Tuesday Storm Midday Update

There are warning signs all over the place that this storm has bust potential. We know that's not what you want to hear right now, but the GSD Staff insists on being straight with you.

The latest information we're seeing presents a number of potential problems. It will be a fast-moving storm. It won't have a lot of moisture to work with it. And it's more Alberta Clipper than coastal low. Typically, the weather experts do have trouble accurately predicting clippers and how much moisture they can draw from the Atlantic.

We're still seeing low-end predictions of 2-3 inches (Pittsfield and south) and high-end predictions for 5-6 inches (Pittsfield and north). That's a narrow window, which reveals just how limited the moisture is with this storm.

Channel 13 in Albany weighs in.

Our formerly "perfect timing" designation has also withered slightly. It now is merely good, with the potential for the snow to start as late as 6 AM on Tuesday. If only 3-6 inches are predicted at that time--which is likely what's going to happen--we can see many a superintendent be reluctant about pulling the trigger and using up one of his or her precious bullets.

All of the North County schools will have significantly better chances of a snow day tomorrow than their counterparts in the south. Mount Greylock, North Adams, McCann, BArT, Adams/Cheshire, and Central Berkshire are in a better snow zone.

What we're fairly certain about is that students will either have school or have a snow day. The delay only puts students out on the roads when the snow will be coming down the hardest (or close to hardest), so that option would appear to be the least practical.

A lot can change this afternoon and tonight. We'll have one more update later and then make our final prediction around the start of Monday Night Football (8:30).

At this point, the GSD Staff strongly encourages that students prepare for a full day of school tomorrow.