bejohnson
01-23-2005, 10:02 AM
Hazardous Weather Outlook
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
710 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-241200-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
710 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE...
MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT...AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND.
.DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)...
A DANGEROUS AND HISTORIC WINTER STORM WITH BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA THROUGH
THIS MORNING. THIS STORM HAS ACHIEVED BLIZZARD STATUS AND IS
BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF RIVALING THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1978 WITH
RESPECT TO THE SNOWFALL. A FEW LOCATIONS WILL LIKELY APPROACH OR EVEN
EXCEED AMOUNTS RECEIVED DURING THE 1978 BLIZZARD...AND NOTE THAT THIS
WILL HAVE OCCURRED OVER A SHORTER TIME INTERVAL. GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT
IS EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS THIS AFTERNOON...AND MOST OF
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS DURING LATE THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...BANDS OF
HEAVY SNOW WILL PERSIST OVER CAPE COD...MARTHAS VINEYARD AND
NANTUCKET WELL INTO THIS EVENING. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN
EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
FROM WORCESTER TO SPRINGFIELD...ALL OF RHODE ISLAND...AND NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT. THE REST OF THE AREA REMAINS IN A HEAVY SNOW WARNING.
SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR...WITH ISOLATED 4 INCH PER
HOUR ACCUMULATION RATES...WILL OCCUR THROUGH THE MORNING IN THE
HEAVIER BANDS. INTERIOR WINDS WILL GUST TO BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH
TODAY AND CAUSE EXTENSIVE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. ALONG THE
COAST...NORTHEAST WINDS WILL GUST TO BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH...WITH
GUSTS TO 80 MPH POSSIBLE ALONG OUTER CAPE COD AND NANTUCKET. THE WIND
WILL SHIFT TO NORTH BY THIS AFTERNOON...AND THEN GRADUALLY SHIFT TO
NORTHWEST THIS EVENING.
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 28 TO 38 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...GENERALLY 20 TO 30 INCHES ACROSS CENTRAL
MASSACHUSETTS...MUCH OF SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE AND RHODE ISLAND...
AND 1 TO 2 FEET ALONG THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY IN SOUTHWEST
NEW HAMPSHIRE...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. A
FEW SPOTS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAY REACH 40 INCHES BEFORE THIS
STORM WINDS DOWN. DRIFTS OF AT LEAST 6 FEET ARE LIKELY ACROSS EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE A STORM SURGE OF AROUND 3 FEET AT THE
TIME OF THE SUNDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE...ALONG WITH WAVES OF 25 TO 35
FEET JUST OFF THE MASSACHUSETTS EAST COAST. THUS...EVEN THOUGH THE
ASTRONOMICAL TIDE IS NOT THAT HIGH...AT LEAST MODERATE COASTAL
FLOODING IS EXPECTED AROUND THE TIME OF THE MORNING HIGH TIDE.
A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS.
BESIDES FLOODING OF VULNERABLE SHORE ROADS...LARGE BREAKERS WILL
LIKELY WASH ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS ONTO ROAD SURFACES AND MAY CAUSE
DAMAGE TO VULNERABLE STRUCTURES ALONG THE IMMEDIATE SHORE.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SOME FREEZING SPRAY WILL FURTHER
EXACERBATE CONDITIONS ALONG THE COAST DURING THE MORNING HIGH
TIDE.
ALTHOUGH THE EVENING HIGH TIDE IS LOWER ASTRONOMICALLY AND THE WIND
SHOULD HAVE BACKED TO NORTH NORTHWEST OR NORTHWEST AT MOST COASTAL
LOCATIONS...LARGE SWELLS WILL PERSIST AND MAY PRODUCE SPLASHOVER AND
ADDITIONAL BEACH EROSION AT THE TIME OF THE EVENING HIGH TIDE...
OCCURRING MOSTLY BETWEEN 1030 PM AND 1130 PM. THE GREATEST RISK OF
SPLASHOVER AND CONTINUED BEACH EROSION AROUND THE EVENING HIGH TIDE
WILL ALONG THE OUTER CAPE AND NANTUCKET.
FOR MARINERS...WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS AND SEAS OF 25 TO 35 FEET
ACROSS THE OUTER COASTAL WATERS WILL PRODUCE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS FOR MOST...IF NOT ALL VESSELS. A HURRICANE FORCE WIND
WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OUTER COASTAL WATERS...AS WELL AS FOR
CAPE COD BAY AND NANTUCKET SOUND. ALL BOATS ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN IN
SAFE HARBOR. WE HAVE DISCONTINUED THE MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR
NOW...AS ITS INCONCEIVABLE THAT ANY CRAFT WOULD ATTEMPT TO VENTURE
OUT ACROSS OUR COASTAL WATERS AT THIS TIME.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ABOVE...SUBZERO WIND CHILLS WILL BE
EXPERIENCED ACROSS MOST OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY...AND
SPREAD TO THE COAST THIS EVENING. WIND CHILLS TONIGHT WILL DROP TO
BETWEEN 15 AND 30 BELOW ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW NORTH AND WEST OF
INTERSTATE 95...AND GENERALLY 8 TO 15 BELOW SOUTHEAST OF I-95.
ACROSS CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...MARTHAS VINEYARD...AND POSSIBLY BLOCK
ISLAND...THE SNOW MAY BECOME OF A WETTER CONSISTENCY AND CLING TO
TREES AND POWER LINES. IN THESE LOCATIONS WHERE A WETTER SNOW IS
POSSIBLE...SCATTERED TO WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES MAY OCCUR.
.DAY TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MAY PRODUCE A DUSTING TO AN INCH OR SO
OF SNOW MONDAY NIGHT.
A RATHER FAST MOVING CLIPPER TYPE OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED
TO AFFECT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THIS
SYSTEM MAY INTENSIFY SOME AS IT CROSSES THE COASTLINE...WITH SOME
OCEAN EFFECT SNOW ENHANCEMENT POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST. MODERATE
ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
WITH THIS SYSTEM. GALE OR NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS MAY ALSO DEVELOP
ALONG THE COASTAL WATERS ON THURSDAY.
.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN REMAINS ACTIVATED FOR THIS STORM EVENT...AND WILL PROBABLY
NEED TO REMAIN ACTIVATED UNTIL LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING.
SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTABLE WEATHER CRITERIA TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NOTE THE NEW WEB REPORTING CAPABILITY VIA
OUR HOMEPAGE.
$$
THOMPSON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blizzard Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
846 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
.THE BLIZZARD OF 2005 IS NOW IN PROGRESS ACROSS PARTS OF COASTAL
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...AS THOSE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND
ENDURE A STORM COMPARABLE TO THE BLIZZARD OF 78.
THIS STORM IS NOW BLASTING EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND IN ALL ITS FURY WITH WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...TEMPERATURES PLUMMETING INTO THE SINGLE NUMBERS AND
TEENS...NORTHEAST TO NORTH WINDS OF 50 TO 70 MPH CREATING DRIFTS TO
AT LEAST 6 FEET...IN EXPOSED AREAS.
TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED UNTIL SOMETIME LATE TODAY OR TOMORROW...TO
GIVE CREWS WHICH IN SOME CASES MAY HAVE STOPPED CLEARING ROADS FOR
SAFETY REASONS...AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR ROADS LATER TODAY WHEN THE
STORM STARTS MOVING AWAY.
THE STORM AT 8 AM WAS STILL LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
NANTUCKET AND WILL END UP DUMPING ABOUT 16 TO 24 INCHES OF SNOW IN
THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY...20 TO 30 INCHES FROM MANCHESTER AND
NASHUA NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH WORCESTER AND RHODE ISLAND. THE JACKPOT
WILL BE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE 28 TO 38 INCH AMOUNTS WILL BE
COMMON.
NANTUCKET WILL END UP WITH LESS SNOW BECAUSE OF ITS WARMER CONDITIONS
AND CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE STORM CENTER BUT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL
ARRIVE THERE THIS MORNING.
THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A RECORD SETTING SNOWSTORM IN BOSTON WHEN
COMPARING AGAINST DATA...DATING BACK TO 1892. FOR PROVIDENCE THIS
SHOULD BE A TOP 3 SNOW EVENT. THE 7 AM REPORTS OF 17.8 INCHES AT
PROVIDENCES TF GREEN AIRPORT AND 19.8 INCHES AT BOSTONS LOGAN AIRPORT
MAKES THIS THE 6TH WORST SNOWSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND
INTERSTATE 95 HISTORY DATING BACK TO AT LEAST 1905...AND HEADING FOR
AT LEAST TOP 3 RANKING BY DAYS END.
BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR ALONG THE COAST AND
HIGH TERRAIN THIS MORNING AND THEN GRADUALLY RECEDE TO ONLY THE
IMMEDIATE COAST DURING THE AFTERNOON.
THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR THOSE WHO
VENTURE OUT DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM THIS MORNING.
AGAIN...TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED UNTIL LATE TODAY.
IF YOU LEAVE THE SAFETY OF BEING INDOORS...YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE
AT RISK.
MAZ005>007-012>024-RIZ001>008-232138-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-
DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-
EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATTLEBOROUGH...BARNSTABLE...BARRINGTON...
BEVERLY...BOSTON...BRISTOL...BROCKTON...BROOKLINE. ..CAMBRIDGE...
FALL RIVER...FALMOUTH...FRAMINGHAM...FRANKLIN...GLOUCES TER...
LAWRENCE...LOWELL...LYNN...MILFORD...NANTUCKET...N EW BEDFORD...
NEWBURYPORT...NEWPORT...NEWTON...NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH...PLYMOUTH...
PROVIDENCE...QUINCY...SOMERVILLE...SOUTH KINGSTOWN...TAUNTON...
VINEYARD HAVEN...WALTHAM...WARWICK...WEYMOUTH...
WOONSOCKET AND WORCESTER
846 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...
AN EXTREME SITUATION IS OCCURRING IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. FOUR
INCHES OF SNOW WAS REPORTED IN 25 MINUTES AT CHELMSFORD
MASSACHUSETTS SHORTLY AFTER 7 AM AS THE LAST EXCESSIVE BAND OF
POWDERY SNOW SWINGS SOUTHEASTWARD.
THE NORTH SHORE IS BEING BLITZED BY SNOWFALL RATES OF ALMOST 4 INCHES
PER HOUR. IT MAY LAST ONLY ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO BUT ITS A COMPLETE
SHORT TERM PARALYSER.
IT IS SPREADING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH INTO BOSTON NOW AND WILL
CONTINUE THERE THROUGH AT LEAST 11 AM. THIS BIG SNOW BAND WILL ARRIVE
ON THE SOUTH SHORE BETWEEN 10 AM AND 11 AM AND THEN CROSS THE UPPER
CAPE BETWEEN 11 AM AND 2 PM. IT TENDS TO LAST ABOUT 2 HOURS. THAT
MEANS 8 INCHES OF SNOW MAY FALL IN PORTIONS OF THE BOSTON AREA IN A 2
HOUR PERIOD DURING MID AND LATE MORNING.
FINAL BLIZZARD TOTALS FOR MOST OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS WILL RANGE
BETWEEN 28 AND 38 INCHES SETTING A NEW SINGLE STORM RECORD FOR
BOSTON...SURPASSING THE AMOUNT FROM THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 78 AND THE
PRESIDENTS DAY STORM OF 2003.
ISOLATED TOTALS OF 40 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. VULNERABLE LOCATIONS FOR
NEARLY 40 INCH STORM TOTALS ARE ESSEX...MIDDLESEX...PLYMOUTH...
NORFOLK AND BARNSTABLE COUNTIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.
EVEN IF THIS STORM COMES UP SLIGHTLY SHORT OF RECORD...IT IS A
DANGEROUS STORM WITH THE WORST OCCURRING NOW INTO EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON AS WINDS STRENGTHEN AND TEMPERATURES FALL TO NEAR 10 ABOVE.
NANTUCKET MAY END UP WITH ONLY 12 TO 22 INCHES...BUT BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WILL DESCEND ON THAT ISLAND LATER THIS MORNING OR THIS
AFTERNOON.
NORTHERLY WINDS WILL BE GUSTING AROUND 75 MPH ON BARNSTABLE AND
NANTUCKET COUNTIES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING
STORM BECAUSE OF SEVERE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE NEWLY FALLEN SNOW
AND TUMBLING TEMPERATURES.
SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES HAVE OCCURRED THIS MORNING AS WINDS ALL ALONG
THE COAST GUST BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH ON BOSTONS NORTH AND SOUTH
SHORES AND EVEN ON NARRAGANSETT BAY. A 78 MPH WIND GUST WAS REPORTED
IN EAST FALMOUTH BY A SPOTTER.
THERE HAS BEEN ISOLATED DAMAGE REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
POWER OUTAGES MAY BECOME WIDESPREAD THIS AFTERNOON ON THE CAPE AND
NANTUCKET WHEN THE BRUNT OF WIND HITS THERE...BETWEEN 75 AND 80 MPH.
DRIFTS OF AT LEAST 6 FEET ARE OCCURRING.
OVER CAPE COD...NANTUCKET AND MARTHAS VINEYARD...THE SNOW HAS BEEN
OF A WETTER CONSISTENCY EARLY TODAY AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME RAIN ON
NANTUCKET. THIS RAISES THE ANTE FOR POWER OUTAGES IN EXTREME
SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND WITH THE SNOW CLINGING TO WIRES AND BRANCHES.
ALL THE HEAVY SNOW WILL TAPER TO SNOW SHOWERS LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR
EVENING...BUT CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING WILL PERSIST INTO
LATE THIS EVENING ACROSS EXPOSED AREAS.
THERE IS A CHANCE OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUING ON PARTS OF CAPE
COD INTO EARLY TONIGHT AS HEAVY SNOW SQUALLS POUND PARTS OF THE CAPE.
A BLIZZARD WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OR FREQUENT
GUSTS OF OVER 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH CONSIDERABLE FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OCCUR AT TIMES. THOSE
VENTURING OUTDOORS MAY BECOME LOST OR DISORIENTED...SO PERSONS IN THE
WARNING AREA ARE ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS.
$$
DRAG
I'm glad I'm in the sunny south. :Wink
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
710 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-241200-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
710 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE...
MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT...AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND.
.DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)...
A DANGEROUS AND HISTORIC WINTER STORM WITH BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA THROUGH
THIS MORNING. THIS STORM HAS ACHIEVED BLIZZARD STATUS AND IS
BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF RIVALING THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 1978 WITH
RESPECT TO THE SNOWFALL. A FEW LOCATIONS WILL LIKELY APPROACH OR EVEN
EXCEED AMOUNTS RECEIVED DURING THE 1978 BLIZZARD...AND NOTE THAT THIS
WILL HAVE OCCURRED OVER A SHORTER TIME INTERVAL. GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT
IS EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN SECTIONS THIS AFTERNOON...AND MOST OF
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS DURING LATE THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...BANDS OF
HEAVY SNOW WILL PERSIST OVER CAPE COD...MARTHAS VINEYARD AND
NANTUCKET WELL INTO THIS EVENING. A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN
EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
FROM WORCESTER TO SPRINGFIELD...ALL OF RHODE ISLAND...AND NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT. THE REST OF THE AREA REMAINS IN A HEAVY SNOW WARNING.
SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR...WITH ISOLATED 4 INCH PER
HOUR ACCUMULATION RATES...WILL OCCUR THROUGH THE MORNING IN THE
HEAVIER BANDS. INTERIOR WINDS WILL GUST TO BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH
TODAY AND CAUSE EXTENSIVE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. ALONG THE
COAST...NORTHEAST WINDS WILL GUST TO BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH...WITH
GUSTS TO 80 MPH POSSIBLE ALONG OUTER CAPE COD AND NANTUCKET. THE WIND
WILL SHIFT TO NORTH BY THIS AFTERNOON...AND THEN GRADUALLY SHIFT TO
NORTHWEST THIS EVENING.
SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 28 TO 38 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...GENERALLY 20 TO 30 INCHES ACROSS CENTRAL
MASSACHUSETTS...MUCH OF SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE AND RHODE ISLAND...
AND 1 TO 2 FEET ALONG THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY IN SOUTHWEST
NEW HAMPSHIRE...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. A
FEW SPOTS IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAY REACH 40 INCHES BEFORE THIS
STORM WINDS DOWN. DRIFTS OF AT LEAST 6 FEET ARE LIKELY ACROSS EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.
THE STRONG WINDS WILL PRODUCE A STORM SURGE OF AROUND 3 FEET AT THE
TIME OF THE SUNDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE...ALONG WITH WAVES OF 25 TO 35
FEET JUST OFF THE MASSACHUSETTS EAST COAST. THUS...EVEN THOUGH THE
ASTRONOMICAL TIDE IS NOT THAT HIGH...AT LEAST MODERATE COASTAL
FLOODING IS EXPECTED AROUND THE TIME OF THE MORNING HIGH TIDE.
A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS.
BESIDES FLOODING OF VULNERABLE SHORE ROADS...LARGE BREAKERS WILL
LIKELY WASH ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS ONTO ROAD SURFACES AND MAY CAUSE
DAMAGE TO VULNERABLE STRUCTURES ALONG THE IMMEDIATE SHORE.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SOME FREEZING SPRAY WILL FURTHER
EXACERBATE CONDITIONS ALONG THE COAST DURING THE MORNING HIGH
TIDE.
ALTHOUGH THE EVENING HIGH TIDE IS LOWER ASTRONOMICALLY AND THE WIND
SHOULD HAVE BACKED TO NORTH NORTHWEST OR NORTHWEST AT MOST COASTAL
LOCATIONS...LARGE SWELLS WILL PERSIST AND MAY PRODUCE SPLASHOVER AND
ADDITIONAL BEACH EROSION AT THE TIME OF THE EVENING HIGH TIDE...
OCCURRING MOSTLY BETWEEN 1030 PM AND 1130 PM. THE GREATEST RISK OF
SPLASHOVER AND CONTINUED BEACH EROSION AROUND THE EVENING HIGH TIDE
WILL ALONG THE OUTER CAPE AND NANTUCKET.
FOR MARINERS...WIND GUSTS TO 70 KNOTS AND SEAS OF 25 TO 35 FEET
ACROSS THE OUTER COASTAL WATERS WILL PRODUCE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS FOR MOST...IF NOT ALL VESSELS. A HURRICANE FORCE WIND
WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OUTER COASTAL WATERS...AS WELL AS FOR
CAPE COD BAY AND NANTUCKET SOUND. ALL BOATS ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN IN
SAFE HARBOR. WE HAVE DISCONTINUED THE MARINE WEATHER STATEMENT FOR
NOW...AS ITS INCONCEIVABLE THAT ANY CRAFT WOULD ATTEMPT TO VENTURE
OUT ACROSS OUR COASTAL WATERS AT THIS TIME.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ABOVE...SUBZERO WIND CHILLS WILL BE
EXPERIENCED ACROSS MOST OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY...AND
SPREAD TO THE COAST THIS EVENING. WIND CHILLS TONIGHT WILL DROP TO
BETWEEN 15 AND 30 BELOW ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW NORTH AND WEST OF
INTERSTATE 95...AND GENERALLY 8 TO 15 BELOW SOUTHEAST OF I-95.
ACROSS CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...MARTHAS VINEYARD...AND POSSIBLY BLOCK
ISLAND...THE SNOW MAY BECOME OF A WETTER CONSISTENCY AND CLING TO
TREES AND POWER LINES. IN THESE LOCATIONS WHERE A WETTER SNOW IS
POSSIBLE...SCATTERED TO WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES MAY OCCUR.
.DAY TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MAY PRODUCE A DUSTING TO AN INCH OR SO
OF SNOW MONDAY NIGHT.
A RATHER FAST MOVING CLIPPER TYPE OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED
TO AFFECT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. THIS
SYSTEM MAY INTENSIFY SOME AS IT CROSSES THE COASTLINE...WITH SOME
OCEAN EFFECT SNOW ENHANCEMENT POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST. MODERATE
ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
WITH THIS SYSTEM. GALE OR NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS MAY ALSO DEVELOP
ALONG THE COASTAL WATERS ON THURSDAY.
.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SKYWARN REMAINS ACTIVATED FOR THIS STORM EVENT...AND WILL PROBABLY
NEED TO REMAIN ACTIVATED UNTIL LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING.
SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO SEND REPORTABLE WEATHER CRITERIA TO THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NOTE THE NEW WEB REPORTING CAPABILITY VIA
OUR HOMEPAGE.
$$
THOMPSON
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blizzard Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
846 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
.THE BLIZZARD OF 2005 IS NOW IN PROGRESS ACROSS PARTS OF COASTAL
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...AS THOSE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND
ENDURE A STORM COMPARABLE TO THE BLIZZARD OF 78.
THIS STORM IS NOW BLASTING EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND IN ALL ITS FURY WITH WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...TEMPERATURES PLUMMETING INTO THE SINGLE NUMBERS AND
TEENS...NORTHEAST TO NORTH WINDS OF 50 TO 70 MPH CREATING DRIFTS TO
AT LEAST 6 FEET...IN EXPOSED AREAS.
TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED UNTIL SOMETIME LATE TODAY OR TOMORROW...TO
GIVE CREWS WHICH IN SOME CASES MAY HAVE STOPPED CLEARING ROADS FOR
SAFETY REASONS...AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR ROADS LATER TODAY WHEN THE
STORM STARTS MOVING AWAY.
THE STORM AT 8 AM WAS STILL LOCATED ABOUT 50 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF
NANTUCKET AND WILL END UP DUMPING ABOUT 16 TO 24 INCHES OF SNOW IN
THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY...20 TO 30 INCHES FROM MANCHESTER AND
NASHUA NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH WORCESTER AND RHODE ISLAND. THE JACKPOT
WILL BE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE 28 TO 38 INCH AMOUNTS WILL BE
COMMON.
NANTUCKET WILL END UP WITH LESS SNOW BECAUSE OF ITS WARMER CONDITIONS
AND CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE STORM CENTER BUT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL
ARRIVE THERE THIS MORNING.
THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A RECORD SETTING SNOWSTORM IN BOSTON WHEN
COMPARING AGAINST DATA...DATING BACK TO 1892. FOR PROVIDENCE THIS
SHOULD BE A TOP 3 SNOW EVENT. THE 7 AM REPORTS OF 17.8 INCHES AT
PROVIDENCES TF GREEN AIRPORT AND 19.8 INCHES AT BOSTONS LOGAN AIRPORT
MAKES THIS THE 6TH WORST SNOWSTORM IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND
INTERSTATE 95 HISTORY DATING BACK TO AT LEAST 1905...AND HEADING FOR
AT LEAST TOP 3 RANKING BY DAYS END.
BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR ALONG THE COAST AND
HIGH TERRAIN THIS MORNING AND THEN GRADUALLY RECEDE TO ONLY THE
IMMEDIATE COAST DURING THE AFTERNOON.
THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR THOSE WHO
VENTURE OUT DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE STORM THIS MORNING.
AGAIN...TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED UNTIL LATE TODAY.
IF YOU LEAVE THE SAFETY OF BEING INDOORS...YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE
AT RISK.
MAZ005>007-012>024-RIZ001>008-232138-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-
DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-
EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ATTLEBOROUGH...BARNSTABLE...BARRINGTON...
BEVERLY...BOSTON...BRISTOL...BROCKTON...BROOKLINE. ..CAMBRIDGE...
FALL RIVER...FALMOUTH...FRAMINGHAM...FRANKLIN...GLOUCES TER...
LAWRENCE...LOWELL...LYNN...MILFORD...NANTUCKET...N EW BEDFORD...
NEWBURYPORT...NEWPORT...NEWTON...NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH...PLYMOUTH...
PROVIDENCE...QUINCY...SOMERVILLE...SOUTH KINGSTOWN...TAUNTON...
VINEYARD HAVEN...WALTHAM...WARWICK...WEYMOUTH...
WOONSOCKET AND WORCESTER
846 AM EST SUN JAN 23 2005
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...
AN EXTREME SITUATION IS OCCURRING IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. FOUR
INCHES OF SNOW WAS REPORTED IN 25 MINUTES AT CHELMSFORD
MASSACHUSETTS SHORTLY AFTER 7 AM AS THE LAST EXCESSIVE BAND OF
POWDERY SNOW SWINGS SOUTHEASTWARD.
THE NORTH SHORE IS BEING BLITZED BY SNOWFALL RATES OF ALMOST 4 INCHES
PER HOUR. IT MAY LAST ONLY ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO BUT ITS A COMPLETE
SHORT TERM PARALYSER.
IT IS SPREADING EAST SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH INTO BOSTON NOW AND WILL
CONTINUE THERE THROUGH AT LEAST 11 AM. THIS BIG SNOW BAND WILL ARRIVE
ON THE SOUTH SHORE BETWEEN 10 AM AND 11 AM AND THEN CROSS THE UPPER
CAPE BETWEEN 11 AM AND 2 PM. IT TENDS TO LAST ABOUT 2 HOURS. THAT
MEANS 8 INCHES OF SNOW MAY FALL IN PORTIONS OF THE BOSTON AREA IN A 2
HOUR PERIOD DURING MID AND LATE MORNING.
FINAL BLIZZARD TOTALS FOR MOST OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS WILL RANGE
BETWEEN 28 AND 38 INCHES SETTING A NEW SINGLE STORM RECORD FOR
BOSTON...SURPASSING THE AMOUNT FROM THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 78 AND THE
PRESIDENTS DAY STORM OF 2003.
ISOLATED TOTALS OF 40 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. VULNERABLE LOCATIONS FOR
NEARLY 40 INCH STORM TOTALS ARE ESSEX...MIDDLESEX...PLYMOUTH...
NORFOLK AND BARNSTABLE COUNTIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.
EVEN IF THIS STORM COMES UP SLIGHTLY SHORT OF RECORD...IT IS A
DANGEROUS STORM WITH THE WORST OCCURRING NOW INTO EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON AS WINDS STRENGTHEN AND TEMPERATURES FALL TO NEAR 10 ABOVE.
NANTUCKET MAY END UP WITH ONLY 12 TO 22 INCHES...BUT BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WILL DESCEND ON THAT ISLAND LATER THIS MORNING OR THIS
AFTERNOON.
NORTHERLY WINDS WILL BE GUSTING AROUND 75 MPH ON BARNSTABLE AND
NANTUCKET COUNTIES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING
STORM BECAUSE OF SEVERE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE NEWLY FALLEN SNOW
AND TUMBLING TEMPERATURES.
SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES HAVE OCCURRED THIS MORNING AS WINDS ALL ALONG
THE COAST GUST BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH ON BOSTONS NORTH AND SOUTH
SHORES AND EVEN ON NARRAGANSETT BAY. A 78 MPH WIND GUST WAS REPORTED
IN EAST FALMOUTH BY A SPOTTER.
THERE HAS BEEN ISOLATED DAMAGE REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
POWER OUTAGES MAY BECOME WIDESPREAD THIS AFTERNOON ON THE CAPE AND
NANTUCKET WHEN THE BRUNT OF WIND HITS THERE...BETWEEN 75 AND 80 MPH.
DRIFTS OF AT LEAST 6 FEET ARE OCCURRING.
OVER CAPE COD...NANTUCKET AND MARTHAS VINEYARD...THE SNOW HAS BEEN
OF A WETTER CONSISTENCY EARLY TODAY AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME RAIN ON
NANTUCKET. THIS RAISES THE ANTE FOR POWER OUTAGES IN EXTREME
SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND WITH THE SNOW CLINGING TO WIRES AND BRANCHES.
ALL THE HEAVY SNOW WILL TAPER TO SNOW SHOWERS LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR
EVENING...BUT CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING WILL PERSIST INTO
LATE THIS EVENING ACROSS EXPOSED AREAS.
THERE IS A CHANCE OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUING ON PARTS OF CAPE
COD INTO EARLY TONIGHT AS HEAVY SNOW SQUALLS POUND PARTS OF THE CAPE.
A BLIZZARD WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OR FREQUENT
GUSTS OF OVER 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH CONSIDERABLE FALLING AND/OR
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OCCUR AT TIMES. THOSE
VENTURING OUTDOORS MAY BECOME LOST OR DISORIENTED...SO PERSONS IN THE
WARNING AREA ARE ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS.
$$
DRAG
I'm glad I'm in the sunny south. :Wink