Winter Storm Watch for Super Bowl Weekend

A proper winter storm is on the way for this weekend. But before we delve into the details, a few words about today's storm.

First, we were dead wrong. We greatly underestimated the worry that sleet induced, but we also think an element of softness crept into the proceedings. It's rare to cancel school (the night before for many districts) due to a Winter Weather Advisory only calling for 1-3" of snow. 

Perhaps the lack of snow days in January (for most districts) meant that Superintendents felt they had banked a few snow days and could afford to spend one today. Regardless of the circumstances that led to a clean sweep, the Berkshires were not unique in going with snow days. Most schools from Albany eastward cancelled school either Wednesday night or by 6 AM on Thursday. For the record, snow ended at the GSD Home Office by 11 AM, but the commute for the elementary schoolers would have been treacherous and resulted in angry parent phone calls and emails. 

NWS Albany -- weekend storm snowcast

We don't like to be wrong--especially because many of you value our opinion--but thank goodness we were wrong in the right direction.

Onward to the next storm. This one definitely looks more substantial. As of 3 PM today (Thursday), NWS Albany has hoisted the Winter Storm Watch flag. Because the Watch calls for 7+ inches, we will likely see a Winter Storm Warning announced by tomorrow afternoon.

North American model for the weekend storm.

The models are more or less in agreement. The Euro favors a more southerly storm and lower snow totals (4-5"), but the North American is showing 7-9". NWS Albany is clearly going with the North American model right now (see above).

Everybody will be able to get their Saturday activities in, but anything scheduled before noon on Sunday will likely be cancelled. The storm will be a fast mover and should wrap up by the mid-morning hours.

As for the next chance for a snow day, both models are showing snow for Thursday and Friday next week. The North American model is showing snow for later in the day on Thursday and into Friday, but the Euro give us another midday Thursday storm. Both models are showing 5+ inches of snow so that's encouraging and will be the center of our focus in the week before public school February break.

The current Euro model for 1 PM on Thursday, Feb. 13