Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service
...BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA- DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT- NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY 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 ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN KENT RI- WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT- 618 AM EST TUE MAR 9 2004
AN EAST COAST WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATE WEDNESDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND.
SNOW OR... RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW... WILL BEGIN LATE IN THE AFTERNOON OR EVENING WEDNESDAY AND THEN TURN INTO A STORMY NIGHT ACROSS COASTAL SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND. PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES OVER THE CAPE AND ISLANDS AND A PERIOD OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION MAY SPREAD INLAND ACROSS CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT BY DAWN THURSDAY.
THE NOREASTER WILL BE DEPARTING DURING EARLY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE MODERATING DURING THE APPROACH AND PASSAGE OF THIS STRONG GALE. THIS... IN ADDITION TO TRACK AND INTENSITY UNCERTAINTY... OPENS THE DOOR FOR A VARIETY OF PRECIPITATION SCENARIOS.
HOWEVER... IT WILL NOT TAKE MUCH SNOW TO DISRUPT TRAVEL PLANS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE THURSDAY MORNING COMMUTE.
CURRENTLY THE BEST ESTIMATE FOR HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS ALONG THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR... FROM WESTERLY TO PROVIDENCE AND BOSTON... BUT EVEN THERE... THERE COULD BE A MIX OF RAIN AT TIMES AFFECTING ACCUMULATIONS.
SEAS AND STORM SURGE WILL BUILD RAPIDLY ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS EARLY THURSDAY WITH 15 TO 20 FEET SWELLS ACROSS THE OUTER WATERS AND A POSSIBILITY OF COASTAL FLOODING... ESPECIALLY FROM NANTUCKET TO CHATHAM... ON THE OCEAN SIDE OF THE OUTER CAPE. THIS IS A POTENT SITUATION FOR A SUBSTANTIAL SNOW STORM IN PARTS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... BUT... WITH MARGINAL TEMPERATURES AND TRACK UNCERTAINTY....
...Glad the cover is still on.
