Good afternoon everyone,
Here is our latest update on a powerful coastal storm which will impact MA, RI & CT tonight into Thursday morning.
Changes From Morning Briefing:
- High Wind Warnings Issued: East Coastal MA (excluding Suffolk County), Cape Cod and the Islands. In Effect through 5 PM Thursday.
- Wind Advisories Expanded: Includes the rest of MA, CT and RI outside of the High Wind Warnings. In Effect through 6 PM Thursday.
- Flood Watches Issued: Includes northern CT and in MA from Middlesex County westward. In effect from late tonight until Thursday morning.
- "Marginal Risk" of Severe Weather: Northern CT, RI into southeast MA. Mainly late evening into overnight in shield of wind driven rain. Note: Low probability of development.
What/When & Where:
Headlines ...
- High Wind Warnings: East Coast of MA (excluding Suffolk County), Cape Cod & Islands Thursday
- Wind Advisories - Rest of MA, RI and all of CT.
- Flood Watches: Northern CT and in Massachusetts from Middlesex County westward.
Strong to Damaging Wind Threat ...
- When - two surges of wind are expected with the first surge tonight (east winds) followed by a stronger surge Thursday morning and afternoon (west winds)
- Where - RI into eastern MA but strongest wind over Cape Cod and Islands
- Impacts - winds potentially strong enough to down tree limbs and result in power outages. Greatest likelihood for these impacts over coastal eastern MA, Cape Cod and the Islands, but such impacts possible anywhere.
- Uncertainty - how much strong wind aloft will mix down to the surface and areal extent. Trees remaining fully leaved will require less wind for damage to occur.
Heavy Rainfall Threat & Poor Drainage Flooding ...
- When - Heaviest rain approximately 10 pm Wednesday to 6 am Thursday from southwest to northeast
- Where - Mainly in the Flood Watch area; but possible anywhere.
- Impacts - a widespread 1.5 to 3 inches of rain with localized amounts of 4 to 5 inches remain possible. Poor drainage and urban/street flooding would be the main flood impact, as river levels have been running low.
- Uncertainty - areal extent of 4 to 5 inch rainfall amounts are uncertain. Updated low and high end rainfall maps attached along with mostly likely rainfall amounts to help communicate this uncertainty.
Severe Weather Threat ...