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HISTORIC WINTER STORM (FEBRUARY 8-9, 2013) CONFERENCE CALL. Wednesday 2:30 PM February 6, 2013. MAIN IMPACTS WIDESPREAD PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW WITH 2 TO 3 FOOT DRIFTS WIND DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES; FALLING TREES POTENTIAL FOR COASTAL FLOODING
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HISTORIC WINTER STORM (FEBRUARY 8-9, 2013)CONFERENCE CALL Wednesday 2:30 PM February 6, 2013
MAIN IMPACTS • WIDESPREAD PROLONGED POWER OUTAGES • 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW WITH 2 TO 3 FOOT DRIFTS • WIND DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES; FALLING TREES • POTENTIAL FOR COASTAL FLOODING • POSSIBILITY OF STRANDED VEHICLES
Currently: • Winter Storm Watch is in effect for all of BOX service area. • Later this afternoon: • BLIZZARD WATCH will likely be issued for eastern MA & northern RI • HIGH WIND WATCH will likely be issued for the south coast of RI and Southeast MA • HURRICANE FORCE WIND WATCHwill likely be issued for portions of the eastern coastal waters. • STORM WATCHwill likely be issued for all remaining coastal waters
TIMING: SNOW: Light snow will begin before daybreak Friday. It may be light through the morning and early afternoon. Then it will come with a roar and could fall at rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour beginning between 3 PM and 6 PM. Heavy snow will be winding down Saturday morning, except continuing through the day on Cape Cod/Islands, where it will likely start as rain on Friday. Note: Travel to destinations (like home from work or school) may become impossible by the evening commute on Friday.
ONSET OF HEAVY SNOW 2-4 PM Friday 1-3 PM Friday Noon-2 PM Friday
CURRENT SNOWFALL PROJECTIONS: 14-24 INCHES IN NE ½ OF AREA CURRENT SNOWFALL PROBABILITIES: PROBABILITIES ARE HIGH FOR MORE THAN 1 FOOT OF SNOW. COULD BE MUCH HIGHER !!!
HIGH IMPACT END OF WEEK STORM SNOW WATER CONTENT • Southern NH/Northern MA Temperatures • Friday afternoon 25-30. (Wet) • Height of storm 15-20. (Dry) • CT/RI/Southern MA Temperatures • Friday afternoon 30-35. (Wet) • Height of storm 30 20. (Transition Wet to Dry)
WIND GUSTS FRIDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 8 40 TO 50 MPH 50 TO 60 MPH 60 TO 80 MPH
COASTAL FLOOD THREATMassachusetts East Coast • Two Tide cycles • Friday evening 930 PM to 10 PM • Moderate coastal flooding possible • Storm surge around 3 feet possible • On top of 10.1 ft MLLW Astronomical Tide at Boston • Waves 15 to 20 feet several miles offshore • Saturday morning around 10 AM • Moderate to Major coastal flooding possible • Dependent upon timing of wind shift to northwest • Storm surge 1.5 to 2.5 feet possible • Dependent upon direction of wind at high tide • On top of 11.5 ft MLLW Astronomical Tide at Boston • Waves may be 25 to 30 feet several miles offshore
COASTAL FLOOD THREATRhode Island Exposed South Coast • Two Tide Cycles • 6 to 6:30 PM • Minor Coastal Flooding possible • Storm surge 1.5 to 2 feet • 6:30 to 7 AM • Minor Coastal Flooding possible with low chance of pockets of Moderate Coastal Flooding • Storm surge 1 to 2 ft
RISK FOR BEACH EROSION FEB 8 – 9 Friday Night and Saturday HIGH HIGH HIGH MODERATE
MARINE IMPACTS FEB 8 – 9 Max Midnight – 2 PM Saturday 50 TO 60 KT SEAS 20 TO 30 FT 60 TO 70 KT SEAS 25 TO 30 FT 50 TO 60 KT SEAS 20 TO 25 FT
SUMMARY • Snow starts Friday morning…then increases to Heavy Snow Friday afternoon. Heavy Snow continues Friday night and tapers off Saturday. Rain/snow mix possible south coast and islands Friday afternoon. • Damaging winds possible in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island (gusts to 80 mph possible near southeast coast) • Snow and wind will cause widespread power outages across interior southern New England from late Friday through Saturday. • Moderate to Major coastal flooding and significant erosion likely Friday night and Saturday high tide cycles. • Seas may build to 30 feet Friday night/Saturday with storm to hurricane force winds possible – extremely dangerous for mariners.