3 pm REPORT 2/7/13

External Major Winter Storm Update from DESPP / DEMHS..

Regional Coordinators…Please send to your towns…

STATUS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER - MONITORING

Please See Attached Major Winter Storm Update…

Text of the update shown below…

MAJOR WINTER STORM VERY LIKELY FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON…
BLIZZARD WATCHES ISSUED FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN CONNECTICUT…
WINTER STORM WATCHES ISSUED FOR WESTERN CONNECTICUT…
COASTAL FLOOD WATCH ISSUED FOR FAIRFIELD COUNTY…

With 18 hours to go before the start of this storm, the forecast confidence is good at this time however some changes are still likely to the storm track and snowfall amounts.

Towns are advised to review their local Emergency Operations Plans.

The National Weather Service has issued Blizzard Watches for Central and Eastern Connecticut. Winter Storm Watches are in effect for Litchfield and Fairfield Counties.

The latest computer models continue to forecast that a Major Winter Storm will impact our area Friday afternoon, Friday night and Saturday morning. The latest track forecast for this storm is predicting that a low pressure system will form south of the Del Mar Va Peninsula Friday afternoon and then rapidly intensity as the storm moves Northeast Friday night to a position southeast of Nantucket by 7:00 AM Saturday morning. Although some flurries may occur overnight, the light steady snow is forecast to start Friday morning between 7:00 – 9:00 AM. The snow may mix with rain at times from late morning into the mid afternoon in Southern CT. The snow is forecast to gradually increase in intensity during the late morning and early afternoon become heavy by late afternoon with a change to all snow along the coast. Heavy snow is expected overnight on Friday, into Saturday morning, ending Saturday afternoon. Total snowfall is expected to range from 12 – 24” in Southern CT up to 18 – 28” in Northern CT.

Strong Northeast winds are also expected with sustained winds of 20 – 30 MPH Friday night gusting to 60 MPH inland and 70 MPH at times along the coast. These strong winds may bring down trees and power lines resulting in a moderate number of power outages. Some coastal flooding is expected during the time of high tide Friday night just before midnight with minor flooding possible.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest forecasts and will issue another regular update at 7:00 AM Friday morning and an intermediate update when warnings are issued.

CT ARES - LEVEL 1 ALERT

Greetings!

Based on the increasing likelihood that Connecticut will be impacted by a significant winter storm, I am raising the CT ARES activation status to Level 1 Alert effective immediately.

Please maintain good situational awareness as the storm develops by watching/listening to your preferred weather forecast sources.

Please be prepared to assist our Served Agencies if requested by ensuring your radio batteries are charged, vehicles and generators are fueled, etc.

The safety of you and your family should be your highest priority! Now is the time to make preparations to keep your family safe should you be asked to deploy.

I anticipate raising the activation status to Level 2 Standby later this evening. Remember, you should NOT deploy without direction from the appropriate ARES or local official.

Thanx & 73, Wayne N1CLV
CT ARES SEC

Friday February 8, 2013
7:00 AM
Blizzard Update from DESPP / DEMHS...

Regional Coordinators...Please send to your towns...

STATUS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER - MONITORING

Please see attached update...text of the update shown below...

BLIZZARD WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

POTENTIALLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM TO IMPACT STATE TODAY AND SATURDAY.

COASTAL FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED FOR FAIRFIELD COUNTY.

Blizzard Warnings are now in effect for the entire state until 1:00 PM Saturday Afternoon. Blizzard Warnings are issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below ¼ mile for at least three hours which is expected tonight.

This Morning.Light snow developing across the state between 7:00 - 9:00 AM becoming moderate and steady by noon. Temperatures holding in the upper 20's in Northern CT and near 30 F along the coast.

This Afternoon.Snow in Northern CT with a mix in Southern CT becoming heavy at times between 1:00 - 3:00 PM with temperatures holding in the upper 20's in Northern CT and near 30 F at the coast.

This Evening and Overnight.Blizzard conditions with any mixed precipitation changing to all snow by 7:00 PM. Snowfall rates up to 5" per hour with zero visibilities at times and blowing and drifting snow. Lows dropping into the low 20's statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 40 MPH inland and up to 60 MPH along the coast. Moderate power outages and moderate coastal flooding expected with high tide just before midnight in Western Long Island Sound.

Saturday Morning.Heavy snow tapering to moderate snow from West to East between 7:00 - 10:00 AM. Strong North Winds gusting to 40 MPH Inland and 50 MPH at the Coast. Zero visibilities at times with Blizzard Conditions until 10:00 AM.

Saturday Afternoon.Moderate snow tapering off to light snow and ending by 3:00 PM. Continued blowing and drifting of snow with Northwest winds gusting to 40 MPH at times and ground blizzard conditions at times.

Total snowfall may be historic with 12 - 24" in Western CT, 20 - 36" in Central and Eastern CT and 15 - 30" along the coast. Isolated amounts to 40" may occur.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest forecasts and will issue another update at 10:00 AM.

CT ARES - Region 2
As of 8 pm last night (Thursday) went to
LEVEL 2 - "STANDBY"

Region 2 Emergency Readiness Net Schedule
FRIDAY: 6pm, 9pm
SATURDAY: 7am, Others - To Be Announced
Woodbridge (442.500)
Killingworth (145.290)

In the mean time, now is a Good Time to...
- Load the Car/Truck.
- Pack Food & Water
- "Square Away" the House & Property
- "Batten-Down the Hatches"
Make sure everything is ready.

We suggest that you do these things NOW.
- You May Not Have Much Time before Level 3 - "Deploy" is announced.

Friday, 2/8/2013
1 pm Report

Blizzard Update from DESPP / DEMHS…

Regional Coordinators…Please send to your towns…

Please see attached update…Text of the update is shown below…

STATUS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER - MONITORING

BLIZZARD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE…
POTENTIALLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM IMPACTING THE STATE…
COASTAL FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED FOR FAIRFIELD COUNTY…

Light to Moderate Snow Falling Across the State at 1:00 PM…

At 12:45 PM radar and surface observations indicated light to moderate snow falling across the state. Temperatures currently range from around 30 F in Northern CT to the low 30’s at the coast. NE Winds at 15 – 20 MPH are gusting to near 30 MPH at the coast.

This Afternoon…Snow in Northern CT with a mix along the coast becoming heavy at times between noon - 3:00 PM with temperatures holding near 30 F in Northern CT and in the low 30’s at the coast. NE Winds increasing to 15 – 25 MPH gusting to 40 MPH

This Evening and Overnight…Blizzard conditions with snowfall rates up to 5” per hour and zero visibilities at times in blowing and drifting snow. Lows dropping into the low 20’s statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 50 MPH inland and up to 70 MPH along the coast. Moderate power outages and moderate coastal flooding expected during the evening high tide. Tides are forecast to run 2 – 4 feet above normal resulting in overland flooding 1 – 3 feet deep in low lying areas of Western Long Island Sound during high tide which is at 9:50 PM in Western Long Island Sound.

Saturday Morning…Heavy snow tapering to moderate snow from West to East between 5:00 – 8:00 AM. Strong North Winds gusting to 50 MPH Inland and 60 MPH at the Coast. Zero visibilities at times with Blizzard Conditions until 8:00 AM. Later in the morning the moderate snow is forecast to taper off to flurries by Noon.

Saturday Afternoon…Continued blowing and drifting of snow with Northwest winds gusting to 40 MPH at times and ground blizzard conditions at times.

Total snowfall may be historic with 16 – 24” in Western CT, 20 – 36” in Central and Eastern CT and 15 – 30” along the coast. Isolated amounts to 40” may occur. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest conditions and will issue another update at 4:00 PM.

2/10/2013
7:56 pm

Greetings!

CT ARES is returned to Level 0 Inactive effective immediately.

My sincere thanx to all who supported our Level 2 Standby status during the Blizzard of 2013.

And in particular, thanx to all of the Skywarn spotters, net control stations, and coordinators who gathered "ground truth" observations for the National Weather Service.

Stay safe!

Wayne Gronlund N1CLV
CT ARES SEC / CT-IMT4 COML
Sent from my iPad