Storm Coordination Message #2 – Wednesday 3/7/18-Thursday 3/8/18 Winter Storm Potential

March 6, 2018 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all…

..Post Storm Coordination Message on the Major Coastal Storm delayed to get coordination message for the mid-week storm out first. Still pushing towards a post storm message later this afternoon or this evening. Any damage photos can be posted as a reply to this email, via the WX1BOX Facebook or Twitter feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org..
..Major Coastal Storm to Affect Southern New England Midday Wednesday into Thursday Morning. This storm will bring a widespread heavy snow to areas north and west of I-95 though some parts of Southeast Massachusetts may get accumulating snow as well as strong winds and minor coastal flooding though the winds and coastal flooding will not be as significant as the prior storm. Snow near any rain/snow line will be heavy and wet and could lead to isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect from 7 AM Wednesday to 1 PM Thursday for Franklin, Hampshire, Western Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Western Norfolk and Essex Counties of Massachusetts from 7 AM Wednesday to 1 PM Thursday for 12-18″ of snow with localized amounts of 20″ possible. The snow will be heavy and wet in some areas especially closest to the rain-snow line and could lead to isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect from 7 AM Wednesday to 9 AM Thursday for Northern Connecticut, Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, Northwest Providence and Western Kent Counties of Rhode Island for 10-15″ of snow with localized amounts to 18″ possible. The snow will be heavy and wet in some areas especially closest to the rain-snow line and could lead to isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Wednesday Morning through Thursday Morning for Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk Counties of Massachusetts and Southeast Providence, Eastern Kent and Washington Counties of Rhode Island and has been expanded to include Northern Bristol County of Massachusetts for 2-8″ of snow. This is the area of greatest uncertainty in snowfall amounts due to uncertainty with the rain-snow line position. The snow will be heavy and wet and could lead to isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..Areas South and East of the Winter Storm Watch area are expected to see snow changing over to rain, however, the rain-snow line for the system is wavering with some indications of a colder system. This will bear close monitoring..
..Strong wind gusts of 45-60 MPH are possible at the coastline with 35-45 MPH wind gusts further inland. Wind headlines for the coastline are likely in future updates..
..Minor Coastal flooding at the time of the Thursday Morning high tide along East Coastal Massachusetts is likely. This will not be like what was observed in the prior storm though there could be a bit more impact given the weakened infrastructure..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely by midday Wednesday extending into early Thursday Morning. Further details to follow in future updates..

Another major coastal storm is taking aim at Southern New England for Wednesday into Thursday. The headlines have the latest info. A few key items/factors for this coastal storm:

1.) This storm will not have winds as high or coastal flooding as severe as the prior coastal storm but there will be some strong to damaging winds at the coast line and minor coastal flooding that with weakened infrastructure may have more impact than normal given the prior storm. There are no watches/warnings/advisories for strong winds or coastal flooding currently but will likely be added in future updates.
2.) This storm will have very heavy snow accumulations for interior locations and it could be a heavy wet snow in at least a portion of the Winter Storm Warning area and possibly in the Winter Storm Watch area, this could lead to pockets of tree and power line damage and power outages.
3.) The most problematic part of this winter storm forecast is the rain-snow line position and where the potential heavy wet snow lines up in the region and how widespread it is. Some model solutions have been a bit colder leading to higher snow amounts and maybe wet snow amounts further south in the area. This will bear close watching over the next few model runs.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely by midday Wednesday extending into early Thursday Morning. Further details to follow in future updates and the next update will be posted by 11 PM Tuesday Evening. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Watch statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook, Snowfall Maps, and Facebook Winter Storm briefing post:

NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/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 Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo

NWS Taunton Snowfall Maps:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Taunton Facebook Winter Storm Briefing Post:

https://www.facebook.com/NWSBoston/photos/pcb.1646048485489516/1646046132156418/?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
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