Introducing: Weather And The Bay

Introducing: Weather And The Bay

Even though Rhode Island currently may be going through political and economic turmoil, for such a tiny spot on the map of the United States, we can boast of many varied and beautiful natural physical assets. There’s little doubt that by far this state’s most beautiful and valuable possession is Narragansett Bay. It is also the state’s largest and most dominant physical feature.

The Bay not only covers fully one tenth of the entire area of the state, it also splits our small state in two. Both physically and socially … East Bay, West Bay … to some, never the twain shall meet! From my point of view as a meteorologist, it also plays a major part in the climate and weather that we experience. In fact, the Bay affects our weather to a major degree all year round. It is also true that our changeable, at times fickle weather mightily affects the Bay and surrounding seashore.

It is a complicated yet rhythmical environmental dance that our weather and our Bay perform. Rhode Island has an amazing variety of weather on any given day across its 48 by 37 mile area from the ocean dominated climate of Newport and South County beaches to the interior, hilly reaches of Foster and Burrillville that rarely seem to be touched by the reach of Narragansett Bay.

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Over the next few weeks I will present a series of articles that will explain how Narragansett Bay affects our temperatures, precipitation, wind and cloud cover. I will also explore the reverse … how our weather affects the Bay and how that impacts those of us who work and play on its sparkling waters and live on its inviting shores. Next week: How Narragansett Bay Affects Temperatures.