[W1SMH] Fwd: Situational Awareness Statement #3: Significant Winter Storm Thursday; Dangerously Cold Weather This Weekend

Wed Jan 3 17:58:44 EST 2018

Ray Cord

On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, Schwartz, Kurt (CDA) (CDA) (CDA) (CDA) (CDA) (CDA) (CDA) (CDA) <Kurt.Schwartz at MassMail.State.MA.US> wrote:

MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT

DATE: January 3, 2018
TIME: 5:00 PM
SUBJECT: Significant Winter Storm Thursday; Dangerously Cold Weather This Weekend (Update #3)

Situation
The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting a strong but fast-moving coastal storm on Thursday that will bring accumulating snow across the entire state, with the eastern half of the state seeing the greatest amounts. Strong to damaging winds are also expected across much of the state; however the Cape and Islands will experience the strongest winds. These winds combined with wet, heavy snow in areas, bring potential for scattered to widespread power outages, particularly in southeastern MA. In addition, there is the potential for moderate and pockets of major coastal flooding, primarily in areas south of Boston along the coast of Plymouth County and in Cape Cod Bay. Following the storm, bitterly cold weather, with wind chill values of -15 to -35, will return on Friday and persist into the weekend.
Since the last Situational Awareness Statement, the NWS has revised its projected snowfall totals for this storm upwards, with western Massachusetts now forecast to receive up to 6-8" of snow and large portions of central and eastern Massachusetts expected to see as much as 12-18" of snow. Winter Storm Warnings have been expanded to cover all of Massachusetts except for Nantucket. Additionally, Blizzard Warnings have been expanded to cover all of eastern and southeastern coastal Massachusetts except for the Cape and Islands.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories
Blizzard Warning
Issued: January 03 at 4:29PM EST
Expiring: January 04 at 7:00PM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE22F64.BlizzardWarning.125A8BFD7440MA.BOXWSWBOX.e9f88fce77eb1691e713bdf2719fe64b>

Areas affected: Eastern Essex; Eastern Norfolk; Eastern Plymouth; Southern Bristol; Southern Plymouth; Suffolk; Western Plymouth

Winter Storm Warning
Issued: January 03 at 4:29PM EST
Expiring: January 05 at 1:00AM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE22F64.WinterStormWarning.125A8BFE5EA0MA.BOXWSWBOX.961df1cb91d47995545831d86b17aea9>

Areas affected: Central Middlesex County; Eastern Franklin; Eastern Hampden; Eastern Hampshire; Northern Bristol; Northern Worcester; Northwest Middlesex County; Southeast Middlesex; Southern Worcester; Western Essex; Western Franklin; Western Hampden; Western Hampshire; Western Norfolk

Winter Storm Warning
Issued: January 03 at 4:29PM EST
Expiring: January 05 at 1:00AM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE22F64.WinterStormWarning.125A8BFE5EA0MA.BOXWSWBOX.e441aa6ebbd2bd53426221dd61c1a773>

Areas affected: Barnstable; Dukes

High Wind Warning
Issued: January 03 at 4:28PM EST
Expiring: January 05 at 1:00AM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE22F00.HighWindWarning.125A8BFE5EA0MA.BOXNPWBOX.ee28dbcf037ae5df37d0b7952b02d5c1>

Areas affected: Barnstable; Dukes; Nantucket

Coastal Flood Warning
Issued: January 03 at 3:12PM EST
Expiring: January 04 at 4:00PM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE201B0.CoastalFloodWarning.125A8BF16650MA.BOXCFWBOX.c93b7a3f5d476f73522168d5db853ac5>

Areas affected: Barnstable; Dukes; Eastern Essex; Eastern Norfolk; Eastern Plymouth; Nantucket; Suffolk

Winter Storm Warning
Issued: January 03 at 3:01PM EST
Expiring: January 05 at 1:00AM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE1FD64.WinterStormWarning.125A8BFE5EA0MA.ALYWSWALY.25d634fc449a3ebbd789ae15e35ba25d>

Areas affected: Northern Berkshire; Southern Berkshire

Wind Chill Watch
Issued: January 03 at 3:01PM EST
Expiring: January 06 at 6:00PM EST<https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MA125A8BE1FD64.WindChillWatch.125A8C1038F0MA.ALYWSWALY.6b6b27b67b5817e93573dbf0112a4297>

Areas affected: Northern Berkshire; Southern Berkshire

Graphics
[https://www.weather.gov/images/box/winter/StormTotalSnowWeb.png]
[http://www.weather.gov/images/aly/winter/StormTotalSnowWeb.png]

[https://www.weather.gov/images/box/winter/SnowAmt90Prcntl.png]
[http://www.weather.gov/images/aly/winter/SnowAmt90Prcntl.png]

MEMA Operations

* The State Emergency Operations Center is operating at Level 1 (Steady State Monitoring), and will activate to a Level 2 (Partial Activation) Thursday morning at 6 AM.
* MEMA conducted a conference call with local emergency management officials at 3 PM this afternoon (Wednesday).
* MEMA will continue to monitor the forecast and will disseminate Situational Awareness Statements as necessary.
* Tomorrow starting at 6 AM, the National Guard will stage High Water Vehicles in the following communities/areas in anticipation of moderate to major coastal flooding with the mid-day high tide:
* Marshfield
* Scituate
* Hull
* Quincy
* Hingham National Guard Armory
Preparedness and Safety Information

* Safety and preparedness tips for extreme cold:
http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/extreme-cold-safety-tips
* Winter storm preparedness and safety information:
http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/winter-storm-safety-tips
* Power outage preparedness and safety information:
http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/power-outage-safety-tips
* Flood safety tips:
http://www.mass.gov/index.php/service-details/flood-safety-tips
* Winter safety tips for pets:
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/winter-pet-safety-tips

Stay Informed:
Utilize Massachusetts Alerts to receive emergency notifications and information from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. Massachusetts Alerts is a free app that is available for Android and iPhones. To learn more about Massachusetts Alerts, and for information on how to download the free app onto your smartphone, visit: http://www.mass.gov/service-details/massachusetts-alerts-smartphone-app.
Utilize MEMA's real-time power outage viewer to stay informed about current power outages in your community and region, and across the state, including information from utility companies about restoration times: http://mema.mapsonline.net/public.html
Utilize MEMA's live weather radar and forecasting tools: http://www.mass.gov/map-resources
Online Resources:
For additional information and resources, visit:
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency at www.mass.gov/mema<http://www.mass.gov/mema>
MEMA's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA
MEMA Twitter: @MassEMA<http://twitter.com/massema>
Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.fema.gov<http://www.fema.gov>
National Weather Service/Taunton at www.weather.gov/boston<http://www.weather.gov/boston>
National Weather Service/Albany, NY at www.weather.gov/albany<http://www.weather.gov/albany>
National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center: http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov
National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/
Mass211 at www.mass211.org<http://www.mass211.org>

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