Following is an update on the ongoing strong to damaging wind event taking place across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
As of 430 AM, the advertised strong cold front was located across central Massachusetts into extreme eastern Connecticut. This front will race eastward and off the coast of eastern Massachusetts between 5-6 AM. Damaging south winds remain possible ahead of the cold front, with a sharp wind shift after the passage of the cold front. After the front clears in entirety, focus will turn toward the strong west wind gusts behind it.
Headlines:
- High Wind Warnings for eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island continues through 6 AM this morning, and for the South Coast, Cape Cod and the Islands until 8 AM. *Note*: The High Wind Warnings will be replaced with a Wind Advisory to address the strong west wind gusts once the cold front has cleared the coast. This will be in effect until 4 PM today.
- Wind Advisory for Worcester to Tolland Counties westward until 4 PM today. By this morning, all counties will be in this Wind Advisory.
- Storm Warnings for Narragansett Bay, Boston Harbor, Cape Cod Bay, and Massachusetts/Ipswich Bays through 6 AM this morning. *Note*: Storm Warnings will be replaced with Gale Warnings once the cold front has cleared the coast. This will be in effect through Friday.
- Gale Warnings in effect for the remaining coastal waters through Friday. By this morning, all waters will be in this Gale Warning.
Details:
Winds:
- Timing and Peak Gusts:
- Cold front will shift winds from south to west through early this morning across eastern counties. These west winds will remain gusty to strong through the afternoon.
- South gusts to 50-60 mph could still be possible through 6-8 AM in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and toward Cape Cod and the Islands.
- For the remainder of the morning into the afternoon, strong west wind gusts between 40 to 50 mph is expected. Diminishing trends to gusts are anticipated after 4 PM.
- Impacts: Scattered tree damage with isolated power outages.
- Uncertainty: Though lesser overall impact is anticipated in the west wind gusts today, wet ground and partly-leafed trees could fell trees more easily.
Attached are updated graphics reflecting current hazards as of 430 AM today, along with peak wind gusts through today.
Meteorologist: Andrew Loconto