Alert archive / Rhode Island / Winter Storm Warnings in 2012

Winter Storm Warning 1, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

January 21, 2012Bristol County, Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island; Barnstable County, Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this winter storm warning at Jan 21, 2012, 11:49 AM EST for Bristol County, Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island; Barnstable County, Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 6 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jan 21, 2012, 11:49 AM EST (16:49 UTC)
Expired
Jan 21, 2012, 5:59 PM EST
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Counties Barnstable County, MA, Bristol County, MA, Plymouth County, MA, Bristol County, RI, Newport County, RI, Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 32 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:49 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 12:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 90 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 12:00Z on 2012-01-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 2012-01-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 183 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1172 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
71 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
183 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
364 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

414 
WWUS41 KBOX 211649
WSWBOX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1149 AM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

MAZ020>022-RIZ005>007-212300-
/O.UPG.KBOX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KBOX.WS.W.0001.120121T1649Z-120121T2300Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-BRISTOL RI-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD...
MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM...FALMOUTH...PROVINCETOWN...BRISTOL...
NARRAGANSETT...WESTERLY...NEWPORT
1149 AM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS EVENING.
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS...SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND...SOUTH COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS
  AND CAPE COD.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...THROUGH 6 PM THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS WILL BE VERY
  SLIPPERY...ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE UNTREATED. SNOW WILL FALL AT
  ABOUT AN INCH PER HOUR IN THE WARNING AREA...WHICH WILL REDUCE
  VISIBILITIES AND WILL ACCUMULATE QUICKLY. TRAVELERS ARE URGED TO
  ALLOW EXTRA TIME OR DELAY TRAVELING TO THE WARNED AREA.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE UPPER 20S.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE
INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD...OR FOR 8 OR MORE
INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST ON WELL
TREATED SURFACES...AND QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY UNPLOWED OR
UNTREATED SURFACES.

&&

$$

MAZ024-212300-
/O.EXA.KBOX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
NANTUCKET MA-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...NANTUCKET
1149 AM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NANTUCKET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM
EST THIS EVENING.

* LOCATIONS...NANTUCKET.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...THROUGH 6 PM THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY THROUGH THE
  AFTERNOON...AND WILL ACCUMULATE QUICKLY. AS NORTHEAST WINDS
  INCREASE...ALONG WITH THE HEAVIER SNOW...VISIBILITIES WILL LOWER
  AT TIMES. 

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 30S.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS
FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND
WALKING DIFFICULT...BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE...ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS
AND SIDEWALKS.  WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING...MOTORISTS
NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE
SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.

&&

$$

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>019-023-026-RIZ001>004-008-212300-
/O.CON.KBOX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
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-DUKES MA-
NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BLOCK ISLAND 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...TAUNTON...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH...
VINEYARD HAVEN...AYER...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD...PROVIDENCE...
WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BLOCK ISLAND
1149 AM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATIONS...MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND NORTHERN RHODE
  ISLAND...INCLUDING BLOCK ISLAND.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL OCCASIONAL FALL HEAVILY AT TIMES MAINLY SOUTH
  OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE DURING THE AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL
  TAPER OFF AND END FROM WEST TO EAST LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
  EARLY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE. UNTREATED SURFACES
  WILL BE SLIPPERY. TRAVELERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ALLOW EXTRA TIME
  TO REACH THEIR DESTINATIONS.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS
FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND
WALKING DIFFICULT...BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE...ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS
AND SIDEWALKS.  WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING...MOTORISTS
NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE
SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.

&&

$$

VALLIER-TALBOT
2 follow-up statements
483 
WWUS41 KBOX 212046
WSWBOX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
346 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

MAZ020-RIZ005>007-212200-
/O.CAN.KBOX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD...BRISTOL...
NARRAGANSETT...WESTERLY...NEWPORT
346 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

THE STEADY AND HEAVIER SNOWFALL HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.

$$

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>017-026-RIZ001>004-008-212200-
/O.CAN.KBOX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
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-
NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-
BLOCK ISLAND 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...TAUNTON...AYER...FOSTER...
SMITHFIELD...PROVIDENCE...WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BLOCK ISLAND
346 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY. 

THE STEADY AND HEAVIER SNOW HAS MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.

$$

MAZ021-022-212300-
/O.CON.KBOX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM...FALMOUTH...
PROVINCETOWN
346 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATIONS...SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH COUNTY AND CAPE COD.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THROUGH 5 PM...THEN WILL
  PUSH OFFSHORE BY 6 PM.

* IMPACTS...VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO BELOW 1 MILE THROUGH
  AROUND 5 PM...THEN SHOULD IMPROVE. ROADWAYS WILL REMAIN SNOW
  COVERED AND SLIPPERY. TRAVELERS ARE URGED TO ALLOW EXTRA TIME OR
  DELAY TRAVELING ACROSS THE WARNED AREA THROUGH EARLY TONIGHT TO
  ALLOW CREWS TIME TO TREAT AND CLEAR THE ROADWAYS.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 30.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE
INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD...OR FOR 8 OR MORE
INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST ON WELL
TREATED SURFACES...AND QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY UNPLOWED OR
UNTREATED SURFACES.

&&

$$

MAZ018-019-023-024-212300-
/O.CON.KBOX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH...VINEYARD HAVEN...
NANTUCKET
346 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATIONS...NORTHERN AND EASTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTY...NANTUCKET AND
  MARTHAS VINEYARD.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL FALL THROUGH 5 PM...THEN WILL
  END BY AROUND 6 PM.

* IMPACTS...UNTREATED SURFACES WILL BE VERY SLIPPERY. TRAVELERS
  ARE ENCOURAGED TO ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATIONS
  OR DELAY TRAVEL UNTIL ROADWAYS CAN BE TREATED AND PLOWED.

* WINDS...NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS
FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND
WALKING DIFFICULT...BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE...ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS
AND SIDEWALKS.  WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING...MOTORISTS
NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE
SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.

&&

$$
513 
WWUS41 KBOX 212259
WSWBOX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
559 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

MAZ021-022-220000-
/O.CAN.KBOX.WS.W.0001.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM...FALMOUTH...
PROVINCETOWN
559 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

SNOW SHOWERS WILL END THIS EVENING WITH LITTLE OR NO ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATION.  

$$

MAZ018-019-023-024-220000-
/O.CAN.KBOX.WW.Y.0005.000000T0000Z-120121T2300Z/
WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH...VINEYARD HAVEN...
NANTUCKET
559 PM EST SAT JAN 21 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY. 

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 21, 3:53 AM ESTSmall Craft AdvisoryBOX4 days

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Rhode Island, 2012Winter Storm Warnings in Massachusetts, 2012Every winter storm warning in 2012

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.