Blizzard Coordination Message #2 – Monday Evening 1/26/15-Wednesday Morning 1/28/15 Blizzard/Major Winter Storm Potential

Hello to all..

..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard with the potential for a Historic Storm for all of Southern New England Monday Evening through late Tuesday Night, possibly extending into Wednesday Morning. Preparations for this major system should be completed by late Monday Afternoon/early evening at the latest..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts northwest of the Cape Cod Canal from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for 20-30″ of snow, a band of isolated higher amounts likely and sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 65-75 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. The strong to damaging winds coupled with heavy snow will create blizzard conditions and the potential for scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages particularly south of a Providence to Taunton to Plymouth line where the strongest winds at the coastline coupled with a heavy wet snow near a rain/snow transition line is likely to setup..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Northern Connecticut and Southern Worcester County Massachusetts from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for 20-30 Inches of snow and sustained winds of 15-25 MPH it wind gusts to 45 MPH. The combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds will likely cause blizzard conditions in this region. Isolated tree and wire damage and power outages are possible but the winds won’t be quite as strong and snow will be lighter and fluffier in this area so the infrastructure damage is lower in this area versus eastern portions of the Blizzard Warning area..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard from 7 PM Monday Evening through Noon Tuesday for 10-18″ of snow with isolated higher amounts closest to he Cape Cod Canal and sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 70-80 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. The strong to damaging winds coupled with heavy wet snow will create blizzard conditions and the potential for scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. The precipitation may change to rain for a time around midday Tuesday before changing back to snow Tuesday Evening and ending early Wednesday Morning..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for 20-30″ of snow, isolated higher amounts possible and winds sustained at 15-25 MPH with gusts to 35-45 MPH and a period of near blizzard conditions.
..A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Nantucket Island from Monday Evening through Tuesday Afternoon for 4-8″ of snow. For Nantucket, they will be closest to the storm center and could have the most mixing or the longest changeover to rain of all areas of Southern New England. This area may or may not reach Winter Storm criteria or snowfall but the snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with strong to damaging winds could cause numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is now in effect for Nantucket Island from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 70-80 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. The damaging winds combined with any heavy wet snow could cause numerous pockets of tree and wire damage..
..A Coastal Flood Warning is now in effect from 3-7 AM Tuesday for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and Nantucket Island for widespread moderate to potentially isolated pockets of major coastal flooding with considerable beach erosion. This means numerous road closures, flooded basements and the possibility of isolated structural damage from coastal flooding. 
..A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and Nantucket Island for widespread moderate to potentially isolated pockets of major coastal flooding with considerable beach erosion for the late Tuesday Afternoon high tide cycles. This means numerous road closures, flooded basements and the possibility of isolated structural damage from coastal flooding..
..Storm pictures and video of snowfall measurements, wind and coastal damage will be very helpful for situational awareness/disaster intelligence purposes benefiting the National Weather Service, Emergency Management, the media, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They can be sent via our WX1BOX Facebook, Twitter feed, as a reply to this email or to pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter for the pictures unless otherwise noted. Pictures can be sent during and after the storm. Please do not compromise safety to get these pictures and video..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 6 PM Monday Evening and last through at least late Tuesday Night with overnight operations active at least Monday Night and possibly Tuesday Night. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services Groups (RACES) should closely monitor the progress of this potential major winter storm/blizzard which could be a historic storm for the region and seek advice from local ARES/RACES/EMCOMM leaders..

Computer weather models over the course of today have continued to coalesce around a potentially significant major winter storm and blizzard for Southern New England. This is likely to be a crippling and historic storm. The storm onset is approximately 24 hours away as well which means preparation for this potentially historic storm is somewhat condensed and must be completed by late Monday Afternoon. The headlines of this coordination message depicts the current threats to the region with many areas upgraded to Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings. The main changes were to add Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard as well as Northern Connecticut and Southern Worcester County to the Blizzard Warnings and to issue a High Wind Warning for Nantucket Island were the Winter Storm Watch remain posted as it is unclear whether heavy snowfall will reach winter storm warning criteria due to the proximity of the storm near Nantucket. This is a high confidence forecast on the general theme for the region though specific details need to be worked out. Those specific details include:

1.) At this time, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard are now expected to see significant snowfall and blizzard conditions despite a mix or changeover to rain around midday Tuesday with Blizzard Warnings posted. This could change but this area remains at significant risk for extensive tree and wire damage and power outages regardless of whether true blizzard criteria is met.
2.) For the southeastern portions of the Blizzard Warning area along and south of a Providence to Taunton to Plymouth line through the immediate south and east coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this region is closest to an overlap of damaging winds with heavy wet snow and could also be an area of enhanced damage. This will continue to bear close watching.
3.) Within the Blizzard Warning area included the area expanded through Northern Connecticut into Southern Worcester County Massachusetts, a band of heavier snow is likely within the widespread area of 20-30″ of snow. Future model runs and trends will help delineate where that will setup. This area along with the remainder of the Blizzard Warning area north and west of a Providence to Taunton to Plymouth line will see isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages but the snow will not be as heavy and wet and winds in western and northern parts of the Blizzard Warning are away from the coast will see winds not as strong as near the coast and southern and eastern areas of the Blizzard Warning. Nonetheless, some pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages are likely.
4.) For western and central portions of the NWS Taunton coverage area under a Winter Storm Warning, there will be a period of near blizzard conditions but the threat for true blizzard conditions is less due to winds not as strong as in eastern areas. The snow will be lighter and fluffier which should keep any infrastructure damage to trees and power lines and any power outages more isolated. Nonetheless, 20-30″ of snow are expected in these areas and travel will be extremely difficult.

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.

Storm pictures and video of snowfall measurements, wind and coastal damage will be very helpful for situational awareness/disaster intelligence purposes benefiting the National Weather Service, Emergency Management, the media, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They can be sent via our WX1BOX Facebook, Twitter feed, as a reply to this email or to pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter for the pictures unless otherwise noted. Pictures can be sent during and after the storm. Please do not compromise safety to get these pictures and video.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 6 PM Monday Evening and last through at least late Tuesday Night with overnight operations active at least Monday Night and possibly Tuesday Night. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services Groups (RACES) should closely monitor the progress of this potential major winter storm/blizzard which could be a historic storm for the region and seek advice from local ARES/RACES/EMCOMM leaders. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Sunday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/Winter Storm Watch Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Warning/Watch Statement, NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Taunton Winter Weather Graphics and Winter Weather Preparedness Safety Tips from the 2014 Winter Weather Preparedness Week:

NWS Taunton Blizzard Warning/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 Coastal Flood Warning/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 Winter Weather Graphics:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Preparedness Week Statements:
http://www.weather.gov/box/WinterWeatherPreparednessWeek
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/winter_weather_preparedness_11_8_14.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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..

..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard with the potential for a Historic Storm for all of Southern New England Monday Evening through late Tuesday Night, possibly extending into Wednesday Morning. Preparations for this major system should be completed by late Monday Afternoon/early evening at the latest..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts northwest of the Cape Cod Canal from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for 20-30″ of snow, a band of isolated higher amounts likely and sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 65-75 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. The strong to damaging winds coupled with heavy snow will create blizzard conditions and the potential for scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages particularly south of a Providence to Taunton to Plymouth line where the strongest winds at the coastline coupled with a heavy wet snow near a rain/snow transition line is likely to setup..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Northern Connecticut and Southern Worcester County Massachusetts from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for 20-30 Inches of snow and sustained winds of 15-25 MPH it wind gusts to 45 MPH. The combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds will likely cause blizzard conditions in this region. Isolated tree and wire damage and power outages are possible but the winds won’t be quite as strong and snow will be lighter and fluffier in this area so the infrastructure damage is lower in this area versus eastern portions of the Blizzard Warning area..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard from 7 PM Monday Evening through Noon Tuesday for 10-18″ of snow with isolated higher amounts closest to he Cape Cod Canal and sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 70-80 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. The strong to damaging winds coupled with heavy wet snow will create blizzard conditions and the potential for scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. The precipitation may change to rain for a time around midday Tuesday before changing back to snow Tuesday Evening and ending early Wednesday Morning..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for 20-30″ of snow, isolated higher amounts possible and winds sustained at 15-25 MPH with gusts to 35-45 MPH and a period of near blizzard conditions.
..A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Nantucket Island from Monday Evening through Tuesday Afternoon for 4-8″ of snow. For Nantucket, they will be closest to the storm center and could have the most mixing or the longest changeover to rain of all areas of Southern New England. This area may or may not reach Winter Storm criteria or snowfall but the snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with strong to damaging winds could cause numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is now in effect for Nantucket Island from 7 PM Monday Evening to 1 AM Wednesday Morning for sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 70-80 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. The damaging winds combined with any heavy wet snow could cause numerous pockets of tree and wire damage..
..A Coastal Flood Warning is now in effect from 3-7 AM Tuesday for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and Nantucket Island for widespread moderate to potentially isolated pockets of major coastal flooding with considerable beach erosion. This means numerous road closures, flooded basements and the possibility of isolated structural damage from coastal flooding. 
..A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and Nantucket Island for widespread moderate to potentially isolated pockets of major coastal flooding with considerable beach erosion for the late Tuesday Afternoon high tide cycles. This means numerous road closures, flooded basements and the possibility of isolated structural damage from coastal flooding..
..Storm pictures and video of snowfall measurements, wind and coastal damage will be very helpful for situational awareness/disaster intelligence purposes benefiting the National Weather Service, Emergency Management, the media, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They can be sent via our WX1BOX Facebook, Twitter feed, as a reply to this email or to pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter for the pictures unless otherwise noted. Pictures can be sent during and after the storm. Please do not compromise safety to get these pictures and video..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 6 PM Monday Evening and last through at least late Tuesday Night with overnight operations active at least Monday Night and possibly Tuesday Night. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services Groups (RACES) should closely monitor the progress of this potential major winter storm/blizzard which could be a historic storm for the region and seek advice from local ARES/RACES/EMCOMM leaders..

Computer weather models over the course of today have continued to coalesce around a potentially significant major winter storm and blizzard for Southern New England. This is likely to be a crippling and historic storm. The storm onset is approximately 24 hours away as well which means preparation for this potentially historic storm is somewhat condensed and must be completed by late Monday Afternoon. The headlines of this coordination message depicts the current threats to the region with many areas upgraded to Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings. The main changes were to add Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard as well as Northern Connecticut and Southern Worcester County to the Blizzard Warnings and to issue a High Wind Warning for Nantucket Island were the Winter Storm Watch remain posted as it is unclear whether heavy snowfall will reach winter storm warning criteria due to the proximity of the storm near Nantucket. This is a high confidence forecast on the general theme for the region though specific details need to be worked out. Those specific details include:

1.) At this time, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard are now expected to see significant snowfall and blizzard conditions despite a mix or changeover to rain around midday Tuesday with Blizzard Warnings posted. This could change but this area remains at significant risk for extensive tree and wire damage and power outages regardless of whether true blizzard criteria is met.
2.) For the southeastern portions of the Blizzard Warning area along and south of a Providence to Taunton to Plymouth line through the immediate south and east coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, this region is closest to an overlap of damaging winds with heavy wet snow and could also be an area of enhanced damage. This will continue to bear close watching.
3.) Within the Blizzard Warning area included the area expanded through Northern Connecticut into Southern Worcester County Massachusetts, a band of heavier snow is likely within the widespread area of 20-30″ of snow. Future model runs and trends will help delineate where that will setup. This area along with the remainder of the Blizzard Warning area north and west of a Providence to Taunton to Plymouth line will see isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages but the snow will not be as heavy and wet and winds in western and northern parts of the Blizzard Warning are away from the coast will see winds not as strong as near the coast and southern and eastern areas of the Blizzard Warning. Nonetheless, some pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages are likely.
4.) For western and central portions of the NWS Taunton coverage area under a Winter Storm Warning, there will be a period of near blizzard conditions but the threat for true blizzard conditions is less due to winds not as strong as in eastern areas. The snow will be lighter and fluffier which should keep any infrastructure damage to trees and power lines and any power outages more isolated. Nonetheless, 20-30″ of snow are expected in these areas and travel will be extremely difficult.

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.

Storm pictures and video of snowfall measurements, wind and coastal damage will be very helpful for situational awareness/disaster intelligence purposes benefiting the National Weather Service, Emergency Management, the media, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They can be sent via our WX1BOX Facebook, Twitter feed, as a reply to this email or to pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter for the pictures unless otherwise noted. Pictures can be sent during and after the storm. Please do not compromise safety to get these pictures and video.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence no later than 6 PM Monday Evening and last through at least late Tuesday Night with overnight operations active at least Monday Night and possibly Tuesday Night. Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services Groups (RACES) should closely monitor the progress of this potential major winter storm/blizzard which could be a historic storm for the region and seek advice from local ARES/RACES/EMCOMM leaders. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Sunday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/Winter Storm Watch Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Warning/Watch Statement, NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Taunton Winter Weather Graphics and Winter Weather Preparedness Safety Tips from the 2014 Winter Weather Preparedness Week:

NWS Taunton Blizzard Warning/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 Coastal Flood Warning/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 Winter Weather Graphics:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Preparedness Week Statements:
http://www.weather.gov/box/WinterWeatherPreparednessWeek
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/winter_weather_preparedness_11_8_14.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

 

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