MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT #2
SUBJECT: Winter Storm Wednesday Night through Thursday (December 16-17, 2020)
Situation A winter storm will bring heavy snow, strong winds, coastal flooding, and hazardous marine conditions beginning between 7pm to 10pm tonight into Thursday.
Expected snow fall totals projected are 8-12 inches in Southeast Massachusetts along/south of Mass Pike. Expected snow fall totals across interior Massachusetts have increased to 12-18 inches. Peak snowfall rates of 1- 2” are expected to occur in the overnight hours. Snowfall will taper off from west to east starting Thursday morning and ending statewide by early to mid-afternoon. Dry weather paired with colder temperatures and wind chill are anticipated on Thursday and Friday following the storm.
Impacts
• Significant snow accumulation is anticipated in southeastern Massachusetts creating issues with travel and commuting on Thursday morning.
• Strong wind gusts
- Blowing/drifting snow
- Isolated/scattered power outages
- Wind gusts between 45 – 55MPH along the coast and over Cape Cod and the Islands.
- Winds will increase around midnight with the strongest wind gusts occurring between 7am and 1pm Thursday.
• The Massachusetts coast including Cape Cod and the Islands could see minor to low- end moderate coastal flooding (1-2 feet of inundation) during high tide on early Thursday afternoon.
• Flash freezing causing slick roads due to rapidly freezing temperatures may occur mid to late Thursday morning in in southeastern MA.
