Hello to all..

..Round 1 of Major Winter Storm has ended but a more powerful Round 2 of this Major Winter Storm is on tap for much of Southern New England..
..Please note for all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators that this storm and its ‘two rounds’ of precipitation are being classified as 1 storm event so please add totals from day-1 and day-2 together for reporting purposes. Thanks for your efforts..
..The New England Echolink/IRLP Reflector system issues have been resolved. For the duration of this event to assure we maintain the usage of Echolink and IRLP, the *NEW-ENG* Echolink conference node: 9123/IRLP 9123 system will remain connected to Echolink Conference *WX_TALK* node: 7203/IRLP 9219 for the duration of this major winter storm event..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through 1 AM Thursday for Southern New Hampshire for an additional 10-15″ of snow. Some mix with sleet is possible here but the precipitation should stay predominantly snow for the duration of this event. The morning commute will be severely impacted as snow redevelops between 2-4 AM..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through 1 AM Thursday for Franklin, Essex, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Northern Worcester Counties for an additional 7 to 12 inches of snow and up to one tenth ice accretion. Snow will redevelop between 1-5 AM and become heavy at times. The snow will likely mix with or change briefly to sleet and freezing rain before changing back to light snow before evening Wednesday Night. The snow/sleet/freezing rain and the weight of this frozen precipitation combined with prior winter storms may cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 1 AM Thursday for Hampden, Southern Worcester, Suffolk and Norfolk Counties of Massachusetts for 5-8″ of snow and one to two tenths of icing. Snow will redevelop between 1-5 AM and become heavy at times and severely impact the morning commute. The snow will then change to sleet and freezing rain by late morning or midday and then change back to light snow before ending. The weight of the snow/ice from this storm combined with previous storms could cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 1 AM Thursday for Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island for an additional 3-6″ of snow and up to one-quarter inch radial ice accretion. Snow will redevelop between 1-4 AM and become heavy at times and mix with or change to sleet and freezing rain by mid-morning severely impacting the morning commute. Mixeds precipitation will change back to light snow by evening before ending Wednesday Night. The weight of the snow/ice from this storm combined with previous storms could cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through 1 AM Thursday for Central Rhode Island, Northern-Central Bristol and North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for additional 2-4 inches of snow and one-tenth inch of icing. Snow will redevelop between 3-5 AM and become heavy during the morning commute and then change to freezing rain by mid-morning before a change to plain rain by early afternoon. The precipitation will change back to light snow Wednesday Night before ending. Isolated pockets of tree and wire damage cannot be ruled out from this event..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for South Coastal Masaschusetts and Rhode Island through 1 AM Thursday and a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 9 AM Wednesday for Cape Cod. Freezing Drizzle may occur at times overnight before changing over to a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain between 3 to 5 AM which will change to rain by mid to late morning and will change back to light snow Wednesday Night before ending. An additional coating to 2 inches of snow and a light coating of ice will occur in this area. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 5 AM for Freezing Rain/Freezing Drizzle before it changes over to rain Wednesday Morning. Isolated pockets of tree and wire damage cannot be ruled out from this event..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will deactivate at 8 PM ET Tuesday Evening and will reactivate at 3 AM ET Wednesday Morning lasting through Wednesday Evening..
..Connecticut ARES will move to level-2 stand-by at 6 AM due to the impacts of this storm. Eastern Massachusetts ARES will go on stand-by at 6 AM ET Wednesday for storm impact as well. The Massachusetts State EOC will move to partial activation at 4 AM Wednesday February 2nd, 2011. ARES/RACES groups across Southern New England should closely monitor the progress of this major winter storm..

The first round of this storm dumped a widespread 4-8″ with isolated higher amounts away from Southeast New England where 2-5″ of snow occurred. Some sleet and freezing drizzle has put a crust of ice on top of the snow. Freezing drizzle will occur in the lighter precipitation through early Wednesday Morning before heavier precipitation moves in the region so caution is advised on travel overnight. Below is the NWS Taunton Public Information Statement and Local Storm Report on the first round of precipitation and damage from this major winter storm:

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement (Snow and Ice Reports):
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nwus51.KBOX.html

For round two of this storm, the Storm Coordination Message headlines depict the current thinking. A significant amount of precipitation will occur over the region and more than what occurred on Tuesday. The main questions will be where does the snow/ice line sets up and what will be the predominant form of precipitation. This will have impacts on snow totals and potentially storm impact. If the snow is heavy and wet or ice glaze can form on trees and power lines, damage from the storm could increase. If its a lighter fluffy snow, the risk of damage will be considerably less though weakened infrastructure could still be affected by the storm causing isolated pockets of damage. This will be examined carefully throughout the duration of this second round of this major winter storm and the headlines of this message reflect current thinking. It will be dependent on how deep the cold air will be over the region and how much the cold air thins out and remains cold at the surface over the warning areas as this will affect whether the precipitation is snow, sleet, freezing rain or rain.

Spotter reports on snowfall/sleet accumulation, ice accretion and changeover in precipitation type will be very critical in this event and will be shared with other Non-Governmental agencies, local, regional and state emergency management, and the media. Any pictures or video uploaded on to youtube of the conditions or storm related damage will be extremely helpful. If they are sent along here via email, credit will be given to the spotter/Amateur Radio Operator who gave the info.

SKYWARN Activation with formal Ops at NWS Taunton ended at 730 PM this evening and will resume on 3 AM Wednesday lasting through Wednesday Evening. Connecticut and Eastern Massachusetts ARES are going to stand-by at 6 AM Wednesday. Other ARES/RACES groups around the area should monitor the progress of this major winter storm. This will be the last coordination message on this event. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory statement, NWS Taunton snow total graphic and Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory Statement and snow total graphic:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/StormTotalSnow/

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.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

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