Region in throes of significant snowstorm

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By James Arnold, Weather Specialist

Our current storm is going to exceed early expectations due to its explosive intensification.  It is the classic example of “Bombogenesis” or the process of a storm very rapidly intensifying to an extreme level.  As it passes near the benchmark its central low pressure will be in the vicinity of 28.85, comparable to a strong category 1 or a low end category 2 hurricane.  The National Weather Service has issued a “Hurricane Force Wind” statement for our offshore waters and “Storm Warnings” are up from Plymouth to Provincetown and points south and “Gale Warnings” are up elsewhere.  Offshore seas will exceed 30 feet in some cases.  This will turn out to be a very memorable, disruptive if not crippling storm in some areas.

Click here to be taken to the National Weather Service web site for additional details ~ and at the bottom of the page there are links to their Facebook, Twitter and You Tube links as well.

I have no changes to my last forecast, but would like to point out that bitterly cold conditions will follow in the wake of this storm, driven by strong northwest winds that will gust to 40 mph or so.  Wind chills will be well below zero late tonight and early Friday morning, perhaps as low as -15°.   Accordingly, should you lose power, be EXTREMELY careful with temporary heating sources…as any fire will be awfully hard to fight in those conditions.  Friday will be cold and breezy, with the high temperature reaching about 16° in the Shrewsbury area, and a bit warmer closer to the coastal areas.

There is no question that winter is here, with a few exclamation points for good measure.  Tomorrow night and early Saturday morning we will see a minor snowfall as the next of a line of storms comes through, bit this should only yield an inch or two of additional snow.  However, Sunday night and Monday morning could see a more significant snowfall, particularly if a secondary coastal storm forms.  This would keep the cold air in place and throw additional moisture over us which would likely fall as snow.  Late next week is the period I am most concerned with as all the players needed for another major snowstorm will be available, but the question is will they all come together.   Being a week or more out, we will have to wait and see if that threat does materialize, but all the ingredients should be available.

James M. Arnold is a retired Weather Specialist who has worked with Shrewsbury Emergency Management Agency; town of Princeton; Worcester Emergency Communications and Emergency Management Agency; Southborough Emergency Management Agency; town of Grafton and Wachusett Mountain Ski Area

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