Following is an update on potential weather-related hazards from an area of low pressure that is expected to move from the mid-Atlantic through southeastern Massachusetts. This system is expected to produce a wintry mix of freezing rain and snow across the Berkshires into northern Worcester County Sunday, with mainly rain elsewhere in Southern New England. It will also bring a period of gusty winds Sunday night to the coastal waters, along with the potential for minor coastal flooding in parts of eastern Massachusetts during Sunday's high tides.
- Gale Watch Issued [Sunday into Sunday Night]: Coastal and offshore waters.
- Updated Snow and Ice Accumulations. Note: Portions of the Berkshires into northern Worcester County may need winter weather advisories for parts of Sunday in forthcoming updates.
Details below:
Interior Light Icing and Light Snow (See Attached Images):
Locations: Mainly the northern Worcester Hills and the Berkshires.
Timing: Begins as light freezing rain into the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, changing to rain by late morning or early afternoon. Ending as a period of light accumulating wet snow Sunday night.
Expected Amounts: A light glaze of ice (up to 1/10"), with up to 2 inches of snow at the highest elevations.
Impact: Slippery travel.
Uncertainty: Timing of the exact changeover may affect snow and ice accumulations. To convey this uncertainty and its effect on snowfall amounts, a reasonable worst-case snow accumulation is also attached (if precipitation to change over to snow sooner); in addition to the expected snow amounts.
Marine Impacts: Gale Force Winds [Sunday Night]
Locations: Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal & offshore waters.
Timing: Onset of Gales between 2 and 4 PM Sunday, ending between 4 and 8 AM Monday.
Wind Gusts: Northwest 35 to 42 knots, peaking between 6 PM Sunday and 2 AM Monday.
Seas: 4 to 6 feet on the inner bays and sounds; 7 to 11 ft offshore.
Impact: Hazardous conditions for mariners.
Uncertainty: High confidence in occurrence, though uncertainty on exact start and ending times.
Minor Coastal Flooding: Sunday Morning High Tide
Locations: Eastern Massachusetts coast (including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket) and the South Coast
Timing: Sunday morning high tide (5:41 AM at Providence, 8:45 AM at Boston, and 9:46 AM on Nantucket)
Storm Surge: 1.0 to 1.5 feet
Inundation: Less than 1 foot above ground level
Impact: Some vulnerable shoreline roads may become temporarily impassable around high tide.
Uncertainty: High. Timing of highest surge may not coincide with high tide, which would lead to little or no impact. Minor coastal flooding would be the worst case scenario.
Minor Coastal Flooding: Sunday Evening High Tide
Locations: Eastern Massachusetts coast including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
Timing: Sunday evening high tide (9:17 PM at Boston and 10:24 PM on Nantucket)
Storm Surge: Around 2.0 feet
Inundation: Up to 1 foot above ground level
Impact: Some vulnerable shoreline roads may become temporarily impassable around high tide.
Uncertainty: Lower than with the morning high tide. Locations along the Bay side of Cape Cod, Plymouth County, and Nantucket are most vulnerable.
Thank You!
Meteorologist: Andrew Loconto