Winter Storm Warning in Effect
RIEMA EOC will be activated beginning at 7:30 AM Wednesday 2/10/2010
Snow Threat
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for all areas from the Mass Pike southward. This includes the cities of Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. North of the Mass Pike, where uncertainty in amounts remains, a Winter Storm /Watch /remains posted.
This morning, model runs were very robust with as much as 12 to 24 inches covering much of the area south of the Mass Pike. The Canadian and European models are still focusing the highest amounts along the south coast only, with only 8 inches at that. So, our forecast again is going to be a middle-of-the-road compromise, with a large swath of 10 to 11 inches across Hartford/ Springfield/ Worcester/ Providence/ Foxboro/ Brockton areas. 7 to 9 inches closer to the Mass Pike, including Boston and also 7 to 9 inches along the southern periphery in southeast and east coastal MA, where a mix of sleet and rain may occur for a time during the daylight hours. Amounts have been cut to only 5 or 6 inches over the outer Cape and Nantucket, where temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s much of the daylight hours and rain or mix of snow and rain will be falling initially. Totals of 10-18 inches are still a real possibility for southeast MA and RI, depending on where a heavy band sets up and lingers...and on total liquid equivalent precipitation.
The snow will be heavy, wet and like plaster or cement over east coastal and south coastal areas, where temperatures will be near the freezing mark. This will lead to increased risks of heart attacks shoveling and also power concerns. Farther inland, it will be a fluffier snow.
Timing is critical, because this runs the risk of being very similar to the "Traffic Nightmare Snowstorm" of Dec. 13, 2007. Flurries will break out by daybreak in the Hartford and Providence areas, becoming steady light snow by the morning rush (7 or 8 AM) and then heavy snow there by 10 or 11 AM. The first flakes will arrive in Boston around 8 AM with steady light snow by 10 AM and then the heavy snow band arriving around noon or 1 PM. The heavy snow band may have rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. We think that band will progress north to near the Mass Pike then remain there for a while before shifting southeastward on its way out to sea at night. Where this band sets up and then settles will determine who gets the heaviest snow.
The snow should end in the Hartford area by 11 PM or midnight...and in the Boston/Providence areas by 2-3 AM. Closer to 4 or 5 AM on Cape Cod.
Wind Threat
High Wind Warning in effect for Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard for Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Strongest winds will be between 6 pm and 2 am Wednesday evening/night. Winds near the Massachusetts east coast from Gloucester to Boston will increase from the northeast to 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph by Wednesday evening. Along the Massachusetts east coast south of Boston to Plymouth and along the immediate Massachusetts and Rhode Island south coasts, we anticipate NE winds 30 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Across the Cape, we expect NE winds to average 30 to 40 mph with gusts to around 55 mph. And over Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and Block Island, we are looking ENE winds averaging 35 to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph possible. Winds will back to north after midnight and gradually diminish during the early morning hours. The strong winds combined with a fairly wet snow will likely set the stage for scattered power outages.
Marine
Storm Warnings in effect for all outer waters as well as Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound. Gale Warnings in effect for all near shore waters.
Across Mass Bay/Stellwagen Bank: NE winds 30 to 35 KT with gusts 45 to 50 KT…highest toward waters about Provincetown.
Cape Cod Bay, Vineyard Sound and East of Cape Cod: NE winds 35 to 40 KT with gusts to 50 KT.
Nantucket Sound and coastal waters south of the islands: ENE winds 40 KT with gusts to 55 KT possible.
Strongest winds 5 PM Wednesday to 5 AM Thursday. NE direction to midnight and then backing to N.
Seas building by Wednesday evening to 12 to 16 feet across Mass Bay and Stellwagen Bank. Seas building to near 20 feet east and south of Nantucket.
Coastal Flooding/Beach Erosion
A storm surge of 2 to 3 feet is expected at the time of the Wednesday evening tide, but the astronomical tide is relatively low. Thus, we are not expecting coastal flooding. There is a risk of beach erosion, however, especially along the east side of Nantucket and the outer Cape.
Rhode Island Air National Guard Deploys to Support Haiti Relief Effort
143d Airlift Wing to Participate in Operation “Unified Response”
CRANSTON, RI –January 22, 2010, Major General (MG) Robert T. Bray, Adjutant General of Rhode Island and Commanding General of the Rhode Island National Guard announced today that the 143d Airlift Wing, out of Quonset Point, deployed two C-130J aircraft late yesterday, with a total of 10 personnel in support of the U.S. military’s Haitian relief effort, Operation Unified Response.
The 143d team, consisting of aircrew and maintenance personnel, departed to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. to await further instructions and mission assignments. Homestead Air Reserve Base is one of the military staging areas for operations in Haiti. The duration of this deployment will be based on mission requirements.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is the world’s most advanced tactical airlifter. Designed and developed with mission flexibility in mind – combat air delivery, air-to-air refueling, special operations, disaster relief and humanitarian missions – the C-130J has a unique mix of agility and performance to consistently operate at very high operations tempo efficiently and reliably.
"This is what we are trained to do,” said Colonel Robert Germani, 143d Airlift Wing Vice Commander. “The 143rd Airlift Wing has provided airlift and airdrops around the globe and we are proud and honored to assist the people of Haiti in this operation.”
Links to help in the Haiti Relief Effort
American Red Cross
Save the Children
World Vision
Habitat for Humanity
Five Tips to avoid donation scams
Temporary Protected Status Information for Haitian Nationals
USCIS
