The National Weather Service has upgrade Blizzard Watches in Southern New England to Blizzard Warnings as a fierce Nor’easter becomes imminent for a large portion of the Northeastern United States, with CT, RI, and MA likely to be the hardest hit. The storm may produce historic snow totals on par with some of the great snowstorms of the past century. The wind will likely gust to hurricane force near the coast, and could top 80 mph on Cape Cod and Nantucket. The strong winds and heavy snow will last well into Saturday.
Blizzard Conditions
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 mph + heavy snow with 1/4 mile or lower visibility for three consecutive hours
The Warning is in effect from 6AM Friday to 1PM Saturday, although blizzard conditions are not expected until later Friday. See below for the very strongly worded text from the National Weather Service in Boston, MA.
Coastal Flood Warnings are also in effect for Eastern MA.
...A POTENTIAL HISTORIC WINTER STORM AND BLIZZARD IS EXPECTED TO DROP AROUND 2 FEET OF SNOW FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY... MAZ005>007-012>023-RIZ001>008-080500- /O.UPG.KBOX.BZ.A.0001.130208T1200Z-130209T2100Z/ /O.NEW.KBOX.BZ.W.0001.130208T1100Z-130209T1800Z/ CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA- WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA- NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI- EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- BLOCK ISLAND RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FRAMINGHAM...LOWELL...LAWRENCE... GLOUCESTER...MILFORD...WORCESTER...FOXBORO...NORWOOD... CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON...QUINCY...TAUNTON...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH... FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD...MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM...FALMOUTH... PROVINCETOWN...VINEYARD HAVEN...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD... PROVIDENCE...WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BRISTOL...NARRAGANSETT... WESTERLY...NEWPORT...BLOCK ISLAND 355 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013 ...BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY... * LOCATIONS...EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING BOSTON AND BOSTON METRO AREA...ALL OF RHODE ISLAND INCLUDING BLOCK ISLAND. * HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING AND DRIFTING AT TIMES... QUARTER MILE VISIBILITIES...AND WINDS GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH. * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 24 INCHES. * TIMING...LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY FRIDAY MORNING...BECOMING HEAVY LATE IN THE DAY INTO THE EVENING COMMUTE. THE HEAVIEST OF SNOWFALL...ESPECIALLY FOCUS ALONG THE I-95 CORRIDOR...WILL FALL FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. * IMPACTS...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AND DANGEROUS TRAVEL. WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED AS ROADS BECOME SNOW COVERED BY THE FRIDAY EVENING COMMUTE. STRONG NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED WITH GUSTS UP TO AROUND 60 MPH...RESULTING IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND STRUCTURES ALONG WITH SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ARE ANTICIPATED. * WINDS...NORTHEAST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH. * VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 20S. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH CONSIDERABLE FALLING AND/OR BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BECOME POOR WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. THOSE VENTURING OUTDOORS MAY BECOME LOST OR DISORIENTED...SO PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA ARE ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS. && $$
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 355 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013 ...A POTENTIAL HISTORIC WINTER STORM AND BLIZZARD IS EXPECTED TO DROP AROUND 2 FEET OF SNOW FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY... CTZ002>004-080500- /O.UPG.KBOX.BZ.A.0001.130208T1800Z-130209T2100Z/ /O.NEW.KBOX.BZ.W.0001.130208T1100Z-130209T1800Z/ HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION... VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC 355 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013 ...BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY... * LOCATIONS...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. * HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING AND DRIFTING AT TIMES... QUARTER MILE VISIBILITIES...AND WINDS GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH. * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 24 INCHES. * TIMING...LIGHT SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY FRIDAY MORNING...BECOMING HEAVY LATE IN THE DAY INTO THE EVENING COMMUTE. THE HEAVIEST OF SNOWFALL...ESPECIALLY FOCUS ALONG THE I-95 CORRIDOR...WILL FALL FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. * IMPACTS...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AND DANGEROUS TRAVEL. WHITE OUT CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED AS ROADS BECOME SNOW COVERED BY THE FRIDAY EVENING COMMUTE. STRONG NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED WITH GUSTS UP TO AROUND 60 MPH...RESULTING IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND STRUCTURES ALONG WITH SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES ARE ANTICIPATED. * WINDS...NORTHEAST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. * VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. * TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 20S. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 35 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH CONSIDERABLE FALLING AND/OR BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. VISIBILITIES WILL BECOME POOR WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AT TIMES. THOSE VENTURING OUTDOORS MAY BECOME LOST OR DISORIENTED...SO PERSONS IN THE WARNING AREA ARE ADVISED TO STAY INDOORS. && $$