Storm Coordination Message #3 – Monday AM to late Monday Night 3/16/26 Strong to Damaging Wind/Heavy Rainfall Potential

Hello to all…

..Strong storm system Monday AM through late Monday Night with the worst of the conditions Monday Night will have the potential for strong to damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall of 1-3″ with isolated amounts of 3-4″ and minor river/stream/urban flooding potential..
..A High Wind Watch is remains in effect from Monday Afternoon through late Monday Night for Rhode Island and all of Eastern Massachusetts for sustained winds 20-30 MPH with gusts to 60-65 MPH and isolated higher wind gusts possible. A Wind Advisory is now in effect for Northern Connecticut, Western and Central Massachusetts for sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will have the potential for scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages..
..A Flood Watch is now in effect for the entire NWS Norton MA Coverage area except for the islands for heavy rainfall of 1-3″ with isolated higher amounts of 3-4″ causing potential flooding of small rivers, streams, creeks and urbanized areas after recent snowmelt..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets possible will monitor for wind gusts 40 MPH or greater, wind damage, rain gauge reports and minor river/stream/urban flooding potential. 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. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Watch/Wind Advisory Statement, Flood Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

The headlines depict the current thinking for a strong storm system on Monday with the worst conditions Monday Evening. Key factors remain with slight updates as listed below:
1.) A small temperature difference of 1-3 degrees will determine whether wind gusts in the High Wind Watch area are 45-55 MPH or if the wind gusts are more robust between 60-65 MPH with isolated higher gusts. This will impact how widespread any wind damage will be. Most models seem to be indicating a higher end event with the damaging wind potential that will bear watching.
2.) Another factor that will impact the wind damage potential is any thunderstorm activity that can develop and be strong enough to efficiently bring strong to damaging winds down to the surface.
3.) How widespread heavy rainfall will be to cause minor flooding of rivers, streams and urban areas along with any ice jams causing issues with flooding. An ice jam on the Millers River in Athol, MA reported and photographed by a SKYWARN Spotter will be monitored for any flood potential if the heaviest rain develops in that area. Rainfall amounts have crept up a bit in the forecast models prompting a Flood Watch to be posted for all of Southern New England except for the islands.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets possible will monitor for wind gusts 40 MPH or greater, wind damage, rain gauge reports and minor river/stream/urban flooding potential. 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. The next coordination message will be posted by 100 PM Monday Afternoon. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Watch/Wind Advisory Statement, Flood Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook.

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

NWS Boston/Norton Flood Watch Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=FFA&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

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
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