Sunday Clipper Update

Just a quick update. We know many of you are very eager for the first delay or snow day of the year, but it's probably not going to be this storm. We'll get 3-4 inches in most locations, with slightly higher amounts for the eastern hill towns.

The problem for delays tomorrow (Monday) is twofold. One is that much of the snow is melting on the road. Two is the timing of the end of the snow. It's still slated to end around 1 AM. Maybe a generous superintendent will throw you a bone and allow a little time to clean off the car, but we wouldn't count on it.

Not encouraging.

And although it doesn't have to do with snow, there's A LOT of sickness in schools these days. The flu is doing its best Covid impersonation. While we did hear rumors that some elementary schools in the area shut down recently due to a high number of sick teachers, it's possible some schools could close for a day or two this week due to widespread illnesses. It's not clear what one or two days off will do to reduce the spread of the flu bug, but it's possibly a strategy school officials might employ before our next vacation. We'll just have to see about that.

We don't have much new to report about the bigger Friday storm. Models will start to move toward agreement Tuesday and Wednesday.

Winter Weather Advisory for Sunday; More Storms on the Way

Ten days from now, the Berkshires will likely have a very different look. The GSD Staff is eyeing not one, not two, but three chances for measurable snow in the next 10 days.

First up is the appetizer. The clipper we wrote about earlier in the week is on its way. Yay for snow but boo for timing. Snow will descend upon us in the afternoon and evening tomorrow (Sunday). Even though we have a Winter Weather Advisory for the Berkshires tomorrow (for 3-5" of snow),  road crews will have ample time to get the roads clear for the bus runs on Monday morning. The expectation is that snow will start in the early afternoon and wrap up shortly after midnight. We can't rule out a delay or two for some towns, but most students will have a full day of school on Monday.

Not bad for a clipper system.

Then things get interesting. Some models are showing a nor'easter for Friday/Friday night. It's much too early to lock this one in, of course, but the potential certainly exists for a moderate to heavy snowfall. Even though the storm center will emerge from the southeast, there's a piece of energy coming in from the Northwest that will determine if we get snow on Friday. If that northwestern energy is too strong, it would push the storm south of us. If it dissipates, we'll get the first big one of the season. Say a little prayer for the Euro model (see below) as that is the one that is showing a more significant storm.

Euro model for next Friday/Friday night. This will change so don't get TOO excited.

And finally in the week before Christmas we're looking at another moderate storm potential. Simply put, we are in a great pattern. Should that storm come to fruition, we're looking at a Tuesday/Wednesday event (Dec. 20-21).

With only 10 days of school until the next vacation, we think chances are high that we will have at least one snow day. Right now we would put the chances of at least one snow day at 60% and the chances for two snow days at 20%. 

We're excited about the 2-3" we'll get tomorrow, but it's the Friday storm that has most of our attention. We look forward to providing frequent updates about it in the upcoming week.

Snow For The Monday Commute?

Maybe, just maybe, things are starting to pick up for all of us snow lovers in the Berkshires. With our collective GSD ears to the ground, we are picking up rumblings about a potential messy commute on Monday.

Despite a VERY balmy day today (Wednesday), temps will begin to drop as we move toward the weekend. The Thursday through Saturday period should be relatively dry. But on Sunday a storm system will move in from the Great Lakes. This clipper system should be able to pick up some additional Atlantic moisture and generate a swath of precipitation for our region.

If there is enough cold air in place, we could see a few inches of snow right on into the morning commute on Monday. The North American model is showing 3-4 inches for the Berkshires, while the Euro only shows an inch or so. These models will change, of course, but there is reason for some optimism here. The best outcome will be delays for most schools.

Probably too aggressive a forecast for Monday, but one can only hope. (

As for a major whopper of a storm, we're not seeing anything taking shape for later next week. There will be plenty of moisture in the air, but it simply will be too warm for a prolonged period of snow.