Blizzard Coordination Message #5 – Friday Morning 2/8/13-Saturday 2/9/13 Major Nor’easter/Blizzard Event
Hello to all..
..Major Nor’easter/Blizzard Taking Aim on Southern New England. Preparations for this major system should be completed by Friday late Morning to early afternoon at the latest..
..A Blizzard Warning remains in effect through 1 PM Saturday Afternoon for Essex, Central and Southeast Middlesex, Southern Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Dukes and Barnstable Counties of Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island for blizzard conditions and 24 inches or more of snow. Winds sustained at 30 to 40 MPH with gusts to at least 65-70 MPH with possible higher gusts to hurricane force possible along the Southeast New England coast will cause potential for tree and wire damage and scattered power outages. The Blizzard Warning covers both the damaging wind threat as well as heavy snowfall..
..A Blizzard Warning remains in effect through 1 PM Saturday Afternoon for Northern Connecticut for 24 Inches or more of snow and sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts up to 50-55 MPH leading to Blizzard Conditions and the potential for isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Franklin, Northern Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts, and Southern New Hampshire from Friday Morning through Saturday Afternoon 24 inches or more of snow and the potential for near blizzard conditions with sustained winds of 15-25 MPH with gusts up to 50 MPH..
..A Winter Storm Warning and High Wind Warning remains in effect from 1 PM Friday to 7 PM Saturday in Nantucket Island for 4-8 inches of snow with sustained winds 30-50 MPH with gusts up to 70 MPH and possibly wind gusts to hurricane force. Near Blizzard conditions are possible if the highest winds overlap with the heaviest snowfall..
..A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect from 8 PM Friday Evening through Noon Saturday for Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Counties from Friday Evening through Saturday Afternoon. The potential exists for a moderate coastal flood event for the Friday Evening high tide and a moderate to major coastal flood event for the Saturday Morning high tide for East Coastal Massachusetts. Moderate Coastal Flooding is defined as numerous shore road closures and possibly isolated minor structural damage possible. Major Coastal Flooding is defined as at least scattered structural damage with widespread flooding of vulnerable shore roads and/or basements..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 1-2 PM lasting through late Saturday Afternoon with overnight operations Friday Night likely..
..ARES/RACES/EMCOMM Groups across the region are asked to monitor this potential major nor’easter/blizzard closely and seek advice from local leadership..
..Pictures from this major storm event will likely be helpful for situational awareness and disaster intelligence purposes. They can be sent as a reply to this message or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter or Ham Operator for sending the pictures unless otherwise noted..
A potentially major nor’easter, blizzard is likely for Southern New England. This system may reach a historic status in its impacts across the region. Preparations for this major system should be completed by Friday late morning to early afternoon at the latest.
The most significant update in this coordination message is to update and raise the snowfall amounts. A widespread snowfall a few inches either side of 2 feet is likely across much of Southern New England except for Nantucket Island with mixed precipitation will knock down amounts to 4-8 inches. Bands of enhanced heavy snowfall will likely result in amounts greater than 24″ in the Blizzard Warning region. Thunderstorms with heavy snow will likely cause enhanced snowfall rates of 2-3″ per hour and possibly more in some locations.
Meantime, the headlines of Blizzard, Winter Storm, High Wind, and Coastal Flood Warnings with snowfall amounts and potential impacts capture this storm’s potential. An update was made to better define moderate and major coastal flooding by National Weather Service definitions in the coastal flood headlines. Of the remaining details that need to be worked out at this stage is the the consistency of the snow, i.e.: heavier wet snow versus a drier snow coupled with the strong to damaging winds could determine the extent of any tree and wire damage and potential power outages. It remains difficult at this stage where the higher impact areas will be for any tree and wire damage areas though East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands could be the zone of overlap between heavier wetter snow and the strongest winds.
People should prepare for this major storm similar to other past major winter storms for the region. Have plenty of batteries and battery powered equipment on hand and test out this equipment and any generator equipment and have non-perishable food items. Make sure you have gas for your generator as well. If it turns out that you do not lose power in the storm, you will be better prepared for the next storm system.
Pictures from this major storm event will likely be helpful for situational awareness and disaster intelligence purposes. They can be sent as a reply to this message or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter or Ham Operator for sending the pictures unless otherwise noted.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 2 PM Friday Afternoon possibly starting as early as Noon time lasting through the overnight into late Saturday Afternoon. ARES/RACES/EMCOMM Groups across the region are asked to monitor this potential major nor’easter/blizzard closely and seek advice from local leadership. This is the final coordination message for this blizzard. Post Blizzard Coordination Messages will be posted as time allows either Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Warning Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Snowfall Accumulation Prediction Map:
NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.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 Snowfall Accumulation Prediction Map:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/StormTotalSnow/index.php
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 Nor’easter/Blizzard Taking Aim on Southern New England. Preparations for this major system should be completed by Friday late Morning to early afternoon at the latest..
..A Blizzard Warning remains in effect through 1 PM Saturday Afternoon for Essex, Central and Southeast Middlesex, Southern Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Dukes and Barnstable Counties of Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island for blizzard conditions and 24 inches or more of snow. Winds sustained at 30 to 40 MPH with gusts to at least 65-70 MPH with possible higher gusts to hurricane force possible along the Southeast New England coast will cause potential for tree and wire damage and scattered power outages. The Blizzard Warning covers both the damaging wind threat as well as heavy snowfall..
..A Blizzard Warning remains in effect through 1 PM Saturday Afternoon for Northern Connecticut for 24 Inches or more of snow and sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts up to 50-55 MPH leading to Blizzard Conditions and the potential for isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Franklin, Northern Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts, and Southern New Hampshire from Friday Morning through Saturday Afternoon 24 inches or more of snow and the potential for near blizzard conditions with sustained winds of 15-25 MPH with gusts up to 50 MPH..
..A Winter Storm Warning and High Wind Warning remains in effect from 1 PM Friday to 7 PM Saturday in Nantucket Island for 4-8 inches of snow with sustained winds 30-50 MPH with gusts up to 70 MPH and possibly wind gusts to hurricane force. Near Blizzard conditions are possible if the highest winds overlap with the heaviest snowfall..
..A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect from 8 PM Friday Evening through Noon Saturday for Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Counties from Friday Evening through Saturday Afternoon. The potential exists for a moderate coastal flood event for the Friday Evening high tide and a moderate to major coastal flood event for the Saturday Morning high tide for East Coastal Massachusetts. Moderate Coastal Flooding is defined as numerous shore road closures and possibly isolated minor structural damage possible. Major Coastal Flooding is defined as at least scattered structural damage with widespread flooding of vulnerable shore roads and/or basements..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 1-2 PM lasting through late Saturday Afternoon with overnight operations Friday Night likely..
..ARES/RACES/EMCOMM Groups across the region are asked to monitor this potential major nor’easter/blizzard closely and seek advice from local leadership..
..Pictures from this major storm event will likely be helpful for situational awareness and disaster intelligence purposes. They can be sent as a reply to this message or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter or Ham Operator for sending the pictures unless otherwise noted..
A potentially major nor’easter, blizzard is likely for Southern New England. This system may reach a historic status in its impacts across the region. Preparations for this major system should be completed by Friday late morning to early afternoon at the latest.
The most significant update in this coordination message is to update and raise the snowfall amounts. A widespread snowfall a few inches either side of 2 feet is likely across much of Southern New England except for Nantucket Island with mixed precipitation will knock down amounts to 4-8 inches. Bands of enhanced heavy snowfall will likely result in amounts greater than 24″ in the Blizzard Warning region. Thunderstorms with heavy snow will likely cause enhanced snowfall rates of 2-3″ per hour and possibly more in some locations.
Meantime, the headlines of Blizzard, Winter Storm, High Wind, and Coastal Flood Warnings with snowfall amounts and potential impacts capture this storm’s potential. An update was made to better define moderate and major coastal flooding by National Weather Service definitions in the coastal flood headlines. Of the remaining details that need to be worked out at this stage is the the consistency of the snow, i.e.: heavier wet snow versus a drier snow coupled with the strong to damaging winds could determine the extent of any tree and wire damage and potential power outages. It remains difficult at this stage where the higher impact areas will be for any tree and wire damage areas though East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands could be the zone of overlap between heavier wetter snow and the strongest winds.
People should prepare for this major storm similar to other past major winter storms for the region. Have plenty of batteries and battery powered equipment on hand and test out this equipment and any generator equipment and have non-perishable food items. Make sure you have gas for your generator as well. If it turns out that you do not lose power in the storm, you will be better prepared for the next storm system.
Pictures from this major storm event will likely be helpful for situational awareness and disaster intelligence purposes. They can be sent as a reply to this message or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter or Ham Operator for sending the pictures unless otherwise noted.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 2 PM Friday Afternoon possibly starting as early as Noon time lasting through the overnight into late Saturday Afternoon. ARES/RACES/EMCOMM Groups across the region are asked to monitor this potential major nor’easter/blizzard closely and seek advice from local leadership. This is the final coordination message for this blizzard. Post Blizzard Coordination Messages will be posted as time allows either Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Warning Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Snowfall Accumulation Prediction Map:
NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.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 Snowfall Accumulation Prediction Map:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/StormTotalSnow/index.php
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