Kevin_Lemanowicz's Blog

I did not come up with this idea, but I did read about it in the Boston Globe. 

It seems some environmentalists are touting eating kangaroo as opposed to beef or lamb.  One reason is that kangaroos have less gas.  That's right!  If you've driven by a farm with cows, you know that smell.  Much of that smell comes from methane, a greenhouse gas associated with global warming.  Since livestock account for 70% of Australia's agricultural emissions, cutting the amount of pooping cows would help with global warming.  Kangaroos, I read, have a certain bacteria in them that aid in digesting grass.  This leads to less smelly emissions, thus helping our planet's delicate greenhouse gas balance. 

Sounds good until you consider you have to kill more than 3 times the current 'roo population to make as much meat as is currently produced from cattle.  Of course, it may be healthy for other reasons.  Kanga only has about 3% fat!

Fire up that barbie!

Sound good to you?

I say Christmas, you say (fill in the blank).  Whatever it is for you, I hope the next week is joyous for you leading up to 2009. 

I love what I do.  The hours kind of stink for family life, admittedly, but I love forecasting the weather here in New England.  I am honored to have the chance to present my thoughts to you 5 nights a week (okay, more this past week with the snow... sick of me?) on FOX 25.  I've been here for over 12 years now, since September 1996 when we first launched as FOX News Boston.  I am proud to be the only scientist to be called FOX 25 Chief Meteorologist.  We are a totally different place now, tops in the market.  There have been growing pains, but I'd like to think I've grown up (some would disagree) along with FOX 25. 

My hope for 2009, professionally, is that I continue to get better at my presentations and, especially, my forecasting.  I never like to disappoint you with what I do.  Rest assured that nobody beats me up more than me when something goes wrong.  I don't leave my weather "cave", as I like to call it, much during the night, so my interaction with much of our staff is limited.  All of you reading my blog should know what a first-rate staff it is.  From Chris in audio to Mike directing to Brian jibbing to Kim producing to Jeff on the web to John writing to our incredible photojournalists and editors.  Know that without all of them I wouldn't be writing this, and you wouldn't even know who I am.  They put us on television and make us look as good as we can.  I am indebted to them for that. 

Thank you for allowing me on your television each night, reading this blog, and trusting what I have to tell you with regard to the weather forecast.  I hold no professional responsibility higher.

I've seen the movie, so I know it is much colder during an ice age, but this weekend at least looked like one, didn't it?  Loads of snow Friday started it.  The snow just wouldn't quit Saturday, then the next one hit Sunday.  Another load of snow for many.  Here are some totals from our spotters.  As always, thank you for all your valuable help.

These are for the whole weekend...
Millis 15.5"
Gardner  16"
Dorchester  18.7"
Center Harbor, NH  24"
Middleboro  17"
Milford  19.5"
Hingham  21.5"
Braintree  20"
North Brookfield  19"
Concord  19"
Leicester  13.5"
Chelmsford  20"
East Boston  15.7"  Logan Airport

Here is a link to the list on the National Weather Service website...
http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&format
=CI&version=1&glossary=0&highlight=off&issuedby=BOX&pro
duct=PNS

Careful on the icy roads Monday morning.  Winds are strong, too, so watch for weak branches and power lines. 

Happy Hanukkah.

kpl

The Friday storm acted just about as expected.  Most had 8-12" as expected, the wind whipped up, and there was little mixing.  It even started about 2 pm, as we thought.  Not bad.

No time to revel in that forecast, as another storm is on the way.  In fact, with a winter storm warning still in effect from the Friday storm, a winter storm watch was issued for the next storm.  This one figures to hit us Sunday morning and continue through the afternoon.  It figures to be another fast storm, so it won't stick around for Sunday night.  It'll be quite a start for Hanukkah.  The Sunday storm is a little trickier to forecast, as a little warm air may get involved.  That means areas southeast of Boston will likely see a change to rain.  Figure I95 as a possible line to use as a guide. 

This could change, but as I write this Friday night, I am expecting 3-5" of snow in Boston, but 5-8" beyond 128 to the north and west.  Expect snow at the start of the Patriots game in Foxboro.

We'll see how it works out.  After all, you are only as good as your last forecast.

 

kpl

We made it through the warm-up storm.  I'll post the snow totals, feeble as they are, in my last blog, Storm #1.  This post will be used to discuss Friday.

As of this writing, Wednesday evening, we already have a Winter Storm Watch for the area.  That means the potential for more than 6" of snow.  The cold air is moving in now, and will be entrenched.  The storm is just coming into the southwestern U.S.  It has a long way to go to get here, so keep in mind we are mainly relying on computer projections to determine snow potential.  If this storm stays on track, we are looking at a general 6-12" snowfall.  Temperatures at the ground may be marginal for a time on the Cape and Islands, which would hold totals down a bit.  Farther to the north, away from the storm center, amounts will drop off a bit as well.  It is a swath between Nashua and Plymouth that figures to have the most snow.

The south shore will have the heaviest precipitation, but since temperatures will be warmer, it will translate to less snow than colder areas to the north, where there will be less water content to the snow.  For instance, we start with the premise that there will be an 10 inches of snow for every inch of water content falling.  As the temperature drops below 20 degrees, one inch of water equals 20 inches of snow!  Just another factor to adjust our snow forecast.

There is still time to adjust this forecast, so stay with us.  You can always find the latest snow map on our weather page... you know what to do. 

The ice clean-up continues around I495 and points north and west of that highway.  Funny how that boundary seems to hold up pretty well with winter weather.  It looks like our next storm may flirt with the same dividing line. 

The front exiting the region Tuesday with rain showers (possibly some snow showers at the end) will hang just offshore.  An area of low pressure forming in the south, and bringing sleet to Texas Monday night, will push that old front back north toward us as a warm front.  The warmer air riding up over the cold air that will, by then, have moved into New England will produce snow.  I expect some accumulation by Wednesday morning.  Here is what I am thinking...
Mainly rain southeast of Plymouth
Slushy light accumulations north to 128... maybe an inch+... before becoming rain
1-2" of Snow and Sleet within the 128 beltway and down I95
2-4" Snow likely north and west of 128, with the highest amounts (4) in the highest elevations... most will end up 2-3"

This could change as the storm evolves, so check with Cindy first thing in the morning and me in the evening Tuesday.

kpl

Rain and wind are coming in on cue Wednesday.  We have a wind advisory in place for gusts over 45 mph.  Winds like that with a soaked ground could cause some trees to come down. 

It doesn't end there.

Cold air starts to filter in Thursday, causing sleet to mix in to the north and west of 495.  In some places, rain will continue to fall in the freezing cold air.  That rain will freeze on everything to a coating of ice.  Freezing rain is likely the worst precipitation that can happen.  There is no getting around when roads and walkways ice up.  Because of this threat, a Winter Storm Watch is in place Thursday. 

Northern New England ski areas should see a good amount of snow from this system, but snow will not likely be an issue in southern New England.

Obviously, this is a developing weather situation, so check back frequently and watch every FOX 25 newscast :)

kpl

There have been some flurries around southern New England, but Sunday gave us the first accumulating snow in the area this winter. You might remember from a previous blog that I've been guessing since September that our first snow would be December 8. I was wrong.

Thanks to our FOX 25 weather spotters, here are snow totals from the little storm. Highest totals were near the coast as the ocean storm intensified.

Middleboro 3"
Wareham 3"
Plymouth 3"
Duxbury 2.5"
Gloucester 2.25"
Hingham 2.2"
South Dartmouth 2.1"
Plympton 2"
Dorchester 1.25"
Winthrop 1.1"
Manomet .5"
Atkinson, NH .25"

Amounts varied within some towns from one end to the other. More light snow may arrive early Tuesday, with warmer air and rain to follow.

Bundle up!

kpl

An interesting article has been brought to my attention from the Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio. 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/clevelandar
ea_tv_meteorologist.html

I know from attending various conferences, and talking with my friends in this market who are also television meteorologists, that we'd mostly fall into the same category of, I suppose, skeptics.  The points in the article certainly speak for me, though I can't absolutely speak for others I've alluded to.  Still, there is so much more to this story.  In a response to this article, Joe D'Aleo of icecap.us has written to the American Meteorological Society, based on Beacon Street in Boston.  It will be interesting to see if and how they respond.  I'd encourage you to read the response and let me know what you think, but no way it can fit here.  It is compelling data supporting a return to cooling due to natural causes.  Joe is the man who first told me in 1996 that we would likely see global COOLING within 15 years, based on his research in the field.  Time will tell, but so far it is happening just as he told me. 

Let me know your thoughts on the article.

Enjoy the first snow this weekend.  Looks light right now, but if that ocean component gets more involved, it'll be interesting.  A.J. will update you Friday morning.

 

Made my weekly school visit Monday, December 1 to Hingham High School.  This was a departure from the usual elementary school audience.  This was a group of very smart seniors... and they were ready for me. 

Questions varied from career in television to weather related.  One interesting exchange happened when the topic of global climate change was discussed.  Of course, it was my fault.  I started the topic, and pretty much ranted against the primarily "liberal" view that it is all our fault.  I was called out by a young lady, who questioned if I was actually taking my stance because FOX 25 is known to be a conservative television station.  Interesting.  After all, aren't we just the liberal media?  This is a common connection.  FOX News Channel is thought to lean to the right, so the assumption is the local affiliate also does so.  Working here, I can tell you that there is no such lean here.  Still, it was a valid question. 

The answer is, simply, no.  I take my view not due to politics, but due to science.  I've said it before, but in case you haven't been around, I learned back in 1996 about atmospheric and oceanic oscillations that would eventually lead, it was thought, to cooling.  Those changes were to happen in 10-15 years, I was told.  Here we are 12 years later, and there has been some very modest cooling globally.  Not sure if it will continue, though I believe it will for some years to come, but even if we warm, I do not believe it will be a catastrophic event brought about solely by human-induced carbon emissions.  Did I mention it was nearly 60 degrees in Hingham Monday?

Still, we should clean up the carbon emissions as best we can to make our planet clean for the future.

Ah, Thanksgiving.  All that turkey and stuff(ing).  It was great to see the family all together, not immediate but in-laws.  I even did a little of "black Friday" shopping for the first time ever.  Everything I bought was for myself.  I am thankful for all of it.

We left the turkey leftovers at the in-laws and went home without even a piece of pie.  It was all left behind, along with this holiday.  As far as I'm concerned, it is time to bring on the Christmas season will all its trappings.  The tree is up and decorated.  The other tacky decorations are shamelessly in place, and the weekends are all filled up with Christmas activities.  Of course, much of the calendar will likely be messed up by a snowstorm along the way somewhere.  I've been telling everyone our first storm will be on December 8 since September.  I had no reason to say it at the beginning.  I think reading "A Prayer for Owen Meany" got me in a premonition mood, so I took a stab.  We'll see. 

Sunday started out a bit tricky with sleet and snow covering the ground through much of New England.  Temperatures warmed enough to change it all to rain, so time to move on from this storm, too.  There will be no issues going back to work and school Monday.  In fact, we'll even have mild temperatures.  Our next rain will be Thursday afternoon.  One of our computer models brings some snow in next Sunday with an ocean storm.  Shoot!  That's only December 7.

We'll see.

You know the tune, and you'll probably be humming it all day now.  Sorry about that.  We all know how many people travel this week.  It is said to be the busiest travel holiday of them all as we all scramble to get our families together.  It is for a good cause, I believe, for a holiday that transcends any personal beliefs.  It is a day to be thankful, even if we don't think we have much to be thankful for.  Look around and find something... it's out there.

So, if you are on your way somewhere this week, here is some advice.  You should either leave very early, say Monday, or wait until Wednesday.  Tuesday is going to be a mess.  Heavy rain and strong winds will be here.  That will likely impact your travel, whether by car, bus, or plane.  I assume trains will still be fine.  If you are going to northern New England, particularly the mountains, you will likely find some snow.  Flurries will fly in western New England, New York state (not NYC), and Pennsylvania.  Lake-effect snow will be falling in western New York and Pennsylvania, as well as northeast Ohio.  Elsewhere around the country, there can be some local "weather", but no big storms.

Next storm after this one, by the way, will hit us over the weekend.  Just in time for you to go back home.

kpl

It's become an (almost) yearly tradition for me to be live at the Frog Pond on Boston Common for the opening of the skating rink.  Tradition dictates that I put on a pair of skates and try my best to stand up and move around on the ice.  Also, it is imperative that our anchors make fun of me doing this act.  It is all in good fun, and I enjoy it immensely.  Some funny things have happened over the years in the banter with all different anchors.  This year was no exception.  The end was especially fun when Blades the Bruins mascot joined me for an unscripted appearance.  Mayor Menino was there for his yearly welcome.  Two teams based in Lexington, The Ice Mates and Mini Mates, performed, as well as others.  Wally the Green Monster was there, along with characters from the Nutcracker ballet. 

The Frog Pond is refrigerated, much like the ice at the Garden for Bruins games.  It can stay frozen for a while even in 50 degree weather.  That said, it needed no help Wednesday night.  It was icy cold out there, and the wind made it feel worse.  Winter is trying to come early for us in New England, as it already has for much of the rest of the country. 

Now, if we could just get some accumulating snow...

I went to get coffee at DD after DT (dinnertime) Monday evening.  As I was getting into my car with the hotties in hand, a gentle breeze hit my nose.  On that cold wind was a hint of something I hadn't smelled in a long time.  I looked up, squinting into the darkness, and there it was.  It was a chain-link fence.  Not just a fence, of course, but a fence filled with green.  Leaning up against it were skinny green poles.  Hanging from it were circles of green.  Tied up Christmas trees and hanging wreaths!  That smell only comes this time of year.

Sure, you can smell pine in any of a number of wooded areas all over New England.  However, to this nose, the pine smells somehow different when the air gets cold and toy catalogs fill the mailbox.  I don't care if this time of year has become too commercialized.  I don't care if children are more into toys than the meaning of the season.  After all, Easter is the more sacred time of year to this Catholic boy.  All I care about is the joy this season brings to everyone.  Can you feel it?  I can hardly wait to see my boys' faces on Christmas morning, to laugh with my family Christmas Eve, to go to the town Christmas pageant, to give to all the people I love something that will bring them joy, to give some anonymous little boy exactly what they asked for from the "giving tree" set up at church, and to spend a few extra days with my family. 

I'll turn another year older on Christmas day, but I don't care, although I do love that my birthday is on such a wonderful, joyous day.  The season is here.  I hope you can stop and enjoy the sights, sounds, and bright faces.  And, of course... the smells.

Like many of you, I wage a yearly battle with my yard. There isn't much you can do in the winter, except, of course, to shovel (and build snow forts).   In the spring, I get the tractor out and treat the lawn.  Then, the mowing begins.  In the summer, keeping it green becomes the issue.  In autumn, well, that's the biggest battle to me.  You have to keep mowing, of course.  In fact, the grass grows more quickly in early fall when the temperatures cool off.  As the grass starts to not grow so fast, the leaves begin to fall.  My yard has been covered by brown, ugly, dead leaves.  Instead of raking, I lazily drive the tractor over them, set at the highest level, to suck up as many leaves as I can.  The bags quickly fill up, so there are many stops to empty them.  I dump the bags in the woods along the back of my house, trying to strategically place them so they don't blow back in.  Choosing the date for this whole operation is precise.  It has to be long enough after the last rainfall to dry the leaves out, but before the next rain.  After all, wet leaves don't move much without raking.  Have I told you I despise raking? 

The last two days were the chosen ones.  Still, with limited time, I've only done about half the yard... and that might be generous.  Now, with all the rain, those leaves are cemented in place, until they dry out again.  That won't happen until maybe Monday.  By then, all the wind Sunday will blow all the other leaves that I already removed right back in to the yard. 

Have a great weekend.