I had “Warm Drink Weekend” in my weather headlines this morning on-air, and someone on Twitter asked me what I meant by that. If you went out at all today, you probably can already guess what I mean by that and the title of this blog: It’s the PERFECT weekend to switch from the cold-brew to the hot cider, hot coffee, hot cocoa… WHOA. 
Okay, I may have taken things a bit too far there, but at least I didn’t mention the super-trendy, super cliche, borderline annoying #PSL. You catch my drift, though. With highs today only in the mid to upper 60s – it felt like summer departed yesterday and left us with an official fall-feel. Stepping out this morning it was already obvious how “crisp” it felt – and I do mean “crisp,” as in “dry air,” but also perfect “honey-crisp-apple-pickin’-weather.” We’ll get another dose of today, tomorrow.
BEFORE we get to another pleasantly crisp, cool, fall afternoon, we have a pretty cool night ahead of us. In fact, tonight’s temps will be the coolest of the season and the coolest it’s been since the middle of May! This one’s for all of you who complained about no A/C all summer long. Open up those windows and throw an extra blanket on the bed! We’ll drop into the 40s for most of us, and even into the upper 30s for some of the coolest, most protected spots (Norwood, Bedford, I’m lookin’ at you). It’s not out of the question for some mid 30s to come in on the board by tomorrow morning, and that’s why there’s a possibility we could get some patchy frost. #GASP… Yes, it is true. The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for NW Massachusetts. It’s likely we’ll see this again for Monday morning.
The advisory is posted for areas where the growing season is still on-going (until we get our first freeze) – but it’s not out of the ordinary to get a frost this time of year in NW Massachusetts. In fact, it’s really right on time according to climatological averages. It just may be a shock to you and your sensitive vegetation, considering we’re jumping right off the high-dive of summer into a chilly pool full of fall. #cannonball!
I often mention “radiational cooling” when I’m doing my on-air forecasts. This is what happens on a clear night (like tonight) with dry air in place (like tonight), where the longwave radiation from the surface escapes back (up and out) into the atmosphere. This process is really maximized on a clear and CALM night – and that may be our one caveat tonight… there will be a bit of a breeze. When you get a breeze factored in there, it tends to keep our air near the surface “mixed” (like a spoon stirring something). So, I say that the coldest locations most likely to get some patchy frost will be our usual suspects: Norwood, Bedford, for example. More “protected” spots that get less of a breeze overnight and can maximize on the radiational cooling process. Either way, it will be the coolest night we’ve experienced since spring. Here we go…
Tomorrow’s highs will be a couple of degrees cooler today, and it may be a bit breezier. You know the best part about the first fall-like day? Pulling out that jacket you hung up in the spring, and finding out you left yourself a surprise in the pocket. Unfortunately for me, my surprise was an old straw wrapper. It would have been better if it had been a $5 bill. That would have made this story better too.
Anyway, enjoy this “feel of fall!” It’s great apple pickin’ weather! And if you’re not a fan of the cooler weather, don’t get discouraged. I don’t think it’s out of the question for 80 degree temps to return for a day (or a few) as we get into October. Remember Christmas Eve last year? It was 69°. It’s New England. Anything could happen. – Breezy