Alert archive / Massachusetts / Gale Watches in 2008

Gale Watch 20, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

December 17, 2008

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this gale watch at Dec 17, 2008, 4:04 PM EST. It took effect at Dec 19, 2008, 3:00 PM EST. It was in force for .

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 17, 2008, 4:04 PM EST (21:04 UTC)
In effect from
Dec 19, 2008, 3:00 PM EST
Expired
Dec 18, 2008, 4:24 AM EST
In force
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this gale watch went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this gale watch went out at Dec 17, 3:51 PM EST, 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 17, 3:51 PM EST, 13 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 17, 12:17 PM EST, 3 hours 47 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1217 PM EST WED DEC 17 2008

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>006-008>014-017-018-020-021-023-026-NHZ011-012-015-
RIZ001>008-181730-
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-
EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-
WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-
DUKES MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
1217 PM EST WED DEC 17 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

AREAS OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON ALONG AND NORTHWEST OF THE I95 CORRIDOR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THOSE WITH INTERESTS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND FRIDAY SHOULD BE
PREPARED FOR HEAVY SNOW FOLLOWED BY A BITTERLY COLD WIND EARLY
SATURDAY.

SNOW SHOULD FALL HEAVILY AT TIMES FROM MIDDAY INTO THE EVENING
DISRUPTING TRAVEL.

A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FRIDAY ALONG THE COAST.

ANOTHER WINTER STORM IS PROBABLE LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. CONSENSUS
FAVORS A COASTAL HUGGER WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A SNOW TO RAIN
SCENARIO
ALONG THE COASTAL PLAIN...AND OCCASIONALLY HEAVY SNOW INTERIOR.

A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED ON THE COAST WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING
POSSIBLE FOR CAPE COD.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

ANZ230>237-250-254-255-181730-
BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-
BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT 25 NM TO PLYMOUTH MA OUT
40 NM...INCLUDING THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA
OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO BLOCK ISLAND RI TO MARTHAS
VINEYARD MA TO NANTUCKET MA SOUTHEAST TO 20 NM-
1217 PM EST WED DEC 17 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS
AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY OF A SOUTHWEST GALE THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE
WATERS AROUND NANTUCKET.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THERE IS A MODERATE TO HIGH PROBABILITY FOR A NORTHEAST GALE ON
FRIDAY AND AGAIN LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. ON MONDAY THERE IS A LOW
PROBABILITY FOR STORM FORCE WESTERLY GUSTS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

MAZ007-015-016-019-022-024-181730-
EASTERN ESSEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
BARNSTABLE MA-NANTUCKET MA-
1217 PM EST WED DEC 17 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY OF SOUTHWEST WINDS INCREASING TO 25 TO 35
MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 45 MPH ACROSS NANTUCKET THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THOSE WITH INTERESTS IN COASTAL SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND FRIDAY
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLY CHANGING TO
SLEET OR RAIN IN THE EVENING FOLLOWED BY A BITTERLY COLD WIND EARLY
SATURDAY.

A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED FRIDAY.

MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE SATURDAY.

ANOTHER WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...BUT THERE
IS A BETTER CHANCE THAT SNOW WILL CHANGE TO RAIN. A WIND ADVISORY
MAY
BE NEEDED SUNDAY AND A HIGH WIND WARNING MAY BE NEEDED MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Dec 17, 12:13 PM EST, 3 hours 51 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1213 PM EST WED DEC 17 2008

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>016-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001-172200-
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION...
VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...
ORANGE...BARRE...FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM...LOWELL...LAWRENCE...
GLOUCESTER...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...
SPRINGFIELD...MILFORD...WORCESTER...FOXBORO...NORWOOD...
CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON...QUINCY...AYER...JAFFREY...KEENE...
MANCHESTER...NASHUA...PETERBOROUGH...WEARE...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD
1213 PM EST WED DEC 17 2008

...FREEZING DRIZZLE TO AFFECT MUCH OF THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...

LOW PRESSURE NEAR CAPE COD CANAL AT MIDDAY WAS BEGINNING TO DRAIN
COLDER AIR SOUTHWARD AS WINDS ACROSS THE REGION BECOME NORTHERLY.
THIS IS RESULTING IN SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES MOVING SOUTHWARD ACROSS
MUCH OF INTERIOR MASSACHUSETTS...MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF ROUTE 128
AND NORTH OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. IN CONNECTICUT THESE
SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES WERE FROM THE GREATER HARTFORD AREA EASTWARD
TO THE RHODE ISLAND BORDER.  THIS AREA OF COLD AIR WILL CONTINUE TO
TRACK SOUTH AND EAST INTO THE GREATER BOSTON AREA AND SOUTHWEST INTO
THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS OF PROVIDENCE THIS AFTERNOON.

MEANWHILE...LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE
AFTERNOON. WITH WARM AIR ALOFT AND COLD SURFACE TEMPERATURES...THE
PRECIPITATION WILL TAKE ON THE FORM OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING
DRIZZLE. THIS WILL RESULT IN SLIPPERY TRAVEL THIS AFTERNOON AND
PROBABLY INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE LATE DAY COMMUTE...ESPECIALLY ON
ANY UNTREATED SURFACES SUCH AS SECONDARY ROADWAYS...OVERPASSES...
BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS.

NOCERA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 17, 3:07 PM ESTWinter Storm WatchBOXBarnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden and 7 more24 hr

Nearby

Gale Watches in Massachusetts, 2008Every gale watch in 2008

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text.