All these things lead to colder temperatures. There will be, and already has been, significant radiational cooling. We never even made it to 20°F today, and already we are into the single numbers (8.9°F). I think we may get well below zero overnight. We had plenty of snow blowing around today, and at my snow gauge I currently read 26" of snow on the ground at that point. There are other areas around my yard where there is over 3' of snow on the ground, and then there are the drifts as a result of the snowblowing and plowing. At the end of my lower driveway there is over 6' of snow. So, N.O.A.A. had the predominant forecast right with the blowing and drifting snow today. I heard the total for Portland Maine at 71" of snow for the season. They had some rain and sleet when we had snow so our total of 109" of snow for the season is realistic.
The N.W.S. forecasts no precipitation but plenty of cold air with decreasing cloud cover (40%/30%/20%/14%). I reiterate that it is going to get a lot colder tonight. The NEXRAD regional composite radar does not show any echoes in, near or headed in our direction overnight. The Weather Underground model forecast maps paint a very unpleasant picture. Tomorrow is supposed to be a pleasant, but cold day. Starting around midnight a storm is now expected to start to affect us, and for the next 18 or so hours we will see some significant precipitation. Because of the track of the storm the coast of Maine may see some sleet or rain while the interior (we are in the interior in Wilton) will see some significant snow. Oh joy, more snow, maybe as much as a foot.
My Weather Stick is expressionless at 69% relative humidity. All three of my electronic instruments forecast rising barometric pressure. Two of them forecast fair skies overnight while the remote weather station forecasts clouds. It just has not caught up with the rising barometer. I predict that we will have a cold blustery night with temperatures going below zero. I do not think it will warm up at all tomorrow until the clouds begin to filter in heralding the approach of another storm. Our high temperatures today were 13.2°F, 18.9°F and 18.5°F on the usual instruments.
High Temperature (°F): 13.2
Current Temperature (°F): 10.0
Relative Humidity (%): 69%
Dew Point (°F): 1.8
Barometric Pressure (in Hg): 29.92
Heat Index (°F): N/A
Wind Direction: North Northwest
Wind Speed: 6.2
Wind-Chill (°F): 0.2
Precipitation (Type): None
Amount (Inches): 0.00
Cloud Cover (PM): Mostly Cloudy
Cloud Type: Nimbostratus
Weather Stick: Straight
Comparative data for today.
Temperature:13°F/7.5°F//17°F/9.5°F//20°F/12.7°F//21°F/10.5°F
Relative Humidity: 48%/77%//38%/74%//33%/72%//32%/69%
The N.W.S. missed both the temperature and relative humidity forecasts at all four points for today. I do not know if it was the wind mixing up the atmosphere or that the front did not do what it was supposed to do, but they missed them anyway. This is not at all like they have been doing lately.
Forecast data for the overnight .
Temperature: 11°F/8°F/5°F/3°F.
Relative Humidity: 57%/63%/68%/71%

E-mail this entry to a friend