Good Evening…

The jet stream is the storm track….a  river of air high up in the sky that circles the globe and determines our weather. The shape, location and strength of the jet is responsible for our day to day weather. The dips in the jet are called “troughs”.…the humps are called “ridges”. Usually in between the troughs and the ridges are where clouds and precipitation can be found….especially right near the trough. The map below is how the jet steam will set up next several days. Here in New England, this kind of jet structure promotes mild and dry weather and why I am forecasting nice conditions Thursday thru the weekend…….Tony Petrarca

Good  Evening..

Out high resolution Microcast model showing showers moving in mid to late day Tuesday. There is a small chance of a passing shower Tonight… Tony Petrarca

Good Evening…

The Pinpoint Weather team proud to have a weather partnership with the Providence Journal.  Our weather department will produce daily forecasts that you can find in the newspaper and also on Projo’s website..   Tony Petrarca

With 1-3″ of rain already in southern Rhode Island and more to come overnight, a small stream  and urban flood advisory has been issued thru 5am Thursday. Small streams and minor street flooding is possible thru dawn in Washington and Newport Counties…..Tony Petrarca

Good Evening…

Most of the rain since last night has fallen along the south shore with just under 2″ in Westerly and closing in on 1.50″ in Newport. A bit of a lull in the rain now, but it will start to become wide spread and heavier overnight…especially south shore and southeast Massachusetts…..

Tony Petrarca

Good Evening..

Some rain moving in right now, however….

…some of our higher resolution computer models still hinting at heavier downpours and thunder late Tonight (after 12am) and into dawn Wednesday. Below is a projection of rain amounts from 12am to 8am Wednesday. It is possible that the band of red and purple colors on the map below (2-3″) could stay just offshore and miss us, so it is a close call.

Tony Petrarca

Estimated Rainfall Amounts By 9AM Wednesday

Tony Petrarca

WPRI 6PM Newscast  March, 1987

Were did the time go….25 years went by so fast..  Thanks to my co-workers for putting together this video of my career here at channel 12.  And most especially, thanks to the viewers for inviting me into their living rooms each night with the weather forecast.  To my parents, thank you for helping me achieve my goal to be a weather forecaster…

Tony

Good Evening From Meteorologist Tony Petrarca

The Pinpoint Weather Team is now using a higher resolution computer forecast program which updates every hour rather than every 6 hours.  Check out the link from NOAA on the new Rapid Refresh Model.  This model will help to improve short term forecasts .  Below is an example of this product showing the chance of showers approaching our area by dawn Thursday…The goal is to improve timing, details and locations of certain weather parameters and is most helpful during approaching storms.

Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca

Good Evening..

Below is one of our high resolution computer models. The green represents widespread rain moving in by early Tuesday morning. Even though we had a rainstorm last week (3+ inches), we still need more to make up for our deficit. Currently running about 6-7 inches below average since Jan 1st, 2012. We are expecting about 1″ of rain Tuesday, Mostly during morning and early afternoon……Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca

Good Evening….A Freeze Watch….really??!!….Actually it is not unusually to get temps near freezing this time of year (at night that is).  It does not occur often,  but it does happen from time to time. The map below shows the average dates of last frost-freeze…..Tony R Petrarca