They Missed This One

UPDATE: When I originally posted this, at the end I noted updated accumulation forecasts for 6-10 inches, which was incorrect. They are 4-8 inches as noted in the weather statement I quoted. We’re already sitting at 9″, so even the update was incorrect.

I never took down the measuring stick after the Blizzard of 2013.

For everything the forecasters got right about the Blizzard, they seem to have gotten this storm entirely wrong. First, it was supposed to start snowing on Wednesday and last into Friday. We were going to get 6-10 inches of snow. Then, it was supposed to start Thursday and last into Friday and we were only going to get 3-6 inches of snow. We started with a “Winter Storm Warning” and were downgraded to a “Winter Weather Advisory.”

Here’s the latest:

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

• LOCATIONS…NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…INCLUDING CENTRAL AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF
• MASSACHUSETTS AT LOWER ELEVATIONS IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY.
• HAZARD TYPES…HEAVY SNOW.
• ACCUMULATIONS…STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 8 INCHES.
• TIMING…HEAVY SNOWFALL TO CONTINUE INTO MIDDAY FRIDAY.
• IMPACTS…UNTREATED ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY. ANTICIPATE
• IMPACTS TO THE FRIDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR.
• WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.
• VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.
• TEMPERATURES…AROUND 30. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD…OR FOR 8 OR MORE INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST ON WELL TREATED SURFACES…AND QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY UNPLOWED OR UNTREATED SURFACES.

Here’s a radar snapshot:

So, back to a “Winter Storm Warning” and accumulations of 4 to 8 inches. It’s 9:15AM as I type this and we’re sitting at 9 inches or so and, looking at the radar, the block of moisture doesn’t seem to be letting up. We’ll be lucky if the upper limit is what we end up with.

Obviously, the kids have no school today. The boy is happy about this because it interrupts the standardized testing they’ve been doing this week. But this is one more day to makeup and the Governor may have to decide whether to allow for a shortened school year.

Winter isn’t giving up without a fight.