Weather Update for Saturday, 16 January 2010
Given Friday’s chaotic flavor at Mifflin—45-minute power outage to begin the day, necessitating an altered schedule; unplanned fire alarm halfway through the day, precipitating a trek across the street and another adjusted schedule—folks have been asking me when we can look forward to a snow day in the near future. I regret to inform you that there will be none next week, but I am happy to report that there is hope beyond that.
As far as Sunday’s event, I think we’re looking at all rain there. The rain could be heavy at times, particularly by the late afternoon and through the evening. Rain tapers overnight and could mix with a bit of sleet, but I feel confident this will be insignificant.
Temperatures continue to moderate from the below-normal deep freeze we had prior to this week. Expect highs low 50s today (Saturday) with the low only getting into the low 30s as clouds increase ahead of the storm system.
Sunday 1/17 will be rainy, as previously mentioned, breezy and chilly, with temperatures nearly steady in the mid 30s for the duration of the day.
Monday’s high will be in the mid-40s with mostly clear skies. A system comes through that could give us a coating overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, but it’s more likely that it’ll miss us altogether.
Wednesday 1/20 and Thursday 1/21 will be partly to mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 30s and lows into the low 20s.
Friday 1/22 could bring a little rain (and perhaps mixed precipitation late) ahead of a weak cold front, but again, this is not exactly a blockbuster.
I’m looking at a few potential schedule-changers for those of us charged with molding young minds. Depending on temps and timing, Monday morning the 25th could be just sleety and slippery enough to cause a delay, but not much more. An ice storm brewing around Friday the 29th could give us—dare we dream?—a glorious midwinter three-day weekend.
Beyond that, and into February, the pattern is setting up for another deep freeze and conditions are right for accumulating snowfall, which bodes well for wintry precipitation.
Stay tuned!
Monsoon's Forecast for 01.11.10, including WeatherTable
After a few quick flurries and snow showers in places overnight, we’re not likely to see snowfall again until the end of the month. There’s even a warm-up in our near future (hey—the 40s is a warm-up when you’ve been shivering below zero for what seems like weeks). Following a dip into the teens again tonight (Monday into Tuesday), I don’t think we’ll see temperatures below 20 again until month’s end.
Please to enjoy.
The weather:
Weather narrative: Gradually milder throughout the week, with highs by Friday approaching 50. There’s a weather system that may impact the area on Sunday into Monday, but it’s looking very good that it will pass well to our south and give us just some flurries and snow showers. (I’ll send an update if my thinking changes on this system.)
Next week will feature temperatures about normal (highs in the 30s, lows in the 20s). The following weekend brings much milder temperatures and some rainy conditions.
Beyond the forecast: The last week of January will see a return to colder temperatures and the potential for more winter weather.
Stay tuned for updates!
Monsoon's Snowcast for Thursday night's event
Sorry I didn’t give a heads-up regarding this morning’s snow showers and flurries. There were some traffic problems (multiple accidents on 222 through southern Berks; a tractor-trailer accident on a ramp of 176) due more to the timing of the snow than to any appreciable accumulation. Might have warranted a delay, but we’re here now, and the snow showers are over for the day.
Many of you have been asking about the Friday event. Over the past weekend, I was thinking the clipper could tap some southern moisture, bringing us as much as 4-6 inches. But it’s looking more like a typical clipper now. Here’s my call:
Light snow begins sometime after 8pm Thursday evening, then continues overnight and through the morning rush, tapering to flurries by 9 or 10am Friday. I expect a coating to an inch for most places, but isolated areas (particularly in areas north and west of Reading) might see as much as two inches.
Probability of cancellation Friday: 30%
Probability of delay Friday: 75%
I will send an update on Thursday if there is any change to my thinking on this event.
Behind this system, we’ll see a return to frigid, far-below-normal conditions, with highs this weekend in the 20s and lows in the teens. The next chances for snow are the 13th-14th (smaller event) and the 18th-19th (more significant event).
Stay tuned for updates!
Happy New Year 2010 - Forecast and Bunk greeting
My good people,
After the forecast, I’ve included New Year’s tidings from The Bunk, who wanted to be sure to thank his fans for their love and adoration over this past year or so. (His muzzle is shorn in a poodlishly arresting way to address some matting in the area. But we already know that, whatever the state of his coiffure— puff-out, buzz-cut, mop-top, cornrows, or high-top fade—he is, now and forever, The Bunk. And thanks to Jon and Lori at Total Dog for taking such good care of his coat, even when we don’t.)
Thu 12/31 - after this morning’s snow showers, which gave us two or three inches (and about which I intended to send a forecast update yesterday, but forgot—honest!), we’ll have snow and flurries developing in the evening and continuing overnight, accumulating an additional inch or two. Please be careful driving, as conditions may deteriorate right around when revelry may be at its peak. Low tonight 29.
Fri 1/1 - overcast with widely scattered morning snow showers. Temperatures becoming colder throughout the day with gusty winds, but the precipitation and winds should not cause travel difficulties. High 38, low 25.
Sat 1/2 - partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of passing flurries or snow showers throughout the day. Very windy for the duration of the day. High 30, low 17 with single-digit wind chills.
Sun 1/3 - partly cloudy, still quite windy, and even colder. High 28, low 14 with wind chills dipping down toward zero.
The week back to school - highs in the low to mid 30s; lows in the upper teens. Other than a chance of a passing snow shower or two on Monday 1/4, not much this week in the way of winter precipitation.
Next chances for winter weather - things are looking interesting for 1/11 and 1/12, and again on the 14th and 15th. Generally the pattern is setting up nicely for some winter weather in mid-January. Stay tuned!
"We'll take a cup of kindness yet, / for auld lang syne." Happy New Year, y'all!
Monsoon's End-of-the-Year Forecast, Featuring WeatherTable 7013
Yo yo yo,
Well, that Nor’easter really packed a wallop, huh? We had about 10 inches here in northern Lancaster County, a bit less in Reading, and in excess of two feet in some places in and around Philadelphia! Nothing like that in our immediate future, but there are a couple of winter weather potentialities in the forecast…
The weather:
Weather narrative: Pretty quiet until Friday, when Christmas is celebrated. A bit of sleet or freezing rain is possible very early in the morning, but temperatures will rise rather quickly into the mid- and upper-30s, so this will be rain. Look for widely scattered light showers and drizzle for the most part throughout the day, continuing overnight and into Saturday, when Boxing Day is celebrated.
The next few days will be cold, but not damned cold, like it’ll be the second half of the week. If you’re planning on being outside for New Year’s Eve, whether in Times Square for the dropping of the ball or in Dillsburg, PA for the Pickle Drop, temperatures will be in the teens as we herald in 2010, so bundle up!
Speaking of heralding in the New Year, we may see some snow around Saturday the 2nd or Sunday the 3rd…
Beyond the forecast: Frigid conditions will predominate until a mid-month “thaw” during which high temperatures will reach into the 40s and perhaps even the 50s. Reality sets back in later in January, along with the potential for more accumulating snowfall.
Monsoon's December Nor'easter Forecast
Well, well. A December Nor’easter. I’ll be damned.
Long term forecast is in the works, but what you really want to hear about is this weekend’s storm, so here goes…
Snow begins early Saturday morning (perhaps before dawn), rather light at first but intensifying after noon. Heaviest snow will be in the afternoon and through the evening. Snow will taper off overnight, though there’s a chance of a few light snow showers lingering into Sunday morning.
Temperatures will hold in the mid 20s for the entirety of this storm, so there will be no mixing and we’ll get good “fluff” (or snow ratios) here. There are also signs the system will slow down once it gets here, potentially increasing snow totals further. Watch for blowing and drifting as winds kick up in the afternoon and evening on Saturday.
Caveat: storms like this are notoriously difficult to predict, since we’re depending on the low to bomb out off the coast and drive the moisture into our area. A shift of 20-30 miles in track could affect the snow totals—and who gets hit—significantly. Here’s a look at the impressive area of moisture as it churns through the south…
But…no guts, no glory, so I won’t hedge. Here are my predicted storm totals:
Philadelphia and the immediate suburbs, northern Maryland and Delaware, and border areas of south Jersey: 10-14 inches; more in isolated areas
Lancaster, York, and Berks Counties, Lehigh Valley and vicinity: 6-10 inches; more in isolated areas
Lebanon, Dauphin and Cumberland Counties and the central portion of PA: 4-6 inches.
Stay tuned for tweakage and updates as they become necessary…
Monsoon's Precipitation Update: Tuesday night into Wednesday
A big system with a lot of moisture is headed our way for Tuesday night into Wednesday. Moderating temperatures, however, will mean that a good bit of this will fall as rain, rather than frozen precipitation.
Things get underway after 9pm Tuesday night with some light snow and flurries, as temperatures then will be hovering around freezing. We’ll see temperatures in the 31-34 range from Tuesday night until about 6 or 7 Wednesday morning, meaning there’s a decent chance we’ll see some snow and sleet at the front end of this mess. This could cause a bit of slush and even ice on roads, particularly during early-morning commutes. But by and large, this will be a liquid (not solid, or even semi-solid) affair; I don’t foresee any major delays or problems from this one.
As the morning wears on, temperatures will rise into the low 40s and the rain will get steadier and heavier, washing away any frozen stuff that has fallen overnight (and even what fell over the past weekend). Rain tapers toward late Wednesday afternoon as a very strong cold front moves through.
Temperatures on Wednesday night will reach down into the upper 20s. Highs for the rest of the week will only be in the mid 30s, and windy conditions will produce daytime wind chills in the 20s. (Thursday and Friday nights could even see single-digit wind chills, so watch out.)
More of the same (with a bit less wind) for the coming weekend.
Chance of a two-hour delay on Wednesday 12/9: 30%
Chance of cancellation on Wednesday: 15%
Stay tuned: I will update the situation as needed if my thinking changes on this system.
Monsoon's Precipitation Update for Tuesday night, 1 December 2009
Just wanted to alert you to two developing weather stories: heavy rain and wind on Wednesday and possible snow showers this weekend!
Wednesday 12/2 will begin with partly cloudy skies; clouds will increase ahead of a storm front. Expect light to moderate rain to begin by about 2 or 3pm. The rain will intensify (buckets!) throughout the evening and overnight, dropping three-quarters of an inch in most places with an inch or more locally. Watch for flooding in isolated areas. Temperatures will hold rather steady in the neighborhood of 50 for much of the day and evening Wednesday.
Rain will taper into Thursday morning, with a few lingering showers possible into Thursday afternoon. Look for strong winds in excess of 20mph—with gusts exceeding 30mph—overnight and into Thursday morning. Winds will diminish throughout the day on Thursday.
Expect a high into the mid 50s Thursday, followed by a low around freezing as the cold front completes its journey.
Friday 12/4 is looking sunny and cool with a high in the mid 40s and lows into the upper 20s.
On Saturday we could see a few rain and/or snow showers throughout the day, but right now it’s not looking like the moisture is organized enough (nor is the air going to be cold enough) to make this our fifth December 5th snowstorm in the 2000s. Expect highs not above 40 (and falling through the day) and lows Saturday night in the upper 20s. If this becomes anything to get worked up about, I’ll let you guys know.
Sunny, clear and calm for Sunday with a high in the low 40s and a low in the upper 20s.
Next week is looking cool with highs in the mid 40s, and even colder later in the week, when temperatures won’t even get out of the 30s. Look out for a bit of rain on Wednesday 12/9 or Thursday 12/10.
Stay tuned!
Monsoon's Quick Weather Update for Thanksgiving 2009
Gobble.
Just wanted to give you a quick update on the holiday weekend weather, as well as what to expect as we head into December…
Tuesday night: Misty and drizzly overnight with a low in the low 40s.
Wednesday 11/25: After a foggy early morning, expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered periods of light rain and drizzle. High 54, low 44.
Thursday 11/26: Clouds mixed with sunshine and a slight chance of an afternoon shower; rain more likely Thursday evening and overnight into Friday. High 58, low 40.
Friday 11/27: Cloudy, chilly and windy with showers throughout the morning and afternoon. Showers tapering at night with clearing overnight. High 44, low 33.
Saturday 11/28: Mostly sunny and very windy, particularly early. Slight chance of some early-morning light snow showers as precipitation moves away; no accumulation to speak of. High 47, low 32.
Sunday 11/29: Partly cloudy and breezy. High 50, low 35.
Monday 11/30: Partly cloudy to start, then clouding up with a chance of rain in the evening. High 53, low 39.
Tuesday 12/1: Overcast and rainy as a cold front moves into the area. Temperatures will dip precipitously at night. High 52, low 27.
The remainder of the week: Noticeably colder with highs only in the mid 40s and lows into the mid 20s.
The following weekend and beyond: Even colder, with highs not even making it out of the 30s for much of this period. The first chance of snowfall appears to be headed into the area around December 7th or 8th…
Have a restful and agreeable Thanksgiving break.
Monsoon's Forecast - including the official Monsoon Martin Winter Weather Outlook® for 2009-2010
After an unseasonably warm weekend, temperatures are going to take a steady nosedive over the next couple of weeks, leading perhaps to our first snowstorm! Temperatures overnight tonight will get into the mid 30s.
Below the WeatherTable and narrative is my Winter Weather Outlook for 2009-2010. Enjoy! Comments and counter-predictions are welcome.
The weather:
Weather narrative: Cooler this week with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Mainly dry with showers and drizzle possible late Thursday and throughout the day Friday. The weekend looks nice: highs in the mid 50s and autumnally crisp.
We’ll begin next week with a bit of rain, after which temperatures will begin to dip – highs will be in the upper 40s to about 50.
The following weekend is looking potentially interesting (note the four-letter word in the WeatherTable) and much colder.
Beyond the forecast: The cold trend will continue into December as highs stay in the mid to upper 30s and lows will continue to dip well into the 20s.
Winter Weather Outlook: And, as promised, here is the official Monsoon Martin Winter Weather Outlook® for 2009-2010. I’ve examined the data, I’ve crunched the numbers, I’ve consulted the models, and I’ve mulled my hunches. Here’s what I came up with…
Over all, I expect that the upcoming winter will be a bit colder than normal, and we’ll have a bit more snowfall than normal. (Snowfall totals for Berks and Lancaster Counties usually average in the range of upper 28” to 34”. Philadelphia and suburbs are usually in the low to mid 20s. This forecast is for Berks and Lancaster Counties only.)
December will begin with colder than normal temperatures and some wet snow by the 2nd week of the month. I think we could also see a small Nor’easter by mid-month. Things dry out for a couple of weeks, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day may be snowy. Predicted snowfall: 6”
January will begin with mild and rainy weather, followed by a period of relative pleasantness. By mid-month we’ll see some snowstorms (or ice storms), and they’ll make an appearance at the frigid end of the month too. Predicted snowfall: 12”
February looks bitterly cold, especially the first two weeks. I see a couple of Nor’easter storms this month, either of which could bring blizzard-like conditions and dump in excess of a foot of snow in the region. The month ends, and March begins, with moderating temperatures and rainy weather. Predicted snowfall: 18”
March will bring another smaller storm, and then we’ll see a warm-up by mid-month. This rapid thaw could bring significant flooding in some areas. Predicted snowfall: 4”
The Recap: An active winter lies ahead: temperatures will be a bit below normal with some bitterly cold periods; snowfall will be above normal. Look for snow totals in the vicinity of 40” by the end of the season. I’m predicting 3-4 school cancellations and 5-6 delays this season. Get those scrapers, shovels, and snow-blowers ready!
Quick Weather Update from Monsoon for Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Well. 30s and rainy last Thursday for the Renaissance Faire trip; 70s and sunny tomorrow. Last week I was shivering in the Shire, and today the ladybugs were desperately flinging themselves against my window by the hundreds. Could we have some “average” fall weather (highs in the low 60s and upper 50s; lows in the upper 30s or low 40s, with moderate precipitation)? The answer is yes, by the weekend. Here’s a quick update.
Thursday 10/22: pleasant and unseasonably warm with plenty of sunshine. High 74, low 48.
Friday 10/23: overcast and a bit cooler with showers developing by late afternoon, continuing and becoming heavy at times overnight. High 62, low 54.
Saturday 10/24: cloudy and windy with a shower or thunderstorm early, then clearing, remaining breezy, and cooling off. High 64, low 45.
Sunday 10/25: partly cloudy, seasonably cool and breezy. High 57, low 39.
Monday 10/26: partly cloudy and autumnally appropriate. High 60, low 41.
Tuesday 10/27: more clouds than sun; a few showers. High 62, low 48.
Wednesday 10/28 & Thursday 10/29: partly to mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with some showers possible late Thursday. Highs in the mid to upper 60s; lows in the upper 40s.
Friday 10/30 and Halloween weekend: cloudy, turning colder and perhaps a little rainy on Friday night (high 58, low 36). Clear and colder on Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the mid to upper 40s, and lows in the low 30s.
The first week of November: More of the same. Those of us who haven’t yet seen the first frost will see it this week. As temperatures could dip into the upper 20s at night and there is at least one interesting system moving through, we could see some…no. I dare not speak its name yet.
P.S. Major weather outlets have released (or are preparing to release) their 2009-2010 winter weather outlooks. I am preparing such a package of prognostication and will release it by month’s end.
Monsoon's "Fall or Winter?" Forecast for Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Happy Columbus Day!!
Not. I hate him.
Well, before long folks will be grumbling about the weather skipping autumn altogether and heading right into winter…and if you take a look at the forecast below, you’ll see the grumblers may actually have a point. Average highs for mid-October round here are in the mid 60s; average lows are in the low 40s. Check out what we’re in for…
The weather:
Weather narrative: The weather feels more like late fall than early fall, with temperatures well below normal. A bit of rain is possible every day from Wednesday through Sunday, but I’m seeing a lot of showers and drizzle rather than downpours and washouts, so outdoor plans for those days are still feasible. (The Renaissance Faire trip for students on 10/15 is looking cloudy and cold right now, but should not be spoilt by an abundance of rain.) There have even been some models producing a rain-snow solution for Friday night 10/16 in some outlying areas, but I think that’s highly unlikely to come to fruition.
By the latter part of next weekend, expect clearing and dry conditions with some warming toward seasonable levels by midweek.
Beyond the forecast: The trend for the last week in October is for seasonable conditions (highs in the low 60s, lows in the upper 30s to low 40s) and some more precipitation. I do think the first frost will hold off until the first or second week in November.
Monsoon's Weather Forecast, with WeatherTable
Hey, everyone…
I’ve caught my breath after the beginning-of-the-school-year sprint and thought I’d produce a forecast—complete with the first WeatherTable of the 2009-2010 school year. Weather-friends, I am also looking for suggestions: weather features, forecast tweakage, topic ideas…
The weather:
Weather narrative: Fall-like weather is here. Highs will be mainly in the 60s, lows in the 40s. (Toward the end of the forecast, it’s looking like 50s-30s!) Days to be on the lookout for rain include Saturday 10/3 (relative washout), Sunday 10/4 (just a few showers or a storm), and Thursday 10/8 (a few morning showers).
Beyond the forecast: At this point it’s looking like we’ll have a rainy start to the week, with precipitation possible on Monday 10/12 and Tuesday 10/13. Look for temperatures cooler than normal and a bit more precipitation than normal as we head into mid-October…
First Weather Forecast of the 2009-2010 School Year!
...but before we get to the weather, let me offer hearty and enthusiastic birthday wishes to Mallory King, who turns one tomorrow! As the Germans would say, "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag; auf dass den Hasselhoffskraft lächelen über Sie an!" which means, "Best wishes on your birthday; may the power of the Hasselhoff smile upon you!"
Now, onto the weather...
We've been in a dry period of late, and it looks like high pressure will predominate for the foreseeable future here in the region: even when I'm forecasting rain over the next two weeks or so, it's just a sprinkle here and a shower there for the most part. Enjoy...
Mon 9/7 partly sunny, clouding up late; slight chance of a shower or two. High 76 / Low 56
Tue 9/8 more clouds than sun, breezy; perhaps a bit of drizzle or even a shower. High 79 / Low 58
Wed 9/9 breezy, clouds dominate; drizzle or a few showers in the evening or at night. High 74 / Low 62
Thu 9/10 partly to mostly sunny, breezy and cooler; isolated showers late. High 69 / Low 56
Fri 9/11 partly to mostly sunny and pleasant. High 75 / Low 58
Sat 9/12 mostly sunny with patchy clouds. High 78 / Low 60
Sun 9/13 sun mixed with clouds. High 79 / Low 61
Mon 9/14 increasingly cloudy. High 76 / Low 54
Tue 9/15 partly sunny, more humid and cloudy with a few showers in the evening. High 79 / Low 53
Wed 9/16 cloudy with periods of rain; clearing late. High 72 / Low 53
Thu 9/17 mostly clear and pleasant. High 68 / Low 50
Fri 9/18 cooler; sunny and pleasant. High 65 / Low 46
Sat 9/19 sunny, clear, and damn near perfect. High 70 / Low 48
Beyond high temperatures climbing through the 70s for a few days following the forecast period, then seasonably cooler as we head into autumn.
Monsoon Weather Forecast / Farewell to the 2008-09 School Year
Hello out there in weather-land...
Sorry I’ve been incommunicado for some time – it’s the end of a long, long, long-assed school year and I just didn’t have the mojo.
But as I limp toward the finish line and gear up for summer, I can feel the mojo creeping back. Coming attractions over the summer for the Monsoon weblog: my “desert island discs,” reviews, more on The Bunk (who has been sick, but is recovering nicely), the return of the WeatherTable, and much, much more!
And so, I present the final weather forecast of the 2008-09 school year...
Thursday 6/4: Rain tapers throughout the morning following the heavy downpours we saw overnight. Expect occasional showers to develop toward evening, with another round of heavy downpours overnight into Friday. High 66, low 55.
Friday 6/5: Rainy, again, for much of the day. Breezy. Precipitation tapers to showers in the evening, but skies will remain cloudy. High 64, low 52.
Saturday 6/6: Partly cloudy, a bit warmer and quite pleasant. High 77, low 53.
Sunday 6/7: Partly cloudy and warmer, with increasing clouds late. High 82, low 60.
Monday 6/8: Clouds mixed with sun; a shower or thunderstorm possible late. High 84, low 63.
Tuesday 6/9: Cloudy and breezy with a shower or strong thunderstorm possible later in the day or in the evening. High 82, low 64.
Wednesday 6/10: Warm and humid with highs in the mid 80s; a few showers or thunderstorms are likely late. Low in the mid 60s.
Thursday 6/11: Partly sunny and less humid; breezy and much more pleasant. High in the low 70s, low in the mid 50s.
Friday 6/12: Sunny and clear. High in the low to mid 70s, low in the mid to upper 50s.
Next weekend: Overcast with rain possible on Saturday; highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s.
Beyond: Warming up considerably the following week, possibly getting into the 90s around the 17th or 18th.
Have a great summer!
Monsoon's How Hot Will It Get / Bunk-a-bration
How hot will it get? No, that’s not the title of the newest jam by Thugg Mugg featuring Flexx Nutz and Neecie Flambé. It’s a reference to the near-record temperatures, 20 degrees or more above the seasonal average high (the low to mid 60s), that await us this weekend.
But first, allow me to celebrate: Friday is the eight-month anniversary of The Bunk’s birth, and he’s still a delight. He is fully healed from his surgery and seems to be coping well with his no-nad-hood.
Some personality (caninality? clumsy as that sounds, I think it’s actually a word) quirks continue to emerge: he is an inveterate finger- and toe-licker, for reasons that even he would be at a loss to explain; he prefers to sleep whilst jammed up against a door, preferably lying on his back with his extremities in the air; one of his favorite pastimes is to splash around with his paws in a shallow receptacle—like a water bowl, for example; he has a weakness for toilet paper sur la rouleau (on the roll); he likes being brushed, but things take a sour turn when someone tries to brush, however delicately, in the area of his nethers—then he emits a reedy lamentation (which is unfailingly hilarious) and tries to bite the brush, and the brusher. In short, we love him.
So here are some recent pictures of The Bunk for your enjoyment.
The Bunk on The Couch 
The Bunk Examines Backyard; Gets Scritch from Monsoon 
The Bunk Slumbers in Splayed Contentment
Now, on to the weather. Let’s look first at the next five days or so...
Friday 4/24: Mostly sunny and warmer with mild southwest breezes. High 77, low 49.
Saturday 4/25: Plenty of sunshine, breezy and still warmer. The temperature should easily eclipse the record of 84, set in 2001. High 87, low 56.
Sunday 4/26: Sunny, clear and very warm. The temperature could challenge the record of 91 set in 1990. High 90, low 58.
Monday 4/27: Partly cloudy and continued very warm. We could again challenge a record: 92, set almost a century ago in 1915. High 89, low 56.
Tuesday 4/28: Partly cloudy and still warm, but not quite as balmy; increasing clouds and humidity. High 82, low 56.
The second half of next week is looking grey and wet (no, that’s not Rue McClanahan’s memoir of struggling to maintain her libido into her 70s, it’s just a description of the weather) with highs in the upper 60s, lows in the upper 40s, and rain possible on Wednesday and Thursday.
Next weekend, as we limp into May, we’re looking at conditions a bit below normal with highs in the 50s on Saturday 5/2 and the mid to upper 60s on Sunday 5/3, with cloud cover and rain possible on Sunday.
The first full week of May (Monday the 4th through Friday the 8th) is looking seasonably pleasant and right about average, with highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. The next really good chance of rain comes in around that next weekend, the 9th and 10th.
Monsoon's April Vicissitudes Weather Forecast for Thursday, 16 April 2009
It’s typical April weather: rainy and cool for a few days, then we’re going to have gorgeous weather for the weekend, and then we’re back down to the rainy coolness for the beginning of next week. Temperatures dipped below freezing last night (and may again tonight) giving us an unwelcome bit of frost on our windshields, followed during the commute by fog, and finally by sun-blindness. Totally fun!
Here’s the forecast for the coming couple of weeks, nosing into the beginning of May. Enjoy!
Friday, 4/17: clear and beautiful with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. Rather breezy. High 72, low 41.
Saturday, 4/18: partly cloudy, breezy and warm. High 76, low 45.
Sunday, 4/19: partly to mostly cloudy and cooler with some light breezes. Light showers are possible throughout the day, but don’t expect a washout. High 60, low 42.
Monday, 4/20: mostly cloudy, quite windy and colder with rain possible—including some steadier pockets of precipitation—particularly in the afternoon and evening. High 49, low 38.
Tuesday, 4/21: mostly cloudy and cool with a few showers possible, mostly light; clearing late. High 53, low 43.
Wednesday, 4/22: clearing and milder with breezy conditions. High 61, low 46.
Thursday, 4/23: sunny, clear, and seasonably magnificent. High 65, low 51.
Friday, 4/24: continued sunny and clear. High 68, low 55.
Next weekend: partly cloudy and nice on Saturday with a high in the mid 60s, then clouding up at night ahead of some Sunday rain, when highs will reach into the low 70s.
The following week: we’ll be near seasonal averages for much of the week, with highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 40s. Getting warmer (and actually more humid) toward week’s end ahead of some major moisture.
Beyond: it looks like we’ll begin May with a blast into the 80s (!) before moderating back toward seasonal averages. Stay tuned for updates!
Monsoon's Weather / Bunk Update for Sunday, 5 April 2009
I’m well overdue for a weather update, so here goes: we’re going to be fluctuating wildly through the coming weeks—60s one day, 40s the next; rain one day, brilliant sunshine the next—so be sure to dress and prepare accordingly. Just a little weather tip from your old pal Monsoon.
[A quick update on The Bunk, who had surgery to remove his testicles on Monday 3/30: he’s recuperating like a champ. He’s all hirsute energy, and was thrilled to have been freed from his “cone” (the Elizabethan collar) a couple of days ago—though he still wears it at night. Wound is healing nicely, all is well, and he’ll be visiting his friends at the Total Dog on Tuesday! Pretty soon I’ll let him address you all again, as he so memorably (and profanely) did the day of his surgery. A couple of snapshots appear after the forecast.]
Sunday 4/5 – sunny and very mild with a high in the mid to upper 60s. Clouding up in the evening ahead of an approaching cold front. Look for rain developing toward dawn on Monday. Low 48.
Monday 4/6 – overcast and rather windy with rain—heavy at times—and a thunderstorm likely. Watch for hail and damaging winds with the storm, though I don’t think we’re going to approach the widespread damage seen last weekend. Rain becoming intermittent in the evening, tapering to showers and drizzle late. High 59, low 43.
Tuesday 4/7 – mostly cloudy; clearing throughout the day. A shower cannot be ruled out early. Quite windy and markedly colder. High 46, low 29.
Wednesday 4/8 – partly cloudy, breezy and chilly. High 47, low 33.
Thursday 4/9 – partly cloudy with clouds rolling in late; rain possible in the evening and overnight. Milder. High 54, low 38.
Friday 4/10 – rather cloudy and breezy with showers and drizzle possible on and off throughout the day. High 52, low 45.
Next weekend is looking clear and seasonably mild for the holiday celebrations, egg hunts, and the like: clear to partly cloudy and breezy with highs in the mid to upper 50s and lows around 40.
Next week is looking rainy and cool—at least to start. Rain is possible anytime Monday through Wednesday, with highs only in the low to mid 50s. By Thursday and Friday we’re looking at clearing skies and somewhat milder conditions with temperatures getting into the upper 50s and low 60s.
Beyond we’re looking a bit rainy (April showers, and all that) and cool, followed by the warmest temperatures of the season so far around the 20th or 21st—highs perhaps reaching into the 70s!
The Bunk Pauses in Chewing Toy to Pant, Gaze Out Window. 
The Bunk Gazes Sweetly at Monsoon. On Far Left of Picture Lies Remnants of Ropy Triceratops Toy, Mercilessly Pulverized By Sweet Bunk.
Monsoon's Weather Update and Jibba-Jabba for Tuesday night, 23 March 2009
Habari mori,
Sorry I haven’t posted any weather (or jibba-jabba) for a little while. Kind of a lot going on in the world of Monsoon. The good news is that spring is here and everything is now looking up. Thanks to everyone who sent flowers, well-wishes, emails, texts, gifts, and of course, scrumptious meals (big-ups to Megan!!). We really are lucky.
A brief update on the weather appears below. Soon I’ll have a Bunk update, as tomorrow (Tuesday the 24th) is the seven-month anniversary of his birth!
Tonight will be clear and quite cold, especially for this time of year. Strong winds will diminish overnight; low will be in the upper teens.
Tuesday will be sunny and continued chilly, with temperatures a bit below normal. Expect a high in the upper 40s with moderate winds, and an overnight low in the mid 20s.
Wednesday looks partly cloudy, windy, and seasonably milder with a high in the mid 50s and an overnight low around 40. A few showers a possible late.
On Thursday temperatures will be nearly steady in the mid to upper 40s with overcast skies. Expect showers and drizzle off and on.
Friday looks quite nice: partly cloudy with a high creeping into the upper 50s to perhaps the low 60s; low only around 40.
The weekend will be overcast, chilly, and rainy. Expect rain mainly on Saturday, but showers and sprinkles* could linger into Sunday. Highs will get into the low 50s on Saturday, then only into the mid 40s on Sunday. On Sunday into Monday, temperatures could dip below freezing—possibly for the last time this season.
*A note about “sprinkles”: that is the proper term for precipitation that is steadier than drizzle but not quite steady enough to send people running for their umbrellas. “Sprinkles” is not the term for those small, oblong toppings that are used to coat an ice cream cone or doughnut. The proper term for these dessert toppings is “jimmies.” Anyone beg to differ?
Jimmies.
A postscript to the note: some have speculated that “jimmies” (used to refer to chocolate ones, with “sprinkles” being used to refer only to the rainbow-colored ones) is a racist term whose origin lies in “Jim-Crow” laws. I am just the sort of fellow who would all-too-eagerly believe in such conspiracy-theory bigoted origins. However, my own exhaustive research has revealed that this is not true; the term “jimmies” refers to the machine operator at Just Born, which made the “chocolate grains,” later known as “jimmies.” Further confusing the matter is that these items are also sometimes known as “hundreds-and-thousands” and “on-tops” (particularly in Britain, but these also refer to such cousins of jimmies as nonpareils). And that “jimmies” are slang in Canada (and elsewhere) for the genitals, and slang in some parts of the Northeast for prophylactics.
Where was I?
The last couple days of March (Monday and Tuesday) are looking partly cloudy with temperatures a bit lower than normal: highs in the mid to upper 40s, lows in the mid 30s.
Wednesday (April Fool’s Day, and Megan’s birthday) will see a sharp drop-off in temperatures as a moisture-laden system moves through. High will only get into the upper 20s, and we could get as much as six inches of snow from this event. Expect widespread school closures.
April Fool. (Come on—you didn’t see that coming?) Expect seasonably mild conditions with a high in the mid 50s and a low in the upper 30s for the first day of April.
The rest of the week is looking rainy and cool with temperatures mainly in the low to mid 40s.
The following weekend (and beyond) will see clearing and spring-like conditions: highs in the 50s and reaching toward 60!
Monsoon's Forecast for Saturday, 7 March 2009
Habari mori,
The big questions, as we come off a day of shirtsleeves and spring fever and temperatures in the low 70s, are: will it last? And, almost two weeks before the vernal equinox, is winter over? The answers, in short, are: no, too mild too soon; and yes, more or less.
The weather:
Weather narrative: I’m afraid today was just a cruel tease. We won’t return to the frigid conditions that we saw last week—nor will we have any more snowstorms to contend with—but neither will we enjoy spring-like weather again until late March, at the earliest. We’re looking for some rain to accompany an incoming frontal boundary over the next few days, so that particularly Sunday evening and Monday morning could be wet. Showers are also possible on Tuesday into Wednesday. Temperatures will dip just below what is normal for this time of year (highs in the upper 40s and low 50s; lows just above freezing). Next weekend is looking quite nice with seasonable temperatures and a break in the precipitation of the workweek. The following week will be markedly colder, with perhaps the last snowflakes of the season (but nothing that will cause scheduling headaches or travel woes) falling on Tuesday or Thursday. Future weather: The following weekend (the 21st and 22nd) looks unseasonably cool with highs in the low to mid 40s and lows in the mid to upper 20s.