Storm Coordination Message #2 – Sunday 1/25/26-Monday 1/26/26 Major Winter Storm & Friday Evening 1/23/26-Saturday 1/24/25 Extreme Cold Potential

Hello to all…

..Arctic air on track to cause bitterly cold temperatures across Southern New England Friday Night into the weekend followed by a major winter storm that will potentially affect Southern New England Sunday into Monday. We are still 2+ days out from this potential and subtle track changes, intensity changes etc. can occur but confidence continues to grow on a potential major winter storm for the region which is also expected to impact much of the Southeast and South-Central US with heavy snow and ice..
..An Extreme Cold Warning remains in effect from 7 PM Friday Evening to 1 PM Saturday for Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Western Hampden Counties of Massachusetts for dangerously low wind chills to 25 below zero. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect from 10 PM Friday Evening to 10 AM Saturday Morning for the rest of the NWS Norton coverage area low wind chills to 20 below zero. Wear layers if going outside due to the extreme cold conditions..
..A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from Sunday Morning to Monday Evening for 12-18″ of snow with isolated higher amounts in heavier snow bands. Highest snowfall amounts will be north of the islands and perhaps north and west of the Cape Cod canal. Winds are not expected to be exceptionally strong but some wind gusts between 35-40 MPH and perhaps isolated higher gusts at the coast are possible and will bear watching for near whiteout conditions in heavier snow and isolated wind damage potential..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Sunday into Monday and perhaps into Tuesday AM for snowfall reports for the major winter storm potential. An Amateur Radio Net Schedule will be announced by Sunday AM. 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 headlines above reflect the current thinking on the major winter storm potential which if it verifies would be the largest storm since the Blizzard of 2022 for much of the area with some exceptions over in Western and North-Central Mass which received a heavy snowfall in the March 2023 timeframe. There are no major changes to thinking other than to align the snowfall forecast range to the majority of the reliable weather models. Also, while winds won’t be particularly strong, there could be some wind gusts of 35-40 MPH at the coast that will bear watching. Key factors include:

1.) Track of the storm and whether its inside the benchmark, at the benchmark or south of the benchmark as that will dictate how much, if any, mixing occurs particularly along Cape Cod and the Islands possibly into Southeast coastal New England.
2.) The intensity of the system which will dictate any strong wind gusts at the coast. At this time, the risk of true blizzard conditions and any kind of widespread wind damage is low but at the coast there could be some near whiteout conditions and isolated wind damage if wind gusts to 35-40 MPH with isolated higher gusts occur. Snow is not expected to be particularly wet but will bear watching along the coast.
3.) Duration of the system as many models show this lasting through Monday Evening which means an extended period of snow for the region.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are likely Sunday into Monday and perhaps into Tuesday AM for snowfall reports for the major winter storm potential. An Amateur Radio Net Schedule will be announced by Sunday AM. 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 11 PM Friday Evening.

NWS Boston/Norton Extreme Cold Warning/Cold Weather Advisory:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=NPW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Storm Watch Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=WSW&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
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio