Berkshire County Forecast, Wednesday, September 3

Now that the fall semester has begun, I will once again be providing forecasts for Berkshire County. I will post a new forecast every other day, on average, but provide updates for any significant changes. Once winter weather events begin to occur, as was the case last year, I will give more frequent updates as needed. The students in the Introduction to Meteorology class (ATM-145) will begin making forecasts with me sometime in October. Real-time weather data from the BCC Weather Station can be found by clicking on the “BCC Weather Station” link (rainwise.net/weather/bcc) on the bottom blue strip of the BCC web homepage (www.berkshirecc.edu).

A brief note to anyone who is interested….A new Atmospheric Science 2 year A.A. program has been established at BCC starting this year. An articulation agreement has been reached with SUNY Albany (University at Albany) so that, upon completion of BCC’s program, students can transfer directly into the 3rd year of their Atmospheric Science B.S. program (one of the best in the country). As a result, Berkshire County students interested in a career in Meteorology or Climate Science can complete the first 2 years of a B.S. degree in Atmospheric Science in a local community college setting at a markedly reduced cost compared to a 4 yr. school. Anyone who is interested, feel free to contact me at: jkravitz@berkshirecc.edu.

On to the weather….. A cold front passed through Berkshire County yesterday afternoon and evening resulting in scattered thunderstorms during the afternoon in the unstable air in advance of the front, followed by a period of steady rain with the actual frontal passage during the late evening hours. Cooler and much drier air moved in behind the front today. Most notably, dewpoints were much more comfortable, near 60, today compared with almost unbearable dewpoints, near 70, on Monday and Tuesday. The lower dewpoints and light winds will permit significant radiational cooling tonight, with temperatures falling well down into the 50s. The “Bermuda High” (semi-permanent subtropical high pressure system located off the Atlantic Coast) will re-establish its control over our weather over the next few days, with temperatures increasing and moisture levels rising through Friday. Skies should remain relatively clear over the next few days, however, with surface high pressure in control.

Cold air is beginning to build over northern Canada and will push far enough south to generate a trough in the jet stream wave pattern over the western U.S. late this week. This trough will propagate eastward, with a cold front along the leading edge of the trough reaching Berkshire County on Saturday. As the cool air plows into, and lifts, the unstable unseasonably warm and humid air over the Northeast, a line of thunderstorms, possibly severe, will likely develop over New York and then move through Berkshire County sometime on Saturday. Once the cold front moves through, a much cooler continental Polar (cP) airmass (surface high pressure system) will build in and dominate our weather into midweek next week. There should be plenty of sun, and the air will be much drier, but temperatures will struggle to get out of the 60s on both Sunday and Monday.

Wednesday Night

Clear, calm and comfortable.

Low temperatures in the low to mid 50s.

Light westerly winds this evening, becoming calm after midnight.

Thursday

Clear and sunny in the morning. Remaining mostly sunny in the afternoon, with some build up of fair-weather cumulus clouds, particularly over the elevated terrain. It will be unseasonably warm, but humidity will remain low.

High temperatures in the low 80s in Pittsfield, Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Lee and Stockbridge; low to mid 80s in Great Barrington and Sheffield and; near 80 over the elevated terrain.

Winds light and variable in the morning, becoming southwesterly at 5-10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Clear, calm and seasonably cool.

Low temperatures in the mid 50s.

Calm winds.

Friday

Mostly sunny, unseasonably warm and becoming muggy.

High temperatures in the low to mid 80s in Pittsfield, Adams, North Adams, Williamstown, Lee and Stockbridge; mid 80s in Great Barrington and Sheffield and; low 80s over the elevated terrain.

South-southwesterly winds at 8-12 mph.