After brief round of showers, beautiful weekend in store
This week, Bostonians have been reminded of how nice it is to be above average in something that isn’t snowfall! Since Sunday, we’ve enjoyed daily high temperatures 5–10°F above average and abundant sunshine, with more on the way this weekend.
Boston sets new all-time seasonal snowfall record
Big news! As of Sunday night, members of the MIT community can proudly proclaim that they lived through Boston’s snowiest winter on record. Sunday’s snowfall brought the seasonal total to 108.6 inches, beating the previous record of 107.6 set in the winter of 1995-1996. Congratulations!
Relentless march of winter continues
I don’t know about the rest of The Tech’s readership, but this meteorologist is ready to pack up and move to Florida! So far this winter, Logan Airport has received an incredible 96.3 inches of snow (244.6 cm), 90.8 inches (230.6 cm) of which has fallen since Jan. 23. Currently, Boston is only 11.3 inches (28.7 cm) away from tying the all-time total seasonal snowfall record of 107.6 inches (273.3 cm) set in the winter of 1995-1996 – a record that could very well be broken before the end of the month. As if the historic snowfall wasn’t enough, Boston has also endured near-record setting cold. So far this February, the average temperature has been a bone-chilling 18.1°F (-7.7°C), only 0.6°F (0.4°C) warmer than the all-time coldest average February temperature of 17.5°F (-8.1°C) set back in February of 1934.
Winter weather continues
It sure has been a snowy week — yesterday ended Boston’s snowiest seven-day period since records began in 1891! By 1 p.m. yesterday, Boston had received 34.2 inches of snow since Jan. 27, beating the old record of 34.1 inches set in the week leading up to January 8, 1996. Most of this snow came from last Tuesday’s powerful blizzard, which dropped 24.6 inches of snow at Boston Logan Airport. Yesterday’s storm also contributed 9.9 inches toward the record as of 1 p.m., with snow still falling into the evening hours.
After brief warmup, cold temperatures return
Cambridge experienced a much-welcomed respite from the cold this holiday weekend thanks to southerly winds ahead of an approaching low pressure system. On Sunday, temperatures reached a balmy 51°F (10.5°C) at Boston’s Logan Airport
Riding the temperature roller coaster
We enjoyed an unusually warm day yesterday, with temperatures topping out at 64°F (18°C) — that’s 18°F (10°C) warmer than the average high temperature for yesterday’s date! Today’s high temperature will be a whopping 29°F (20°C) colder than yesterday’s thanks to the passage of a cold front late yesterday afternoon. These cold temperatures won’t last long, though, due to an area of low pressure forming off of the North Carolina coast tonight. As this system tracks northward, winds in Boston will become southerly, making for a mild day tomorrow with a high temperature of 56°F (13°C). Of course, there is a trade-off — rain showers are likely early tomorrow morning, although chances of precipitation will taper off as the morning progresses. On Thursday, temperatures will take a swing in the other direction thanks to the passage of a cold front Wednesday night; expect seasonally cool temperatures in the low 40s°F (6°C). Expect a colder high temperature in the mid 30s°F (2°C) on Friday as this cold airmass behind the front settles in.
Chilly weather after a soggy start to the week
The sun stayed hidden all day yesterday as Cambridge was soaked by nearly continuous rain associated with a low pressure system tracking up the coast. As of 5:00 p.m. yesterday, Boston Logan Airport had already received 0.82 inches of rain, with even more rain occurring throughout the overnight hours as the low pressure moved out of Southern New England.
A chilly start to November
We had a cold and soggy weekend thanks to the close passage of coastal low pressure system on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday morning, the low temperature at Boston Logan Airport dropped to 34°F (1°C) — this is about 8°F (4.5°C) below the average low temperature for this time of year! Additionally, if you looked out your window Sunday during the late morning/early afternoon, you would have seen the first snowflakes of the season. All told, Boston received just under an inch of rain (with a few snowflakes mixed in) from this system.
Break out the umbrellas!
It was a cool start to the week this week thanks to the passage of a cold front on Saturday evening. Boston’s low temperature early Monday morning was a chilly 39°F (4°C), the coldest it’s been in the city since April 21!
Bad news for those sick of rain
Last night, the high pressure system that gave us sunny weather over the past two days slid offshore, taking the clear skies and dry weather with it. The dominant feature over the next two days will be a low pressure system currently spinning over Ontario, trailing a cold front to its south. Rain will be likely tonight and tomorrow morning ahead of this front. Otherwise, today and tomorrow you can expect cloudy skies and a high temperature around 70°F (21°C).
Beautiful warm weekend in store
Yesterday, a coastal low pressure system just missed us as it passed offshore, bringing overcast skies and a cool northeast wind to Cambridge. Today will be warmer, with a high temperature of 70°F (21°C) and mostly sunny skies thanks to a high pressure system building in from the west. Expect north winds becoming northeasterly at around 10 mph.
Cool, fall weather in store
It definitely feels like fall in Cambridge! Yesterday, temperatures reached a warm 80°F (27°C) thanks to breezy southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front. This cold front passed through the area late last night, leaving us with cooler conditions and cloudless skies in its wake. Expect a high temperature of 68°F (20°C) today with winds from the north. More clouds should start filtering in tomorrow, but temperatures will remain cool with a high near 66°F (19°C). Tomorrow evening, a low-pressure system will form off of the coast to our south and travel northeastward along the coast of New England. We may see some rain showers associated with this system tomorrow evening into early Sunday. Otherwise, Sunday and Monday look dry with mostly sunny skies and high temperatures in the upper sixties (Sunday) to low seventies (Monday).
Cooler temps today, then a summery weekend
We had a summery first half of Orientation Week thanks to a high pressure system situated over the northeastern U.S. that brought clear skies and light winds to Cambridge. Temperatures topped out at 91 °F (33 °C) on Wednesday as southwesterly winds ushered in warm, moist air ahead of an approaching cold front. On Wednesday night, this cold front passed through Cambridge accompanied by light showers — if you were listening closely, you may have even heard a few rumbles of thunder!
Spring warmth pauses for chilly and cloudy weather
As you were heading out to campus this morning, you may have wondered why we’ve traded this weekend’s sunny skies and warm temperatures for today’s cool and cloudy weather. These unseasonably chilly conditions are thanks to what meteorologists call a “back door” cold front. Typically, cold fronts in the U.S. approach from the west or northwest. In the Northeast during springtime, however, it’s fairly common for cold fronts to approach from the north or northeast on the backside of a high pressure situated to our north. Winds behind such a cold front are from the east or northeast, allowing cool maritime air to filter in and replace warmer continental air. This is precisely the setup for last night and early this morning, which is why temperatures will top out at a mere 56°F (13°C) this afternoon.
Severe weather threatens southeastern U.S., cool and cloudy in Boston
It’s been an active few days across the Southern Great Plains and the Southeast as a multi-day, multi-state severe weather outbreak affected the region. On Sunday, preliminary storm reports indicated that 32 tornadoes touched down from Iowa and Nebraska to Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, killing at least 18 people in three states. At the time of this writing Thursday afternoon, the severe threat persisted as tornado-warned storms continued to affect Mississippi and Alabama. Unfortunately, this severe threat will stick around for at least today and possibly tomorrow for parts of the
April showers, then a return to sunny skies
Spring has finally made an appearance the last few days thanks to a high pressure taking control of the region Tuesday through Thursday, bringing dry weather and spring-like daily high temperatures in the upper 40s to low 50s°F. Today marks a brief change in this pattern as a low pressure system tracks up from the middle Mississippi River Valley and brings rain to our region overnight tonight. Expect a cooler high temperature of 43°F today due to easterly winds and increasing cloud cover ahead of the low. Tomorrow, we’ll see a return to seasonable conditions as the low pressure moves out and another high pressure settles in to take its place (although a chance of showers remains tomorrow morning as the low exits the region). Expect a pleasant weekend with partly sunny to sunny skies and daily highs in the low to mid 50s°F.
Mild weekend, then return to unseasonable cold
Temperatures were able to reach 52°F (11°C) yesterday in the wake of a warm front passing over New England early Thursday morning. Unfortunately, the same low-pressure system that heralded this warm front also swept a cold front through our region Thursday afternoon as the system moved from southern Quebec into the Canadian Maritimes. Conditions behind this front were slightly cooler, with breezy winds gusting in the 30s mph.
Chilly temperatures continue
Although we experienced a brief respite from the cold on Monday with afternoon temperatures reaching into the mid 40s°F, that relief did not last long thanks to another Arctic cold front sweeping across our area Monday evening. Behind the front, air temperatures in the teens combined with wind gusts of up to 28 mph led to bitterly cold wild chills below 0°F yesterday morning.
Chilly weather ahead
Temperatures cooled down this week, with highs in the 40s°F and lows near 30°F, thanks to a high pressure system influencing the region over the last few days. Although it’s been dry for most of the week, that will likely change today — as a low pressure moves into Quebec, its associated warm front will likely bring us some light rain this morning. Otherwise, temperatures should be mild today, with a high of around 47°F (8°C).
Chilly fall temperatures continue
It certainly felt more like fall this past weekend, with daily high temperatures in the mid 50s°F (10s°C) and winds gusting close to 30 mph, thanks to the jet stream over the eastern U.S.
The end of a sunny week brings possibility of rain
We enjoyed beautiful weather in Cambridge this week thanks to a high pressure system that brought sunny skies and daily high temperatures ranging from the mid 70s°F (low 20s°C) to low 80s°F (mid 20s°C). Looking forward, a warm front is expected to stall south of New England today. Showers associated with this front should steer clear of Cambridge during the day, but expect to see cloudier skies today than what we’ve been used to lately. As for the weekend, the chance of showers increases tomorrow. Even if we don’t see any rain, we should see cloudy skies and cooler temperatures, with a high of around 72°F (22°C). The warm front should lift through the region on Sunday, with muggy weather and an increased chance of showers close behind.
Summer temperatures making a comeback
Many of us threw on our jackets yesterday morning before heading to campus as a high pressure system brought cooler weather to the area. Last night, that high pressure moved offshore, allowing a warm front to work into the region today.