Storm Coordination Message #1 – Friday Evening 3/2/23-Saturday Evening 3/3/23 Coastal Storm Impacts

Hello to all…

..Coastal Storm Will Impact Portions of Southern New England with significant snowfall north of the Mass Pike away from the coast, Wintry Mix to rain in interior locations south of the Mass Pike with a Wintry Mix to Rain in East Coastal And Southeast Coastal New England Friday Evening to Saturday Evening. Subtle, small track differences could mean significant changes to the final snow and/or ice/wintry mix accumulations in the region..
..A Winter Storm Watch is in effect from Friday Evening through Saturday Evening for Franklin, Hampshire, Western Hampden, Northern Worcester, North-Central Middlesex and Western Essex Counties of Massachusetts for 6″ or more of snow and wind gusts to 40 MPH. Other Winter Weather Headlines for areas closest to the Winter Storm Watch area could be issued in later updates..
..Wind Gusts to 50 MPH are likely in East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Wind Advisories could be issued for these areas in future updates. Astronomical tides are low so coastal flooding issues are not expected..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely late Friday Evening and especially Saturday for snowfall and ice totals, precip type reports and strong to damaging winds in coastal Southern New England. An Amateur Radio Call-Up Net schedule will be formulated by early Friday Evening..

A coastal storm will impact the region late Friday evening into Saturday Evening. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:
1.) A subtle, small track difference of 25-50 miles south could mean heavier snow in the Winter Storm Watch area and more snow and ice in areas further south across Southern New England. A track difference of 25-50 miles north could mean more rain than frozen precipitation south of the Mass Pike and more of a wintry mix north of the Mass Pike.
2.) The track differences and amount of cold air will determine the snow consistency and whether its heavy and wet in and near the Winter Storm Watch area. If its a heavy wet snow with wind gusts to 40 MPH, it could result in isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and power outages. Something to monitor in future forecasts.
3.) Strong to damaging winds in coastal areas are likely unlike the storm earlier this week where winds were light.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely late Friday Evening and especially Saturday for snowfall and ice totals, precip type reports and strong to damaging winds in coastal Southern New England. An Amateur Radio Call-Up Net schedule will be formulated by early Friday Evening. Another coordination message will be posted by 1130 AM Friday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Storm Watch and Snow Maps/Infographics, Wind Gust Map, Area Forecast Discussion, and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Storm Watch Statement and Snow Maps/Infographics:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Winter_Storm_Watch.png
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/precip-onset.png

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Gust Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MaxWindGustMphISC_SFC_3_3_23_3_4_23.png

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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