Endless Thread Why it feels like it rains every weekend
Jul 11, 2025
Barbara Moran, a Climate and Environment Correspondent at WBUR, delves into the puzzling trend of rainy weekends in Boston. She explores the 'weekend effect,' connecting weekday pollution with increased weekend rainfall. The conversation unveils the role of the jet stream and atmospheric patterns in shaping these weather phenomena. Moran also highlights the pressing issue of declining weather data collection due to budget cuts, stressing its impact on predicting future forecasts and public safety amidst climate change.
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Weekend Rain Pollution Theory
- The weekend effect theory suggests pollution particles build during the week and cause rain on weekends.
- Studies show this effect is minimal today due to cleaner fossil fuel combustion.
Jet Stream's Role in Rain
- Boston weather is influenced by jet stream waves called Rossby waves.
- These waves can cause periodic rainy patterns, explaining some weekend rain occurrences.
Weather Data Loss Concerns
- Weather data collection is declining due to funding and staffing cuts.
- Reduced data could lead to less accurate weather predictions in the future.