Monday Forecast

380 Comments

7:28AM

DAYS 1-5 (APRIL 4-8)…
Today’s snow event should behave as advertised on yesterday’s blog, and other than minor tweaks beyond, there is very little change to the overall forecast that was posted yesterday, so here’s the update…
TODAY: Overcast into late afternoon with snow, some mixing possible South Coast, accumulating 1-3 inches in most locations with a few pockets of 3-6 inches possible, except under 1 inch immediate South Coast. Highs in the lower to middle 30s. Wind E up to 10 MPH shifting to NE late. Thinning and breaking overcast very late with a hint of sun possible before sunset.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 10s to middle 20s. Wind NE to NW increasing to 10-20 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the 30s. Wind NW 15-25 MPH with higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY: Clouding over with a chance of snow/mix/rain by late day. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the middle 30s to lower 40s.
THURSDAY: Cloudy with episodes of rain or rain showers. Lows in the middle 30s to lower 40s. Highs in the 50s.
FRIDAY: Cloudy with a chance of rain. Temperatures fall to the 40s.

DAYS 6-10 (APRIL 9-13)…
Windy and cold with a risk of rain/snow showers April 9. Fair and chilly April 10. Cloudiness and spotty light precipitation possible April 11 depending on timing of warm front, then milder with late rain showers April 13 followed by fair and cooler April 13.

DAYS 11-15 (APRIL 14-18)…
Strong indications of a more typical April pattern of blocking setting up, but it remains unclear at this point if we end up more on the fair weather side or the foul weather side. Will continue to monitor.

380 thoughts on “Monday Forecast”

  2. Thanks TK

    Hopefully this April snow will put to rest the fact that it does snow and stick in April. Coming down I-93 snow was sticking on Hwy.

      2. IMO not that rare, rare would be every 10 years or so, but we get snow 1-3/4 years in April and that to me is not rare.

  3. Thanks TK
    Pretty good band of snow over me know. The plow in my condo complex just came by half hour ago and the driveway has coating of snow again.

    1. No wonder you like snow so much…someone else cleans it up for you 🙂 I am just jealous.

      1. The hardest part for me is that I cannot shovel because of an old shoulder injury. I love it. 🙂

  4. LOL!!! I have always loved snow even when I did most the shoveling at my moms and still go over there to help my mom and step dad out when it snows.
    When I was little I took a liking to it. It was fun to play in make snowman. Its a beautiful site to look at. Now I enjoy tracking these snow events and have been interested ever since the 93 Superstorm.

  7. I never want to hear from anyone (including myself!) ever again that it doesn’t snow in April, or that it doesn’t stick to roadways. I went running this morning and fell very hard on my back. Just a bad bruise. My hand/wrist tendon is injured, too. Nothing serious. But, my point is the roads and sidewalks are as slippery as they’ve been all winter. And yes, it’s winter out there. I won’t even call this event a spring snowstorm, because it looks, feels, and smells like winter.

  9. Joshua I am sorry to hear that.
    Snow can stick to roads in October as I saw first hand with the October Noreaster Fall 2011. If the snow intensity comes down hard enough like it did during the daylight hours with that October storm it can accumulate on paved surfaces.

    1. The fall in slow motion would probably look really cool. But when you’re on your back and it hurts and you’re still 2 miles from home it ain’t so fun. Can’t complain. It’s really just a bad bruise. It’ll turn all kinds of colors this week, both my hand and back.

      1. Feel better, Joshua! Try getting some Arnica at Whole Foods or GNC or wherever. I like the kind in tiny vials, they’re pellets made with a little sugar, and you let them melt in your mouth. I once had a terrible fall going down a very steep set of stairs and was badly bruised from the back of my neck to my thighs, and this REALLY helped.

  10. The birds have quieted down considerably. They’re hunkering down. It’s not easy for them as they’re in tree house construction mode. I’m sure a few of them are wondering whether they made the right decision to migrate north.

    1. I have been watching mine at the feeders. For some reason, they emptied the smaller of the two feeders in one day and have barely touched the larger of the two. Same feed so not sure what is up. With the snow, however, they seem to have become less “picky.”

  11. Wunder station (which is what I’ll be using until I get my own weather station – hint to my kids for birthday) says 24.3 here. Snow picked up a touch from light to more moderate. Larger flakes. Sidewalks and driveways covered as well as grassy areas.

    Grandson home with what may (or may not be) a stomach bug so don’t know what Schools did today.

  12. Good morning and thank you TK.
    I concur, it sure looks and feels like Winter.
    2 accumulating snow events on consecutive days in APRIL! WOW!

    Snowing really good here. Vis “about” 2/3 of a mile. That is accurate as I am using
    a landmark measured to be 2/3 mile away and I can’t see it to just barely making
    outline.

    I am at the office after a miserable commute in.
    It took 45 minutes to travel a mere 3 1/2 miles! I thought I was in Atlanta OR DC
    the way people were driving!! It’s as if they NEVER saw snow before. Scared WIMPS!!!

    re: TK’s Blocking
    There is no question on which side we will reside! None whatsoever.
    It will be on the cold/damp/drizzly/miserable side. You can take it to the bank!!

    1. Btw, good 1/4 to 1/3 inch brushed off my car at 8AM.
      By the time I arrived here, it looks like 3/4 to almost an inch already.
      It IS accumulating.

  13. Hmmm, Looking at Nexrad radar, it looks like snow quits East of Springfield.
    Then looking at the Albany display it continues from there to Springfield.

    I am wondering at what level the snow is being produced. It appears to be rather low
    and by Springfield, the radar beam is above the precipitation.

    I’m guessing the snow flakes are gathering together at something around 8,000 feet
    is all. Something like that.

    TK, do you know OR does anyone else know.

    I could do some Math and figure it out, but I’m too lazy at the moment. (one has different radar elevations to use, so it can be done)

      1. But……if it snows four inches (random number) and it melts, doesn’t it still snow four inches?

        1. Yes, BUT if the snow stops before it snows 4 inches
          then if does NOT snow 4 inches. 😀

          Radar shows a really tight gradient between snowing
          really good and hardly any snow at all.

  14. 2″ of snow so far in Coventry CT and temp sitting at only 22F! We had s period of moderate to heavy snow that just let up. I concur with what others said above – this feels like a mid winter snow. Snow is light and fluffy with a much higher ratio compared to the pasting we got yesterday am. It is sticking on everything.

    Roads are terrible in the Hartford area with numerous backups and spin outs. This may arguably be one the higher impact events of the year here travel wise with the timing of this right during the morning rush hour.

    1. Agree. Brushing snow off and driving in, it almost looked like the snow
      had an icy look and feel to it. When It started temp was just tad above
      27 at my house. An hour after it had been snowing it was down to 26.
      On the way into the office, car thermometer was reading 25 all they way in.
      So it was 25 at 8:45 AM.

  15. I know I am repeating but then I do that on a regular basis.

    I have heard comments (not the majority and just in passing) that this feels like winter and not spring. I think we have a preconceived idea of spring being all warm and sunny with occasional rain to make the flowers grow and the earth come alive.

    But on March 22, it isn’t possible to just turn off one season and turn on another. It is always a gradual move from season to season. Snow and rain and warm and cold and sun and clouds are a part of that transition. Snow is a rather common event in early New England spring….just as unusually warm days with humidity and damp and chilly days with rain and mist are not uncommon.

    It feels to me as if it is important for us to adapt to what each spring brings our way rather than expecting the weather to adapt to us and our idea of spring.

    That may not make sense and I’ll step down from my soapbox now. I was just looking out the window and thinking how beautiful our world is so couldn’t help myself.

    1. Spring’s the most volatile. Lots of air mass changes. I look at Patriot’s Day as near the end of snow chances, and Mother’s Day as a benchmark for more consistent spring weather and the last of highs in the 40’s (mostly) at our latitude.

      1. I don’t have figures and would expect your are quite correct that it is the most volatile. I wonder, though, if summer to fall is not quite as noticed since it is the warmer days that linger and people do not mind those as much (for the most part). So because they do not mind it, does it limit “complaints.”

    2. Of course Vicki, But given that, it still looks more like January or February than it does April. It’s Opening Day for baseball and it’s snowing.

      You know what we mean. Of course we all know Spring is volatile. 😀

      1. I think I know what you mean but I have trouble understanding it. I suspect I tend to look at it in a different way from most. That doesn’t mean I do not appreciate the way others view it. If everyone were the same, it would be a very boring world!

  16. While it may snow in April in Boston 1 out 4 April’s, 2 measureable snowfalls are really rare.
    Since 1950, only April 1967, 1975, and 1996 had two measurable snowfalls in Boston. 1907 had four: 4/1-2 1.0″; 4/8 1.5″; 4/11 0.1″; and, 4/13 0.5″.
    Somebody can verify this, but its what I found.
    To me, the cold is the anomaly here. It may not get above freezing today. And the low temps this week are amazingly cold, even for early April.

    And I agree with JpDave. We’ll be on the foul side of the block. Nothing scientific here in terms of analysis, just the way it seems to go. Who knows, we may get lucky, but I doubt it.

  17. Visibility here is closing in on 1/2 mile. It is snowing quite hard. It looks
    AWESOME! out there!

        1. So, even if we get a break, it looks like plenty of snow to go, so accumulation projections may verify yet. 😀

  21. BTW, HEAVY snow being reported in Springfield and Albany.
    So it’s out there and heading East. 😀

  22. Very light snow now, but visibility is still about 1 mile, perhaps a bit more.
    Must be some light fog in there as well, because this snow intensity does NOT
    support this visibility.

  31. Latest from NWS

    DESPITE APRIL SUN ANGLE…GIVEN POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE TO EVEN HEAVY SNOW THIS AFTERNOON AND PARTICULARLY EARLY THIS EVENING ACCUMS MAY OCCUR ON ROADS AND IMPACT EVENING COMMUTE. WILL HAVE MORE LATER.

  33. Very latest from NWS:

    LONG-RANGE GUIDANCE FOR NEW ENGLAND INDICATES SNOW AND COLD SHOULD BE OVER IN TIME FOR JULY 4TH FESTIVITIES. CONFIDENCE LEVEL HIGH.

  34. Looking at the radar, it looks like areas south of boston will miss the next patch of snow. The snow to our west looks like it’s going to just move at or north of Boston, or Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me

    1. I was about to post something similar. NWS keep saying “especially” South
      of the Mass Pike. Looks like along or north of Pike to me.

  35. Kane, I believe you are right. Looks like CT and RI are going to miss out on much of the next batch of snow moving in from NYS. It was wild down here for awhile though during the morning commute and we have picked up about 2″ so far.

      1. Yes just noticing that in the latest frames…..it does seem to be filling in a bit better to our west.

  36. 0.4 Reading so far.

    2 more solid areas to go: Midday and mid-afternoon west to east. I like the 1-3 being dominant with isolated heavier.

  39. 11AM Logan is up to 27. BRRRR

    BTW, down to 35 in Cleveland after passage of the cold front earlier this morning.

    Have they postponed the game yet?

    1. The Boston Red Sox opening day against the Indians in Cleveland is expected to go on as planned, although temps will be around freezing.

      They are OUT OF THEIR MINDS!!!!

    1. John, I think someone is throwing ice cubes from windows above.
      No way it is hailing. No Way. If anything it would be sleeting and No Way
      that is happening. It is snowing outside of my window.

  42. Here at the office, right on the hairy edge of the better snow.
    Visibility dropped to about 1 mile. Just missing the good stuff, but we’re in
    something anyway. 😀

  43. These surface temperatures are a surprise to me !! A good 3 to 5F degrees cooler than I would have expected. And it’s not particularly bright.

  47. 4 inches Sagamore
    3 inches Paxton
    2.5 inches Shirley
    2 inches Wareham
    2 inches Fitchburg
    1.5 inches Sudbury
    1.5 inches Cambridge

    From WBZ

  50. The heavier band to the North has slipped just a tad South, engulfing Boston.
    Yeah! Can we surpass 3 inches? Can we? I think we can, I think we can, I think we Can. 😀 😀 😀

  51. During the lighter precipitation there were small ice pellets mixed in here in Reading.

    1. Very strange. Why do you think that happened? A little bit of warmth swirling around above us? Or some weird snow growth or something?

  52. Whatever we get, I am not moving it. It will melt in a few days I hope…not wasting my time on it. Spring snow > winter snow is this respect.

  53. Thank you tk 🙂

    Well. We did 2 big commercial properties today as a coating to 1 inch of snow is good for training. You can see your lines and explain that on each pass the fertilizer needs to overlap the tire marks. Worked out well. All done for today. Roads are clear and wet. Probably got about 1.5 inches but bc of melting there’s .5 left. The light coating will wash this right in. Ground temps are well above freezing. Have cooled down to between 45-50 degrees.

    Enjoy the day folks!!

  54. Temps still in the 20’s in northern CT and a light, fine snow has recommenced. There has been no melting of snow at all here, other than on paved surfaces.

  55. Heavy snow being reported in Leominster and just saw someone post that Rte 3 in Nashua, NH is a “disaster.

    West Fitchburg is the highest total I have seen so far…coming in at 4.75”

  58. If the 12z GFS verifies, we will have our third snow event of the first week of April on Saturday. Delivers 2-4″ to much of southeast New England Saturday with a developing off shore storm.

    2. Speaking of the 12z GFS …..

      did anyone notice the block and its impact on a precip area from around April 14th to the 17th.

      The north-south precip area literally hits a wall in easternmost NY State and retrogrades WESTSOUTHWESTWARD !!

      The fun trying to project systems in spring …..

      1. That’s crazy – that would result in 3-4 straight days of nearly stationary rain/wet snow over NY if that materialized.

  60. Charlie, I applaud your consistency in underplaying our late winter blitz, but I’m not sure you’re being entirely accurate. I’m not there so I can’t verify, but I highly doubt the ground temp is 45-50F. Also, while there has been a lull in precipitation where you are surface temps are still hovering around the freezing mark and will likely go below freezing as snow redevelops in your area. A friend of mine in Providence says it’s as cold as she’s felt it in April in many years, with snow sticking around on many surfaces.

    I do hope the good work you do for people’s lawns and gardens goes well. I certainly empathize with you as this snow and cold is not easy to deal with.

      1. Does that show that a temp of 50 has no bearing on accumulation? I wondered that yesterday when the majority of melt that we had was due to sun exposure and not ground exposure.

        What type of thermometer do you use to measure ground temp?

        1. Adding that I thought of your comment from yesterday when I read Joshua’s comment. However, I do agree with the vast majority of the comment. I was looking for the proverbial “like” button 🙂

        2. Any type of thermocouple will do. A meat thermometer works. You basically want to measure it about 4 inches deep. For reference, crab grass germinates around 60 degrees, forsythia blossom about 60 too. That’s why the rule of thumb for getting down pre emergent for crab grass is when the forsythia bloom.

          1. Well, then I will have to try my handy dandy meat thermometer. Thanks. Forsythia were starting to show yellow in Framingham. Not so sure about here.

    2. I respect you Joshua as you are a smart guy. And most know this. But soil and lawns agro is my thing. Ground is warm. It’s not frozen. You could dig a 2 ft hole and it’s soft dirt.

  61. This round began about 30 minutes ago as more of a frozen something than snow. It is immediately accumulating on all surfaces in my view. I suspect main roads may not see the accumulation but I also worry that this is more ice-like than snow and driving could get tricky quickly. Before this round, the roads were clear but they had been treated.

  64. It takes several weeks of winter time temps to lower the ground temps much. The ground didn’t really freeze too deep this winter anyway. A friend of mine is an excavation contractor and he told me a while ago the ground never froze more than about a foot.

    1. Agreed and even if it stayed below freezing ground temp would never freeze. It would have to be no sun for a week or longer and 20 degrees to get the top 2 inches to even freeze.

      1. You’ll need to explain that, Charlie, as it was confusing. Are you saying ground never freezes? Or that it will not freeze this year? I’m thinking the latter.

        Still makes me think ground temp has far less to do with melting than sun. I’d love to see some data on that.

        1. In other word we would need a nuclear freeze to freeze the top 2 inches of soil. I’m not looking for argument. Rather just move on.

          1. Charlie, I was not looking for an argument either. I simply asked you to explain as I did not understand. Move on I will.

    1. I so miss that annual trip. We’d get to about NJ and see the willows and dogwoods. It was a wonderful adventure.

  66. From northeast CT to the south shore of MA …. If you run a radar loop, over the last 30 to 45 minutes, the echoes on the radar seem to be filling and intensifying into a moderate area of snow.

  67. Thanks for your input, BlackstoneWx. And, Charlie, I apologize for being a skeptic regarding your ground temperature.

    1. Joshua I love your comments. And you are great for blog. Very enjoyable and sensible discussions. Don’t ever leave. #goodguy

      2. Toaster bath or breathe on a tailpipe.
        A toaster bath seems appealing if we have another one of these.

  70. Ok, Back in the office. I went home to JP for lunch with the wife.
    When I left the office it was mostly SLEET! I am not kidding. I couldn’t believe it.
    By the time I reach my house, it was more of a mix of sleet/snow. When I got in my
    car to return the office after 1/2 hour, there was 1/2 inch on my car already and it
    was ALL snow, albeit an icy snow as if there was some melting aloft and the flakes
    come down as 1/2 a snow flake and 1/2 a sleet pellet or a snow pellet almost
    like graupel. Weird, but whatever it is it is WHITE and not clear and the visibility
    is down to 2/3 mile here.

    Now as I write I look out of the window, and bigger regular flakes are mixing in.

    I firmly believe that this event will OVER ACHEIVE!

    There are solid strong echoes from here all the way back to Central NY state.

    BTW, the roads are ATROCIOUS!!! I means GREASY SLICK!!!!

    Snow plows are out. They had to scrape ALL of the side streets in JP and even the main drags are very snow covered and extremely slippery.

    BE CAREFUL if you have to go Out. I am NOT JOKING around. IT IS BAD!

    4. I agree, these frigid April temps holding in the 20’s and decent precip intensity are negating many of the effects of the higher April sun angle.

      One area that has the potential to overachieve is the south coast if the colder air can drain down there quick enough. Some intense precip rates down there and some of the short range guidance is showing higher totals further south.

  71. MODERATE SNOW here, borderline HEAVY SNOW with vis between 1/4 and 1/2
    mile. ALL regular flakes and not that 1/2 melted/frozen variety. These WILL ACCUMULATE much faster!

  76. Report of heavy wet snow the “size of golf balls” in Warwick, RI. 1-2″ per hour rates and 3″ on the ground.

    Newport, RI reporting heavy freezing rain and 30F. Crazy!!

      1. Rare indeed. My wife’s 1st snow in April. She moved here in 04. She’s like what’s going on? I said Idk

      2. With radiational cooling the coming nights we could see teens in the city of Boston. That is unbelievable for April Talk about volatility in the winter of 2015-2016. High temperature records fell throughout the winter, as did a few low temperature records, and now in late winter more low temp records may be broken.

  77. Moderate snow in North Reading. Roads snow covered and slick. Looking forward to reading certain posts tonight and tomorrow telling us all it really didn’t snow! 🙂

  78. Incredible that another 3-6″ event materializing for the second time in 2 days. Good precip intensity and temps holding in the mid 20’s counteracting the impacts of April sun angle.

    I would not call this event overachieving for most simply for the fact that the NWS had the WWA out for 3-6″ today. But there are areas near the South Coast that have flipped to some very heavy snow that I think will overachieve.

    1. In fact, the WWA’s have now been expanded to southern CT and the south coast of MA and RI.

  80. Record low max temps for 4/4…

    CON 27F (1879)
    PWM 27F (1908)
    BOS 30F (1879)
    ORH 31F (1975)
    BDL 32F (1908)
    PVD 35F (1908)
    BDR 38F (1972)

    Worcester is still sitting at 22 with moderate snow and freezing fog. They will shatter this record. BDL is at 26 and will probably break it. Boston is at 29, probably wont break it but will be close.

  81. Been snowing here in Plymouth, NH pretty much all day, but mostly light, some surfaces with a little snow on them, others just wet. It’s truly frigid though; 23F. No big, clumpy flakes here, rather the very picturesque type. The solar radiation definitely has an impact though, including and perhaps even more so for you guys in SNE. At 23F in mid-winter, every flake falling up here today would be sticking. Simply not the case this time of year, totals if this were a night event would’ve been notably higher.

    1. The April sun kills daytime accumulation when the intensity is not there. When you have 1-2″ per hour rates, it’s a different story.

  82. The high sun angle is making a difference. Salting has made rt 1 just wet. Wonder if that changes after 5-6pm

    1. They would have had to plow by now. About 1.5 inches here. But about 2.5-3.0 has fallen

      1. Charlie, I don’t know why you are always in a different world.

        They are plowing up here all over the place and it IS accumulating
        on the roads. It is a MESS!

        Now, today they should HAVE cancelled school. They did cancel when they didn’t need to and did not cancel when they
        should have.

        Figures.

  83. Radar showing that Middleborough is in the mix, but it is snowing to beat the band here.

    Going home, putting the fireplace on and watching baseball.

    Go Red Sox!

  84. Still coming down moderately to heavily.

    It looks like a really bad storm out there. Way worse than yesterday.

  85. Last time Taunton was in the teens in April was in 1982 after a 7″ snowfall. Forecasted low for Wednesday morning (last time I checked) is 17.

  86. I cannot believe what is going on outside.

    Since 1:30pm especially, its been pounding snow and the roads are awful.

    April 4th ….. this is ridiculous.

  88. 2″ of snow in the last hour in Moosup, CT and Warwick, RI. 4″ total in both places and counting.

    Moderate snow here in Manchester, CT.

    1. But Mark, it CAN’T ACCUMULATE in APRIL due to the SUN ANGLE!
      Pay not attention to that 2 inches in one hour accumulation because it
      simply did NOT Happen!

  89. We’re getting some serious wind kicking up here blowing the snow around pretty good.
    Near, Almost blizzard conditions dare I say. 😀 😀 😀 (Not quite but almost. Wind is not strong enough but it looks similar)

  90. So far, anyway, the Euro keeps the 4/9-4/10 system “just” off shore. I hope it stays that way and does not creep West.

  93. Mark, there is yello sprouting awfully near you. Have you seen evidence of
    increased intensity?

    1. Yes, it has picked up here in Manchester but those yellows on the radar are about 10 miles south of me. Some very heavy snow being reported in SE CT.

  94. With these temps and the intensity of snow that is falling across much of the area, you can pretty much toss the sun angle argument today. Roads that have not been recently treated are terrible. Reports of many accidents and spin outs…region wide.

    2. Completely and totally disagree. If this was at night or during Jan. There would be more accumulation. Your wrong on this. It’s just science. Maybe tk can chime in

      1. Oh I agree it would be even more if this were an overnight event or mid January event. We would be accumulating more during the periods of lighter precip. But when you have the 1-2″ per hour rates, you are going to accumulate regardless.

      2. Actually you are all kind of correct. It depends on location.

        It’s not 4-6-1982 because it’s about 5 to 10 degrees warmer in most of the region, the snow intensity is generally less with the exception of minor bursts, and we had pretty much a foot plus during the day in that storm with howling winds of 30-50 MPH.

        There are areas that have been under heavy enough banding to cover untreated roadways and make them slick. Sometimes this is actually made worse by traffic that creates ruts and slush, some of which partially refreezes in shaded areas or on bridges/elevated roadways.

        Charlie’s area went through a very long lull in which the solar influence was able to be much more. Up here in Woburn, we have yet to reach 2 inches and the roads are just wet and have been wet since about 10AM (before that they had some snow/slush on them).

  96. Just came in and at least my way parts of the roads are having a coating of snow.
    We had the lull then snow came down hard lightened up mixed with some sleet now back to all snow.
    Snow can stick to pavement if it comes down hard enough in the daylight hours. It happened where I was back in the October Noreaster in 2011.

  97. You all have to keep in mind the variability from place to place. See above…

  98. As of 2PM, amounts range from about 1 inch to a max of 4.4 inches from reported totals. I think we’re good for 1 to 2 more inches in any given location before it’s done, putting most of the region in the expected range including the “locally heavier”.

    1. Was it you, TK, who said the most would arrive around mid to late PM? Seems to be the case. This am was just an appetizer in this location.

      1. I actually thought most of it would be done by 5PM. It may be a little closer to 6 or 7 and I think that final area will be weakening a touch as it comes through.

        The NWS’s widespread nature of 4-6 for totals is OVERDONE.

        1. It seems that it isn’t amounts but precip type?? When I went out to bring in the trash can, I of course left footsteps. When I went back out an hour later to head to Minute Clinic, I noticed there was ice that had formed where my footsteps were. Then we had the sleet.

          Since we seem to have missed a good part of round 2, I foolishly figured I’d head back to CVS this pm to pick up my prescription but that may not happen.

  99. Roads look to be a mess here as well and that is not good as school buses are now returning kids home. Charlie, my guess if if you are seeing wet roads it is because they were pre-treated. Otherwise, you – as usual and for some unknown reason – are the exception.

    What sun angel? There is no sun???

    2. Sun dimly visible up here for the last 1/2 hour, just lost it again, but it is having an impact when the snow lightens up. Roads have been just wet here all day in my area.

      1. They were just wet here earlier. But they were pre-treated. I’ll see if they remain wet and may head out later.

    1. We always have to watch those times. Sometimes NWS will leave incomplete reports on the list, which is not all that helpful.

  102. 2 things I have noticed:

    Some of the 1/4 mile heavy snow reports today on the obs should be 1/4 mile in moderate snow and fog. There has been some fog bringing visibility down lower than the snow would. The rates do not support heavy snow in some of these areas, but in a few they have. This used to be less of an issue when more stations were manned and less were automated, so I’m familiar with it.

    We’re not lacking a solar effect today, what we do have is anomalous cold to counteract it to some degree. What is more unusual than just having measurable snow in April is having it with temperatures in the 20s. I should have caught this last night when I saw the dew points in the single digits.

  103. Seems most of the parents on this street have picked up kids at school. I’m surprised by the amount of snow on the warm cars, especially on the windshields. Daughter just said that Sutton FB page just posted that the roads here are awful. Note they were pre-treated and also we missed on some of the precip around no0n that others received. I doubt we have had 2 inches maybe that can be stretched to 2.5

    1. Again it comes down to location, and rate of snowfall at the time. All it takes is a few minutes of heavy snow to cover things up, and that’s all it takes to make them slick. As you know, too many people focus on snow totals, when it’s current conditions that matter most.

  104. Worst part of today…I might need to turn on my oil after it’s been off for over a month now. Thought I was done with it as the AC heat pump has been able to cover it (temp should be 30 or higher for it to work well).

    Score a win for Big Oil HAHA.

  105. It’s an impressive event no matter what, both in terms of snow and temperature. I’m not easily impressed, but for April 4th this is quite some day in Boston. It’s not April 1, 1997, obviously, or April 6, 1982. But, it’ll go down as a special day and early April 2016 as a fairly extraordinary period in the history of weather in the Boston area. I say this also with a view to some of the record-breaking low temperatures some in the region will be experiencing tonight and tomorrow night.

    1. I agree Joshua. Certainly not a blockbuster but considering the circumstances it is hard to not be impressed.

    2. The cold is what is making this as impressive as it is. Lows in the 20s overnight in April are impressive. It was in the 20s at midday today.

  106. Interesting stat from meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan for my home state to show how chilly it is today
    If BDL fails to reach 30F today it will be only the second time in 111 years that’s happened in April

  107. Ok I just drove back from Dedham to north Attleboro on rt 1. Nothing but wet roads. Not even slushy. I would love to say there snow covered and almost impossible to drive on so I would have more friends here. But there not. All I can think is the elevation between Dedham to north Attleboro elevation is 40ft to 235ft idk

    1. That was the area that was in the snow lull, so it makes sense. There are areas both north and south that are a completely different story. Here in Woburn we just have wet roads too, but not too far to my NW, snowcovered.

  108. Its amazing that is stayed in the 20s where I am today considering its April.
    Snow continues to fall at a good clip. The snow if fluffy where I am which usually when we get snow this time of year its that wet snow.

  109. REALLY thumping now.

    Just watching maintenance staff shoveling the side walk below my office.
    Looks like about 3 inches on the walk. Spoke to my wife a bit ago and she was
    watching a neighbor shovel and it looked like 4 inches to her.

    I’ll measure at home later. 😀

  111. Winter Storm Warning till 10 pm now up for at least Bristol County where I live.

  112. Winter Storm Warning in Massachusetts
    Active for next 6 hours · National Weather Service
    This alert has been updated.
    Posted 9 minutes ago
    Winter Storm Warning in effect until 10 PM EDT This Evening.

    The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a Winter Storm Warning for: which is in effect until 10 PM EDT this evening. The Winter Weather Advisory is no longer in effect.

    Locations: along the Boston to Providence corridor points south and east to just north of the south coast.
    Hazard types: Heavy snow.
    Accumulations: Total snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches.
    Timing: snow will continue to fall moderate heavy at times before tapering off from northwest to southeast between 7 and 10 PM.
    Impacts: road conditions will rapidly deteriorate through early this evening as the sun gets lower in the sky, allowing for more snow to stick to roadways. This is expected to have a significant impact on the evening rush hour, especially in the Boston to Providence corridor where the heaviest Snow is expected to be occurring at that time.
    Recommended actions
    A Winter Storm Warning is issued when an average of 6 or more inches of snow is expected in a 12 hour period, or for 8 or more inches in a 24 hour period. Travel will be slow at best on well treated surfaces, and quite difficult on any Unplowed or untreated surfaces.

    There ya go, an OVER ACHIEVER

    1. I’d be surprised if the snow ended in the east much later than 7-8 pm. I’d also be very surprised if anyone received 8 inches.

    2. I agree with arod. 7PM W & N suburbs of Boston, a little after that to the south.

  114. Coming down heavy in Mansfield. The daylight angle is less productive at this time and beyond in the pm

  115. The heaviest snow of my event up here in Woburn occurred in the last 1/2 hour while I was outside having fun in it. That added 1/2 inch (rate was 1 inch per hour), and I’m at 2.8 inches now and heading for 3+ before it’s over.

  117. Ok here is a good example of the struggle between the solar and the cold. BOTH are in play.

    I arrived home at 2:30PM and shoveled about 2/3 of my driveway. I came in at 2:45PM until 3:45PM when I went back outside. It had been snowing steadily and the area that I shoveled accumulated NO snow. This area would be in the sun if it was sunny, so the radiation is reaching it and was stopping accumulation there. Just beyond that spot, an area that would have been in the shade accumulated about 0.2 inch between 2:45 and 3:45.

    Then, when I went back out, a burst of heavy snow arrived, and immediately covered the area that had remained bare for the hour before. So this shows both the solar influence, and the struggle of the solar influence because of the cold combined with the burst of heavier snow.

    THIS is why we have variability today. My main road is just wet still, even after the heavier burst. My side road is suddenly snowcovered with nearly 1/2 inch.

  119. There had been one more area of heavier snow back in NY but it went POOF which was something I expected to happen. That means we now have that knife edge ending approaching. The final heaviest band is from central CT to the northern reaches of the I-495 belt now, moving steadily eastward, and behind that the ending line comes. It will be on 495 by 5, to Boston by 7, and to Cape Cod by 9. And then it’s all over.

    In the end my general amount will end up having been better off as my isolated amount, and my isolated amount would have been better off having been my general amount. It ended up 5 to 10 degrees colder during the day today than pretty much anybody expected. That, for April, is very impressive.

  120. Tk ends at 7 in boston or that’s when that line comes through . Been here since 3:3o am and will probably be cleaning up all night till tomorrow morning . Nice little hit for Boston . I good that is it as its time to move on.

  121. I’ll admit it. This has been a rare super cold snowy day for April many or at least we haven’t seen since 97. After all the years being on blog. I believe 5? After all the years of folks on here saying it can snow. It finally did with significance!!! This is the 1st one for the weather blog. It finally came true!!! 🙂

    1. My wife continues to say what’s going on. She’s never seen anything like it in April. Like I said she moved here in 04

      1. This would be the day to get the snowball and put it in the freezer to take out in July. 😛

  122. Blue Sox look like the Bad News Bears out there. But I am glad they did not postpone the game. It’s cold, but they can play in it. There have been World Series games played in conditions this cold.

          1. It was supposed to be a belated April Fools joke, but I guess that doesn’t work too good on April 4.

            And reminds me, time to look ahead at weather for the home opener…

  125. The final heaviest band has reached me in the 128/95 belt and has moved beyond the northern reaches of the 495 belt. The snow-end line lags this by about 25 miles.

    1. No. See above. I’m listening to Marillion’s first 4 albums. TV is off until early evening.

    2. I’m not watching any game. They’re not playing and I don’t do “replays”. It was a bad joke that didn’t work at all. (See the team name in the post.)

  128. One thing I have noticed that never really used to happen… the NWS sure does issue a lot of last moment Winter Storm Warnings. I know my forecast wasn’t the best today but nothing like getting it right down the home stretch. I supposed to their defense, they are the government and they do have to issue something.

    1. Yup. I don’t quite have 6, but we’ve been getting it good since 1:30 and our road could use a quick plowing, as I’d say it’s got a solid 2-3 inches of slushy wet snow on it. Probably have 4 to 4.5 on the lawn, deck, etc ….

        1. I’m feeling good, thanks Vicki !

          It was very slow and steady home. We have had moderate to occasionally heavy intensity snow since 1:30, so it’s been continually building up even on pavement.

          And it’s that very slippery wet slushy stuff.

  130. Found this and thought it was worth posting….for nothing more than a chuckle

    On April 11, 1974, Fenway Park crew members required assistance from the blades of a helicopter. The grounds crew had been working since 2:30 a.m. clearing off snow from the field. The helicopter spent five hours drying the field just to get in the home opener. Unfortunately, the Orioles won, 7-6 ,in 11 innings as Tommy Harper struck out leaving two men on base.

  131. Not going to be surprised if we see snow sometime late Friday or Saturday next week, and possibly record cold before the weekend of the 9th/10th is over.

    After that, I think the atmosphere begins to reconfigure itself.

    1. Oh goodness …… I can’t take much more 🙂

      The season total is going to end up above average 🙂 🙂

    2. Friday Saturday NEXT week would be the 15/16. Is that what you meant? Or THIS Friday/Saturday the 8/9th?

  132. The kids had no problems getting out of school today, despite it snowing. The right call was made to make it a regular day.

    Interestingly, despite the last hour having some of the heaviest snow I’ve had all day, my main road remains just wet other than a little line of slush along the yellow lines. Side street has snow on it.

    1. Definitely not the case here. Again, regional. If they had a crystal ball, they would have released early in several locations. But they do not and I know they do the best they can.

  133. DELAY the snow ending by 1/2 to 1 hour. A little ripple is going to slow down the back edge for a little while.

    This will be in the top 10 as far as impressive April snows I have witnessed, but not in the top 5. Two storms in 1996, one in 1997, one in 1987, and one in 1982 all have this beaten, though I’ll give this one the nod over yesterday’s.

  134. Dates of Last Snow in Boston:

    6″+: April 6, 1982 (10.8″)
    5″: April 10, 1996 (5.4″)
    4″: April 13, 1933
    1″-3″: April 28, 1987
    1″: May 10, 1977
    1/2″: June 17, 1952 (Must have been hail as the high temp was 86 degrees)

    Please correct my info if you see a mistake!

    I remember May 9-10, 1977 snow. My junior year in high school. No school for 2 days as heavy snow on new leaves brought down many power lines leaving town without power.

    1. Boston had under 1 inch on May 9-10 1977 (though I’ll try to check), but we had 4-6 inches of mashed potatoes here in my area.

      1. Trace for Boston on May 9, 0.5 for Boston on May 10, so the storm total was 0.5 at Logan.

  135. Snow has lightened a bit. And just when there has begun to get a light coating on roads I think roads will become just wet again as it ends here about 6 or shortly after. We have 3.1 inches but with melting/compaction there’s about 2 inches.

  136. Impressive how much snow has stuck to roadways, including Beacon, Commonwealth, on-ramps to 93, and all side streets in Boston. Certainly plowable on side streets and walk ways. If this snow had occurred overnight we would be seeing many cancellations and even higher snow totals. My feet are really cold after my 25 minute trudge through the snow and slush. It’s very pretty outside though. I’ll take this over 40s and rain every day of the week. The tourists who I saw in the Public Garden taking loads of photos agree with me, I think. They wouldn’t be taking any pictures in 40s and rain.

    2. And close to a foot in framingham. Was it 28 or 29? I tend to remember dates by anniversaries and 29 was my brothers bday so that may be why 29 stuck in my head

  140. Reposting the record low max temps for today……lots of records are going to be shattered:

    BOS 30F (1879) – High so far today 30
    ORH 31F (1975) – High so far today 22
    BDL 32F (1908) – High so far today 27
    PVD 35F (1908) – High so far today 31

    1. Only second time in 111 years of record keeping that BDL has failed to reach 30 on a day in April.

  141. Love how channel 7 is still making new snow maps…lost all faith in that crew since the shakeup.

  142. Just have to say “I love New England!” Beautiful fine but light snow on the Arlington/Lexington line,

  143. Son in law will have about a 2 Hr (usually takes 1 at most) drive from Wellesley. He comes 16. Will be curious to hear how son did on pike

  144. Now the 8th snowiest April on record at BDL.

    Still snowing in Manchester, CT but getting lighter and back edge is near.

  145. CF…You and I must be the same age. I was in my junior year of high school in 1977 as well. I had the day off as well even though my school was in Boston. It was a private school and many of the students and staff lived in the distant suburbs so classes were canceled. I got a “snow day” for a half inch of snow. 😉

    1. Rapid has turned into slow. There’s a delay due to a little ripple. I like closer to 8PM now for your area.

    1. There is a bit of a hole in grafton and it may not fill back in. Grafton is just northeast of here and driveway that was literally just shoveled is filling back in

  153. The short range guidance nailed that ripple. Wow, good stuff.

    Don’t worry Tom, Boston won’t go above normal for the season, but they may set another daily snow record later this week………….. WE SHALL SEE! I have a funny feeling about the Friday/Saturday thing.

    1. Well, maybe a snow pile or 2 will make it to my birthday in a bit more than a week.

      It must have been April of 1982 that I’m recalling decent sized snow piles around on April 13th …….

      1. And there was one April 13th where my parents had the AC on. I was young so this was probably in the 1970s

  154. Another hour left. Perhaps some places squeeze out another 1 inch especially south and east where snow hangs on a little longer. Nice little storm. Well forecasted by most.

  155. I left Boston/Cambridge at 3:30. Side streets in Cambridge not too bad. Slushy but easy driving. Thru Newton, looked to be about 2 inches? I was just judging by being able to see the grass poking thru in the median.
    Pike was just wet. Treated really well. Traffic moving at a good clip, 50 mph plus. Good driving out to about Framingham. Snow picked up a little at that point. At 495, snow was pounding! This was about 4:30. By the time I got to the Westboro rest stop, it was snowing so hard visibility was down to less than a quarter mile and traffic was down to 20 mph. Pounded snow till I got to exit 11, then it let up. Rt 146 was slushy but drivable. Got off at Purgatory Road and it was awful! Tuned off onto the side street to get to my hood and the car in front of me had a tough time getting up he hill. Nothing is plowed yet on the side roads out here for the most part. I think they waiting till it’s over. Best guess is I have about 4 inches. Lot more powdery that yesterday.

    2. Thanks Blackstone. Glad you are home safely. I know this is more of an exception. How are they at doing the roads out this way on average?

      1. Depends on the town. 146 is done by the state, so it’s pretty good. Sutton and Millbury do a great job. Northbridge, not so much.

  156. Barry says an ocean storm has to be watched for Sunday! Is that the snow event you were referring to above TK?

    1. I think so Philip, but don’t hold me to that.

      From what I’ve seen, it’s been 50/50 on the models. Some runs they’ve been close and cold enough and some, like the most recent 18z GFS have been a miss to our east.

    2. It is – ironically the question is more whether or not it tracks close enough to the coast than if it will be cold enough. Another very cold shot of air will be in place Saturday.

  158. Man will this snow ever end? Annoying snow…it’s not coming down hard but you move it and it’s instantly covered

      2. Ya think?!?!? I actually stopped reading over the past couple of hours just so I didn’t have to see Charlie declare the snow was ending. It is like a broken record. 🙂

  160. There has been more snow that has fallen in April than in March at both Logan and Bradley.

  164. Measured just over 5 inches here in Groveland…roads were slick from rt 1 north to 95…very impressed by this little storm

  165. Already ran gas out of the snowblower before leaving for Israel. Going to just let Mother Nature take care of this one…hopefully sun will do some damage tomorrow even with the chilly temps. Glad my guy is running behind for a spring clean up and he didn’t come last week as originally planned?

  166. I’m impressed by the totals you guys are getting. I find it interesting that this storm pulled more surprises- mainly the much colder than expected temperatures and somewhat heavier than modeled QPF- than the one yesterday, which actually behaved very much as expected. That storm is a total monster now, by the way, far to our north. I would not write off the possibility of more snow chances either. It’s just cold shot after cold shot on the models right now. This is a classic winter pattern.

  167. And……. It has stopped!!!!! Finally!!!! Just went out and measured 3.5 inches, BUT for sure a couple inches has melted through the day. I think we received about 1.5 inches last hour in a half. I’d say 4.5-5.5 inches fell here in north Attleboro. Travels to Dedham now. Will let you know what they received at Legacy.

    1. It stopped for now, but there could very well be a surprise or two lurking this month. Probably not, as I do think we’re done in the snow department this year. But, I ain’t putting my shovel away until June, which of course begs the question. Could we get accumulating snow in June in SNE? From experience we know that May’s a distinct possibility. But, June? Has it ever happened?

        1. Sorry been done shoveling since mid February we are going to let sun melt it. We don’t even have a shovel

  168. Official JP measurement, certified accurate. 😀
    Well it’s the best I could do.

    5 inches on the level.

  169. Just got through helping my mom and step dad shovel the driveway and sidewalk.
    First time shoveling in April since the April Fools Storm in 97. I was happy it was the powdery snow.

  170. Thanks, JP Dave, for the information on the volcanic eruption that contributed to the snowstorm in NE in 1816. I had read about this a while back, but forgot about it until you jogged my memory.

    Charlie, in many cases of March and April snow it melts quickly. Sunday’s rapid melt is a good example of that. No need to shovel the inch or 2 that fell as it all disappeared by afternoon. But, this storm is a little different. Tomorrow’s cold for April, and while there will be plenty of melting going there will be snow or at least snow piles around until Wednesday afternoon or evening, with refreezing occurring tomorrow night. Hence, I really do need to shovel and salt the paths around the building I live in. The older residents can easily slip and fall otherwise. Tomorrow morning you’ll have hardened snow and ice, which will partially melt during the day and then refreeze tomorrow night.

      1. True.

        I think your lawns will look great this year. They’re getting a health dose of precipitation. A blanket of snow to protect them when it gets cold at night. It’s a nice business you’ve got there. A nice lawn and garden makes people happy.

      2. I probably should have overseeded before this storm. Would have been perfect timing. Seeds would be protected from the elements, remain saturated and primed for sprouting when the warm weather finally does arrive in a month or so.

    2. Joshua there is already a layer of ice here where it was shoveled. My SIL cautioned us in the am

  171. First time in my life an April day and temps stayed in the 20s. The cold to me was impressive with this system and snow totals not to shabby either. 4.5 inches in the yard.
    Wonder if we get a third snow event this week over the weekend.

  172. Taking a virtual trip around various locales along our south coast as well as the Cape and Islands shows how unusually extensive this April cold and snow outbreak is. The ocean water temperature is relatively `mild’ for the time of year. Yet, even the Cape (Chatham, for instance) and Block Island are getting accumulating snow (quite rare for BI to get measurable snow in April). The only locale I could find without measurable snow is Nantucket.

  173. Wow! 360 comments! It must be a snow day on WHW 🙂
    Be safe tonight and in the morning! It’s already 24 degrees in Brighton, so we shouldn’t have any problem getting down to the middle to upper teens overnight!
    A record?

  174. Is it okay to give a two day report from Milton? Yesterday, very strange–about 4 inches in the front of my house. Maybe, maybe 2 inches in the back. We’re talking of a difference of about 50 feet. Maybe. And then, around 2:30 yesterday, it started doing something–white pellets, not snow, couldn’t be hail, didn’t look like sleet. Now today, we must have been in a Charlie hole for the morning. Maybe flurries. But this afternoon, it started snowing and I, of course, had bus duty. And school buses just don’t run in the snow. When the bus finally came, I was so excited, I took the line out without bothering to put on my coat. And I thought it was kind of nice out there. Snowing, cold, but not too bad. My husband just came in from shoveling and thinks we got about 3 or 4 inches on the ground, but what really fell was probably more. Starting to get icy, good times, good times.

  176. Just measured 5″ in Coventry – 2″ fell in the initial burst this morning and then an additional 3″ fell this afternoon. That’s a two-day snow total of just under 10″. I’m impressed.

    Sitting at just under 44″ now on the season and a third of that has fallen since the start of spring :). Salvaging a respectable season with this late rally and we may not be done yet!

  178. I think we can agree with bright April sun and with temps only in the mid to upper 30’s the snow will all disappear by tomorrow afternoon? Tk can you chime in? I’ve heard and have seen 5 or 6 inches dissappear in hours in April sun. Ik Thursday won’t be a good day back to work bc of rain but Wednesday hmmmm?

      1. Perhaps the staff training you did in the snow today will pay off when they are working during the weekend snowstorm? 🙂

  179. Late this evening I shoveled my front porch and walkway. Thankfully my next door neighbor cleared my sidewalk earlier. This snow is like frozen cement…not just heavy, but stiff as well. Not to mention icy underneath.

  180. 4 inches of snow at Bradley today. 6.9 inches for the month of April. April so far has had more snow than Dec, Jan, and Mar for Bradley.
    Season total now 26.9 inches.

    1. Not too far from you……6″ reported in Rockland and 5.2″ in Kingston. So you are probably somewhere in that range.

  184. New post! I took the optimistic route for the weekend but we have to watch out because it’s going to be a close call between windy/cold/mainly dry and windy/cold/snow.

Comments are closed.