Storm Coordination Message #3 – Thursday Night 3/1/18 Through Saturday Afternoon 3/3/18 Storm Event
Hello to all…
..Powerful and long duration coastal storm will  bring the multiple high tide cycles of significant major coastal  flooding to East Coastal Massachusetts along with the potential for  strong to damaging winds including hurricane force wind gusts for Cape  Cod and the Islands, heavy rainfall that could lead to urban, poor  drainage and potentially river and stream flooding and rain changing to  snow with the potential for significant snow accumulations in  portions of interior Southern New England. The potential for heavy snow remains the lowest confidence portion of  the forecast..
..A Coastal Flood Warning is now in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands from 9 AM Friday Morning to 3 AM Sunday Morning for the potential of major coastal flooding over multiple high tide cycles..
..A  Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect for South Coastal Massachusetts  and Rhode Island from 7 AM Friday to 11 PM Saturday for minor coastal  flooding of shore roads up to 1 foot in depth for multiple high tide  cycles..
..A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 10 AM Friday to 10 AM Saturday for Eastern Kent, Southeast Providence, Bristol, Newport and Washington  Counties of Rhode Island including Block Island and Norfolk, Bristol  and Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 20-40 MPH  with gusts to 70 MPH and isolated higher wind gusts likely. These winds will cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree  and wire damage and scattered power outages..
..A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 10 AM Friday to 10 AM Saturday for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with  gusts to 75 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. These winds will  cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and  scattered to numerous power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is now in  effect from 10 AM Friday through 7 AM Saturday for Western Kent and  Northwest Providence Counties of Rhode  Island and Southern Worcester, Central and Southeast Middlesex and Essex  Counties of Massachusetts for  sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 65 MPH and isolated higher  wind gusts possible. These winds will have  the potential to cause scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and  scattered power outages..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 7  AM Friday to 7 AM Saturday for Northern Connecticut, Eastern Franklin,  Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, Northern Worcester and Northern  Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 15-25 MPH  with gusts to 45-50 MPH. These winds coupled with any wet snow  accumulation will cause scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and  scattered power outages..
..A Flood Watch remains in effect for  Northern Connecticut, all of Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts from  Southern Worcester and Central Middlesex Counties eastward to the coast  line from Friday Morning through Saturday Morning for 1-3 inches of rainfall with isolated higher rainfall  amounts of 4″. This rainfall could produce urban and small stream  flooding as well as urban and poor drainage flooding..
..A Winter  Storm Warning is now in effect from 4 AM Friday to 4 AM Saturday for  Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Western Hampden  Counties of Massachusetts for 5-8″of snow with higher amounts to 12″  possible. The snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with the strong  winds could down scattered trees and power lines and cause scattered  power outages. This remains lower confidence and could be subject to  revision on snow amounts..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect  from Noon Friday to 4 AM Saturday for Northern Worcester and Northern  Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for 4-7″ of snow with higher amounts  to 10″ possible. The snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with the  strong winds could  down scattered trees and power lines and cause scattered power outages.  This remains lower confidence and could be subject to revision on snow  amounts..
..A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Southern  Worcester County from Friday Afternoon through Saturday Morning for 4-7″  of snow. The snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with the strong  winds could  down scattered trees and power lines and cause scattered power outages.  This remains lower confidence and could be subject to revision on snow  amounts..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 8 AM Friday Morning lasting through Saturday Afternoon. Overnight Ops are possible..
..Pictures  and videos of storm damage can be sent via the WX1BOX Facebook/Twitter  feeds, as a reply to this email or to the email address  pics@nsradio.org. Credit will be given to the SKYWARN Spotter/Amateur  Radio Operator for the photos/videos unless otherwise indicated..
..ARES/RACES Groups should seek advice from local leadership for possible standby or activation status..
Model solutions have converged on a storm track just offshore of the Southern New England coastline but close enough to get the region into significant impacts from coastal flooding which could hit major category in multiple locations, damaging wind gusts causing isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and scattered power outages and heavy rainfall leading to urban and poor drainage flooding and small river and stream flooding. The track guidance continues to support an increased risk for heavy wet snow and coupled with strong winds could cause power outages in interior locations of the Winter Storm Warning/Watch areas. The headlines reflect the current thinking. Factors for consideration:
1.) Given model trends and the  potential for widespread damaging winds and widespread pockets of tree  and wire damage, high wind warnings have  been posted and expanded with the continued potential for hurricane  force wind gusts over Cape  Cod and the Islands and possibly other parts of the coast line with wind  gusts as high as 75 MPH with isolated higher gusts likely particularly  in Southeast Coastal New England and Cape Cod and the Islands. Further  inland in Eastern Massachusetts, Northwest Rhode, wind gusts to 65-70  MPH are likely with widespread pockets of wind damage. Lesser wind gusts  are expected inland but with the wet snow, impact could be similar in  nature.
2.)  This is likely to be one of the bigger coastal flood episodes for East  Coastal Massachusetts in recent memory particularly when considering the multiple tide  cycles and higher astronomical tides. This continues to bear close watching and  preparations in this area should start and be completed by Thursday Night into early Friday Morning. It is now looking like the Friday Morning, Friday Evening and  Saturday Midday high tides all have high risks with some risk of some  level of coastal flooding Saturday Evening.
3.)  Heavy rainfall could lead to urban and poor drainage flooding as well  as street flooding. If the heavier rainfall occurs over East Coastal  Massachusetts, this could cause further flooding issues in the coastal  areas.
4.) Lowest confidence in this forecast is regarding any rain  changing to snow potential but enough confidence for Winter Storm  Warnings across Western and Northern Massachusetts with a Winter Storm  Watch for Southern Worcester County. The trend in the models has  maintained colder temperatures and more snow in the interior and there  is a possibility more snowfall totals could get  into portions of Eastern Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut as  well. This will likely have the most revisions leading up to the storm  and will bear close watching for further changes. With the wet snow and  strong to damaging winds, pockets of tree and wire damage and power  outages are likely.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence Friday Morning lasting through Saturday Afternoon. Overnight Ops are possible. Pictures and videos of storm damage can be sent via the WX1BOX Facebook/Twitter feeds, as a reply to this email or to the email address pics@nsradio.org. Credit will be given to the SKYWARN Spotter/Amateur Radio Operator for the photos/videos unless otherwise indicated. ARES/RACES Groups should seek advice from local leadership for possible standby or activation status.
Another coordination message will be posted if time allows by 9 AM Friday Morning otherwise this will be the last coordination message on the storm potential. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Watch Statement, Coastal Flood Warning/Advisory Statement, High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement, Flood Watch Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook, Snowfall Maps and NWS Facebook storm briefing post:
NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Warning/Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo
NWS Taunton Snowfall Maps:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter
NWS Taunton Facebook Storm Briefing Post:
https://www.facebook.com/NWSBoston/photos/pcb.1640966885997676/1640966152664416/?type=3&theater
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…
..Powerful and long duration coastal storm will  bring the multiple high tide cycles of significant major coastal  flooding to East Coastal Massachusetts along with the potential for  strong to damaging winds including hurricane force wind gusts for Cape  Cod and the Islands, heavy rainfall that could lead to urban, poor  drainage and potentially river and stream flooding and rain changing to  snow with the potential for significant snow accumulations in  portions of interior Southern New England. The potential for heavy snow remains the lowest confidence portion of  the forecast..
..A Coastal Flood Warning is now in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts including Cape Cod and the Islands from 9 AM Friday Morning to 3 AM Sunday Morning for the potential of major coastal flooding over multiple high tide cycles..
..A  Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect for South Coastal Massachusetts  and Rhode Island from 7 AM Friday to 11 PM Saturday for minor coastal  flooding of shore roads up to 1 foot in depth for multiple high tide  cycles..
..A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 10 AM Friday to 10 AM Saturday for Eastern Kent, Southeast Providence, Bristol, Newport and Washington  Counties of Rhode Island including Block Island and Norfolk, Bristol  and Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 20-40 MPH  with gusts to 70 MPH and isolated higher wind gusts likely. These winds will cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree  and wire damage and scattered power outages..
..A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 10 AM Friday to 10 AM Saturday for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with  gusts to 75 MPH and isolated higher gusts likely. These winds will  cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage and  scattered to numerous power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is now in  effect from 10 AM Friday through 7 AM Saturday for Western Kent and  Northwest Providence Counties of Rhode  Island and Southern Worcester, Central and Southeast Middlesex and Essex  Counties of Massachusetts for  sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 65 MPH and isolated higher  wind gusts possible. These winds will have  the potential to cause scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and  scattered power outages..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 7  AM Friday to 7 AM Saturday for Northern Connecticut, Eastern Franklin,  Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, Northern Worcester and Northern  Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 15-25 MPH  with gusts to 45-50 MPH. These winds coupled with any wet snow  accumulation will cause scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and  scattered power outages..
..A Flood Watch remains in effect for  Northern Connecticut, all of Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts from  Southern Worcester and Central Middlesex Counties eastward to the coast  line from Friday Morning through Saturday Morning for 1-3 inches of rainfall with isolated higher rainfall  amounts of 4″. This rainfall could produce urban and small stream  flooding as well as urban and poor drainage flooding..
..A Winter  Storm Warning is now in effect from 4 AM Friday to 4 AM Saturday for  Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Western Hampden  Counties of Massachusetts for 5-8″of snow with higher amounts to 12″  possible. The snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with the strong  winds could down scattered trees and power lines and cause scattered  power outages. This remains lower confidence and could be subject to  revision on snow amounts..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect  from Noon Friday to 4 AM Saturday for Northern Worcester and Northern  Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for 4-7″ of snow with higher amounts  to 10″ possible. The snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with the  strong winds could  down scattered trees and power lines and cause scattered power outages.  This remains lower confidence and could be subject to revision on snow  amounts..
..A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Southern  Worcester County from Friday Afternoon through Saturday Morning for 4-7″  of snow. The snow will be heavy and wet and coupled with the strong  winds could  down scattered trees and power lines and cause scattered power outages.  This remains lower confidence and could be subject to revision on snow  amounts..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 8 AM Friday Morning lasting through Saturday Afternoon. Overnight Ops are possible..
..Pictures  and videos of storm damage can be sent via the WX1BOX Facebook/Twitter  feeds, as a reply to this email or to the email address  pics@nsradio.org. Credit will be given to the SKYWARN Spotter/Amateur  Radio Operator for the photos/videos unless otherwise indicated..
..ARES/RACES Groups should seek advice from local leadership for possible standby or activation status..
Model solutions have converged on a storm track just offshore of the Southern New England coastline but close enough to get the region into significant impacts from coastal flooding which could hit major category in multiple locations, damaging wind gusts causing isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and scattered power outages and heavy rainfall leading to urban and poor drainage flooding and small river and stream flooding. The track guidance continues to support an increased risk for heavy wet snow and coupled with strong winds could cause power outages in interior locations of the Winter Storm Warning/Watch areas. The headlines reflect the current thinking. Factors for consideration:
1.) Given model trends and the  potential for widespread damaging winds and widespread pockets of tree  and wire damage, high wind warnings have  been posted and expanded with the continued potential for hurricane  force wind gusts over Cape  Cod and the Islands and possibly other parts of the coast line with wind  gusts as high as 75 MPH with isolated higher gusts likely particularly  in Southeast Coastal New England and Cape Cod and the Islands. Further  inland in Eastern Massachusetts, Northwest Rhode, wind gusts to 65-70  MPH are likely with widespread pockets of wind damage. Lesser wind gusts  are expected inland but with the wet snow, impact could be similar in  nature.
2.)  This is likely to be one of the bigger coastal flood episodes for East  Coastal Massachusetts in recent memory particularly when considering the multiple tide  cycles and higher astronomical tides. This continues to bear close watching and  preparations in this area should start and be completed by Thursday Night into early Friday Morning. It is now looking like the Friday Morning, Friday Evening and  Saturday Midday high tides all have high risks with some risk of some  level of coastal flooding Saturday Evening.
3.)  Heavy rainfall could lead to urban and poor drainage flooding as well  as street flooding. If the heavier rainfall occurs over East Coastal  Massachusetts, this could cause further flooding issues in the coastal  areas.
4.) Lowest confidence in this forecast is regarding any rain  changing to snow potential but enough confidence for Winter Storm  Warnings across Western and Northern Massachusetts with a Winter Storm  Watch for Southern Worcester County. The trend in the models has  maintained colder temperatures and more snow in the interior and there  is a possibility more snowfall totals could get  into portions of Eastern Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut as  well. This will likely have the most revisions leading up to the storm  and will bear close watching for further changes. With the wet snow and  strong to damaging winds, pockets of tree and wire damage and power  outages are likely.
SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence Friday Morning lasting through Saturday Afternoon. Overnight Ops are possible. Pictures and videos of storm damage can be sent via the WX1BOX Facebook/Twitter feeds, as a reply to this email or to the email address pics@nsradio.org. Credit will be given to the SKYWARN Spotter/Amateur Radio Operator for the photos/videos unless otherwise indicated. ARES/RACES Groups should seek advice from local leadership for possible standby or activation status.
Another coordination message will be posted if time allows by 9 AM Friday Morning otherwise this will be the last coordination message on the storm potential. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Watch Statement, Coastal Flood Warning/Advisory Statement, High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement, Flood Watch Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook, Snowfall Maps and NWS Facebook storm briefing post:
NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Warning/Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo
NWS Taunton Snowfall Maps:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter
NWS Taunton Facebook Storm Briefing Post:
https://www.facebook.com/NWSBoston/photos/pcb.1640966885997676/1640966152664416/?type=3&theater
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
