A developing storm will brush by Southern New England late Tuesday into Wednesday and bring a period of light to moderate snow into very cold air. Accumulations are likely, and plows and shovels will most likely be needed – especially near the coast. The track of the storm is still questionable, but the threat of 6″ of snow has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Watch for coastal areas.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 403 AM EST MON JAN 20 2014 ...PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTH COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... .LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING WELL SOUTH OF NEW ENGLAND DURING TUESDAY WILL COMBINE WITH ARCTIC AIR MOVING ACROSS THE REGION TO CAUSE OCEAN EFFECT SNOWS TO DEVELOP ACROSS EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS AND MOVE INLAND INTO RHODE ISLAND AND NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE VERY COLD...RANGING FROM THE TEENS ACROSS THE INTERIOR TO AROUND THE MID 20S ACROSS OUTER CAPE COD. THIS WILL MEAN THAT THE SNOW WILL PILE UP RATHER QUICKLY ESPECIALLY ALONG SOUTH COASTAL AREAS. NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL AVERAGE BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH...HIGHEST ALONG THE COAST...WHICH WILL ALSO CAUSE THE SNOW TO BLOW AND REDUCE VISIBILITIES. THE STEADY SNOW SHOULD START TAPERING OFF WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT MAY LINGER AS SNOW SHOWERS ALONG THE IMMEDIATE EAST COAST THROUGH THE DAY. MAZ020>024-RIZ006>008-201715- /O.NEW.KBOX.WS.A.0002.140121T1800Z-140122T1500Z/ SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA- NANTUCKET MA-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD... MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM...FALMOUTH...PROVINCETOWN... VINEYARD HAVEN...NANTUCKET...NARRAGANSETT...WESTERLY...NEWPORT... BLOCK ISLAND 403 AM EST MON JAN 20 2014 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. * LOCATIONS...SOUTH COASTAL RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS... INCLUDING NANTUCKET...MARTHAS VINEYARD AND BLOCK ISLAND. * HAZARD TYPES...SNOW. * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 8 INCHES...HIGHEST ACROSS CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS. * TIMING...FROM MIDDAY TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS WILL CAUSE DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL CAUSE VISIBILITIES AT A MILE OR LESS. 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. && $$