Hello to all..

..First Winter Storm System of 2015 to affect the region late Saturday Afternoon into Sunday with a wintry mix of precipitation that will change to rain across the region..
..A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect from Saturday Afternoon through Sunday Morning for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for 2-5″ of snow and ice accumulations of 0.10″-0.25″ with isolated higher amounts possible. The icing may cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. Other locations in the interior will likely be impacted by a period of wintry precipitation possibly prompting Winter Weather Advisories..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation is likely for this winter storm with Ops at NWS Taunton possible Saturday Evening into Sunday Morning..

The first winter storm system of 2015 will impact the region starting late Saturday Afternoon and lasting into Sunday. Precipitation will start as snow across most areas except a mix of snow, sleet and rain at the coast with preciptation starting between 4-7 PM from west to east. Precipitation will gradually change from snow to sleet and freezing rain and then rain from south to north. The headlines of this message cover the current areas expected to see the most wintry precipitation and other interior areas that could see winter weather impacts. Key factors for this storm that could change include:

1.) How much snow falls with this storm before any change over to sleet and freezing rain. This could affect the amount of snowfall and duration of icing seen in the interior and the total amount of frozen precipitation.
2.) How much sleet and freezing rain falls before any changeover to rain. This could also affect the amount of icing that occurs in the interior and that amount of icing could impact whether any pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages develop.

SKYWARN Self-Activation is likely for this winter storm with Ops at NWS Taunton possible Saturday Evening into Sunday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Watch Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Taunton Winter Weather Graphics Page and NWS Taunton Infographic:

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

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

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Graphics Page:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Taunton Infographic:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/2015.01.02_AM.png

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
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