Reggie Smith (MBA ’20) tells us what to expect this month.
When’s the last time you played jenga? Think of the descent into winter as one big jenga tower and we’re about to pull that last piece out before it all comes crashing down. Yes, we’re about to crash down right into the most dynamic weather season in Boston. First, we gained an hour of sleep, and it’s getting dark before 5 p.m. now. Ouch. Second, this month you’re going to have to trade in the jacket for the winter coat. Third, it’s about to start snowing! Ahh, I love that S-word.
October was a meh. The major highlight was the 80-degree warmth we got in the beginning of the month. It was slightly wetter and about three degrees warmer than normal. If you feel like it’s been a warm October—it has been!
In November, look for the first real winter-like chill to arrive after the 10th. It’s going to come fast and furious. Winter cold has already been dumping into the Midwest (even as far south as Texas), and that cold air is headed our way! I expect the pattern the second half of November to feature below-average temperatures and some shots at our first snow. Sometimes the first snow can hold off until December, and this warm fall pattern might also keep our snow chances away.
First Annual HBS Snowfall Challenge!
When do you think Boston will get its first measurable snowfall? It’s time to make a prediction! To participate in the first ever HBS-wide snowfall challenge, all you need to do is come up with the day and time you think the first snow in Boston will occur (for example, 11/28, 6:20pm).
The style is similar to any typical pool: the buy-in is $1 for each guess. You are allowed unlimited guesses. The closest time gets 70% of the pot, second place 20%, and third place 10%. Winners will be announced and become HBS legends.
Send your 1) name 2) date and time 3) and $1 to @reggies31 on Venmo to participate (e.g., “Reggie Smith, 11/28, 6:20 p.m.”). You must submit all guesses by November 15 at 11:59 p.m.
Fine print: The “first snow” in this competition is defined as the starting time of the first snowfall that results in at least 0.1” of accumulation at Boston Logan International Airport. For example, random flurries or a trace of snow that doesn’t stick does not count.
Reggie Smith (MBA ’20) grew up in Philadelphia and has studied the weather for over 17 years. He was the Meteorologist for the Spirit News serving over 100,000 people in the city. Prior to HBS he worked at Johnson Controls (JCI), where he developed large energy conservation and solar projects. Most recently, he led the development engineering for an energy storage start-up business within JCI. He spent the summer of 2019 at Marathon Capital and Eventide Asset Management doing investment banking in clean energy and investing in clean energy-related companies, respectively. Reggie graduated summa cum laude with a B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.
