Saturday Forecast

124 Comments

9:40AM

DAYS 1-5 (MARCH 14-18)
No significant changes to the outlook posted yesterday. This means expect a gusty breeze, sunshine & fair weather clouds, and eventually a shield of higher clouds fanning into the sky later in the day in advance of low pressure that will pass south of the region Sunday. That is when we will see the high clouds retreat and a sunnier and less windy but colder day as polar air flows in from Canada, holding in place through Monday as well. Tuesday will be an unsettled day with the passage of a low pressure system, and while this system is likely to produce mainly light rain, there may be enough cold air around at the start for some locations, especially southern NH and northern MA, to experience some snowflakes. Another high pressure system approaches Wednesday, which will be a dry, breezy, and chilly day.
TODAY: Mostly sunny through mid morning, then partly sunny. Highs 45-52. Wind W 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.
TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 28-35. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 25-32. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY: Sunny. Highs 37-44. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 28-35. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Spotty light rain, may begin as snow in a few areas. Highs 45-52. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy evening. Clearing overnight. Lows 25-32. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
WEDNESDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 43-50. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (MARCH 19-23)
A quick temperature moderation possible March 19 which should remain dry. The remainder of the period as much less certain of a forecast as we’ll be near a boundary between cold air in Canada and warm air to the south of New England. This sets up a potential for unsettled weather and a shaky temperature forecast. The leaning is toward mostly rain for any precipitation but can’t completely rule out mix/snow either for portions of the region.

DAYS 11-15 (MARCH 24-28)
Additional unsettled weather around early to mid period. Temperature start near normal, end above normal.

124 thoughts on “Saturday Forecast”

  3. Thanks tk! I really do wonder if we will see any more significant snow this season. Guessing no but never counting it out until after the first week of April.

  5. Thanks TK !

    Out and about running errands, it’s a beautiful late winter, early spring morning. Happily spending some money into Marshfield’s local economy.

    1. Well done, Tom

      Not sure where I read it…could have been on here and apologize if I’m repeating…..one recommendation was to purchase gifts cards demo restaurants etc. The business will have the money now and we can enjoy a night out later

  6. Hello all,

    I want to share something with you that we just heard from our daughter.
    I cannot tell you the source, but she heard it from a friend of hers who is high
    up in school administration. She was told to be prepared as there will be a
    30 day lock down coming shortly. Don’t know exactly when but soon.
    Her friend says to be prepared.

    Take as you wish, but just wanted to let the WHW community know what I learned.

    3. This rumor has been out there for a week. And that’s all it is. People, even high-up administrators, have a way of rewording things, sometimes without even realizing it.

      The general advice for crises is to have a 30-day supply of essentials on hand. THIS is where the rumor springs from. Simple human psychology to understand the rest.

      Here at home we always have about a 30-day supply of essentials (non perishable items) and about a 2 week supply of everything else, which has been common practice for decades, taught to me by my wonderful parents.

      1. Thanks TK! I was getting worried. Of course with BPS shuttering down for 6 weeks and more local colleges going online with classes doesn’t help when new rumors come out and they seem very “official”.

        1. I don’t take anything as official until it is announced by someone in charge of whatever it is that is being impacted (country, state, city, sports event / arena, etc.)

          If everybody would do that instead of mass speculation, we’d avoid a whole lot of confusion. But the current ease of putting information out and getting it seen makes that a pipe dream once again.

      1. Ah ha. Hi MassBay. I’ve missed you. And you are absolutely correct. It may be rumor. Or may not be. But it has made a difference elsewhere. Must be that Belmont wisdom 😉

    1. And Boston will remain at #6, unfortunately. I put away my shovel back on Feb.11th. A sad task to perform but had no choice. 🙁

      1. Once again, assuming they don’t get additional snow between now and the end of April.

        Look back in history.
        I know I sound like a recording, but I’ve been doing this a long time. You can’t count the season over on March 14 let alone mid February. You can guess, and gamble, and maybe you’ll win it. But don’t complain if you have to drag the shovel out sometime in the next 6 weeks. 🙂

  11. I don’t know what is up, but we are hearing MORE planes flying overhead than we
    ever have. A change in flight path? Students exiting the city? I dunno.

        1. I’m usually under the approach path with a SE wind, and there are some times when it’s just several more, and there are other times when it’s 1 plane every 90 seconds. They are probably on a single approach path at the moment. Sometimes they will have a couple going.

    2. JpDave is right, awesome !

      It wasn’t anywhere near as spectacular, but there was a line of clouds that plowed by overhead that were very turbulent, with clearly visible upward motion and they were moving by super fast.

      1. Indeed ! The other thing it reminds me of is when a hurricane hunter enters the eye of a healthy hurricane and you see that tall column of cumulus clouds in the eye wall.

    4. Perfect lower atmospheric set-up. That was a cold front, outlined perfectly by basically the equivalent of a “morning glory” which is more common in other parts of the world. It is a glorified roll cloud, and completely harmless, just very beautiful.

  14. Ski resorts now the latest casualty of the CV…

    https://www.powder.com/stories/news/ski-resorts-beginning-to-close-due-to-covid-19-outbreak/

    Shame about Jay Peak. They have a 50″+ base on the trails, most snow in the East, and typically go until early May. This is probably the earliest in history they have ever closed.

    Most other resorts taking less rash measures such as limiting gondola capacities and limiting lodge capacities by removing/closing off every other table.

    1. Was at Wildcat today. They removed chairs to every other table to promote safe distances. Everyone seemed to be fine and just rolled with it.

      1. Yeah, I have read statements from several ski resorts now and that is what most are doing. The risk on a chairlift in the open mountain air is pretty much near zero. It’s the crowded base lodges where things could potentially get spread.

        Unfortunately with this scare, I think you are going to see more and more resorts closing earlier than they would have simply because of lack of business. Business tends to tail off this time of year regardless, even if conditions are good.

        Killington will be the definite exception. They will go well into May come hell or high water.

  16. Our son is sick and he called his PCP because he is a Lyft Driver and
    was picking up people from the airport before he stopped driving last week.
    The doc said to self isolate and monitor his symptoms. They wouldn’t test
    at this time.

    IMHO, ANYONE who is sick and wants to be tested SHOULD be tested, if for nothing else piece of mind and their own mental health. But who the Bleep listens to me anyway.

    I HATE the way this illness is being handled! HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT!!!
    PATHETIC!!!! We, as a nation, should be ASHAMED!

    1. Arghhhhhhhhh. So sorry. Keeping your son in our prayers

      My six year old grand has been exposed to a confirmed case in school as of yesterday. They want to be swabbed. But I wonder if they even have enough tests.

      1. They don’t have the tests. Not right now anyway.

        This country’s handling of this situation is beyond DISGUST!!!!!

  17. I’m a little disheartened at the relative normality of business on the streets today, including gatherings of 10 or more people. Saw, for example, a group of about 20 people walk down Cambridge Street. As I was wondering where they could be coming from I asked one where they’d been. He said, “a comedy club.” People, this is serious. If we want to prevent a lock-down, as is happening in Spain and Italy (France is next) we must practice social distancing on a daily basis. Cancelling conferences, schools, sporting events, and museums is next to useless if we’re not practicing social distancing in everyday interactions.

    Keep in mind how China and Korea effectively defeated the virus in about a 3-6 week span. Do we have to be that rigorous? No. But, we’ve got to be less careless than we are now.

    It seemed yesterday that there was much less traffic, fewer people out and about. And that’s a good thing. I was heartened, as this leads to flattening the curve.

    But seeing today’s traffic on the roads (not as busy as normal, but pretty close) and all those groups of people clustered together essentially undoes what was done yesterday. Social distancing has to be systematic. Can’t be piecemeal.

    And we can’t just practice social distancing on weekdays because our workplaces have told us we can work from home. It’s got to be practiced on weekends, too. It’s fine to go out for a walk, go to a store, maybe even grab a to-go cup of coffee somewhere with a friend. However, it’s not good that droves of people are still doing this together in crowded spaces.

    1. It is why people were so slow to get supplies and everyone did it at once. We live in a world of denial. We started preparing…….responsible……a month ago. But we normally practice social distancing…..although we always called it common sense…..if any of us are sick. I never understood why people want to share illness.

      Stepping off my soapbox by concluding with …..you cannot fix stupid

      1. Indeed, Vicki.

        And, it is partly people getting supplies. But, I was struck by how many people were in Starbucks, and several restaurants were full as well. I would have thought that people would take a break from that for 2 or 3 weeks. In just 2 or 3 weeks you can achieve a lot of flattening of the curve.

        As you know, I’m not alarmist about this virus, but I take it seriously. And now I see that France is effectively in shut-down mode (closing all restaurants, cafes, shops). I don’t want us to get to that point. In order not to we must practice common sense social distancing.

        1. But we get to the point of shutdown because we do not do what we should to begin with. It’s what I say when people complain about any regulation. If we self regulated ……we would not need to be told.

          The president standing with a group and shaking hands after KNOWING he was exposed set an example that disgusts me. Then they announced temps of anyone visiting President are being taken. When one cares about only him or herself…this is what happens

          And yes, I know pres ws finally tested. He said he had test because people asked about it at presser. When stupid comes from the top…….well, I’ll let it go at that.

          1. And lest anyone wants to say I am being politically biased, I have always thought baker is the bees knees and would be a great president. I thought his comments were beyond moronic yesterday ….

  18. On the tv news yesterday a woman was interviewed coming out of the supermarket filled with 30 boxes of Cheerios and showing it off no less. I say this hording of products is borderline sinful imho.

    I bet those Cheerios will be long since expired by the time they will be finished. I really wish people would stop this nonsense so the stores can restock their shelves.

    1. In the Netherlands the conservative, pro-market government steps in – as it should – and mandates that stores not allow hoarding. So, for example, a maximum of, say, 3 boxes of cereal. This is in order to prevent others from not having anything, and to ensure there is no price gouging as people sell excess supplies at exorbitant prices.

      I’m a firm believer in capitalism, but I recognize its underbelly. Markets work very well … until they don’t.

    3. Thanks guys. He’s OK for now. Needs to be watched next 24-48 hours.
      He is at risk for coronavirus, but it may not be that. If in doubt, one should be tested and right now that can’t happen. DISGUSTING.
      He is quarantined for 14 days.

  20. Has Massachusetts setup drive up testing for the coronavirus? Here in CT we got two locations and one of them is close to me.

    1. Good question Framingham did. Walmart literally a stones throw from us is setting aside space. I’m not sure who else.

  21. Just got a call from my brother in Maryland. He’s got flu symptoms (fever, chills, cough, aches). Probably is the flu, even though he had a flu shot. However, he’s a doctor so he’s at risk for getting Covid-19 by virtue of his seeing sick patients (with kidney disease – he’s a nephrologist) all the time. He’s been told to self-isolate and quarantine and that there are NO tests available at this time at his hospital in Baltimore. He was told “maybe next week?” How is this possible?

    3. Joshua I am sorry to hear that. To me that is unacceptable that there are no tests available. I hope your brother gets better soon.

    5. Same thing my son was told. To quote: “We currently don’t have the tools”
      We “should” have better tools available on Monday!

      Despite what we were told yesterday, IT AIN’T HAPPENING!!!!!!

  22. Only 475 people have been tested for covid 19 in mass. 123 of those have it. Imagine now how many have it but can’t get tested yet. By this time next week we should have a better idea of the numbers and those thinking everything is an overreaction will be on the side of thinking we are underreacting. Just my thinking.

    1. Also another thing to note in my research on this subject – doctors from china and south korea have stated they saw improvements in patients that weren’t doing well by intravenous Vitamin C injections (a high dosage). I’ve been upping my daily vitamin c intake anyway just to help what little I can to be healthier.

      2. Son is huge on health. I suspect you are too. Since they are exposed by his son they are ordering C also. He said

        stick with jarrow, thorne or pure encapsulation. they are 3 very well established and respected supplement companies.

    3. Agree Dr I think next week is going to be a big wake up call for a lot of people . My wife & I spent the better half of today giving the house a deep cleaning to help get the germs out .

      1. And to add I do not want anyone coming over here including family . My mission is to keep my wife & son as safe as possible . Beautiful fat today I was able to open up some windows .

    4. Imagine now how many have it but can’t get tested yet

      That may be the understatement of the century!!!

      NY Governor Andrew Cuomo stated yesterday I believe something like:
      “I Know there are many people walking around out there that have coronavirus”.

  23. New York has the most cases in the country. Unfortunately today two people have died one in NYC and another in Rockland county. The one in NYC was a woman 82 years old with underlying health issues.

    1. Yes. Me too.

      If we can just get the damn testing up and running, we can determine if there are 2,600 cases or 52,600 cases.

  27. A quick break to weather: Barry has 73F for next Friday.

    Wasn’t this the day for the sneaky big (potential) snow? Hmmmm. 😉

  28. Vicki Teaneck, NJ is in the northern part of NJ so I don’t believe this will impact WxWatcher.

  30. Last I heard Gov. Baker still refuses to order all schools closed. If I understand correctly the medical community believes that will make things worse. Who exactly is advising him? What authority?

    1. Many ignored him and closed anyway. Anyone who says no assembly of more than 250 and there are far more than 250 together in schools is anything but logical

    2. He is going to remember this because he is not being a responsible Governor. I heard him today say this. I just don’t get his stance here does he not want to man up & say I was wrong .

  31. The same thing is happening here in CT where the schools are closing on there own without Governor Lamont ordering all schools to close. When Lamont waived the 180 day school day the other day most schools started to shutdown for Friday or starting Monday. Most schools will be closed for two weeks but some are closed indefinite.

    1. The Mayor of New York has no problem canceling school statewide maybe Baker can learn something from NY but I highly doubt that

  35. I could be wrong but my understanding is that Gov. Baker is trying to give individual districts the freedom to shut down on their own timing before issuing a statewide closure. Many districts are providing necessary meals for food insecure students and they have to cut through red tape (to allow meals for kids outside of school hours) and then put in place alternative feeding programs. As an example – the time taken putting these logistics in place caused the delay of the closure of the BPS.

    I don’t think by allowing schools the discretion to remain open the governor is implying that students should attend. But I think he is looking out for the physical care and welfare of vulnerable students.

    2. Mama, your points are always logical. And that is Very possible. To me, many schools sadly are not showing the best sense. I know of six off the top of my head that made questionable choices. One has a grandson and family in quarantine. The school allowed a student with known exposure to attend until positive. Not in MA. It seems to me that the policy of waiting until your school has a positive just seems wrong. Experts are warning that we may have a lot of folks, especially children, with COVID who have no symptoms. Many kids have family at home who are immune compromised.

      I’m curious if anyone knows how many schools are not closed?

      I do understand some students rely on school meals which is a serious problem. To me addressing this should have been a top priority weeks ago. And a group of 250 makes no sense. But it is easy to be a Monday morning QB.

      Also another question that’s been on my mind. What do students who rely on meals do during school vacations?

      1. As I think more, I know I need to be more positive re baker. I’ve always liked him. I think had he addressed questions like mine, it would have put some at ease. Thanks for evening my sails 🙂

  37. Good morning….
    And on it goes…

    re: weather
    blah blah blah. Perhaps something down the road. We shall see.

    1. Still can’t believe Worcester won’t receive any snow in march. And there pretty much wasn’t any to speak of in feb.

      Strip put that December one off storm and I bet this would have landed top five least snowy.

  39. Nice little jab Phil. 😉

    If you read my discussions, you’d have noted that I 1) stated that that period of time was highly uncertain and 2) we were likely to be near the boundary of very warm air (south) and much colder air (north), which, I might add, is not unusual at all, especially this time of year. March is one of most volatile months, but volatile does not mean stormy, necessarily. It means volatile. Barry made that forecast of 73 and stated on the air that it may not work out. And it may not. I’m leaning mild for that day myself, but not that warm. And if you really must know, the date I was leaning toward for the possible “sneaky” snow would be March 21. But that would need us to be back in the cold air (which we will be) and have an additional low pressure wave (which we may or may not have). This unknown factor is also not unusual when looking at the weather, and trying to forecast it, nearly a week into the future. Nothing new there. If models were that good, I could walk away from the blog now and just post up a link for the “perfect” models, and folks like Barry could have retired a long time ago. Well, I guess we’re safe for now. 🙂

    Updating the blog now…
    I put the update as 3rd priority today behind a sunrise drive to the beach for some photos and a walk, and mom’s errands now that her church is postponed and she wouldn’t have ventured out due to her current health situation and just her own safety because of her vulnerability to any illness right now, not even just C-19.

  40. From CNN:

    Washington (CNN)The nation’s top infectious disease expert on Sunday did not rule out supporting a temporary national lockdown of the country’s restaurants and bars in order to curb the spread of coronavirus, saying he’d like to see a “dramatic” reduction in activity in order to fight the disease.

    Asked by CNN’s Brianna Keilar on “State of the Union” if he’d like a “national lockdown” where people are being told they need to stay home and out of restaurants and bars, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said he’d “like to see a dramatic diminution of the personal interaction that we see” in those places.
    “Whatever it takes to do that, that’s what I’d like to see,” Fauci added.

    1. South Boston announced all bars & owners agreed to shut down today as dozens stand outside waiting to get in . That’s great but why not make this announcement yesterday why day of . Am I complaining a lot or am I right that Boston particular just seems to be going backwards

      1. Without a national directive on this, I think, across the country, were moving towards everything being shut at different paces.

        I think if we want it to move quickly, someone is going to have to communicate to the country that we’re completely shutting down.

  41. For anyone with kids or a child at heart who has Disney+, they released frozen 2 earlier than planned for kids at home from school.

  42. This is long

    Temporary Closure of Certain State Conservation and Recreation Managed Facilities

    BOSTON – Out of an abundance of caution due to the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has announced the temporary closure of certain agency managed facilities effective Saturday, March 14, 2020 through Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at which time DCR will reassess circumstances. Additionally, during the temporary closure all associated events at these locations are cancelled.

    Importantly, all state parks and comfort stations across the Commonwealth remain open and available for the public to utilize. DCR reminds residents and visitors to avoid gathering in large groups, maintain social distancing, and practice healthy personal hygiene to stop the spread of the virus.

    The temproary closures of certain facilities is consistent with the State of Emergency declared by Governor Baker on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 and guidance that conferences, seminars and other discretionary gatherings, scheduled and hosted by Executive Branch agencies involving external parties are to be held virtually or cancelled. Additionally, Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order prohibiting most gatherings of over 250 people to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

    For information about the Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing efforts to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, please visit the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) website.

    DCR Facilities
    CLOSED until April 1, 2020 – Effective Immediately

    Mount Greylock State Reservation Visitor Center,
    30 Rockwell Rd, Lanesborough, MA

    Walden Pond Discovery Center, 915 Walden Street, Concord, MA

    Fall River Heritage State Park Visitor Center, Davol Street, Fall River, MA

    Lawrence Heritage State Park Visitor Center, 1 Jackson Street, Lawrence, MA

    Mount Holyoke Range State Park Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street, Amherst, MA

    Roxbury Heritage State Park Visitor Center, 183 Roxbury Street, Boston, MA

    Middlesex Fells State Reservation Botume House Visitor Center, 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham, MA

    Wompatuck State Park Visitor Center, 204 Union Street, Hingham, MA

    Purgatory Chasm Reservation Visitor Center, 198 Purgatory Road, Sutton, MA

    Dunn State Park Visitor Center, 289 Pear Street, Gardner, MA

    Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center,
    100 Winsor Dam Road, Belchertown, MA

    Melnea A. Cass Recreation Complex,
    120 M.L.K. Jr. Boulevard, Boston, MA

    Daughters of the American Revolution Campground,
    78 Cape Street, Goshen, MA

    Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground,
    260 Central Shaft Road, Florida, MA

    Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turner Falls, MA

    Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center at Worcester
    3 Paul Clancy Way, Worcester, MA

    Holyoke Heritage State Park Visitor Center, 221 Appleton Street, Holyoke, MA

    Halibut Point State Park Visitor Center, Gott Avenue, Rockport, MA

    Borderland State Park Visitor Center, 259 Massapoag Avenue, North Easton, MA

    Breakheart State Reservation Visitor Center, 177 Forest Street, Saugus, MA

    Maudslay State Park Visitor Center, 74 Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport, MA

    Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park River Bend Farm Visitor Center, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge, MA

    Wachusett Mountain State Reservation Visitor Center, 345 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA

    Western Gateway Heritage State Park Visitor Center, 9 Furnace Street, North Adams, MA

    Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Visitor Center,
    131 Waquoit Highway, East Falmouth, MA

    Beartown State Forest Campground,
    69 Blue Hill Road, Monterey, MA

    Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground,
    Cold River Road, Charlemont, MA

    Scusset Beach State Reservation Campground, 22 Scusset Beach Road, Sagamore Beach, MA

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