Category Archives: Weather

WMEO Winter Forecast 2026–2027

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“Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk delivering a winter weather forecast. The orange tabby wears a red scarf with a silver snowflake pin and has a white mug labeled ‘WMEO I ♥ Weather’ in front of him. The black cat sits beside a vintage suitcase with a ‘Key West or Bust!!’ sticker and a boarding pass sticking out. Behind them, a snowy weather map shows ‘Below‑Normal Colder’ and ‘El Niño’ regions, with snow falling outside the studio window.”

❄️ Live From the WMEO Weather Desk — We Meow, You Listen

🌨️ Winter Is Coming to New England (Whether We Want It or Not)

Banner: Good morning, New England! The 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its winter predictions, and I’m here to confirm what we all already suspected: Cold. Snowy. Miserable. But let’s see what the “experts” have to say before Balboa starts complaining about frozen whiskers.

Balboa: The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a better-than-average prediction rate, which is impressive considering weather forecasting is the only job where you get praised for being wrong more often than you’re right. So what’s the verdict? Are we bracing for another blizzard, or is this just the annual “we’re not sure, but here’s a chart” routine?

🌡️ National Overview: El Niño Takes the Blame

Banner: This year’s forecast reads like they’re trying to cover every possible outcome. Lots of “maybes,” “possibly,” and “El Niño made us do it.” Overall, they say most of the U.S. will experience temperatures near or above seasonal norms… But then come the exceptions. And guess who’s in the exceptions?

Balboa: Of course we are. We’re New England. We’re always the exception.

“Winter 2027 U.S. weather forecast map from The Old Farmer’s Almanac showing regions labeled mild, cold, snowy, wet, or dry in varying shades of blue. Alaska is marked mild and snowy, Hawaii cool and wet. A yellow Old Farmer’s Almanac 2027 cover appears on the right side of the image with snowflake graphics in the background.”

🧊 Central vs. Southern New England: Two Winters, One Region

“Close‑up of evergreen branches lightly covered in fresh snow, with green needles visible beneath the white layer. Soft autumn colors from distant trees appear blurred in the background, showing the transition from fall to early winter.”Central New England: Worcester, Prepare Thyself

Banner: Above‑average snowfall is expected across parts of the Northeast, the Appalachians, and higher elevations out west. But New England gets split into two zones:

  • Central New England: colder-than-normal temperatures
  • Southern/Coastal New England: milder breaks mixed in

The Almanac highlights a corridor from central New England down the Appalachians that will be colder than usual.

Balboa: I’m glad we don’t live in Worcester. I’m getting the shivers already.

🌧️ Southern & Coastal New England: Slush Season Incoming “Snow‑dusted forest trail winding through tall trees with patches of snow on the ground. A person in a red jacket walks in the distance, surrounded by dense green foliage and soft winter light.”

Banner: Here in Southern New England, expect frequent mild breaks interrupting the cold — keeping coastal towns hovering right around freezing. Translation: More rain, sleet, and icy mix than clean, pretty snow.

Balboa: Great. Slush. My favorite. Nothing like stepping outside and instantly regretting every life choice.

🥶 The WMEO Bottom Line: Keep Everything Within Paw’s Reach

Banner: The Almanac’s advice for New Englanders? Keep your snow shovel, rain boots, and ice scraper close at hand. Sudden flips between cold rain, flash freezes, and heavy snow‑slush will define the season.

Balboa: Honestly, I think they’re tossing everything in so no matter what happens, they can say they “called it.” Classic.

🌴 WMEO Weather Desk Closing Thoughts (and a Tiny Key West Sigh)

Banner: So there you have it, New England — another winter is on the way. Cold, wet, unpredictable… basically the usual.

Balboa: mumbles while staring south on the map Key West is looking pretty good right about now.

Banner: quiet agreement Warm breezes… no slush… chickens instead of ice storms… Yeah. Key West is definitely looking good.

Balboa: Anyway — stay tuned, New England. Winter’s coming whether we like it or not.

Two cats pose as winter weather anchors at a WMEO 9 news desk. The orange tabby on the left wears a red scarf with a silver snowflake pin and sits beside a white ‘WMEO I ❤️ Weather’ mug. The black cat on the right sits next to a vintage brown suitcase with a ‘Key West or Bust!!’ sticker and a boarding pass sticking out. A microphone sits between them, and behind them a snowy weather map shows ‘Below‑Normal Colder’ and ‘El Niño’ regions with falling snow in the background.”

This has been a WMEO 9 Wather Update. You may  resume your regular scrolling. 

Ragweed Season

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A tall green ragweed plant with spiky flower clusters standing among thick late‑summer vegetation.My Annual Allergy Showdown

Ragweed season is creeping in again — not that it ever politely announces itself. One warm week, one good rain, and suddenly the air is full of tiny yellow pollen ninjas whose only mission is to make my eyes itch and my nose run. Every year I swear I’m going to write a poem about it, and this year? I finally did.

A Little Ragweed Poetry

Ragweed pops up after rain

like it’s been waiting for its cue.

My allergies go full Broadway—

sneezing in act one, itching in act two.

You’d think after all these years

we’d have reached some kind of truce—

but no, you come back stronger,

pollen with a point to prove.

 

A Ragweed Moment in the Wild

Just yesterday I was waiting for the Dial‑A‑Ride bus when out of nowhere I let out a sneeze — not a polite little ka‑choo, but a full‑body, from‑your‑toes‑to‑your‑eyebrows sneeze. The kind that echoes. The kind that makes strangers look up.

A man standing nearby said “God bless” and then started to laugh. All I said was, “Ragweed.” He understood immediately.

That’s the thing about ragweed season: it creates instant camaraderie among allergy sufferers. One word and you’re bonded by shared misery.

Why Ragweed Hits Hard in September

Ragweed may start in August, but September is when it really digs in its heels. It’s like it waits for Labor Day weekend to roll around and then says, “Showtime!” The kids go back to school, the pumpkin spice crowd wakes up, and ragweed decides to launch its annual attack.

And if you’ve lived in New England long enough, you know the old rule: ragweed season ends with the first hard frost.

Except… we don’t get the hard frost when we used to. It’s that warmer weather — you know, from the climate change that doesn’t exist.

The season stretches longer now, creeping deeper into fall, and my sinuses are not amused. What used to be a few miserable weeks has turned into a full‑blown endurance test.

My Personal Ragweed History

I’ve been allergic to ragweed for as long as I can remember. It’s the one plant that can take me from “fine” to “why are my eyes leaking?” in under ten minutes. I can walk past a field of goldenrod without a single sniffle, but ragweed? One tiny puff of pollen and I’m done.

Every September I stock up on:

  • tissues
  • eye drops
  • antihistamines
  • and the eternal hope that maybe this year won’t be so bad

Spoiler: it’s always bad.

The Ragweed Reality Check

Ragweed doesn’t care if you have plans. It doesn’t care if you want to enjoy a crisp fall morning or take a walk without sneezing yourself into another dimension. It doesn’t care that you’ve already suffered through spring allergies and summer humidity.

It shows up, spreads its pollen like confetti, and dares you to complain.

So yes — I wrote a poem. Because if I’m going to be miserable, I might as well make it rhyme.

Here’s to Surviving Another Season

September 3 marks the unofficial start of my annual ragweed battle. I’ll be armed with tissues, tea, and a sense of humor. And maybe, just maybe, a hard frost will show up early this year and save us all.

But I’m not holding my breath. (Well… actually I am. Ragweed.)

 

It’s Another Scorcher Out There!

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A thermometer showing both Fahrenheit and Celsius scales rises close to the top against a bright, golden sky. Sunlight flares behind scattered clouds, emphasizing extreme heat and a hot summer day.

🌞 Hey Massachusetts! Keep Cool Out There Today

It’s going to be another scorcher today. How high can the temps go? Anyone taking bets? The weather folks are hinting at a new record, and if you missed triple digits yesterday, you may get another chance today. Summer’s showing off, whether we asked for it or not.

Remember that Arizona joke — the skeleton in the desert saying, “But it’s a dry heat.” Well, that’s not us.

 

We may only be a few days into July, but it feels more like Miami in August. One big wall of hot, humid air pressing down on everything.

My poor flowers are about to give up the ghost. If you’ve got baskets or pots out on the deck, give them a good soak and tuck them into some shade if you can. They’re fighting the same battle we are.

Even the cats are trying to stay cool

And my cats? Banner and Balboa are already plopped. No zoomies today. They’re acting like Victorian fainting ladies, stretched out dramatically in whatever rug‑free room they can find. It’s not as though I don’t have the AC on — even set at 80°, it still feels cool compared to the outside.

So know that I’m thinking of you, especially anyone out in this heat and not at the beach.

If you’re running errands, take it slow. Keep water close. Pets will need extra shade, plants will need a little encouragement, and we all need to check in with ourselves more often than we think. Humidity makes everything feel heavier.

Check on neighbors, check on your gardens, and check on yourself. Stay cool, stay steady, and let’s ride out this muggy scorcher together.

P.S.

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Two white beach chairs sit on sandy shore facing a calm ocean. A folded blue umbrella and paddle stand nearby. In the foreground, two surfboards rest in the sand, one upright with colorful hexagonal decals. A person sits near the water’s edge under a bright sky with soft clouds

 

Photographing the Blizzard of 26

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Snowstorm Photography & the Bag That Saved My Sanity

February gave us one last New England tantrum — a heavy, wet snowstorm that turned my street into a postcard. The world went quiet. The trees looked like they’d been dipped in powdered sugar. I grabbed my camera because I had to capture it before it melted.

Out I went, bundled up like the Michelin Woman and determined to get a few good shots before the plows arrived. This is where my VSGO Black Snipe Pro Camera Backpack proved its worth.

I’ve carried camera gear in everything over the years — tote bags, purses, and backpacks that were never meant for cameras. I always ended up digging around like I was searching for buried treasure. Not this time.

The snow was coming down sideways, and it was a relief to have everything in one place. Every lens, battery, SD card, and cleaning cloth had its own compartment. Everything stayed dry and easy to reach. I didn’t have to unzip five pockets or juggle gear in the cold. I could focus on the moment — the hush of the snowfall, the weight of the branches, and that soft storm‑light you only get in winter.

And yes, I got some beautiful shots. But the real star of the outing was the bag that kept me organized and sane.

If you’re a photographer — or even a “grab‑the‑camera‑and‑run” type like me — this bag is worth a look. It’s lightweight, durable, and built for people who want to enjoy the experience instead of wrestling with their gear.

👉 Here’s the link to the VSGO Black Snipe Pro Camera Backpack:
Camera Gear

I’ll add my snowstorm photos below so you can see what I captured before everything thawed. Days like this remind me why I love photography — and why having the right gear makes all the difference.

 

March Comes In Like a Lion… Or Maybe Just a Squirrel

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gray squirrel

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Checking the Weather the New England Way

There’s an old saying that “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”
Here in Massachusetts, that lion has a flair for the dramatic. Some years it roars in with a blizzard, other years it tiptoes in like it’s afraid to wake the neighbors. And sometimes it just shrugs and gives us mud.

So this morning, before I did anything else, I performed the official New England March 1st ritual:
I looked out the window to see what kind of mood March was in.
(Cold, Light rain and snow. Yuk)

Meanwhile, at the Deck Slider…

While I was assessing the weather, Banner and Balboa were conducting their own March 1st investigation. Both were crouched at the deck slider, tails whipping like furry windshield wipers. Outside, the squirrels were running back and forth, pausing just long enough to give the boys a look that clearly said:

“Ha ha, you can’t get me.”

Banner took this as a personal insult. Balboa, ever the dramatic one, flattened himself into full panther mode. The squirrels, of course, remained unimpressed.

If March did come in like a lion today, the squirrels didn’t get the memo.

A Little Spring Inside the House

No matter what’s happening outside — roaring lion, sleepy lamb, or taunting squirrel — March always feels like a turning point. The light lingers a little longer each afternoon, and I start craving small changes that make home feel fresher.

One of my favorite early‑spring rituals is swapping out my heavy winter curtains for something lighter. Even if the weather is still acting up, it makes the whole room feel like it’s leaning toward spring.

This year I’ve been eyeing the Joydeco curtains — soft, modern, and perfect for letting in that slowly returning daylight.
Explore  Curtains here

Lion, Lamb, or Something in Between

Whether March arrived roaring, purring, or just sending squirrels to mock my cats, I’m welcoming it with a warm mug, a hopeful heart, and a few small changes around the house.

Here’s to brighter days ahead — and to Banner and Balboa keeping the squirrel population on high alert.