Blizzard Coordination Message #3 – Late Sunday Night 2/22/26 – Early Tuesday AM 2/24/26

Hello to all…

..Major Winter Storm/Blizzard on track for significant impacts across all of Southern New England with the blizzard potential particularly across Rhode Island and most of Eastern Massachusetts. The blizzard potential could extend into portions of Central Massachusetts and this will be monitored.
..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..
..A Blizzard Warning is now in effect from 4 PM Sunday Afternoon to 7 AM Tuesday Morning for Rhode Island, Eastern Essex, Southeast Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Dukes Counties of Massachusetts for 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 60-70 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts to hurricane force possible. The snow and high winds will cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree and wire damage with power outages..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for Northern Connecticut, Western and Central Massachusetts from 4 PM Sunday Afternoon to 7 AM Tuesday Morning for 10-20″ of snow 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 Storm Watch remains in effect for Nantucket Island as snow may mix with rain holding down snow amounts but total snowfall could be 5-8″. A High Wind Warning is now in effect from 10 PM Sunday Evening to 1 AM Tuesday for Nantucket with wind gusts to 70 MPH and isolated wind gusts to hurricane force 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 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. A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect from late Saturday Night to Tuesday Morning for Eastern Norfolk, Suffolk, and Eastern Essex County Massachusetts
..ARES/RACES Groups should closely monitor the progress of this system particularly in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island but all areas should monitor. 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. A preliminary Amateur Radio Net Schedule has been published via links below and will be finalized Sunday Morning. 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. The time for any further offshore trend in the guidance is closed with Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings now posted as stated in the headlines. This blizzard should rival recent blizzards from 2015, 2018, 2022 and possibly even 2013 which was a damaging blizzard in Southeast New England.
2.) Additional specifics on snow totals, strong to damaging wind and coastal flood impacts have been provided with this update with final updates Sunday Morning.
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.

The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Sunday Morning, Below is the Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/Winter Storm Watch Statement, High Wind Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Warning/Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and the Amateur Radio Tentative Net Schedule:

NWS Boston/Norton MA Blizzard/Winter Storm Warning/ Winter Storm Watch 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/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 Tentative Net Schedule:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Amateur-Radio-Net-Schedule-1.jpg
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Amateur-Radio-Net-Schedule-2.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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