News weather

Nor’easter season is coming

The recent rainy and at times stormy period culminated Tuesday afternoon in a bizarre sequence of New England autumn tornadoes, the closest of which occurred only about 30 miles south of the MIT campus. Tornadoes in our region are a remarkable event, particularly in the cool season. However, the very humid and marginally warm air mass over the region was able to provide just enough energy for damaging storms before it was pushed out by high pressure today. Now, under this high pressure, we can expect only a couple beautiful fall days before we rapidly transition to a very active cold season pattern. A low pressure system is currently forming along the Gulf Coast, forged from the remnants of Pacific Hurricane Willa after its landfall Tuesday on the Mexican coast. By Saturday morning, this storm will surge into New England from the south as a nor’easter bringing heavy rain and wind. There are indications that this system could be immediately followed by another nor’easter at the beginning of next week, as an active cold season pattern takes over to end October.

Extended forecast: 
Today: Mostly clear. High around 48 °F (9 °C). Gusty NW winds at 15–20 mph.
Tonight: Clear and cool. Low around 34 °F (1 °C). Winds NW at around 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Partly Cloudy. High around 52 °F (11 °C). Low around 44 °F (7 °C). West winds at about 10 mph.
Saturday: Rain, possibly heavy at times. Breezy. High around 49 °F (9 °C). Low around 44 °F (7 °C).
Sunday: A chance of showers early. High around 50 °F (10 °C).