Stormy Monday
Sunday January 13, 2008 12:00 AM
...Snow, Rain and Wind on the Way...
All eyes are on the developing storm center off the Carolina coast today which will become a quick hitting nor'easter for the region on Monday. Low pressure will take shape near Cape Hatteras, NC this afternoon and lift northeastward up the coast tonight and tomorrow - passing just SE of Nantucket during the midday hours of Monday. This fast moving storm will bring a round of rain, snow and strong winds to the Cape.
Rainfall: With the air mass preceding the storm only marginally cold enough to support snow, and a strong northeast wind blowing in off of the 40°F water to our east, we should expect the majority of the precipitation to fall in the form of rain or a rain/snow/sleet mix. The further east one is on the Cape, the more likely that the brunt of this storm is a rainmaker. As such, rain will fall heavily at times through the morning hours of Monday, with between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch of rainfall expected - with the highest totals on the Outer Cape.
Snowfall: Colder air will work its way into the storm system with time, allowing precipitation to gradually transition from rain or a rain/snow mix to all snow as we head through the day on Monday. The transition will begin on the Upper Cape during the late morning hours and subsequently work its way eastward across the Cape - reaching the Outer Cape during the afternoon. Rain to Snow events are typically not big snowfall producers here on the Cape, and this system should be no exception. Total accumulation will range from an inch or so on the Outer Cape to as much as 2 or 3 inches near the canal.
Wind: A powerful low level northeasterly jet will get cranking out ahead of this storm center as the low pressure area deepens rapidly. Expect northeast winds to increase overnight tonight, likely gusting to 40 to 45 mph by dawn on Monday. The strongest winds will likely occur between 7AM and 3PM, when a few gusts to 50mph will be possible. A High Wind Watch is posted, but I assume will be converted to a Wind Advisory.
Things to look for: Despite a minor accumulation of snowfall when compared to folks off-Cape, roadways could become quite slick during the afternoon as colder air wraps into the storm and allows for a brief period of steadier and heavier snowfall Monday afternoon. This, combined with strong winds, could make for some real tough travel later Monday afternoon.
One last note: Overall we are headed into a much stormier and much colder weather pattern. In fact, should current trends hold, another storm is likely Friday with more rain and snow to contend with. Behind that storm, it may turn flat out frigid around the area next weekend.
