I recently did a story on the 30th anniversary of the Windsor Locks tornado. It was really interesting to go back and look at all the old footage. I wish I could remember that day but I only remember hearing about it and not fully understanding what had happened. I think it was shortly after that event that I started to become  interested in weather.

What is really amazing about that tornado was the fact that only 3 people died. The tornado was an F4 and hit a pretty populated area, touching down on the edge of a major airport.

It is also amazing how far technology has advanced from 30 years ago. I remember watching the old radar from the National Weather Service at Bradley International while I was growing up and it was always showing ground clutter. You could never tell if it was really raining or not from that radar. For this area we really had to depend on the radars from Chatham and Albany.

Now  TV stations like ours, have their own radars and the National Weather Service has a network of very powerful and much more sophisticated Doppler Radars and they are working on another more advanced radar system for the future.

On the day of the 30 anniversary of the Windsor Locks tornado a Tornado Warning was actually issued for southern Connecticut.  And as I was watching the Connecticut stations, they were displaying the warning then breaking into programming for nonstop coverage until it expired. That did not happen 30 years ago or even 20 years ago. There was no warning for the Windsor Locks tornado and back then most warnings were not issued until a tornado was actually spotted by someone. Today warnings can actually be issued based on what the radar is showing. Indicating that a tornado could touch down or may be on the ground.

Another interesting fact. The tornado touched down on October 3, 1979 seven days later on October 10th it was snowing. Only in New England.

There are only so many ways to sugar coat a less than perfect forecast.  Sunday shower will, no doubt, dampen some outdoor plans.

It’s the last Sunday of September, a Big E weekend…  Rain is the last thing a meteorologist wants to forecast on a day like today.  But, it’s here and it’s going to stick around.

The steadiest rain fell this morning.  Scattered showers and drizzle should be expected this afternoon.

Now, don’t be upset with me for saying this… We’re due!  We had two full weeks of dry weather.  Average September rainfall for the Springfield area is about 3.5”, and less than .5” has fallen in Chicopee so far this month.

A little rain is just what Mother Nature ordered.

I went to the Big E with my family yesterday (Friday).  The weather was amazing: sunny and warm!  My only minor complaint was the wind.  From time to time the walk-ways felt like wind-tunnels.
Luckily, the breeze will be much weaker today.  All things considered,  it will be an incredibly comfortably Saturday for getting outside.
By the way…  Low temperatures actually reach 32 degrees in some spots this morning!  There’s nothing worse than jumping into a cold car in the morning and waiting for the heat to kick on.  Am I the only one sad that summer is over?

     Something came across my desk the other day (thanks Jim Antal!)  that I’d like to alert you to.  If you’re looking for something both fun and fascinating to do on Monday Sept 21, go to the premiere event of the new movie, “The Age Of Stupid”.  I love that title!! 
    Anyway, this is a “docudrama”  set in the year 2055, after the earth has been damaged by the effects of climate change.   An historian looks back on 2008 to see what could have been done to prevent climate change. 
     It’s not just a movie premiere, it’s a star studded event!  This premiere will originate live from a solar powered tent in New York City.  Nobel prize winner Kofi Annan will be there along with celebrities, Gilian Anderson, Heather Graham, and Moby.   Radiohead’s Thom Yorke will perform. 
     While all the action will be happening in New York, you can see the event and the movie here in Western Massachusetts Monday evening.  Click here for theater information.  
     While this is a drama, movies like the “Age Of Stupid”  can get you thinking about the real consequences of climate change.   As always, I encourage you to get your information on climate change from scientific sources.  If you go to see the premiere, be sure to drop me a line with your thoughts on the show!  -Brian

A batch of clouds will roll thorough western Massachusetts this afternoon.  It will be warm, pleasant, and partly sunny…  All in all, a fairly nice late summer day.

Thermometers only climbed into the 60 yesterday.  Luckily, we will enjoy temperatures in the mid and upper 70s today.  By the end of September, highs usually reach the upper 60s!

So with the weekend upon us, I know at least a few of you will be out on the Connnecticut River, boating, bathing, tubing and basically having a great time with this magnificent natural resource we have. If you look carefully, you may even see me on the river this weekend. Anyway, in my continuing efforts to keep you happy and keep you safe, let me share a link with you. This is a website that Umass has developed, along with their study of water quality at certain points along the CT River. http://www.umass.edu/tei/mwwp/ctrivermonitoring.html Based on this information, you can make a better decision on whether or not to swim in the river on any given day. Enjoy the warm air this weekend!

Hi! A series of blogs from the 22News Storm Team will be coming to this space soon!!! While we do a pretty good job of updating you on the changing weather conditions here in Western Massachusetts, the blogging thing is new to us!! So feel free to email us with ideas for blog topics. I’m sure we’ll be inspired on our own, but you certainly can help us out! I hope your looking forward to this weekend’s hot weather! I’ll be making ice cream in my basement! -Brian

Wednesday: Mostly Cloudy; Scattered PM Showers & T-Storms

    Highs: 76-80 (Dew Points: 64-68)   Winds: E/NE 5-10mph

Wednesday  Night: Spotty Shower/Drizzle & Fog

     Lows: 60-66   Winds: East 2-6 mph

Thursday:  Partly to Mostly Cloudy,  Scattered Showers

     Highs: 76-80 (Dew Points: 62-66)

Friday: Mostly Sunny

     Highs: 82-86

** A Flood Advisory has been issued for Berkshire County until 4:15 p.m.  Slow moving thunderstorms may produce up to 2″ of rain.**

Good afternoon!  It will remain relatively muggy today.  Because temperatures will be significantly cooler than Monday and Tuesday, though, it will be more comfortable.  High temperatures will reach the upper 70s in most spots.

It will be mostly cloudy.  After a generally dry morning, some scattered showers and thunderstorms will pop up this afternoon.

It would be wise to have indoor alternatives to outdoor PM plans.  It will not be wet the entire afternoon and evening, but chances are good there will be a period of unsettled/wet weather.

Storms that develop will be slow movers.  You can track them with our Super Tracker tool!

Scattered showers and fog will be present overnight.

Tomorrow is shaping up a little cooler and wetter than previously forecasted.  I expect some scattered showers, most likely in the afternoon.  Skies will be gray at times.