Big nor’easter expected for this weekend
Conrad Straden–The Tech
Tuesday marked the first day of Astronomical Fall with the Autumn Equinox, and it is certainly feeling like it outside. The big story this week is a coastal low that will develop into a nor’easter on Friday. We have a blocking high-pressure system to our north that will pull the low pressure system up the coast towards New England. The storm will then stall on Saturday and retrograde to the west, meaning it will hang around through Monday before finally moving out. Leading up to the storm, we have strong northeast winds each day this week that will peak on Friday. As the storm approaches, the outer rain bands will reach us Friday night. Conditions will deteriorate overnight into Saturday, with strong winds and rain beating down across campus. This will last for nearly three days before the rain lightens up and the winds start to calm down on Monday. Hopefully on Tuesday, the storm will move out and the sun will return. Looking ahead to late next week, temperatures in the 70s might make a quick return to start off October.
In other news, for the first time since 1914, there have been no Atlantic hurricanes through this point in September. This year’s distinct lack of hurricane activity is due to El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, the Eastern Pacific basin is experiencing a very active season, with hurricane activity double the normal amount. Currently, there are three hurricanes in the Pacific: one previously a Category 5 storm and another forecasted to become a major hurricane as it passes very close to Hawaii this weekend.
Today: Sunny. High around 64°F (18°C). Northeast winds 10–20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Tonight: Partly Cloudy. Low around 50°F (10°C). North winds 10–15 mph with gusts to 30 mph.
Friday: Windy and overcast. High around 62°F (17°C) and overnight low around 55°F (13°C). Northeast winds 15–20 mph with gusts to 35 mph.
Saturday: Rain. High around 58°F (14°C) and overnight low around 54°F (12°C). North winds 15–20 mph with gusts to 45 mph.
Sunday: Rain. High around 59°F (15°C) and overnight low around 54°F (12°C). North winds 15–20 mph with gusts to 45 mph.