Watching for Thunderstorms Today
By Erica Grow on July 24, 2012, 2:08pm
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The National Weather Service office in Boston has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties until 8pm tonight. A cold front is slowly approaching from the northwest, and with plenty of warm and humid air already in place, the stage is set for a scattering of thunderstorms, some of which could become severe. Severe weather criteria include storms that produce hail of at least 1" in diameter, or wind gusts of 58mph or stronger.
So, why is the Watch only in effect for 3 of Connecticut's counties, if the entire state has conditions conducive to severe weather? These 3 counties are the only counties in Connecticut that the NWS office in Boston has jurisdiction over. Litchfield County is part of the NWS office territory in Albany, and the other 4 counties (Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London) are all part of New York City's NWS territory. The folks at the NWS office in Boston (which is technically located in Taunton, MA) issued their Watch for their entire County Warning Area, which as I mentioned, includes 3 Connecticut counties. The forecasters at this office might disagree with forecasters at the other NWS offices in the area as to the severe weather potential for today. Perhaps the NYC and Albany folks don't anticipate any storms reaching severe limits. If they change their mind or update their forecast later this afternoon, perhaps they will also issue Severe Thunderstorm Watches for our state.
Personally, I think there is a potential for isolated, but not widespread, severe thunderstorms today and tonight. The front is moving rather slowly, so we're not seeing a rapid change in temperature or humidity conditions. A tight temperature or dewpoint gradient is usually an indication of severe potential. But as I mentioned above, we do have a very warm and somewhat humid airmass in place, which is more buoyant than a cooler, drier airmass. The model data is still projecting that a jet streak will move into southern New England later this afternoon and into the evening, allowing for more dynamic lifting, which could aid convection if it is already happening.
Of course, we'll continue to keep you posted on the WTNH weather page and right here on WXedge if anything develops... and please send us pictures and/or video if severe weather rolls through your backyard today!
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