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Here’s why the Massachusetts snow forecast changed

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Here’s why the Massachusetts snow forecast changed


BOSTON – From the beginning, the meteorologists at WBZ-TV in Boston had a bad feeling about the snow storm heading to Massachusetts Tuesday. The snowfall predictions took a major turn downwards from Sunday to Monday and many people want to know why.

Snow predictions early discussions

Here’s an example of what we were talking about behind the scenes over the weekend while trying to develop an accurate forecast of snowfall totals.

Saturday 1:21 p.m.

Text from Eric Fisher to me: “I dunno, just feels like a weird headfake storm to me”

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Sunday 4:05 p.m.

Text from Eric Fisher to me: “Still feeling kind of leery of a late shift south”

Monday 12:47 a.m. on WBZ-TV News after the Super Bowl

Eric talking to David Wade and Lisa Hughes: “I’m a little worried it’s going to slip farther south; we will watch the trends tomorrow”

Granted some of these conversations were private, but we did try to caution our viewers about the uncertainty with this particular storm. Trust me, I know, in the end, many folks aren’t hanging on every word that is said on TV and most are just waiting for the snow forecast map.

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Winter storms are like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. This is a big part of what makes forecasting in New England so intriguing. You can literally do this job your entire life (see Barry Burbank, well over 40 years), and still have sleepless nights wondering if the atmosphere will behave as you predicted.

Contrary to popular belief, meteorologists don’t just go outside and stick their fingers in the air to determine the forecast. We rely on very complex weather models. These models are run on giant supercomputers capable of churning out quadrillions of calculations per second. Seriously! That’s 15 zeros!

Despite this insane amount of technology, in the end, the weather is still somewhat unpredictable. There are just too many moving parts. We are light years better at forecasting now than we were 10, 20, 30 years ago, but still far from perfect. We would love to be able to accurately predict how much snow your town is going to get four days in advance but that just isn’t possible. This is, after all, still a FORECAST. Things will change. Sometimes dramatically so.

What happened to the snow forecast in Boston

Over the weekend, you likely started seeing snowfall forecast maps popping up here, there and everywhere. By Sunday, most of the model guidance seemed to be converging on a storm track that would produce a widespread 6-to-12″ of snow across southern New England. However, with this storm, there was a very fine line between getting a whole bunch of snow and getting nothing. We knew that there would be some very intense snow bands that would produce 1-to-3″ per hour. If your town ended up underneath this banding, you were in for an intense 3-6 hours of snow. Just a few miles to the north, flurries.

Minor shift, major change in snow predictions

By Sunday night, and more so Monday morning, there was a minor shift in the model output. It appeared that the center of the storm may pass about 50 miles farther south that what was originally forecast. For a storm system several hundred miles across, 50 miles isn’t much. BUT, if those 50 miles just happen to be right over Massachusetts a minor shift becomes a MAJOR story. Shifting the highest snowfall totals (8-12″) 50 miles southward had a major impact of hundreds of thousands of people. For reference…50 miles (as the crow flies) in Massachusetts is like going from Lawrence to Plymouth or Boston to Falmouth.

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So, much to the disappointment of some, and the delight of others, we made a significant change to our snowfall forecast Monday afternoon. Basically, everything was shifted about 25-50 miles south.

Unfortunately, many towns, schools and businesses had already chosen to make a decision to close on Tuesday, nearly 24 hours prior to the first flakes. I get it, you want to give folks as much notice as possible to find babysitters, change plans etc. Sure, occasionally you get a multi-day mega-blizzard, and the call is an easy one. Most of the time, however, making those calls a full day in advance is a dangerous proposition and NOT one that any meteorologist would recommend.

Part of me longs for the old days, when we would all wake up at 5 a.m. and flip on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 to hear whether school was canceled or not. Strange that back then, when communication was much more rudimentary, we waited until the last minute to make those decisions. Whereas now, when we can get the word out in seconds via text, robocall, social media etc, we make the calls way sooner.

At the end of nearly every blog I write, I urge everyone to stay tuned to updated forecasts. That isn’t just a throwaway line, we really mean it!

The atmosphere is a crazy place. A thunderstorm unexpectedly forming in Texas on Monday could start a chain reaction that leads to massive changes to Boston’s weather a few days later.

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We know and respect that you all have busy lives with kids to care for and businesses to run. Our goal is to provide you with the most accurate information possible and, just as important, keeping you updated when changes occur.



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Boston, MA

With the addition of Walker Buehler, the Boston Red Sox are starting to look like 2025 contenders

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With the addition of Walker Buehler, the Boston Red Sox are starting to look like 2025 contenders


Coming into this winter, it was imperative for the Boston Red Sox to make multiple impactful moves following a disappointing finish to the 2024 season. And in light of the Yankees making several key pivots following Juan Soto’s departure, inactivity from Boston through another offseason wasn’t an acceptable option.

Well, slowly but surely the Red Sox are putting together a solid offseason and starting to look like a team that is serious about getting back to the postseason in 2025.

The Red Sox’s biggest changes have been in their rotation, where they’ve had a serious overhaul. Adding starting pitching was the top priority for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and the Red Sox added arguably the best starter on the trade market in Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. But it takes more than one starter to get through the 162-game grind of the regular season.

The Red Sox then added left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who’s recovering from Tommy John surgery, and they solidified their veteran presence on Monday by adding right-hander Walker Buehler on a one-year, $21.05 million deal. Buehler, who was No. 23 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top 50 free agents, brings to Boston’s rotation a veteran arm who has pitched on baseball’s biggest stages and experienced plenty of success. His 18 postseason starts are the most on Boston’s roster by far.

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Buehler, 31, had other offers, including a few multi-year deals, sources told Yahoo Sports. But the fit and the opportunity to play for a franchise such as the Red Sox while continuing to rebuild his value after a strong postseason was difficult to pass up, and now the pairing is a win for both sides.

At this point, the Red Sox rotation looks like a combination of Crochet and Buehler followed by 2024 All-Star Tanner Houck, Bryan Bello and Lucas Giolito, who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Kutter Crawford and Garrett Whitlock are also options to start. As the Dodgers showed en route to their World Series championship, you can never have too much pitching depth, and such depth will now be a strength for Boston.

With the rotation solidified, the Red Sox’s biggest need the remainder of this winter is a right-handed bat. So as we close 2024, the question now is which bat?

Boston missed out on Soto and several of the top free agents on the position-player market. Yhere are still a few impact players who would fit. Case in point: Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander and Alex Bregman are all still available.

Bregman seems like the player who would make the Red Sox’s offseason feel most complete. The two-time World Series champion is unlikely to return to Houston after the team signed first baseman Christian Walker, and Fenway Park would be an excellent fit for Bregman’s offensive profile. It’s not difficult for fans to imagine Bregman in Boston, where he could tap into his pull-side power again.

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What’s more, Bregman could play second or third base, which would give Boston flexibility to decide if the Red Sox really want to follow through on the plan to play Rafael Devers at first base and trade Triston Casas or if they’d rather keep Devers at third and Casas at first and have Bregman play second for the first time in his career.

The Red Sox’s place in the American League’s pecking order has definitely improved this offseason, particularly with teams such as the Astros and Guardians, two of the top squads in the league the past few years, retooling their rosters and the Baltimore Orioles relatively inactive thus far. If one or two more moves fall into place for the Red Sox, it’s reasonable to expect them to make a significant leap in the standings next season.



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A truly banner year: Take a look at the best Globe sports pictures of 2024 – The Boston Globe

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A truly banner year: Take a look at the best Globe sports pictures of 2024 – The Boston Globe


While the Celtics’ 18th NBA championship commanded the Boston sports spotlight in 2024, it was far from the only game in town.

Boston Globe photographers were on assignment at sports events just about every day of the year, from high school complexes to Fenway Park, TD Garden, Gillette Stadium, and all kinds of venues in between.

Here’s a look at the year in sports through the lens of the Globe’s sports photographers.

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Montreal’s Jordan Harris and Boston’s Brad Marchand tangled in the first period of a clash between the rival franchises on Jan. 20. The Bruins won, 9-4.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
In the Division 5 high school football Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium, Shawsheen Valley Tech’s Brayton Carbone can only see what might have been as he stares down a long pass he was not able to catch. Despite that, Shawsheen defeated Foxborough for the championship.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had his No. 12 retired in June, at a ceremony honoring his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Bishop Feehan girls’ basketball players celebrate with the MIAA championship trophy after they defeated Wachusett in the Division 1 state championship game in Lowell in March.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Boston Latin boys’ hockey player Joplin Murphy absorbed the moment after the Wolfpack defeated Tewksbury in the MIAA Division 2 championship game at TD Garden in March.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers learned firsthand how good the Celtics were in February, when Kristaps Porzingis (right) and Derrick White (left) helped Boston to a 117-99 victory at TD Garden. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The action in Game 4 of the NBA Finals from Dallas brought fans out of their seats at a watch party at TD Garden.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
Al Horford and the Celtics defeated the Mavericks in five games in the NBA Finals, celebrating on June 17.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Boston College High football players lined up for the pledge of allegiance before their Thanksgiving game at Catholic Memorial. BC High lost, 31-19.Andrew Burke-Stevenson for The Boston Globe
In October, cheerleaders huddled during Lewiston High varsity football game against Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
In June, diver Oleksiy Prygorov competed in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Boston. Athletes leaped from a platform tower attached to the roof of the Institute of Contemporary Art. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Boston College receiver Lewis Bond was upended after a long reception for a first down during the first quarter of a November game against Pittsburgh. BC won, 34-23.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin was left on his back after he caught a line drive for the third out in the eighth inning of a May game against the Rays. The Red Sox won, 5-4.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Gage Anastasio posed for a photo that was included in a collection of fan portraits during the NBA Finals in June.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
Sebastian Cantoni and Romina Cornejo shared a kiss after crossing the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
A puck flipped over the boards by Bruins captain Brad Marchand toward a group of children was all the rage before a game in October at TD Garden.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw an incomplete pass as he was brought down by Maliek Collins (bottom) and Leonard Floyd (top) during the 49ers’ victory in September.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
In June, Jarren Duran hit a double to give the Red Sox a walk-off victory over the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Figure skater Skylar Lautowa-Peguero performed at the Skating Club of Boston’s “Summer Sizzler” event in August. The event capped a training camp held by US Figure Skating at the facility in Norwood.Andrew Burke-Stevenson for The Boston Globe
The 45th Pan-Mass Challenge in August saw bicyclists leave before sunrise to beat the heat for the 77-mile leg from Bourne to Provincetown. Behind them is the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge.Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
Jessica Digirolamo and Kaleigh Fratkin celebrated after Boston’s PWHL team scored late in the third period to defeat Montreal in its final regular-season home game, ultimately earning the team — rechristened the Fleet — a playoff berth.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown was called for an offensive foul against Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (left) on this drive in Game 4 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics won, 105-102, and swept the Pacers out of the playoffs.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Fans cheer as Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s duck boat drives by during the parade to celebrate Boston’s 18th NBA championship in June.Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Globe
Jayson Tatum held the Larry O’Brien Trophy for fans to see during the duck boat parade to celebrate the Celtics’ NBA championship in June.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock used a training tool during spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., in February.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Tennis players wore clothes and used rackets from the 1920s at a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the first tennis game in America at the Nahant Tennis Club in July.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Joseph Case High School quarterback Lucas Beaulieu throws against West Bridgewater’s defense during an October game.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
In the 140th edition of “The Game,” in November, Yale’s sideline erupted after receiver David Pantelis caught a long pass for a first down in the second half. Yale defeated Harvard, 34-29.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley celebrated after his team defeated Illinois at TD Garden to win the NCAA East Regional in March. UConn went on to win a second straight national championship in April.Barry Chin/Globe Staff
The Savanah Bananas’ national tour included a stop at Fenway Park in June.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
Quarterback Drake Maye walks off the field at halftime of the Patriots’ game in October against the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London. Jacksonville won, 32-16.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Forward Jayson Tatum held the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the locker room after the Celtics won the 2024 NBA championship in June.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff





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Boston Celtics, playing without Jayson Tatum, fall short in Orlando

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Boston Celtics, playing without Jayson Tatum, fall short in Orlando


ORLANDO, Fla. — Tristan da Silva scored 18 points and made a critical 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds left, and the Orlando Magic rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit Monday night for a 108-104 victory over the Boston Celtics, who were missing Jayson Tatum because of an illness.

With Tatum sidelined two nights after his 43-point triple-double in a win at Chicago, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 35 points.

Boston led 58-43 at halftime, but the Magic dominated the third quarter to tie the game by the end of that period, and they pushed ahead by 10 in the fourth. The Celtics made a late run and Brown’s layup got Boston within 105-104 with 59.6 seconds left. Al Horford missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer for the Celtics, and da Silva responded with his game-sealing 3.

Trevelin Queen added 17 points in his first NBA start and Jalen Suggs scored 16 for the Magic. Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White each scored 17 for the Celtics.

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Magic center Goga Bitadze was ejected with 3:36 left for stepping into an altercation between Suggs and Porzingis, both of whom drew technical fouls.

Takeaways

Celtics: The defending NBA champions went cold in the second half in their final road game of 2024.

Magic: Orlando was outplayed in the first half for a second straight game while playing without Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Mo Wagner, but still found a way to win.

Key moment

Late in the third quarter, Cole Anthony lost the ball on a drive, stole it back in the corner and drove around the 7-foot-3 Porzingis and 7-2 Luke Kornet for a reverse layup to give the Magic their first lead, 73-72.

Key stat

The Celtics, who average almost 19 3-pointers per game on 51 attempts, shot 8 for 32 from distance.

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Up next

Celtics: Host Philadelphia on Christmas Day.

Magic: Host Miami on Thursday night.



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