N.O.A.A. had the predominant weather correct overnight. We had no precipitation, but the clouds have started to move in. This is in preparation for the onslaught that we are supposed to have later today. There was very little wind this morning, and the temperature was in the upper teens by 05:30 when Ike and I went outside. I am going to need to fill my Outdoor Wood Boiler this morning so I will not have to deal with it tomorrow during the storm.
The N.W.S. is forecasting light scattered snow showers this morning with heavier snow this afternoon. The cloud cover is supposed to increase from its estimated 74% at 04:00 hours to 96% by 07:00 and from there to 100% for the rest of the day. Looking out of my window the stratus clouds have already moved in and 96% would be a reasonable estimate for that cloud cover. We have not seen any snow showers yet, but I am sure they are coming. Their estimate of new snow for this area of Wilton, Maine is around 10" of new snow. There are some other prognosticators that are suggesting as much as a foot and a half for this storm. All I know is that we will get all of it that the storm has to give.
My Weather Stick is back to frowning at the 81% relative humidity. My electronic instruments do not agree among themselves as to the weather for today. The La Crosse Weather Station calls for foul weather with falling barometric pressure. The Min/Max Thermometer suggests unsettled conditions with rising barometric pressure. The remote weather station forecasts foul weather with steady barometric pressure. I guess I have my choice of forecasts. I did look at the NEXRAD regional composite radar, and there is a major slug of precipitation moving in our direction. It is already into western Vermont and will probably be here around noontime, if I read the map correctly. The Weather Underground model forecast maps also suggest that the storm's effect will begin to be felt around noon. Just to make things interesting the temperature forecast is for slightly above freezing temperatures this afternoon. That should make this a very messy storm. If it is all snow it will be wet and very heavy, and if not what is left on the ground will be difficult to move. For the overnight our low temperatures were 13.8°F, 13.5°F and 25.3°F.
Low Temperature (°F): 13.8
Current Temperature (°F): 16.8
Relative Humidity (%): 81%
Dew Point (°F): 1.9
Barometric Pressure (in Hg: 29.83
Heat Index (°F): N/A
Wind Direction: Calm
Wind Speed: 0.0
Wind-Chill (°F): 16.8
Precipitation (Type): None
Amount (Inches): 0.00
Cloud Cover (AM): Partly Cloudy
Cloud Type: Cirrus/Stratus
Weather Stick: Down
Comparative data for the overnight.
Temperature:33°F/26.2°F//28°F/21.7°F//23°F/17.4°F//19°F/13.8°F
Relative Humidity: 53%/57%//63%/63%//74%/70%//88%/77%
The N.W.S. did not do as well with their forecast overnight as they have been. They missed all but the 04:00 hour temperature forecast, and they had that one right only if you use the rounding rules. The only relative humidity forecast they had incorrect was at 04:00 and that by only 1%. This was not a bad result, just not as good as they have been lately.
Forecast data for today.
Temperature: 19°F/29°F/35°F/36°F.
Relative Humidity: 74%/63%/64%/64%

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