N.O.A.A. had the predominant weather forecast correctly for the overnight, although I think they overestimated the cloud cover. When I stepped outside with Ike this morning the air hit me in the face like an icy wet rag. It was cold out there, and the snow was crunching underfoot. Ike made short work of his exercise, I added the Ashtrol to the outdoor wood boiler and got the two of us back inside. I have noted a change it what the N.W.S. reports. They used to report wind chill, and now they have a category entitled apparent temperature. I wonder what the difference is. How is it arrived at? If there is a formula, what is it?
The N.W.S. forecasts no precipitation for the first half of the day with light scattered snow showers developing after 13:00 hours (Cloud Cover: 15%/52%/89%/95%). There is some frozen precipitation appearing on the NEXRAD regional radar, and it is moving toward us from the southwest. The Weather Underground model forecast maps show the system at about the same point as the radar does, but they suggest that it will not start here in Wilton, Maine until nearly midnight, and it will last until sometime tomorrow morning. From my west-facing window I can see the clouds moving in from that direction. The T.V. prognosticators have been hinting at a major East Coast Storm for Sunday, but once again the Weather Underground model forecast maps say that the storm is going to go south of us, and may not affect us at all. Right now I am not sure who to believe.
My Weather Stick is currently expressionless with the prospect of 64% relative humidity. All three of my electronic instruments forecast fair skies with rising barometric pressure. The recorded low for the La Crosse Weather Station was 5.7°F, for the Min/Max Thermometer 5.6°F and for the remote weather station 15.1°F. The critters certainly make a difference in the barn. Their coats are amazing, very thick and luxurious. Because they have had a very good record, I am going to agree with the Weather Underground models and suggest that it will be very late this evening before we have any precipitation start, and that will be snow. At this point, and I know we are 72 hours out, I do not think we will have the major storm on Sunday. How is that for sticking my neck out. I may be wrong too, so it will depend on whom you believe.
Low Temperature (°F): 6.0
Current Temperature (°F): 6.4
Relative Humidity: 64%
Dew Point (°F): -3.2
Heat Index (°F): N/A
Barometric Pressure (in Hg): 30.32
Wind Direction: North Northeast
Wind Speed (mph): 2.4
Wind-Chill (°F): 6.4
Precipitation (Type): None
Amount (Inches): 0.00
Cloud Cover (AM): Clear
Cloud Type: None
Weather Stick: Straight
Comparative data for the overnight.
Temperature:24°F/24.4°F//18°F/18.6°F//14°F/11.1°F//12°F/7.54°F
Relative Humidity: 63%/63%//69%/55%//66%/60%//64%/65%
The N.W.S forecasts for the temperature was within 5°F of the recorded temperatures at all four forecast times overnight. The only relative humidity point that was missed was at 22:00 hours. Once again they did a pretty good job of forecasting these parameters.
Forecast data for today.
Temperature: 10°F/15°F/19°F/18°F
Relative Humidity: 57%/48%/40%/51%

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