Wintry Mix for Memorial Day Weekend

Further proof that some magical force is at work giving us more and more extreme weather. We have no idea what that force could be...

The words "wintry mix" have been uttered by meteorologists around the region for today, and, yes, it is the weekend that unofficially kicks off summer. Put those pastel dresses and Nantucket reds and mint juleps away and break out the puffy coat and the hot chocolate! Folks in the higher terrains may hear some sleet tapping away on the ol' double pane windows this morning with perhaps a more widespread swath of wintry weather for tonight. It's not a certainty, and it really won't mess with anyone's travel plans, but that cookout you were hoping to have this weekend? Make sure you have two fires--one for the dogs and burgers and the other to warm your guests.

Hopefully, the next time we post will be our mid-summer long-range forecast for Winter 2013-14, but you never know what freak weather event will pop up on the next few weeks.

Week of April 29th Forecast

Greetings, weather hounds! Spring has firmly established herself in our area, and we should see considerable thickening of the leaves and growth of flowers this week. All you allergy sufferers could be in for a very difficult week.

Monday and Tuesday will be the coolest days this week, with highs in the low 60s. From Wednesday through the weekend, we're looking at mostly sun and highs around 70. Break out the shorts for good!

Our best chance of rain will be Monday afternoon and Monday night, and then we're really not quite sure when it's going to rain again. We might see a very brief shower on Friday, but it's unlikely that moisture will develop.

Get out and enjoy this dry spring weather!

2013 Writing Contest Winners!

After a few day delay (and thank you for your patience), we hereby announce the winners of the 1st Annual Greylock Snowday Writing Competition!

Over 40 students entered this year's competition, and our panel read an impressive array of stories. (Panelists read the stories without any names attached to them, only grades). We read about grizzly deaths from snow, a Chris van Allsburg-inspired tale, a story about a mysterious riddle from atop Mt. Greylock, Jack Frost as a cold and hot lover, snow with bipolar disorder, and many stories involving epic proportions of snow.

The final decision was in no way an easy one, but here are the commended stories, in addition to the big winners:

HONORABLE MENTION:

Katelin Marchand -- Mt. Greylock RHS (10th)
Aaron Kleiner -- Mt. Greylock RHS (8th)
Savannah Byrne -- Pine Cobble School (4th)
Emma Lezberg -- Berkshire Country Day School (9th)
Jesse Cohen -- Mt. Greylock RHS (8th)

2nd RUNNER-UP ($100 prize):

Merrie Benjamin -- Pine Cobble School (4th)

1st RUNNER-UP ($100 prize):

Kelsey Hebert -- Mt. Greylock RHS (11th)

GRAND PRIZE WINNER ($300)

Kendylle Hutton -- Mt. Greylock RHS (9th)