Storm Coordination Message #1 – Late Monday Night 2/12/24-Late Tuesday Night 2/13/24 – Coastal Winter Storm Potential

Hello to all…

..A coastal storm will take aim on Southern New England late Monday Night through Tuesday Night across much of Southern New England. The coastal storm will be capable of heavy snow, minor to moderate coastal flooding and strong wind gusts at the coast. A rain-snow line will be something to be monitored across coastal Southeast New England..
..A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect from late Monday Night through late Tuesday Night for Northern Connecticut, Providence, Kent, Bristol Counties of Rhode Island, Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, North-Central Bristol and North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for 6-12″ of snow and isolated higher amounts and wind gusts to 40 MPH especially in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island and at the coast..
..Areas outside of the Winter Storm Watch area along South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island has the potential to receive 2-5″ of snow with 1-2″ of snow over the Cape and Islands..
..Additional Watches, Warnings and Advisories are likely in future updates..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Tuesday across much of the NWS Boston/Norton Coverage Area. Pictures and videos of coastal flooding and any storm damage etc. can be sent as a reply to this message, via the WX1BOX Facebook and Twitter feeds and via the email address pics@nsradio.org..

A coastal storm will bring an end to a relative quiet stretch of weather for the region. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) As always, storm track will be critical to snowfall amounts and the rain-snow line in Coastal Southeast New England. The current track supports the current headlines. A track a bit more to the north would mean more of rain-snow line and mix further inland into parts of Eastern Massachusetts. A track further south would bringing heavier snowfall to the south coast, Cape and Islands.
2.) With no high pressure to the north, this will impact the amount of cold air to the north but the system will be intensifying which means dynamic cooling with the intensifying storm would allow for heavy snow possibly affecting east and south coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island and will be monitored.
3.) With no high pressure to the north, this should keep the strong wind gusts a bit more muted than some coastal storms. Nonetheless, wind gusts of 40-55 MPH at the coast will be possible with this storm. The timing of these Northeast winds will have an impact on the level of coastal flooding at the time of high tide Tuesday for East Coastal Massachusetts. No impacts are expected in South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island due to the Northeast wind direction based on the current storm track.
4.) Amount of snow will depend on the storm speed and intensity in addition to the track as mentioned in item 1. Also, the snow could be heavy and wet in at least a portion of the Winter Storm Watch area and this aspect will be monitored for any isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and any power outages.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Tuesday across much of the NWS Boston/Norton Coverage Area. Pictures and videos of coastal flooding and any storm damage etc. can be sent as a reply to this message, via the WX1BOX Facebook and Twitter feeds and via the email address pics@nsradio.org. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Sunday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Winter Storm Watch Statement & Snowfall Map and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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 Winter Storm Watch Statement & Snowfall Map:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

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
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