Storm Coordination Message #4 – Thursday 1/2/14-Friday 1/3/14 Potential Coastal Storm Event

Hello to all..

..Happy New Year to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators..
..Strong Coastal Storm taking aim on Southern New England Thursday into Friday. The peak of the storm and the worst conditions is still expected Thursday Night into Friday Morning. The coastal storm has the potential to bring heavy snow region wide with near blizzard conditions at the coast, strong winds near and at the coast and minor to moderate coastal flooding to East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands with the potential for more significant coastal flooding during the Friday midday high tide..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for the entire NWS Taunton Coverage Area from 4 AM Thursday to 10 AM Friday. A widespread 8-14″ snowfall is expected with isolated higher amounts over portions of East Coastal and Southeast Massachusetts including Cape Cod. Across Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island Rhode Island, 6-10″ of snow is expected. Near Blizzard conditions are likely along portions of the Eastern Massachusetts coast line with sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH possible later Thursday Night into Friday Morning. In the interior, winds of 10-20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH are possible later Thursday Night into Friday Morning..
..A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect from 10 AM-4 PM Thursday for minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide for East Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands. A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect for East Costal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands from Thursday Evening through Friday Afternoon for the potential of widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding at the time of high tides late night Thursday and midday Friday. Coastal flooding for the midday Friday high tide is of particular concern for more significant moderate to possibly major coastal flooding especially south of Boston through Cape Cod and the Islands..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor storm conditions and gather snowfall reports and reports on the Thursday midday high tide in East Coastal Massachusetts during the morning and afternoon hours Thursday. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start at 5 PM Thursday lasting through mid-afternoon Friday. Overnight SKYWARN Operations at NWS Taunton are likely as well..

Confidence continues to grow in a widespread heavy snowfall across Southern New England Thursday into Friday with Winter Storm Warnings now in effect for the entire region. Snow will begin Thursday Morning. At first snow will be steadiest north of the Mass. Pike during the day with accumulations of 2-5″ by Thursday Evening. South of the Mass. Pike, there will be some snow during the day but there could be a lull during the late morning and afternoon hours with 1-3″ of snow accumulation. As we get into Thursday Night, steadier and heavier snow will move into the region and last into early Friday Morning and its during this timeframe where near blizzard conditions could occur along East Coastal and South Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands before becoming more intermittent and ending later Friday Morning into the afternoon. By the time the storm winds down midday Friday, total snowfall of 8-14 is expected pretty much across the entire region with isolated higher amounts in East Coastal and Southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Across the islands of Block Island Rhode Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, 6-10″ of snow is expected.

As mentioned above, near Blizzard conditions are possible along portions of the Eastern Massachusetts coast line including Cape Cod and the Islands as sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH will be possible. Inland, winds of 10-20 MPH with gusts of 30 MPH are possible. While near blizzard conditions will be possible due to the strong winds and heavy snow along the coast, the snow is still right now expected to be a lighter and fluffier snow and winds are still not expected to be as strong as the February 2013 blizzard. Isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages will be possible along the Eastern Massachusetts coast line and Cape Cod and the Islands but the extent of any damage from a wind perspective is still right now expected to be less than the February 2013 blizzard. This will continue to be monitored and its possible some areas may actually reach blizzard criteria defined as sustained or frequent winds of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less for at least a 3 hour period. Like with any larger storm, it is always good to be prepared and have any battery operated and generator equipment prepared just in case and if its not needed, you will be better prepared for the next major storm.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect from 10 AM-4 PM Thursday for East Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands for minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide. A Coastal Flood Watch remains effect for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands for Thursday Evening through Friday Afternoon for the potential of widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding at the time of high tides late night Thursday and midday Friday. Tides are astronomically high and this coupled with a long period of onshore winds will create the threat of minor to moderate coastal flooding. If the storm were to slow down over the course of Friday, the midday Friday high tide could have the highest concerns for more significant coastal flooding meaning the potential for major coastal flooding and a widespread moderate coastal flood event particularly south of Boston along East Coastal Massachusetts and this will be monitored.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor storm conditions and gather snowfall reports and reports on the Thursday midday high tide in East Coastal Massachusetts during the morning and afternoon hours Thursday. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start at 5 PM Thursday lasting through mid-afternoon Friday. Overnight SKYWARN Operations at NWS Taunton are likely as well. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Thursday. Below are the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Advisory/Watch Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Taunton Snowfall Forecast Map:

NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Advisory/Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html

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

NWS Taunton Snowfall Forecast 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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Hello to all..

..Happy New Year to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators..
..Strong Coastal Storm taking aim on Southern New England Thursday into Friday. The peak of the storm and the worst conditions is still expected Thursday Night into Friday Morning. The coastal storm has the potential to bring heavy snow region wide with near blizzard conditions at the coast, strong winds near and at the coast and minor to moderate coastal flooding to East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands with the potential for more significant coastal flooding during the Friday midday high tide..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for the entire NWS Taunton Coverage Area from 4 AM Thursday to 10 AM Friday. A widespread 8-14″ snowfall is expected with isolated higher amounts over portions of East Coastal and Southeast Massachusetts including Cape Cod. Across Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island Rhode Island, 6-10″ of snow is expected. Near Blizzard conditions are likely along portions of the Eastern Massachusetts coast line with sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH possible later Thursday Night into Friday Morning. In the interior, winds of 10-20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH are possible later Thursday Night into Friday Morning..
..A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect from 10 AM-4 PM Thursday for minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide for East Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands. A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect for East Costal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands from Thursday Evening through Friday Afternoon for the potential of widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding at the time of high tides late night Thursday and midday Friday. Coastal flooding for the midday Friday high tide is of particular concern for more significant moderate to possibly major coastal flooding especially south of Boston through Cape Cod and the Islands..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor storm conditions and gather snowfall reports and reports on the Thursday midday high tide in East Coastal Massachusetts during the morning and afternoon hours Thursday. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start at 5 PM Thursday lasting through mid-afternoon Friday. Overnight SKYWARN Operations at NWS Taunton are likely as well..

Confidence continues to grow in a widespread heavy snowfall across Southern New England Thursday into Friday with Winter Storm Warnings now in effect for the entire region. Snow will begin Thursday Morning. At first snow will be steadiest north of the Mass. Pike during the day with accumulations of 2-5″ by Thursday Evening. South of the Mass. Pike, there will be some snow during the day but there could be a lull during the late morning and afternoon hours with 1-3″ of snow accumulation. As we get into Thursday Night, steadier and heavier snow will move into the region and last into early Friday Morning and its during this timeframe where near blizzard conditions could occur along East Coastal and South Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands before becoming more intermittent and ending later Friday Morning into the afternoon. By the time the storm winds down midday Friday, total snowfall of 8-14 is expected pretty much across the entire region with isolated higher amounts in East Coastal and Southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Across the islands of Block Island Rhode Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, 6-10″ of snow is expected.

As mentioned above, near Blizzard conditions are possible along portions of the Eastern Massachusetts coast line including Cape Cod and the Islands as sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH will be possible. Inland, winds of 10-20 MPH with gusts of 30 MPH are possible. While near blizzard conditions will be possible due to the strong winds and heavy snow along the coast, the snow is still right now expected to be a lighter and fluffier snow and winds are still not expected to be as strong as the February 2013 blizzard. Isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages will be possible along the Eastern Massachusetts coast line and Cape Cod and the Islands but the extent of any damage from a wind perspective is still right now expected to be less than the February 2013 blizzard. This will continue to be monitored and its possible some areas may actually reach blizzard criteria defined as sustained or frequent winds of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less for at least a 3 hour period. Like with any larger storm, it is always good to be prepared and have any battery operated and generator equipment prepared just in case and if its not needed, you will be better prepared for the next major storm.

A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect from 10 AM-4 PM Thursday for East Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands for minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide. A Coastal Flood Watch remains effect for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands for Thursday Evening through Friday Afternoon for the potential of widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding at the time of high tides late night Thursday and midday Friday. Tides are astronomically high and this coupled with a long period of onshore winds will create the threat of minor to moderate coastal flooding. If the storm were to slow down over the course of Friday, the midday Friday high tide could have the highest concerns for more significant coastal flooding meaning the potential for major coastal flooding and a widespread moderate coastal flood event particularly south of Boston along East Coastal Massachusetts and this will be monitored.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor storm conditions and gather snowfall reports and reports on the Thursday midday high tide in East Coastal Massachusetts during the morning and afternoon hours Thursday. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start at 5 PM Thursday lasting through mid-afternoon Friday. Overnight SKYWARN Operations at NWS Taunton are likely as well. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Thursday. Below are the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Advisory/Watch Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Taunton Snowfall Forecast Map:

NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Advisory/Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html

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

NWS Taunton Snowfall Forecast 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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

Leave a Reply