Fwd: SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT: Heavy Rain and Severe Weather Tuesday Night and Wednesday

 

DATE:              August 11, 2014

TIME:               4:30 PM

 

SUBJECT:         Potential for Heavy Rain and Severe Weather Late Tuesday and Wednesday

 

The National Weather Service in Taunton has just issued the following information concerning the potential for heavy rain and associated flooding (flash flooding and minor coastal flooding) and severe weather (strong winds and the possibility of a tornado) late Tuesday night and Wednesday.  MEMA will disseminate additional Situational Awareness Statements on Tuesday, with more detailed information about the forecast and hazards.

 

From the National Weather Service in Taunton:

 

An unusually strong weather system for August will produce a risk of flooding, severe weather, and minor coastal flooding for Tuesday night and Wednesday. Heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding remain the greatest concern, and a Flash Flood Watch has been issued for late Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon.  The primary threats are as follows:

 

Heavy Rain/Flooding Potential:

Flash Flood Watch for late Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon. The watch includes western and central Massachusetts

Bands of heavy rainfall with some embedded thunderstorms may cause localized urban/poor drainage flash flooding as well as a risk of flash flooding along a few small streams. In coastal areas, any urban flooding may be exacerbated during high tide, which may inhibit drainage.  High tides in association with the "super moon" will be astronomically high during Wednesday.  Widespread river flooding is not expected.  Main stem river flows are quite low going into this event.  Forecast calls for a widespread 1 to 3 inches of rainfall across southern New England Tuesday night into Wednesday with pockets of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Severe Weather:

Localized strong gusty winds are possible especially during the daylight hours Wednesday.

A brief tornado is also possible. This is a low probability event, but the expected weather pattern on Wednesday is a type that could produce a short track tornado.  Timing on any such occurrence during the day remains uncertain, and we're not confident at this time of any one area more at risk than another. 

Coastal Flooding:

The combination of high spring tides and fairly significant onshore winds may result in pockets of minor coastal flooding around the times of high tide on Wednesday.

Highest risk for any coastal flooding along the south coast will be around the time of the Wednesday mid morning high tide. 

Highest risk for any coastal flooding along the east coast will be around the time of the Wednesday afternoon high tide.

 

MEMA Operations

 

MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center is currently at Level I (Steady State/Monitoring). 

 

Stay Informed

 

For additional information and updated forecasts, see www.weather.gov/boston (National Weather Service Taunton) and www.weather.gov/albany (National Weather Service Albany).

Utilize Massachusetts Alerts to receive emergency notifications and information from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.  Massachusetts Alerts is powered by a free app (called ping4alerts!) that is available for Android and IPhones. To learn more about Massachusetts Alerts, and for information on how to download the free app (called Ping4Alerts!) onto your smartphone, visit: www.mass.gov/mema/mobileapp.

 

 

 

Kurt Schwartz

Undersecretary, Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Director, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

 

 

Fwd: MEMA Riptide Safety News Release

SWIMMERS URGED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS DUE TO POSSIBLE RIPTIDES

 

FRAMINGHAM, MA – With Tropical Storm Bertha expected to pass within 300 miles of Massachusetts, officials are cautioning swimmers to stay aware of surf conditions over the next few days. Even at that distance, large swells are expected to produce dangerous rip tide conditions along south-facing and east-facing beaches, particularly on Outer Cape Cod, the South Coast, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Swimmers must take precautions given the potential high seas and strong currents expected to be associated with this event.

 

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing away from shore.  They occur most often at low spots or breaks in a sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and piers. 

 

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) offers these tips for those around the water this weekend.

 

• Always check surf conditions. Heed the advice of Lifeguards and Beach Patrol. Also, pay attention to flags and posted signs.
• Swimmers should never swim alone, preferably on beaches with lifeguards. If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
• Remember to never swim against the current, but parallel to the beach to an area where the current is weaker and you can safely return to shore. If you cannot escape the current, float or tread water.  If you need help, call or wave for assistance.
• National Weather Service (NWS) offers information on their main rip current website: http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/index.shtml.
• NWS “tips” page: http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/tips.shtml.
• Never turn your back to the ocean, as you may be swept off coastal bluffs or tide pool areas and into the water by waves that can come without warning.
• Be careful standing on seawalls while watching the surf.

 

MEMA is the state agency charged with ensuring the state is prepared to withstand, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters, including natural hazards, accidents, deliberate attacks, and technological and infrastructure failures. MEMA's staff of professional planners, communications specialists and operations and support personnel is committed to an all hazards approach to emergency management. By building and sustaining effective partnerships with federal, state and local government agencies, and with the private sector - individuals, families, non-profits and businesses - MEMA ensures the Commonwealth's ability to rapidly recover from large and small disasters by assessing and mitigating threats and hazards, enhancing preparedness, ensuring effective response, and strengthening our capacity to rebuild and recover.

 

For additional information about MEMA, go to www.mass.gov/mema. Also, follow MEMA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MassEMA; Facebook at www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA; and YouTube at www.youtube.com/MassachusettsEMA. Massachusetts Alerts: to receive emergency information on your smartphone, including severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service and emergency information from MEMA, download the Massachusetts Alerts free app. To learn more about Massachusetts Alerts, and for information on how to download the free app onto your smartphone, visit: www.mass.gov/mema/mobileapp.

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Lee Ann Delp, RPL
978-308-9166 Cell

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