Alert archive / Massachusetts / Hurricane Watches in 2011

Hurricane Watch 1009, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 26, 20118 counties in Massachusetts; 5 counties in Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this hurricane watch at Aug 26, 2011, 5:10 AM EDT for 8 counties in Massachusetts; 5 counties in Rhode Island. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 26, 2011, 5:10 AM EDT (09:10 UTC)
Expired
Aug 26, 2011, 5:33 PM EDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Counties Barnstable County, MA, Bristol County, MA, Dukes County, MA, Essex County, MA, Nantucket County, MA, Norfolk County, MA, Plymouth County, MA, Suffolk County, MA, Bristol County, RI, Kent County, RI, Newport County, RI, Providence County, RI, Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 20 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:10 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 88 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Chatham, MA at 00:00Z on 2011-08-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1351 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Chatham, MA at 00:00Z on 2011-08-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 91 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1351 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-24 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
578 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
91 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this hurricane 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 hurricane watch went out at Aug 26, 3:55 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 26, 3:55 AM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 25, 11:51 PM EDT, 5 hours 19 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1151 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>019-021-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>005-270400-
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 BRISTOL MA-
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH 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-
1151 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

HURRICANE IRENE WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ACROSS SOUTHERN
NEW ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND...BUT THE TRACK...INTENSITY...AND
POTENTIAL IMPACTS REMAIN UNCERTAIN.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE...HEAVY RAIN AND INLAND FLOODING WEST OF
THE IRENE...WITH STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...STORM SURGE AND
COASTAL FLOODING...AND CONSEQUENTIAL BEACH EROSION EAST OF THE
IRENE... AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISOLATED WEAK TORNADO OR TWO ON
THE NORTH AND EAST SIDE OF IRENE.

ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS WILL BEGIN AS EARLY
AS SATURDAY NIGHT...SEAS WILL BUILD AS EARLY AS FRIDAY...
ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SOUTH SHORELINE...WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME
BEACH EROSION. IN ADDITION...ANTICIPATE HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS
RIP CURRENTS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN...AND
CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

PREPAREDNESS GUIDES...ALONG WITH THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION
ON HURRICANE IRENE...ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON /ALL IN LOWERCASE/

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-270400-
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
1151 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS
AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   RIP CURRENT RISK.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

HURRICANE IRENE WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ACROSS SOUTHERN
NEW ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND...BUT THE TRACK...INTENSITY...AND
POTENTIAL IMPACTS REMAIN UNCERTAIN.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE...HEAVY RAIN AND INLAND FLOODING WEST OF
THE IRENE...WITH STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS...STORM SURGE AND
COASTAL
FLOODING...AND CONSEQUENTIAL BEACH EROSION EAST OF THE IRENE...
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISOLATED WEAK TORNADO OR TWO ON THE
NORTH AND EAST SIDE OF IRENE.

ALTHOUGH A MAJORITY OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS WILL BEGIN AS EARLY
AS SATURDAY NIGHT...SEAS WILL BUILD AS EARLY AS FRIDAY...
ESPECIALLY ALONG THE SOUTH SHORELINE...WHICH COULD LEAD TO SOME
BEACH EROSION. IN ADDITION...ANTICIPATE HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS
RIP CURRENTS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLAN...AND
CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

PREPAREDNESS GUIDES...ALONG WITH THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION
ON HURRICANE IRENE...ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON /ALL IN LOWERCASE/

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

ANZ230>237-250-251-254>256-270400-
BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-
BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA
OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND
NANTUCKET-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO
20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND-
1151 PM EDT THU AUG 25 2011

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

HURRICANE IRENE WILL HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND POTENTIALLY LIFE
THREATENING SITUATION TO THE MARINE COMMUNITY. VERY STRONG WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON SUNDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SEAS TO
BUILD TO 30 FEET ACROSS PORTIONS OF OUR WATERS.

MARINERS SHOULD BE SECURING OR MOVING THEIR BOATS OUT OF THE
WATER...AND TO REVIEW THEIR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANS. IF
MAKING OFFSHORE TRIPS...BE SURE TO MONITOR THE FORECAST CLOSELY.

PREPAREDNESS GUIDES...ALONG WITH THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION
ON HURRICANE IRENE...ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON /ALL IN LOWERCASE/

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

DUNTEN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 25, 9:00 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXHampden60 min
Aug 25, 9:16 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire93 min
Aug 25, 9:36 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXHampden54 min
Aug 26, 12:58 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX62 min
Aug 26, 3:10 AM EDTFlood WatchBOXBristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and 4 more63 hr
Aug 26, 5:10 AM EDTTropical Storm WatchBOXBristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and 3 more30 hr
Aug 26, 5:33 PM EDTHurricane WarningBOXBarnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Plymouth42 hr
Aug 26, 5:33 PM EDTTropical Storm WarningBOXBarnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden and 7 more54 hr
Aug 25, 10:25 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXKent, Providence35 min

Nearby

Hurricane Watches in Massachusetts, 2011Hurricane Watches in Rhode Island, 2011Every hurricane watch in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.