Blizzard Coordination Message #3 – 12/26/-12/27/10 Major Winter Storm/Blizzard Event
Hello to all…
..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard to Pound Southern New England. Tonight through Sunday Morning is the time to prepare for this major winter weather event. All travel and preparations for this dangerous severe winter storm should be completed no later than 4 or 5 PM ET..
..A Blizzard Warning is 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 15-20″ of snow likely with isolated 24″ amounts possible. 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..
..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..
..A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Barnstable and Dukes Counties Massachusetts and Block Island Rhode Island from Sunday Afternoon through Monday Afternoon for the potential of 6″ or more of snow. In this area, the snowfall potential is not as certain as portions or all of this area could mix with or change to rain for a time holding down snow amounts and rain could be falling as the strongest winds approach this region..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect for Block Island and Nantucket Island for sustained winds 30-40 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH and the potential for even higher wind gusts..
..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..
..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..
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 is 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.
A Winter Storm Warning is 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 a Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Barnstable and Dukes Counties of Massachusetts as well as Block Island Rhode Island. Across the Winter Storm Watch area, there is a concern for rain mixing in with the snow in this region and the chances of 6″ or more of snow is lower in this area so a Winter Storm Watch is in effect to cover the winter storm threat. 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. This will likely cause pockets of tree and power line damage and power outages. Across Nantucket Island, a few inches of snow will occur before a changeover to rain along with the strong to damaging wind potential. A slightly further east track could result in warning snowfall amounts in the Winter Storm Watch area and potential for heavier snows on Nantucket Island.
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. 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.
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. The next coordination message will be issued by Noon Sunday and will likely be the last message before going 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/Winter Storm Watch 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
Hello to all…
..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard to Pound Southern New England. Tonight through Sunday Morning is the time to prepare for this major winter weather event. All travel and preparations for this dangerous severe winter storm should be completed no later than 4 or 5 PM ET..
..A Blizzard Warning is 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 15-20″ of snow likely with isolated 24″ amounts possible. 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..
..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..
..A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Barnstable and Dukes Counties Massachusetts and Block Island Rhode Island from Sunday Afternoon through Monday Afternoon for the potential of 6″ or more of snow. In this area, the snowfall potential is not as certain as portions or all of this area could mix with or change to rain for a time holding down snow amounts and rain could be falling as the strongest winds approach this region..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect for Block Island and Nantucket Island for sustained winds 30-40 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH and the potential for even higher wind gusts..
..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..
..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..
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 is 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.
A Winter Storm Warning is 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 a Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Barnstable and Dukes Counties of Massachusetts as well as Block Island Rhode Island. Across the Winter Storm Watch area, there is a concern for rain mixing in with the snow in this region and the chances of 6″ or more of snow is lower in this area so a Winter Storm Watch is in effect to cover the winter storm threat. 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. This will likely cause pockets of tree and power line damage and power outages. Across Nantucket Island, a few inches of snow will occur before a changeover to rain along with the strong to damaging wind potential. A slightly further east track could result in warning snowfall amounts in the Winter Storm Watch area and potential for heavier snows on Nantucket Island.
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. 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.
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. The next coordination message will be issued by Noon Sunday and will likely be the last message before going 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/Winter Storm Watch 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