A Parade of Storms off the Pacific Ocean to New England

Parts of New England are closing in on nearly twice the normal rainfall for the month of October. While other parts of the region are still struggling with extreme drought, for example Hartford Connecticut has had less than an inch of rain while Scituate Massachusetts has had close to seven inches of rain.

In just a few hours last Friday night, cities and towns in central Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire received 3 to 6 inches of rain, nearly a months worth, in one evening. The result was serious flooding, right in the heart of our drought zone. For the most part tough, much of New England is in a wetter, and now whiter, pattern the last few weeks.

Another coating of snow fell in our mountains last night, that means we are now in day number four of consecutive days with snow falling somewhere in New England. Killington Ski Resort opened for season pass customers today, and is opening to the public tomorrow Wednesday, Oct. 26th.

This weather pattern reminds us of why New England has the most interesting weather on earth.

We've been getting rain is coming out of the central Atlantic ocean we've been getting warm is coming out of the southern United States, now we are getting cold air from the north pole in Canada, and rain storms shooting from the Pacific ocean across the nation and though New England.

SLINGSHOTCYCLONE Tim Kelley 102516

We heard about the near hurricane force conditions off the northwestern United States last week, it's happening again this week too. Particularly, there is a powerful storm off the coast of Washington state and British Columbia right now.

I'd like to call this a sling-shot-cyclone, as it is fairly stationary in the atmosphere and other pacific storms are whipping around it and across the United States. San Diego had thunderstorms on Monday from one such system that is now coming across the Rockies and racing toward New England with potential rain and snow for our Thursday and Friday, illustrated in the Tuesday 1 PM image.

TUES1PM Tim Kelley 102516

On this same image, you see a storm system between Hawaii and California that is a potential weekend storm for us, and if it tracks just right, it may end up being a Sunday nor'easter. There is plenty of cold air in Canada, and very warm air, as a matter fact perhaps record warm October, for much of the south west and south central United States. For now New England is on the colder side of the front, that's why we've seen snow piling up in our mountains.

THUR330PM Tim Kelley 102516

And it seems lately, especially the last few days, each of the weather systems coming at us wants to track a little bit further south keeping us on the colder side of the front. By Thursday at 3 p.m., rain and snow are on our door step.

SUNDAY1AM Tim Kelley 102516
Getty Images

Look at the 1 a.m. Sunday map, the low-pressure system that is currently east of Hawaii will have raced to position near Lake Michigan, with rain and snow returning to New England by at least late Saturday if not sooner.

Earlier in the week we were quite confident that it would be warm enough this weekend for all rain in New England, but as we get closer to the forecast. It appears there may be called an affair for some snow to fall in the mountains once again this weekend too. Some of the weather guidance is indicating that that low pressure system may intensify rapidly once it gets to a position near Long Island on Sunday morning, if that happens then we end up with strong wind and heavy rain to start our Sunday.

Either way, despite the lack of an El Nino, we have a parade of Pacific storms coming at us every other day or so, good news when it comes to trying to improve the drought situation here in New England.

THURSUNRAINFALL Tim Kelley 102516

If we take these systems one at a time, the next significant rainfall, mixed with snow, arrives Thursday afternoon, and is most intense Thursday night early Friday.Wind from the east to make us 40 to 50 miles an hour over the ocean Thursday night, followed by a brisk northwest wind returning with drying air on Friday. The early estimate on the Thursday Friday rainfall is a widespread 1/2 inch, with locally 1 to 2 inches likely.

Higher elevations of western and northern New England will receive several inches of snow before a transition to a cold rain.

SIXDAYSNOWFALLGUESS Tim Kelley 102516
Getty Images

The exception could be north of Baxter State Park Maine, where most of the precipitation will be in the form of snow, even at lower elevations 5 to 10 inches me accumulate by Friday afternoon.

And some of the mountains and Western and New England, were snow changes to rain, the precipitation me change briefly back to snow before ending on Friday afternoon.

The weekend likely starts off fair and seasonable, but clouds will racing on Saturday. A chilly rain, or rain-snow mix in northern New England is likely by Saturday night.

It's too early to call this a significant event, but will be watching, any system that originates from east of Hawaii can be pretty tricky.

Halloween probably ends up dry seasonable temperatures, followed by a brief warm-up to begin November. But it looks like the wet pattern could continue the first week of November, keeping our fingers crossed to alleviate the dry out before we get into winter.

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