A Washout...
One year ago today, 4 tornadoes touched down in Massachusetts...one EF-0, two EF-1 and the biggie, an EF-3 known as the Springfield tornado. The Springfield tornado touched down in Westfield and didn't lift until Charlton...39 miles long. At its strongest it was estimated to be cranking winds of 160mph and a half mile wide...it litterally ground up everything in it's path. I personally will never forget that day...the power, the fury, the neighborhoods it destroyed and the lives it impacted. That tornado is the single most memorable weather event of my career. When I travel down to Hartford to visit my family and pass thru the Sturbridge tolls I still see part of that 39 mile long scar...it will be there for my lifetime and your lifetime, serving as a reminder of how powerful Mother Nature can be. Let's hope we never see anything like that again.
On to the weekend...if we must. Our streak of sunny weekends comes to an end. An area of low pressure will develop along a stalling front as it enters New England tomorrow morning. This low along with deep southerly flow will provide a perfect rainmaking machine over the weekend. Rain will overspread the area tomorrow morning between 8-10 AM and won't shut off until Saturday evening. This rain will be heavy at times as instability will provide some convective elements and rumbles of thunder will be possible enhancing rainfall amounts. Some spots in NE Mass and especially New Hampshire and Maine will see over 2 inches and Flood Watches have been hoisted for the weekend in those locals. The greatest amounts will be seen in the hills and mountains of New Hampshire and Western Maine...locally over 4"!
The storm system should shift far enough north to shut the rain off temporarily on Sunday and intervals of sun will appear salvaging the second half of the weekend. It won't be all roses on Sunday however because any sunshine will destabilize the atmosphere and pop-up showers are likely in the afternoon...but much better.
Next we still looks abnormally cold and raw with a storm center sitting just offshore this will blow cold air our way and lock in moisture with occasional showers from Monday through Wednesday. Essentially April weather for the first week of June.
