The National Weather Service in Taunton, MA has expanded the time and area of the Winter Storm Watch that was issed early Wednesday. Now, nearly all of Southern New England is included in the watch. That means the potential is high for more than 6″ of snow in the entire area shaded in blue on the map below. The Winter Storm Watch extends from late Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. Read the strongly worded advisory from the National Weather Service below.
...A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY AND TRAVEL MAY BECOME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE... MAZ017>021-RIZ001>007-070030- /O.EXB.KBOX.WS.A.0002.130208T0600Z-130209T1800Z/ NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA- SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI- BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...TAUNTON...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH... FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD...MATTAPOISETT...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD... PROVIDENCE...WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BRISTOL...NARRAGANSETT... WESTERLY...NEWPORT 1130 AM EST WED FEB 6 2013 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON. * LOCATIONS...RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS. * HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW. * ACCUMULATIONS...VERY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN OVER 6 INCHES OF SNOW. POTENTIAL FOR A FOOT OR MORE OF SNOW EXISTS...WITH THE BEST CHANCE AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE SOUTH COAST. * TIMING...LIGHT SNOW DEVELOPS BY FRIDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL INCREASE INTENSITY DURING FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THERE MAY BE A BRIEF CHANGE OVER TO RAIN ESPECIALLY NEAR THE SOUTH COAST DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE RAIN SHOULD SWITCH BACK TO HEAVY SNOW BY FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF SATURDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...DEEP SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE LIKELY ON UNTREATED ROADS. IN ADDITION...STRONG WIND GUSTS MAY CREATE NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FRIDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 2 TO 3 INCHES PER HOUR POSSIBLE. TRAVEL MAY BECOME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. * WINDS...NORTHEAST WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS POSSIBLE AT TIMES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE POTENTIAL OF ACCUMULATING SNOW OF 6 OR MORE INCHES IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD...OR 8 OR MORE INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. ANYONE TRAVELING IN THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO MODIFY TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD WINTER WEATHER DEVELOP.
