Snow Day Possible For Thursday, April 4

We certainly don't want to jinx it, but one of our best chances for a snow day is about to happen this week.

A series of low pressure systems will impact our area Tuesday through Friday. The first one will bring mostly rain on Tuesday, but then a slow moving coastal low will creep up northeastward on Wednesday. Because the coastal storm will by pulling cold air down from the north, it should be cold enough for snow even in valley locations.

The American model projection.

Snow at this time of year typically only impacts higher elevation towns 1000' feet and above. But meteorologists are saying that even the valley areas will be cold enough for snow. The shift over from rain to snow should occur during the day on Wednesday and carry all the way through to the early pre-dawn hours of Friday morning.

The European. Yikes!

The European and American models are not quite in agreement. The Euro is showing a bomber of a storm with a 12+ for the Berkshires. The American is slightly less robust but showing 2-6 inches (south to north). 

We've been tricked before, but NWS Albany is saying that 3+ inches is likely for the region Wednesday into Thursday. And because most superintendents have yet to call in a snow day this winter, they may be more inclined to throw their students a proverbial bone.

Many more details to come over the next few days.

Winter Weather Advisory -- Friday 11 PM to Saturday 11 PM

It's the weekend, but with all the activities going on this weekend, the GSD Staff felt it necessary to give one more update about the approaching double-barreled storm.

Snow totals have been raised for our area based on new runs of the models. NWS Albany is now predicting 2-6" for the Berkshires. The 2" will (potentially) fall in the valleys and the 6" will fall in the northeastern mountain towns.

NWS Albany

The first burst from this storm will come in as snow. There will be enough cold air in place for snow. Part 2 of the storm--as moisture moves in from the south--could produce icing. Warm air will come in over the top of the cold air. This scenario produces ice--both sleet and freezing rain. 

The real concern is freezing rain as that will put a glaze of ice on everything. We could see up to a 1/6" of ice in some places. Because it will be windy, that should help knock some of the ice off tree branches before it can build up too much, which will help diminish the potential for power outages. But heavy icing on trees can definitely lead to significant problems for all.

Here's the timing:

*Snow gets going around here around midnight. And it will come down for several hours.
*Sleet and freezing rain should start to factor in around 5 AM, give or take an hour.
*Gradually, the snow and ice will shift over to all rain, which will continue throughout the day.
*As the storm exits Saturday night, we should see a brief period of snow. 

*Sunday will be dry but windy.

Our only concern about tomorrow is the threat of ice between 5 AM and 8 AM. If you have to be out on the roads, take care to check the conditions before you head out.

NWS Albany

Have a great weekend. Stay safe out there!

Welcome To Spring--Snow Expected Friday Night

It's officially Spring, so of course we have to report the chance for shovel-able snow Friday night into Saturday.

It's been a very wintry start to Spring, which began early than normal this year (the 19th) due to Leap Day. It's been cold, snowy, and blustery all week. This week alone we picked up over 2" of snow from three different minor events, including the thundery snow squall Wednesday night. But we are still way, way below average for this winter. And as many students know too well, many districts have not enjoyed even one snow day this winter.

Time is just about expired on Winter 2023-24, but a few more inches of snow are possible Friday night. There is A LOT of moisture with this storm. Many in the Berkshires will see over an inch of liquid precipitation by the time it stops late Saturday night. Unfortunately, it will begin as snow and then shift over to mixed precipitation for a short period and then all rain for most of the day on Saturday.

Expected snow Friday night into Saturday (NWS Albany).

High terrain areas will get more snow. Valley areas might see wet flakes with some accumulation on grassy areas. Snow should start to fall after midnight (Friday). It could changeover to rain at 5 AM; it could changeover at 11 AM. Either way, Saturday is going to be a washout with rain and temps rising through the 30s throughout the day--a perfect day for indoor activities.

Fortunately, Sunday looks clear but cold and windy again (like Thursday). We probably won't see a Wind Advisory, but it will feel downright raw when you head outside on Sunday.

Temps are trending upward for next week. We should see 50 degrees on Monday and Tuesday with a chance for rain on Wednesday.

Winter Weather Advisory For Sunday Night & Monday (March 10-11)

We're skeptical, but many in Berkshire County could wake up to 2-4 inches of snow Monday morning, with higher amounts in the western part of the county.

NWS-Albany has announced a Winter Weather Advisory for this evening through noon on Monday. In terms of delays/snow day chances, the expected timing of the snowfall is very good.

After all the rain last night, phase two of the storm will kick in this afternoon (Sunday). Overnight we will see something called "upslope snow" as the low pressure system moves into the Berkshires from the Great Lakes. Usually we talk about high amounts for the eastern parts of the county with storms, but this situation could yield higher amounts of snow for western Berkshire County.

If the models and forecasting prove to be accurate--and we know how that typically goes--we will definitely see delays tomorrow, with the most likely candidates in the northern half of the county. But again, we're skeptical.

The lesser known HRRR (High-Resolution Rapid Refresh) model. Meteorologists like to focus on this model once a storm is within 24 hours of impacting an area.

We're going to bump up the Confidence Meter slightly just in the offhand chance that the models and meteorologists are mostly right this time.

Delays Possible For Monday, March 11

Happy weekend, Flake Followers!

An historically lame winter is coming to a close with only a few more opportunities to report on the chance for snow. But one of those chances is upon us tonight and Sunday night.

The snow this weekend--if it occurs--will come in two waves. And both of those waves will impact higher terrain areas first then the valleys.

To our north we are seeing Winter Storm Warnings in effect tonight for the southern Adirondacks and the southern Green Mountains. Winter weather advisories are in effect for surrounding areas but not yet for northern Berkshire County. Those go into effect this evening (Saturday).

Old Man Winter (23-24 edition) still has a pulse but it's feint.

Meteorologists are forecasting snow for elevations above 1500' for Saturday evening and Sunday. High elevation locales in northern Berkshire County could get up to 5". Most of us in the Berkshires will initially see rain with some wet snow mixed in.

As the first line of precipitation moves in Saturday night and early Sunday, we are expecting to see snow develop on the back end as the storm departs and the temps drop and winds pick up. This back-end-of-the-storm snow should come down after midnight on Sunday. Heavy bands of snow are possible, so that means roads could be messy Monday morning.

This is a low probability situation, but there is a chance some schools will see delays to start the week.

The bulk of our staff are traveling again this weekend, but we'll have time to update early morning Sunday or, at the latest, Sunday night.