Weekend nor'easter brings rain and some wind

The word nor’easter typically conjures up thoughts of a snowstorm. However, the reality is the term is used for any storm moving up the east coast and bringing a wind from the northeast with precipitation.

Meteorologists, when speaking about the wind, name the wind by the direction it comes from, not the direction it’s going. The convention is completely opposite of the way we name highway direction. If you are on the Mass Pike heading from Boston to Worcester, you are going west, but if you were the wind, we would name you an east wind because you’re coming from the east.

During a nor’easter, the wind comes from the northeast and mariners in particular, realized that wind direction often brought high seas and dangerous conditions.

We do have a nor’easter on the way for the weekend and it’s a slow moving one too. This means a prolonged period of rain once it begins accompanied by chilly air coming off the cold Atlantic.
Before we get to our weekend storm, we do have a mild but breezy/blustery sort of day today. A southwest wind (coming from the warm part of the country) will help boost temperatures above normal for a change. Highs this afternoon will reach the 50s.

Later today, a cold front will move through and this brings with it a chance of a few showers. I am not expecting much in the way of rainfall and any shower activity should hold off until late this afternoon and evening.

In the afternoon rain moves in from the south and becomes quite steady and even heavy by evening. There will be big puddles developing and some roads that normally flood could have issues. I am thinking those lower places along Storrow Drive or Route 9 in parts of Brookline and Natick might see some ponding of the water.

Winds will be gusty along the coast Saturday night and Sunday as the storm increases in strength and passes by the area. On Monday continues improve as high pressure moves back into the region and skies clear. It looks as though it’s going to remain seasonable much of next week so the snow banks still left lying around after the rain will continue shrinking.

http://www.boston.com/news/weather/weather_wisdom/2014/03/weekend_noreaster_brings_rain.html