Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.

The sinking was the death of some 1517 souls and the birth of a new organization. The International Ice Patrol (IIP) was formed following the tragic loss of the Titanic. Icebergs are always a hazard in the Arctic, but the cold Labrador Current carries some of these mountain of ice south into the shipping lanes between Europe and North America this time of year. The Ice Patrol tracks icebergs. In fact, plug their name into any search engine and you'll find a fascinating site including pictures of the latest icebergs. The men and women of the Ice Patrol keep watch over an area of about a half-millon square miles center near the Grand Banks. Using a variety of techniques including flying C-130 aircraft through the zone, the latest information is broadcast to shipping interests in the area. Ice Bulletins, showing the limits of known ice are sent out every 12-hours to warn passing vessels.
The International Ice Patrol has amassed an incredible safety record. Since the sinking of the Titanic, not a single reported loss of life or property due to collision with an iceberg has occurred in their coverage area. This is one of those government agencies we hear very little about. However on this 96th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic it's important to remember the potential for a catastrophe still exists, and the Ice Patrol is keeping a watchful eye.

Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV

Tomorrow marks the 74th anniversary of the greatest wind gust ever recorded on Earth and it happened right here in New England. In 1934, the crew at the Mount Washington Observatory recorded a gust of 231mph. It's a record that stands to this day.

Imagine being on top the mountain as sustained winds of more than 185mph blew in and gusts were often topping 200mph. At 6288 feet, Mount Washington is hardly the tallest peak on the planet and yet it experiences dramatic and potentially deadly weather every year that rivals any place on Earth.

The wind gust record has been challenged but no other reading has ever been able to be verified and thus, the record holds to this day.

JC Monahan
Meteorologist, WCVB

We may be more than a month away from the official start of the hurricane season (June 1st), but there are those who have been thinking about it since the season ended last year. Professor William Gray of Colorado State University has been producing hurricane forecasts for over twenty years. He is continually updating his methods with the introduction of new research. His forecast is based on a multitude of world wide factors from the subtropical jet stream to El Nino and even rain patterns over the Saharan Desert. This year he is calling for an active season in the Atlantic with 15 named storms…compared to the 9.6 average. He also believes that 4 of those storms will be intense (winds 111mph or greater) and that there is a 70% chance that one of the 15 storms will hit the East Coast. No hurricanes in our future, but it will begin to feel like summer Thursday with some spots topping out near 70 degrees.

Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist

The old New England weather adage that goes something like this: "just wait a minute and it will change," will be close to reality late this week.
While temperatures will moderate today and may reach 70 degrees tomorrow afternoon, wet and chilly weather will return for at least the first half of the weekend(and possibly longer, but that is not certain just yet). Saturday looks to be quite wet and cool, with temperatures not far from 40 degrees.
On Thursday, sunshine and a mild west wind will boost temperatures very nicely, but by Saturday, a moist storm and a cool damp east wind (coming from the still very chilly ocean), will do us in.

Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV

The second full week of April has begun, and besides spring, that means the Red Sox are finally returning to town. It took eighteen days, three countries and many miles, but the home opener is here. The Sox have taken the field under many different weather conditions over the years. As any native of New England knows, April is a changeable month. There has been rain, sleet, snow, and even a rumble of thunder on opening day here in Boston. On average, April is a cloudy and damp month with over three and a half inches of rain. However, the good news for those of you holding tickets to today’s game, it will remain dry and the sun will try to warm up that chilly April air…but make sure you bring along the sweatshirts and jackets, temperatures will only climb into the upper 40’s by first pitch.

Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist

Spring in New England can be called many things. Some of which can't be repeated in polite company. One of the reasons it can be so frustrating is because of the ocean influence. Despite the higher sun angle and more than 12-hours of sunlight every day, the waters of the Atlantic will stay cold through early June. It about 39-degrees right now. That means that any little breeze off the ocean will instantly cool coastal areas. If the wind is strong enough this cold air can penetrate deep in land. That's why there can be such a temperature spread across the region. As much as 10-15 degrees warmer away the ocean influence. In the middle of summer this can be a refreshing sea breeze, but in spring it's just another factor that makes Spring feel like Winter.

Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV

This is a time of year when temperatures can vary greatly from day to day. The last few days have been a great example of how fickle early Spring can be. This past Saturday, the high temperature in Boston was a mere 36 degrees. That's "normal" for mid January. However, just three days later the temperature in Boston hit 64 degrees. That's the type of reading we expect in early May.

So what's average for this time of year? Clearly, nothing is really "normal" but the average temperature for early April is 52 degrees. The next few days look to be below normal so don't put those winter coats away just yet.

JC Monahan
Meteorologist, WCVB

Finally Spring has arrived and things are
beginning to grow..The trees are beginning to
bud. Three leaves will out in full force by
the second and third week in May.

The average last freeze in Boston
occurs on April 11th.However, well inland
in sheltered valleys,the freeze can happen as late
as May 15th.The growing season ends in late
September into October as the first freeze of
the fall season occurs.

Dick Albert

Why So Much Wind?

March is known as the windy month, but, now it is April, so why is it still so windy? Well, vigorous weather systems are still common in early to mid spring, as the battle of the changing seasons still manifests itself on the weather map. The battle between the warmth developing over the south trying to move north, and the still cold air in Canada trying to move south, results in huge temperature contrasts, which leads to huge pressure differences, which results in the very rapid movement of air, better known as very strong winds. On Tuesday, 4/01/08 we had a strong and very mild S-SW wind, and on Wednesday, 4/2/08, we have a very strong and much cooler NW wind, as a cold front moved through Tuesday night and ushered in the much cooler air mass.

Harvey Leonard
Co-Chief Meteorologist, WCVB-TV

Ahh, springtime in New England…it can be so beautiful, but it can also be so fickle…Snow one day and summer warmth the next. It was on this date that Boston had one of its biggest blizzards, third to be exact. April 1st 1997 is coined the Aprils Fools blizzard, where Boston recorded 25.4 inches of snow. Worcester totaled 33 inches for its greatest snowfall ever. Snow fell at three inches per hour and Blue Hill had winds top out at 72 mph…almost hurricane strength! There was no blizzard yesterday, but it snowed as far south as the Rhode Island border. Many spots will hit 60 degrees and above, however I do not think we’ve seen the last of the snow.

Joe Venuti
WCVB Meteorologist