First 100 mph Wind of the Season Looming?

2014-10-30 18:35:00.000 – Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Meteorologist

So far this week much of our attention is focused on the potential for a powerful Nor’easter to slide just east of New England this weekend, with the first 100 mph winds of the season looking like a distinct possibility. The storm will begin to develop off the Carolina coastline tomorrow, with rapid strengthening as it moves northeast towards the Gulf of Maine Saturday. At this point in time, models are keeping the system too far east for a direct hit on the summit and surrounding valleys. A few inches of snow could still fall across the higher summits late Saturday through Sunday as the storm brushes the region.

The main effect of the storm will be powerful northwesterly winds and colder temperatures. As the storm pulls into the Gulf of Maine and strengthens, high pressure behind the system will create a very tight pressure gradient, with winds quickly ramping up over the course of the night Saturday to near hurricane force by the morning hours Sunday. Winds will likely remain above hurricane force for the majority of the day Sunday before peaking sometime Monday, with sustained winds nearing 100 mph with higher gusts. If winds do reach sustained speeds over 100 mph, we may have the opportunity to attempt the Century Club, a feat I’ve been hoping to accomplish sometime this winter. For now we will continue to track and monitor this developing storm, keep an eye on our higher summits forecast, and current summit conditions, pages to see how high the wind gets!

Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Meteorologist