say... Amherst also has some latitude on me, and as we know this area is often close to the pinger battlezone where a little bit helps (like on Tuesday for example).  I'd say the extra 300' buys us maybe 5 inches more annual snow, and the longitude occasionally helps in coastals too.

14 minutes ago, ORH_wxman said:

I'd bet that Dec 1945, 1947, 1969, 1970 all give this year a run for its money and likely a couple of them exceed this year. A couple of those were prob over 30" out there.

just pulled the Amherst Coop data... For those Decembers you mention they report 18.8, 17.6, 24.2, and 26.6 respectively.  Granted the Amherst Coop hasn't done quite as well as MBY this year, so that 1970 number might edge it out at present, or is close.  (edit- always the possibility of missing data, but no indication thereof)

1 minute ago, ORH_wxman said:

How much do you have so far?

Not to be a nitpicker....but I'd bet that Dec 1945, 1947, 1969, 1970 all give this year a run for its money and likely a couple of them exceed this year. A couple of those were prob over 30" out there.

30"

1 hour ago, HIPPYVALLEY said:

 I haven’t looked back to 2008 and 2009 but this might be best December in Greenfield since we moved here in 2007.

Almost certainly the snowiest Dec evah down this way.  Better than 07 and 08 for sure and nothing since has compared.  IIRC we got like 19" in the back to back storms in 08. 

3 hours ago, HIPPYVALLEY said:

Berkshire East reporting no new snow and light rain.  

 I am a little surprised they got no snow at their elevation? 

I frickin love the place, but they are horrible at the internet.  Just glad they installed a webcam, which actually updates from time to time.

2 hours ago, w1pf said:

just a dusting here in Amherst.

2 hours ago, Damage In Tolland said:

There’s your jack 

MASSACHUSETTS

...Hampden County...
   Brimfield              6.0   635 AM 12/11  Broadcast Media
   Palmer                 5.0   626 AM 12/11  Broadcast Media
   Monson                 5.0   625 AM 12/11  Broadcast Media

1 hour ago, HIPPYVALLEY said:

Pretty insane gradient if you had 2.5” and Northampton had trace. 

2.5" in Btown, wedged in between the apparent jack one town south and the dusting on the valley floor at UMass.

18 minutes ago, PowderBeard said:

Can see everything crystal clear. Wow.  Is Mount Toby in second because the 29' is fire tower? lol

As an aside Mt Lincoln often has a nice little skin track up  

this was from 1/7/18

Cool orographic effect of the Pelham hills noted in the hydrometeors.  The apparently blank spots in the image are the hills, ground clutter filtered at 2 degrees tilt.  Mt Lincoln is the highest point at 1240'.

(May have to click to animate)

1 hour ago, LongBeachSurfFreak said:

Great conditions today at Stratton with that mid winter vibe. The 20” earlier in the week and 4” yesterday have the place cruising. Even with the hit this week there will still be plenty of snow left 

Same at Berkshire east.  Winter cord and PP.  Nothing scratchy.  Many natural trails officially open and well covered.    Quality skiing.

34/24 and OVC all day.  Not too drippy.

3 minutes ago, HoarfrostHubb said:

Looked awesome though 

Not much compaction either. Still 20-22" OTG and fluffy in the shadier spots

23 minutes ago, geo1 said:

Even east coast! But either way the biggest December storm pre 12-15 I can remember in MA

12/03 might be more widespread, though certainly not as good out here.  Others further east can weigh in better than I no doubt.

4 minutes ago, HoarfrostHubb said:

Maybe our biggest since 2001?   October 2011 gave me 22” in one day.  

Jan 2011 was more here.  Feb 2013 was on par.  Then you'd have to go back to Feb 01.  Wow, what company.

6 minutes ago, Damage In Tolland said:

Best 5" ever

(Settled depth on grass)

39 minutes ago, PowderBeard said:

Belchertown

 

 

 

Sweet man that is awesome.  Buried here too.

A little over 3" new since 3pm

The Beast can be as open as they want to be.  Heck of a way to start the season.  Meaty powder, and now here comes the light stuff.

19 minutes ago, Ginx snewx said:

Pete at the beast from Eric

fwiw, that one isn't mine/ not us

But folks get the picture... Basically straight to 98% open.  Heavy stuff skied in today, light stuff this afternoon and tonight and they're set up.  Tomorrow should be great.