Blizzard Coordination Message #4 – Late Sunday Night 2/22/26 – Early Tuesday AM 2/24/26

Hello to all…

..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard on track for historic/destructive/significant impacts across all of Southern New England with the damaging potential particularly across Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts but pockets of damage could occur across much of the region. Blizzard Warnings have been expanded across all of Southern New England except for Nantucket, Franklin and Western Hampshire Counties..
..Strong to damaging winds and the possibility of a wet consistency to the snow particularly across the Blizzard Warning area will result in scattered to numerous pockets of wind damage and power outages. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is also likely..
..This blizzard should rival recent blizzards and best resembles the Blizzard of 2013 though blizzards from 2015, 2018 and 2022 also served as good analogs. Preparations for this blizzard should be rushed to completion..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect from 4 PM Sunday Afternoon to 7 AM Tuesday Morning for the entire NWS coverage area except for Franklin and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts. A widespread 1 to 2 Feet of snow with even higher amounts possible in isolated locations or in a narrow 25-50 mile wide band of heavier snow and wind gusts of up to 55 MPH in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut and up to 75 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The snow and high winds will cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage with power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for Franklin and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts from 4 PM Sunday Afternoon to 7 AM Tuesday Morning for 8-14″ of snow with isolated higher amounts and wind gusts 45-50 MPH. The snow and high winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage with power outages..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect for Nantucket Island as snow may mix with rain will down snow amounts but total snowfall will still be 4-6″. A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 10 PM Sunday Evening to 1 AM Tuesday for Nantucket with wind gusts to 75 MPH and isolated higher wind gusts possible causing scattered to numerous pockets of tree, wire damage and power outages..
..A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect from 1 AM to 7 AM Monday Morning with a Coastal Flood Watch for the Monday Afternoon and Evening high tide cycle for Eastern Plymouth County Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands for moderate coastal flooding at the time of high tide Monday Morning resulting in potential shore road closures and similar potential for Monday Afternoon/Evening. A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect 1 AM to 7 AM Monday Morning for Eastern Norfolk, Suffolk, and Eastern Essex County Massachusetts for minor coastal flooding at the time of the Monday AM high tide leading to the potential for shore road closures in the area..
..ARES/RACES Groups should closely monitor the progress of this system across Southern New England. The governors of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have declared a state of emergency. Preparations to have battery/generator powered equipment and needed supplies should be rushed to completion. If you do not lose power, you will be better prepared for any potential event that causes power disruption..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets likely for this potentially major multi-hazard winter storm. A final Amateur Radio Net Schedule has been published via links below as pictures and if a text version is needed, we will respond with the info in text. Pictures/videos of the storm can be sent as a reply to this message via our WX1BOX Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..

A coastal storm will take aim on Southern New England Sunday Evening into early Tuesday Morning. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) Storm track trends continue to call for a significant winter storm for Southern New England with all areas impacted but the highest impacts in Eastern New England and particularly in Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts. This blizzard should rival recent blizzards and best resembles the Blizzard of 2013 though blizzards from 2015, 2018 and 2022 also serve as good analogs.
2.) Additional specifics on snow totals, strong to damaging wind and coastal flood impacts have been provided with this update.
3.) A mesoscale band of heavier snow potentially greater than 24″ will occur in a 25 to 50 mile wide band somewhere in Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts. This placement will be difficult to determine until we get into the event.
4.) Preparations to have battery/generator powered equipment should be completed. If you do not lose power, you will be better prepared for any potential event that causes power disruption.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets likely for this potentially major multi-hazard winter storm. ARES/RACES Groups should closely monitor the progress of this system particularly in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island but all areas should monitor. Amateur Radio Nets are published via the links below. Pictures/videos of the storm can be sent as a reply to this message via our WX1BOX Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated.

This will likely be the last coordination message as we move into operations mode but if another update is posted, it will be at 11 PM Sunday Evening. Below is the Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Warning/Advisory/Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and the Amateur Radio Net Schedule:

NWS Boston/Norton MA Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/ Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Warning Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=NPW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton MA Coastal Flood Warning/Advisory/Watch Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=CFW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

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

Amateur Radio Net Schedule:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Amateur-Radio-Final-Net-Schedule-1.jpg
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Amateur-Radio-Final-Net-Schedule-2.jpg
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Amateur-Radio-Final-Net-Schedule-3.jpg

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
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