Northeast Blizzard To Bring Us Cold Air, He-Shed May Be Needed?

 Historically, once beyond Feb. 20th , the South Shore doesn't get anymore hard freeze threats. Typically March 15th is the benchmark date for gardeners to start planting tomatoes and other warm season crops. However, occasionally, we do get a late season freeze threat where you still have to protect tender vegetation.  The next several days will be one of those threats where I might consider moving my plants back into my He-Shed. Since my house hasn't sold yet, I'm still using my shed to provide protection from frost and/or a light freeze.

As you can see, I still have some blooming flowers.  Just going by the NWS (National Weather Service) forecast for Monday & Tuesday, I will probably bring these plants into my He-Shed just out of an abundance of caution.  Monday's lows are on top, Tuesday's on bottom.

This computer guidance is based off of what both the GFS & Euro are forecasting to happen 

in the next 24-48 hours.

The GFS is on top with the Euro on the bottom.  Both models develop a huge Nor'easter that will cripple travel from D.C. to Boston Sunday PM thru Tuesday AM.  NYC has a blizzard warning for the first time in 9 years.  The circulation around the low will drive an Arctic airmass deep into Florida 

with the core of the cold staying to our north and east.  You can wait until tomorrow to move your potted plants, but I prefer doing that while it's still warm.

Nothing is happening yet as all the upper dynamics/energy hasn't phased.  that will change by tomorrow.

You can see the single digits diving southward over the northern Plains.  For most of the eastern 2/3 of the nation, reality of Winter returns for most of next week.  We'll see a quick warm up by midweek as the cold doesn't often linger over the South.  It's been another record breaking day at MSY and that warmth has bubbled up a few storms, mainly north of Lake P.

We'll all need the sweaters and coats going off to church in the morning.

The cool down will be brief and we're right back up into the 70s by Wednesday.  I'm sure the networks will be all over the Northeast snowstorm tomorrow and Monday.  Hope nobody has travel plans to go there.  Stay tuned!

Severe Weather Outbreak, NE Snow Storm, Winter Returns Here

While we are experiencing record-breaking warmth here, the battleground between Spring and Winter is creating all sorts of nasty weather.  Fortunately, the main upper energy is far to our north, and that is keeping the severe weather risk over the Midwest & Ohio Valley.  That is where the upper-level split in the jet stream is currently located. There is a level 3 risk for damaging storms up there.

A Tornado Watch is in effect as T-Storms erupt in the warm air sector.  It's a different story here, where we just have an early Spring preview that makes us feel more like early April.

We have 2 more days of flirting with records before it's back to the reality of typical February weather.  Here's why the change is coming.  Watch how the energy from the big storm over California shifts to the East Coast by Sunday & Monday. We begin with the current pattern.

Notice how the upper trough shifts to the East coast by Sunday, Monday & Tuesday.

What I see is the upper trough does NOT dig down over the Deep South, and that will/should keep the core of the cold to our north & east.  At this time, I am NOT planning on moving my plants back into my He-Shed as temperatures south of Lake P. should stay well above freezing.  I might change my mind IF it looks like Monday & Tuesday mornings give the South Shore chances for some frost.  North Shore should prepare for a light freeze at worst.

In the short term, we stay very warm, even overnight.  Note the Arctic air coming down out of Canada.  Right now, that should veer eastward and just brush us for 3 days.

A big warm-up follows the chill for Wednesday & Thursday.  A note of caution, if you plan to travel to the big cities of the Northeast, beware of travel delays, as a big snowstorm (1-2 feet) could cripple cities from D.C. To Boston.  Here, just keep the sweaters & coats handy for Sunday through Tuesday.  Stay tuned!