March 27, 2001
Our light snow this morning accumulated from a coating up to a half and inch across Delaware County. The minor baroclinic system gave some areas in New England up to 5" of snow. All in all, not a bad late-season attempt by Old Man Winter to intrude with our transition into spring. It was actually quite a picturesque site. A calm early spring morning with a fresh coating of new snow on the ground, birds chirping, squirrels frolicking, and light snow giving way to partly sunny skies before noon as temperatures got into the upper 30s for highs. Otherwise, it was quite a brisk March day with Northwest winds prevailing through midday. There is a good chance that we break a record tonight for overnight low. The record is 21. Expected low tonight in the lower 20s. However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Most medium/long-range guidance show an active spring pattern evolving the next several days. One storm will pull up the Appalachians and create a unpleasant scenario in parts of New England late in the week. This storm will help to pump milder temps up the Eastern US in advance of it's arrival. There will likely be a decent severe weather episode for parts of the Ohio Valley and Southeast as well. The amount of snowpack that part of upstate NY has on the ground, coupled with mild rains in some areas, will aid in the potential for flooding in some parts of the Northeast. For us, that spells rainy and milder with temperatures approaching 60 by the weekend.
Behind that, there look to be several more storm system waiting to impede on the East. It is a typical springtime pattern with storm after storm rolling across the US. I think it's safe to say that winter is now over for good, although that doesn't mean it may not get chilly again after the weekend. Will have an in-depth post winter discussion available around April 1. Take care.
