Blizzard Coordination Message #4 – FINAL 12/26-12/27/10 Major Nor’easter Event
Hello to all…
..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard to Pound Southern New England. All travel and preparations for this dangerous severe winter storm should be completed no later than 3 PM ET..
..A Blizzard Warning remains in effect from Noon Sunday through 6 PM Monday for Southern Worcester County Massachusetts, Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island except for Cape Cod and the Islands for 12-20″ of snow likely with isolated 24″ amounts possible in the northern and western parts of the Blizzard Warning area. Blizzard conditions with near zero visibility and strong winds sustained at 30-40 MPH with gusts up to 60 MPH and possibly even higher gusts possible in the Blizzard Warning area. Pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages will likely occur. It is noted that parts of the Southeast Massachusetts could see amounts closer to or a bit less than 12″ if enough mixing with sleet and rain occurs in this area and may not see blizzard conditions but they still could see a high impact due to damaging wind potential and heavy wet snow..
..A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from Noon Sunday through 6 PM Monday for 12-18″ of snow and considerable blowing and drifting snow with reduced visibilities for Northern Connecticut, Western and North Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Near Blizzard conditions with sustained winds of 25-30 MPH with gusts up to 45 MPH possible with some higher elevation locations gusting as high as 50 MPH probable..
..The Winter Storm Watch for Cape Cod and the Islands is canceled. In this area, 1-4″ of snow will occur but the precipitation is now predominately expected to be rain which will hold down snowfall amounts significantly but strong to damaging winds are likely in this area..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds 30-40 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH and the potential for even higher wind gusts. This will result in pockets of tree and power line damage..
..A Coastal Flood Watch is in effect from Late Sunday Night to Monday Afternoon for East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. A widespread moderate coastal flood event is likely in this area with isolated pockets of major coastal flooding possible for the early Monday Morning high tide between 3-4 AM. A more minor coastal flood event is possible with the Monday afternoon high tide. The Coastal Flood Watch will likely be upgraded to a Coastal Flood Warning later today..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at 3 PM Sunday Afternoon with Ops lasting through the overnight period well into the day on Monday Afternoon. ARES/RACES Groups should seek guidance from their local leadership on this potentially dangerous severe winter storm situation. Eastern Massachusetts ARES has been placed on stand-by for this situation starting at 5 PM Sunday Afternoon through Monday Evening. Massachusetts State EOC and Regional Offices are activating Sunday at 4 PM through Monday Afternoon at 4 PM..
Multi-model agreement and a high confidence forecast now for a major nor’easter winter storm/blizzard for much of Eastern Massachusetts north and west of the Cape Cod Canal, Rhode Island and Southern Worcester County Massachusetts. A Blizzard Warning remains in effect for this region from Sunday at Noon time through 6 PM Monday Evening. Total Snowfall of 15-20″ with isolated amounts of 24″ are likely in the Blizzard Warning area. In addition, damaging winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH and isolated higher gusts are likely. The combination of snow and wind will create dangerous travel conditions of zero visibilities and the potential for tree and power line damage and power outages in this region.
It is noted that across portions of Bristol and Plymouth County that there is a chance of more mixing with sleet and rain but not until after a significant snowfall occurs. The snow could also be heavy and wet and combined with strong winds could result and tree and power line damage and power outages. The Blizzard Warning may be reduced to a Winter Storm Warning for parts or all of these counties but even with that reduction in the warning status, a significant impact from the storm is still likely.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Southern New Hampshire, North-Central and Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut from Noon Sunday to 6 PM Monday. In this area, 12-18″ of snow is expected with sustained winds of 25-30 MPH with gusts 45 MPH and gusts up to 50 MPH in the higher elevations. This will create a period of near-blizzard conditions in this region with the possibility of isolated pockets of tree and power line damage.
A High Wind Warning is in effect from Noon Sunday to 6 PM Monday for all of Cape Cod and the Islands and the Winter Storm Watch for Barnstable and Dukes Counties of Massachusetts as well as Block Island Rhode Island has been canceled. Snowfall in this area now only appears to be on the order of 1-4″ of snow with a changeover to rain. That said, the wind and coastal flood impacts in this area are of significant concern.Damaging Winds are likely in this area with a High Wind Warning in effect for sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH and even higher gusts possible. This will likely cause pockets of tree and power line damage and power outages.
A Coastal Flood Watch is in effect from late Sunday Night through Monday Afternoon for East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. The high tide cycle at 3-4 AM ET will be the most problematic high tide with the potential for widespread moderate to isolated pockets of severe coastal flooding across north and east facing beach exposures. This situation will need to be monitored very closely. An upgrade to a Coastal Flood Warning is likely for the Monday Morning high tide. For the Monday Afternoon high tide cycle, some coastal flooding is possible but due to a change in wind direction to an offshore wind, coastal flood impacts will be less during that high tide cycle.
This has the potential to be a significant multi-faceted and dangerous severe winter weather event. All SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators are urged to monitor local SKYWARN Frequencies, the Echolink/IRLP New Enlgand Reflector system and HF frequencies during this major winter storm/blizzard situation and provide reports per the SKYWARN reporting criteria while being safe doing so. Best practice precision in reporting will be helpful as this information will be utilized by NWS Taunton forecasters for updating their forecasts and by local, state, and federal emergency management to get a near real-time feel for the conditions and damage the major winter storm/blizzard is bringing to the region. The WX1BOX Twitter account and both of my email addresses that send to the SKYWARN list will be monitored throughout the entire event. Storm damage and pictures of the major winter storm snow event are welcome to be sent to both email addresses for dissemination of info to NWS, Media and Emergency Management officials. Credit will be given to the Amateur Operator or SKYWARN Spotter who provided the pictures.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 3 PM Sunday Afternoon. ARES/RACES groups should closely monitor the storm situation and seek advice from local/regional ARES/RACES leadership on the situation. This is the last coordination message as we now go into operations mode. Below is the NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/Winter Storm Watch Statement, Coastal Flood Watch Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Taunton Winter Storm Preparedness Public Information Statement:
NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton High Wind Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – Winter Storm Preparedness:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org