Friday January 12 2024 Forecast (7:29AM)

DAYS 1-5 (JANUARY 12-16)

While folks are driven to look past the upcoming storm at a potential that guidance can’t get a good handle on, just because there are snowflakes involved, it’s important to not lose focus on the fact we have another significant storm just hours away from arriving here, and prolonging issues created by the previous one. If there’s some good news, it’s that the overall impact of this one may and should end up somewhat less than its predecessor, but with astronomically higher tides than the last one, it’s not going to take much to put water back into places that saw it a few days ago – Hampton Beach NH, for one example, and other locations as well. This will be taking place during Saturday’s midday high tide cycle, but of course the impacts can begin hours before high tide when winds are strongest from the southeast with the event. Timing-wise, rain/wind will be most prominent in the overnight hours from late tonight to around sunrise Saturday, but with the storm still passing by and some decent wind, we can’t ignore the coastal flooding potential from the high tide that comes a bit later. Rainfall potential and wind potential are a little lower (about 1 or 2 inches lower and about 10 to 20 MPH lower, respectively, than the previous event), but still enough to cause additional issues – street flooding, stream and river flooding, and pockets of wind damage and resultant power outages. The low that causes all this takes a track somewhat similar to the last one. With the air a little less cold than before the last storm, any snow that occurs at the very start of the precipitation tonight will be brief and confined to highest elevations of north central MA and southwestern NH, but also comes at a time when it would not impact heavier vehicular travel – late at night – whereas the last one showed up during the Tuesday evening commute.

Moving on from the storm, as we go through the holiday weekend we’ll be introduced to a new weather pattern – a colder one. You’ll notice it with a colder trend, not so much Saturday, but later Sunday and Monday. During Sunday, a front has to cross the region and may produce a shower of rain, mix, or snow, depending on location and timing, so we’ll have to keep an eye on that. MLK Jr Day on Monday looks dry but with below normal temperatures. We then turn our attention to the next storm threat, which guidance waffles around with this far in advance, and that’s not unusual. The pattern supports a good shot at some snow here arriving on Tuesday. The magnitude and details of this potential need to be brought into focus, and can be done so over the coming few days.

TODAY: Patchy clouds but plenty of sun during the morning. Increasing clouds this afternoon. Highs 40-47. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Cloudy. Rain arrives midnight and after from southwest to northeast, may start as snow north and west of Boston. Lows 33-40 early, rising overnight. Wind E-SE 5-15 MPH evening, SE 15-35 MPH with gusts above 40 MPH inland and above 50 MPH coast overnight, strongest toward dawn.

SATURDAY: Cloudy through mid morning with rain ending southwest to northeast. Variably cloudy remainder of day – passing rain shower possible. Highs 48-55. Wind SE shifting to SW 15-35 MPH with higher gusts, especially early.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 25-32. Wind W 15-25 MPH.

SUNDAY: Partly sunny. A rain or snow shower possible in the afternoon Highs 35-42. Wind W 15-25 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY (MLK JR DAY): Mostly sunny. Highs 28-35. Wind N up to 10 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 16-23. Wind N-NE up to 10 MPH.

TUESDAY: Cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs 25-32. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (JANUARY 17-21)

Early snow chance January 17. Another storm threat late January 19 to January 20 window. Much TBD regarding the later-period threat, but overall pattern as both active and colder.

DAYS 11-15 (JANUARY 22-26)

One or two opportunities for passing storms to deliver precipitation as the pattern remains active, but also remains colder. This continues the opportunities for additional snowfall.

253 thoughts on “Friday January 12 2024 Forecast (7:29AM)”

  1. Thanks TK !

    Great discussion !

    Even the models that give us precip Tuesday don’t have an agreed upon scenario.

          1. yup, and that is the difference, but why is the euro so flat?
            why why why
            could it alone be correct?

            if so, Wankum will come out looking like a wizard!!!!!

  2. Good morning and thank you TK.

    I really don’t care about tonight as I am expecting minimal impsct in my area.

    My concern is Tuesday…
    6z gds offers big hit, whike the 0, cmc, oz ukmet and 6z icon all have a sizeable storm moving up over us a bit inside for snow to rain. all of this while the 0z euro still insists on an off shore pass for nothing. emsemble mean is off shore as well, although a few members are close.

    What is up with thst???????

      1. Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. And I know you didn’t ask me. 🙂

        Waiting on 12Z runs. This is fun!

  3. Good to see lighter rain and wind impact tonight. Also miss the added kicker of snowmelt. Stream down the street had whitecaps the other day. Thanks TK.

  4. I’m not sure if everyone saw the Nubble light photos a reader posted late last night. I didn’t until this am. They are stunning. Thank you Bill. Please keep posting here.

      1. I think Mike Vrabel would have been a mistake. He would be too much like BB. Just my opinion and I am no football expert. 🙂

        I think Mayo might be exactly what this team needs. We’ll find out soon enough.

        1. Oddly I was thinking Mayo might have too much bill in him. Who knows. We sure will see but either way I’ll be happy to watch again

          1. Hmmm, I really don’t think Mayo has too much Bill in him. I think he would relate to the younger players
            MUCH better than BB ever could. Just my opinion of course. We shall see.

  5. I’ve thought a lot lately about how WHW has become a family. We share the same passion for weather. We are here daily posting mostly weather, but we also share our ups and our downs. As much as there can be disagreement about weather outcomes, there is always immediate and complete support for anyone struggling.

    Thank you papa TK for bringing this family together. Thank you to everyone who posts daily, seasonally or just reads❤️

    P.S. For folks who just read, please join us. I promise you will be welcome and we can behave…mostly.

  6. Btw, Pete was pretty confident in a rather large snow event
    for Tuesday. His words: 6 inches or more. 🙂

      1. He didn’t toss a number on it. In his opinion it would be a sizeable storm of 6 inches or more. He didn’t say 6-12
        or 8-12 or 8-16, Simply stated 6 inches or more.

        I have no problem with that. He was just indicating that
        he thought the storm would be substantial and used 6 inches or more to hammer that point home.

        Pete is EXCELLENT!!!

          1. The 12Z runs can’t come out fast enough.

            I really can’t tell too much from the NAM at 84 hours, except that it is somewhat similar to the 6Z GFS.

            We shall see.

          2. True Hadi, has to work both ways.

            Mike was allowed to trend towards miss, conversely, someone who thinks hit can put out an early first guess on snow projections.

  7. Working on positives …I was looking for an email discussion I had with Pete many years ago. I didn’t find what I wanted but came across this.

    Pete had missed a forecast. As I recall, he was not alone. But in Pete fashion he was beating himself up. I sent him this…. I credited the comment to one of our regulars ….anyone recall who shared it here.

    A reporter once asked a CEO “What made him successful?”

    The CEO said “Two words, right decisions.”

    The reporter said “Yes but how do you make right decisions?”

    The CEO said “One word, experience.”

    The reporter went on “But how do you get experience?”

    The CEO said “Two words, wrong decisions.”

      1. You are right. I’m curious if the individual remembers. I would not have if I hadn’t credited it in the email to Pete. It’s a great post.

  8. Does anyone have a link to the WPC excessive snowfall map/discussion?
    It was posted recently, But I couldn’t find it.
    thanks

      1. No. It was pitch dark. I have yet to hear them during the day so only have a general idea of where they are. I suspect they are too far into the woods to see

        1. Thought so. thanks. Really cool hearing them.

          We once had a barred owl in a pine tree outside our kitchen window. It was awesome!!! This was during the day!

  9. I think there’s a paradox on this system tonight/tomorrow morning.

    I agree the overall wind high gust potential is lower to decently lower. The yellows over the ocean are much less.

    But, the colors on those wind maps at the immediate coast are a little darker purple, almost red.

    Marshfield only hit 47 mph last event, and I think its going to be more. Maybe 50-55 mph.

    At the same time, out in the ocean, they wont hit 75-80 mph, like 2 buoys out in the Gulf of Maine hit last storm.

  10. Thanks, TK.

    Health woes at WHW continue. My son is sick again, unfortunately. He’s got a bad and lingering infection of some sort (low to moderate fever that’s lasted 7 days along with a nasty cough, sore throat, congestion) and his mental health issues have cropped up.

    I’ll be off the grid for a bit.

    1. Joshua, I am so very sorry to hear this. Hopefully, he can get in touch with a doctor to help. Hugs to you also!

  11. https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=gfs&p=500wh&rh=2024011212&fh=120&r=conus&dpdt=&mc=

    Certainly, the flow over the US is most important.

    However, that closed low SW of Hudson Bay has my interest because I think it can have some influence on the trof in the East.

    And I haven’t seen consistency on the near Hudson Bay closed low feature and thus, I can’t take any Tuesday projection serious yet.

    I’m thinking it’s Sunday night or Monday morning until we see consistency.

  12. Guidance all over the place. The one thing so far today’s 12z guidance is all showing precipitation in the Tues Wed time period.

  13. If I back tracked correctly, that Hudson Bay closed low I spoke of that might affect Tuesday storm …..

    that Hudson Bay low is today’s storm !!!!!!!!

    And it a few days from now gets affected by blocking and sends it southwest across Hudson Bay.

    Oh, there’s no way the models have this evolution right this far out.

    1. I fear you are totally and completely correct.

      It’s still a watcher, that’s for sure.

      As Hadi says, let’s get by tonight’s system and then see how things look.

    2. If you noticed above in those GEFS links I posted, the ensemble spread (uncertainty) has actually increased between last night and today. We are definitely not to a consensus point yet. Might take until tomorrow night/Sun AM to fully resolve this and I do agree the evolution of tonight’s storm is going to factor into what the second storm does.

      And what the second storm does is going to impact the third system later next week…

        1. The pattern right now tells me light to moderate snow event with no rain/snow line except maybe Nantucket or something like that.

            1. Please change to moderate to heavy.

              Light to moderate to me equates to anything in the:

              1-3
              2-4
              3-6
              4-8

              Range

        2. Cindy said Tuesday keeps changing so it definitely is a watcher & saying anything that did fall if it did would be in the form of snow .

          1. That’s a better message. She should pass it on to her evening weather guy so they are talking in sync with one another 🙂

  14. For you seekers of the light, we’ve crossed the 4:30 p.m. sunset threshold (actually 2 days ago). Today’s sunset at Boston is at 4:33 p.m.

  15. I remember years ago when we were expecting a hurricane that Pete felt it would either weaken or miss. Can’t recall which. It was the email I was looking for this morning. Everyone thought he was nuts. And he stood alone. Even on whdh

    One of the younger bz Mets headed for Nantucket because he’d never experienced one. May have been Todd G. We were in hum and had to decide whether to head home early.

    Pete emailed several times to help us make the decision.

    FWIW he was right. And I’m NOT saying annum is right. I’ve just learned to not discount outliers.

  16. 12z Euro is still offshore for Tuesday but grazes us with light snow.

    It has the second storm as well later in the week and that one delivers significant snow.

    1. Imagine if both next Tuesday & next weekend don’t pan out & I am not saying it won’t . Would not be the first time that cold air is in place but the storm doesn’t work out .

  17. As of now and this could change the one later next week has the better potential to produce something significant.

    1. The ensemble mean snowfall for ONLY the Tuesday event is a general 3-5 inches across the WHW forecast area.

        1. As noted in my discussion, there is an opportunity next week Tuesday / early Wednesday, and another one resides around the beginning of the following weekend.

  18. I feel like the 12z runs ticked up slightly on the rainfall tonight.

    One or two (2 inch) contours on most every model and now it’s a healthy inch plus most everywhere else.

  19. And it’s a trade off, the wind isn’t as strong, but it’s later to switch offshore just before high tide time on this event, especially NH and ME.

    High tide is at noon and at 14z, the wind is still onshore at Hampton Beach, points north and east.

    1. I feel like anything I post I’m getting crap on , knock it off , what the hell am I saying !!

  20. Let’s keep the peace 🙂

    How bout a happy balance …….

    It’s ok to post about potential misses on snow outcomes, while …….

    Keeping in mind to try to handle it tactfully for those who love snow and have been through a snowless winter last year and a relatively slow start this year.

    Peace 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  21. Thanks Tom . If I might add stop bashing professional Mets as I don’t like a lot of them but I keep it to myself . If you don’t like what someone says just don’t comment as we are all adults & don’t need the drama here .

    1. We definitely don’t need the drama, but I should clarify, disagreeing with a met (or anyone) is not bashing.

      Bashing is bashing. Disagreeing is disagreeing. Let’s make sure we all understand the difference. 🙂

        1. I sure do also. I didn’t see any bashing. And we all know I’d react if there had been. 😀

  22. Tom – good use of your classroom skills here on the weather blog……I’ll bet you never thought this group of adults would be as hard to keep in line as your students 🙂

    Sorry for the comment above SSK, I thought it was obvious I was joking around! Did not mean to stir the pot.

    1. I did not take it that way mark , believe it or not I do like a good snow storm ( especially now I don’t do snow removal ) all good on my end & I definitely appreciate this blog & all who participate on it .

    2. Lol.

      I personally think everyone who posts is a genuinely good person.

      Snow stirs a passion for sure ! Both sides, whether the snow is loved or loathed.

      So, I can see through written expression, not being able to see facial expressions or hearing tone, how things can get misinterpreted.

      A good bunch here for sure, I’d say though.

      1. Some of those social media sites make this place look like a field of flowers (and snowflakes for the snow lovers… gee kinda like the poppies and snow on the Wizard of Oz). The battles between snow haters and snow lovers are epic, and really stupid, if I’m being perfectly honest. 🙂

  23. I only hit it lightly on today’s discussion, but have been mulling over the potential for some snow squalls on Sunday with the passage of a strong cold front.

    The NWS now has this concern as well, especially for areas away from the coast where temps would be more marginal. However, this is a marginal set-up and we could possibly see heavy snow showers right to the coast too.

    Here’s an excerpt from their discussion on it…

    “Sunday…

    A strong shortwave/cold front will be moving across the region on Sunday. This will allow a much colder airmass to begin to invade the region on strong WSW wind gusts. High temps will mainly be in the middle 30s to the lower 40s, but it will feel quite a bit colder with the windy conditions. Bufkit indicates excellent mixing and thinking we will see gusts on the order of 35 to 50 mph. We may need to hoist some Wind Advisories for portions of the region.

    The other concern will be the potential for scattered snow showers and a few snow squalls Sunday afternoon into the early evening. A very strong shortwave will result in very steep 1000 to 700 mb lapse rates along with some moisture in the 0-2 KM layer as well as some MUCape. The snow squall parameter is also supportive of this potential along with some of the CAMs. Therefore…we do expect scattered snow showers along with the risk for a few heavier snow squalls. This will bring the risk for localized/brief hazardous travel with the potential for roads quickly becoming snow covered and with briefly near zero visibility and hazardous travel. Greatest risk for this will be across the interior with colder temps. Along the coastal plain…may be mild enough for an initial mix with rain and result in most roads initially being wet.”

  24. Comparing 18Z NAM at hour 90 with 12Z GDPS at hour 90.
    The GDPS was a decent hit and here is the 500mb

    https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=gdps&p=500wh&rh=2024011218&fh=84&r=conus&dpdt=&mc=

    18Z NAM 500 mb

    https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=nam&p=500wh&rh=2024011218&fh=84&r=conus&dpdt=&mc=

    It is hard to extrapolate on the NAM, but to these eyes,
    the 500MB looks a little better on the NAM, perhaps to support more precip, hopefully SNOW depending upon
    the final track.

    1. I’m leaning toward slightly later timing now on the Tuesday event which actually gives it a better chance at being more widespread, because I believe the system to the north that aids in capturing it and helping to develop the wave a bit more will have more time to get into the right place.

        1. That would be marginal. I still think even with that it’s a fairly flat wave. It wouldn’t develop more intensely until later, which actually helps drag even more cold air down to set up for the late-week potential.

    1. Only thing I notice so far is that the 500 mb closed low over
      Southern Hudson Bay is a tad more WEST on the 18Z run than the 12Z run. Hopefully it means system will track a bit more
      N&W. We shall see. 🙂

    1. Many rivers out this way were still in flood yesterday. The blackstone wss one of them. I have not checked today

  25. Thanks TK.

    I’m fully on board for a significant snow event for most/all of SNE with the upcoming storm. Just the overall “behavior” of the models with the way they’re waffling around is very on brand for this sort of setup. The upper level pattern is perfect and has stayed pretty consistent, but models are struggling on phasing/small scale interactions. A lot of these strung-out type of model outcomes are basically due to the models seeing all of the “players on the field”, but not realizing that those pieces will actually come together for a much stronger low pressure than most of the model runs have shown. Too early for serious numbers and not sure it will qualify as a “blockbuster” storm (depends on your definition) since it does seem to be a fairly quick mover. But if I were pressed, I would say a widespread 6”+ is pretty likely…

    That’s my take at least, still can’t totally rule out a more suppressed outcome. But think we can safely rule out any mixing/rain issues save for maybe CC.

      1. Admittedly, a word I probably use too much since 1” snow can be “significant” if it falls under the right (or wrong) circumstances. In fact, nowadays, with how good forecasts for the big events are, it’s very often those smaller events that are the most “significant.”

        But in this case, I’m picturing a more conventional snowstorm.

  26. I was on the plane going to Philli when I heard the news about Mayo becoming head coach. The two people I wanted was Mayo or Vrabel if Bill did leave so I am happy about that.

    Now with what I am hearing is that both Mayo and Bill had a two year contract and the plan was going to be next year being last year for Bill with Mayo going right on in. It was just a year early.

    Now I am interested in what they do with the general manager position. How much say will Mayo have over the players. I would like someone that is teaching Mayo the GM role, have someone as the GM for the next few years like Bill his first few years.

    Kraft needs to not become Jerry Jones, to much info has come out about him interfering.

    1. I was rooting for Mike Matt as he’s a pretty good coach & won a coach of the year award while with Tennessee. Why does Kraft say in November Mike & pioli would be his dream pick & just blow off Mike when he becomes available. The agreement between Mayo & Kraft could have been voided .

        1. Still real surprised he is talking so definitively about this and even throwing out numbers 4 days in advance, given the current model spread.

          I’ll be first to compliment him if he nails this. Just wouldnt take that approach if I were in his shoes. And that goes the same way if he was saying now we were going to be getting a region wide 6″+

          1. I don’t follow him as closely as I do my top favorites. But I do catch his forecast. Is this typical for him? If not, I wonder if there is some sort of odd push from management

            In my mind, Wcvb is behind the othrr major channels in the weather department area. My opinion only and I am not saying the Mets are not good. I’m just saying management is unpredictably nutty

            1. Cindy had it as a definite watcher on the noontime news today where now he thinks it’s the cape . Is it typical of him I mean I’m not sure , I mean I think he’s definitely a decent met & has been around for awhile . I guess we find out as it gets closer .

              1. I do know all of that. Thank you. I was just wondering if there is a force behind. But guess we won’t know. And we won’t until Wednesday

  27. Considering the frustration expressed here with the models – I thought this was an interesting tidbit from a blog in Minneapolis regarding the back end of this storm that went through the upper Midwest

    “What’s interesting is that virtually every forecast model run Thursday cranked out significant to heavy snowfall for the Twin Cities Friday, and every forecast model — including the usually trusty European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts model — missed the surge of dry air that’s keeping most of the snow south and east of the Twin Cities Friday.
    There is still heavy snow and wind as expected south of the Twin Cities across southern Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. But the Twin Cities is largely getting missed by significant snowfall. I can’t recall a system that was handled this badly for the Twin Cities by all forecast models.”

    For what it’s worth..

    1. Personally, I think the HTE is having an impact on overall medium range model performance. I’m hoping a study is done on this going forward.

  28. Thanks, TK

    In addition to the Bills-Steelers game in Orchard Park being weather-memorable that JJ posted above, ESPN is reporting that tomorrow night’s Chiefs-Dolphins may be the fourth coldest NFL game ever.

    Unfortunately, the game is streaking on NBC Peacock. I had Peacock for a month for 2022 World Cup Spanish broadcasts, but I am not buying it for one game.

    From ESPN:

    The forecast for Saturday night is projected to reach minus-5 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Weather Channel, which would make it the coldest ever football game in Kansas City. If the game were held in Miami, temperatures would reach a low of 62 degrees with a 30% chance of rain.

    There’s never been a football game in Kansas City that has reached negative temperatures. The coldest it’s ever been is 1 degree Fahrenheit with a wind chill of minus-19 during a Chiefs-Tennessee Titans game in 2016. The coldest postseason game in Kansas City happened in 1996 during an 11-degree matchup between the Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts.

    If temperatures dip below 0 degrees, it will be just the sixth such instance in NFL postseason history.

    1. I am quite tired tonight after a very long week of teaching, however, the game will be STREAMING on Peacock, not STREAKING. Just a bit chilly for any streaking in Kansas City tomorrow night! 🙂

  29. I think I would take the under for the point total in both the Chiefs Dolphins and Steelers Bills game. I could see the Steelers Bills game as 9-3 game.

    1. Very cool. I checked windy (Longshot…are you proud of me thaf j remembered) and they seem about the same

  30. I think Milwaukee and perhaps Chicago got a lot less snow today because of Lake Superior.

    It’s 36F in Milwaukee with a NE wind off the lake.

    The lakes barely have any ice cover. That’s incredible.

      1. 0z Canadian is also a weak scraper for Tuesday then a moderate hit for Friday.

        Ready to write Tuesday off as a minor or non event if we don’t start to see improvement in the models by tomorrow afternoon.

    1. I’d be surprised if we don’t have the 6ish with both TK and WxW seeing it. Furthermore my grandkids may mutiny.

    2. And damn. I just saw this from Mike on fb. No maybe or possible

      “The chance for snow next Tuesday has diminished. That will give us some time to dry out after all the rain Friday night into Saturday morning. Expect colder air to push in next week. #wcvb”

    1. I keep thinking that and then more moderate to heavy bands appear off to my southwest. Looks though like the back edge might be passing through Long Island. Careful if you walk later this morning on the shore Longshot. High tide is going to cause flooding close to Noon today.

      1. I do want to walk today so thanks for the reminder. I keep forgetting about flooding/splash over from this event!

  31. The wind is getting louder here.

    Westerly RI, it’s ob is at 70 ft, just gusted to 66 mph

    Fall River, I believe it’s ob is at 40 ft, gusted to 56 mph

    I think our little airport just recorded 46 mph (we maxed at 47 three days ago)

    1. Yup.

      That low level jet is right over you or just south of you, seen in the westerly Ri wind gusts.

      That’s the area of tremendous lift to produce the heavy precip, the heavy stuff will keep regenerating along that low level jet.

      Just have to have it move pass your area. Should be relatively soon.

          1. Stay safe today with high tide. Hopefully you’re not too close to the water. NH and ME coast is in for major flooding.

            1. Thanks North ! We’re under a mile to the ocean, but have a massive river marsh that really protects our neighborhood.

              Hoping for those folks up there.

  32. A little water in basement where foundation meets the first floor. Only had that these last 3 storms with the SE wind, which faces that side of the house. Keeping fingers crossed that remains the sole issue. Looks like it’s trying to wind down here soon.

    1. We sure have worn that SE wind out lately.

      I think, whether it’s light-mid snow events sitting on the ground or just a dry spell, there’s an opportunity after this to stop putting water into the ground going forward.

  33. As Longshot just pointed out above, at least for Eversource, the outage map is showing increasing numbers.

    Over the ocean, no doubt, last storm had the larger/stronger wind field.

    Over land, this one, at least in marshfield, the wind seems stronger.

  34. That low level jet and its back edge of rainfall is stubborn.

    It looks like it keeps re-generating at the back edge.

        1. It’s funny to me at this point. In North Attleboro and Lemonister we had all the flooding in September that ruined so many basements, etc. Luckily I faired pretty well in that one compared to others in town. Insurance doesn’t cover fresh water flooding from the ground either.

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