UPDATE:

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON UNTIL 4 PM

New England Temperatures as of 8AM. Note the much colder readings to our north and west which will be headed our way for the overnight, courtesy of an approaching cold front. Click to enlarge.

Forecast Wind Gusts for this afternoon. Click to enlarge.

Winds could get a bit gusty this afternoon as the cold front approaches from the west. Lowell will be on the northwestern fringe of the strong winds, and I don't anticipate any damage. However, the National Weather Service has issued the following statement:

357 AM EST THU NOV 15 2007
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 4 PM EST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF CONNECTICUT...A PORTION OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND. THE PRIME RISK REGION FOR LOCALIZED DAMAGE IS SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS FROM THE BOSTON METRO AREA TO BROCKTON AND THEN INTO NORTHERN RHODE
ISLAND.

A 1 TO 3 HOUR BURST OF SOUTHERLY WINDS NEAR 30 MPH WITH GUSTS BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH IS EXPECTED. HEAVY SHOWERS WITH ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARRIVING SOMETIME EARLY OR MID AFTERNOON MAY ALSO PRODUCE LOCALIZED
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS.

SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ARE ANTICIPATED.

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE 31TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 46 AND 57 MPH.

WINDS THIS STRONG ARE CAPABLE OF DOWNING SMALL TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES...POSSIBLY CAUSING ISOLATED POWER OUTAGES. DRIVING CAN ALSO BE DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

My colleague Johnna Infanti will have a comprehensive update later on.

Hang on to your hats!

John Webster