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
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