Vermont-Bound

Dan Amarante is in the house tonight! He's got your latest forecast. I am away from my computer on my way to snowboard in VT!! Serious powder on the way! He'll take good care of you.

Can't wait to try out my new reverse camber board!!!

A Little White Christmas Eve, Then Ice

From the 12Z NAM BUFKIT. Read from right to left

While snow will be falling for midnight mass tonight, snow will likely change over to a period of freezing rain or freezing drizzle.  I circled in white the areas where snow growth is favored.  After that time ~3am or so, there will not be many ice crystals to start the snow growth process.  At the same time, drier air is moving in aloft (Relative humidity is the green/red shading). That means...freezing rain becomes more likely after that time.  So I'm not expecting more than a coating to an inch of snow, followed by a coating of ice. Watch for slippery spots early Christmas morning.  I'm not expecting big problems on the road with little moisture to work with.  But it doesn't take much ice to make the roads slick.

Snowing For Santa

Today is looking good for any travel and holiday plans. Sunshine this morning will give way to increasing clouds in the afternoon as a weak disturbance approaches. Light snow will move in later tonight, mixing in with a cold rain at times, especially along the shoreline. This wintry mix will linger into early tomorrow morning. Some towns could get a white Christmas just in time for Santa with a coating to an inch of accumulation inland. Any rain/snow ends early Christmas followed by clearing.

When It Rains, It Pours. Heavy Rain & Gusty Winds Friday!

Showers will develop tonight.  The highest elevations in northwest Connecticut could briefly see a few mangled snowflakes or sleet pellets. Rain will become heavy towards daybreak tomorrow, just in time for the morning rush! Minor flooding is possible in the typical poor drainage areas.  But wind isn’t the only obstacle tomorrow morning. The wind will howl out of the southwest at 20 to 30 mph and occasional gusts up to 50 mph. After a wet start to the day, drying will occur this afternoon with partial clearing.

Cold returns behind the storm Saturday and beyond with temperatures struggling through the 30s for most days next week.

A few lake effect snow showers are possible Saturday, especially in northwest Connecticut. Sunday and Monday look chilly and breezy but dry. Light snow could return Christmas morning.  Not enough to coat the ground but just enough to set the mood for the holiday!

By the way…Winter arrives tomorrow at 6:12 AM!

Behind the Scenes At FOX CT

I love our newest weather promo.  No DOPPLER 5,000,000 promos.  Just the team you trust giving you an accurate forecast without any hype.

Here Comes The Rain Again...

Most of Wednesday will turn out sunny with increasing clouds later in the afternoon as our next storm approaches. Showers arrive overnight and might briefly mix in with a few sleet pellets in the highest elevations. Rain will come down heavy at times Friday morning through midday before tapering off.   The evening commute looks dry.   A gusty northwest wind will carry a fresh shot of cold air behind the storm on Saturday.  A few lake effect snow showers are possible. High temperatures will get stuck in the 30s Saturday through ALL of next week! Brrrrrr....

Geminid Meteor Shower & A Stormy Week Ahead

Our recent stretch of beautiful December weather is almost over! Enjoy two more dry days before then a series of storms threaten to bring winter weather Sunday through Wednesday of next week.

But before we get ahead of ourselves….the Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight!  This is considered the most impressive show of the year with up to 100 meteors an hour (under perfect conditions).  The meteor shower will pick up after 10 PM before peaking at 2 AM.  The new moon will set early, providing no light interference.  The sky will remain mostly clear for the majority of the evening with some high clouds possible late.  Look for the constellation Gemini, which can be found near Sirius (the brightest star in the sky).  The constellation will rise in the northeast. Bring a hot drink and a blanket to stay warm!  Temperatures will drop into the 20s inland, low 30s for the shoreline.

Friday will be slightly milder as temperatures flirt with 50 degrees in some towns! Satuday is about 10 degrees cooler in the wake of a cold front that will set the stage for winter weather. The first disturbance looks more like a nuisance event than anything else. Light snow starts Sunday morning inland before mixing in and changing over to rain. A light accumulation is possible. The shoreline will likely start and finish with rain.

Here’s where our forecasting confidence takes a big ol’ nosedive.  Do we get a break in the action Monday and Tuesday?  OR do several disturbances blend together with a few days of cold rain and an icy mix?  For now, I think Monday and Tuesday will serve as a little break before a bigger storm (nor’easter) develops on Wednesday. If this storm tracks close enough to us, this could end up being a heavy rain and wind event for us.  But there is a lot of uncertainty in the track and timing of this event.  So just keep an eye on the forecast for Wednesday in the coming days as we put the pieces to the puzzle together. 

Vote For Fightin' Frank! ROUND TWO!

Who would win in a fight? ME or WFSB anchor Hena Daniels? Vote for Fightin' Frank on the latest CTBoom poll here! (This is not a real fight, nor do I actually win anything...AND I think Hena is awesome. This is just for fun!)

Here are some shots of me training for this epic battle...

Calm Before The Storm(s)

The next few days will be the calm before the storm…or storms.  Sunshine will mix with some high clouds again on Thursday with temperatures near average, in the low to mid 40s.  Friday is sunny and a little milder with some towns approaching the 50 degree mark.  Cooler air starts to move in Saturday, setting the stage for some winter weather.  There are several chances for a messy mix starting Sunday and lasting through Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

A disturbance on Sunday looks more like a nuisance event with light snow mixing in or changing to rain.  In fact this “storm” looks more wet than white. But a bigger nor’easter may be in the pipeline for the middle of next week.  This could be a long duration storm with more cold air available and higher snow potential.  Notice…I said potential. The timing and track of this storm is highly uncertain.  We’re still talking about something that’s about a week away and the computer models are all over the place. For now, keep an eye on the Tuesday-Wednesday timeframe.  Enjoy the tranquil weather and we’ll figure out the details soon enough. 

Quiet...For Now.

Quiet, tranquil weather will continue straight through the start of the weekend!

Skies will clear out tonight with temperatures tumbling into the 20s inland, low 30s for the Connecticut shoreline.

Sunshine will mix with some high clouds at times on Wednesday as a coastal storm passes well southeast of Connecticut.  Temperatures will be seasonably cool the next two days.  Then look for a brief warm up on Friday with temperatures returning to the upper 40s to near 50 degrees.

Then things start to get more interesting.  Saturday looks partly cloudy and dry. But a cold front will help unlock some cold air that has been hiding to our north so far this season.  Plus, with a big blocking high over Greenland, storms will get forced to travel through the northeast.  What does this all mean?  We have the potential for just enough cold air to get some snow Sunday and Monday. How much?  Will the snow mix with cold rain?  If I had answers for you, I would only be guessing this far out.  But in terms of snow…I’m sayin’ there’s a chance!  

Is The Road Closed?

Was there a sale on signs?

Stupid Hartford busway project.

Santa Baby

Santa is a ladies man

I agreed to participate in the Chaz and AJ Toy Drive at Bridgeport’s Webster Bank Arena last Friday.  I was psyched to help collect toys for needy children.  So how did I get conned into singing Santa Baby with other ladies involved in local news?   Still trying to figure that out.  But they raised over $87,000 in toys and cash! Great job!

Funniest part about the whole thing?  This podcast from ctboom.com talking about my mean looking "handler".

You can find the video of us singing here.  Just look for the video called "Hot News Babes Sing 'Santa Baby'.

Quiet, Calm, Boring This Week. But Things Could Get More Interesting Next Week. #LongestBlogTitleEver

Periods of rain and drizzle continue tonight as a cold front approaches. Temperatures will stay in the 50s for most of the evening before dropping into the 40s around daybreak on Tuesday.

Clouds will break for sunshine Tuesday as the cold front zips through the state. Temperatures will tumble from the 40s for the morning commute, into the 30s by the time you’re sitting down for dinner. A coastal storm passing well to our south and east could graze Connecticut with some high clouds on Wednesday. Otherwise, the rest of the week looks sunny and quiet with temperatures in the 40s. Our next chance for rain or snow starts Sunday. Actually, the beginning of next week looks cooler and unsettled. Is this the pattern change winter lovers have been hoping for? No. I don’t see a prolonged period of cold. But at least one or two arctic blasts could prove promising in the next few weeks.

Long range snapshot for next Wednesday. Blocking pattern early next week could lock in enough cold for snow.
See?  Some people out there still use Window's Paint program! HA!

Wet & Mild Start To The Week

Rain will mix in with sleet at times tonight as a warm front approaches. Luckily temperatures will remain above freezing, dropping into the upper 30s to low 40s. So icy roads will not be an issue.

An umbrella is more essential than a winter jacket tomorrow. High temperatures will approach 60 degrees with periods of rain and drizzle. Winds will gust out of the southwest up to 30 mph at times. Showers will continue off and on through the evening before clearing out Tuesday. Tuesday is noticeably cooler but dry with early clouds breaking for sunshine. The rest of the week is quiet with temperatures near or above average for this time of year. The next chance of rain or snow is next weekend.

Mild With A Side of Cloudy

Hopefully you took a good mental snapshot of today’s sunshine. The next several days look dreary and wet at times. But the clouds also come with a boost in temperature. This is not good news if you were hoping to see some snow…or even just snow making weather for local ski resorts. Tonight remains chilly, for now. Clouds will thicken up as the evening progresses with temperatures dropping into the 20s inland, near 30 for the Connecticut shoreline. Monday will be mostly cloudy and mostly dry with highs in the low to mid 40s. But a few showers will develop, mainly late in the day. Showers continue off and on during Saturday, as temperatures return to the 50s. The one reprieve I see is Sunday when we could squeeze in one dry day before more rain arrives Monday. Cooler, drier weather follows for the middle of next week.

WPLR Interview This Morning

In case you missed it, here's my interview with Chaz & AJ on WPLR from this morning. I'm previewing tomorrow's Toy Drive at Webster Bank Arena. I woke up about 5 mins before the interview. I'm so NOT a morning person. But it's for a good cause!

Dust off that winter jacket!

Dust off that winter jacket.  You’re going to need it!!  After a mild start to the day with temperatures in the 50s, the cold air is sinking in!  Temperatures will tumble into the 20s tonight.  With a gusty northwest wind, it will feel like the teens!

Temperatures will start off in the 20s and 30s tomorrow morning.  Sunshine will stick around all day thanks to a large area of high pressure.  Not bad for early December!  Friday is a few degrees milder with increasing clouds. Another warm front approaches Friday night bringing showers and a return to 50 degree temperatures.  Saturday will be mild wet at times with off and on rain. But we sneak in one dry day Sunday between weather systems. Showers return Monday.

Plainville Middle School

200 6th graders?  I was nervous before my presentation to Plainville Middle School today.  But the kids were AMAZING!  They were attentive, inquisitive and smart!  I think we may have some future meteorologists in the crowd.  Thanks everyone!  Next time, I'm wearing higher heals.

Warm Front Fail

The warm up that never was

What a bust.  Today’s warm front got stuck between Meriden and Hartford.  Cold air (dense, heavy) got stuck in the valleys and never got scoured out.  The result? Record warmth in New York State with highs near 70 degrees and 40s in Hartford and Windsor Locks with dense fog and persistent drizzle.  YUCK. Even Litchfield and Torrington were milder than Hartford!  Temperatures will hold steady tonight and may even rise a few degrees as the warm front finally pushes the chill out.  Showers will develop after 2 AM as a cold front approaches.

Records warmth for many across NY and PA

Showers, dense fog and clouds early Wednesday morning will give way to sunshine. Cool air will slowly spill in behind the front.  But it will take until later in the day to get here. Temperatures will peak in the 50s early in the afternoon, then drop quickly into the 30s and 40s by dinner time.  Winds will howl out of the northwest at 10 to 25 mph. The cold will really settle in Wednesday night with temperatures in the 20s and wind chills in the teens.  After two cooler days, 50s return this weekend with several rounds of showers leading into next week.

Warm Again Tomorrow! Then Cooling Down.

60 degrees in December?  This isn’t record breaking warmth.  In fact, Windsor Locks was a full 10 degrees shy of the record of 67 degrees set in 2009.  Bridgeport got a little closer, just 4 degrees shy of the record set in ’09.  Still, there’s no denying this isn’t typical December weather.  Temperatures are running 10-20 degrees above average for this time of year.

Tomorrow will be just as mild as today, minus all the sunshine.  Then prepare for another cool down.

Tuesday morning will start off cloudy with patchy fog and drizzle in spots. Clouds will break for limited sun in the afternoon with a mild breeze out of the southwest.  High temperatures will range between 55 and 60 degrees. A cold front will trigger some showers early Wednesday, followed by clearing.  Cooler air will slowly leak in Wednesday with temperatures starting in the 50s at breakfast and ending in the 30s by dinner.  Bring a jacket to work and school with you so you’re prepared!

40s are in the forecast for the rest of the week with sunshine Thursday and Friday.  Showers are possible at times this weekend but the timing is not clear yet.

BTW...long range forecast is not looking good for a white Christmas.  

Record November. Mild Start to December!

Thee next couple of days will feel warm by December standards!

Dense fog Sunday morning from @RAWNUTMEG_CT

A warm front transporting that mild air into the state is causing showers to develop this evening. Showers will be around through midnight-2AM, followed by partial clearing and patchy dense fog.  Low temperatures will drop into the 40s.

Monday morning fog will burn away, revealing mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will climb into low to mid 50s. Tuesday could be even milder with some towns approaching the 60 degree mark!  Clouds will lower and thicken up as a cold front approaches.  Showers develop Tuesday night into midday Wednesday, followed by partial clearing.  Behind the front, it will feel like December again with high temperatures returning to the 40s.

On a side note…It’s official!  This November was the driest on record for Windsor Locks with .40” of precipitation!  This beats the previous record of .51” set in November 1976.  Southern Connecticut got hit harder by our early November snowstorm with 1.22” of precipitation in Bridgeport.  That wasn’t even close to the record of .36” set back in 1976.