SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS STATEMENT
JULY
3, 2014 6:00 AM
SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS STATEMENT
JULY
3, 2014 6:00 AM
POTENTIAL
SEVERE WEATHER JULY 3-4, 2014
The National Weather Service has posted
Flash Flood Warnings for Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties
from 12 PM today through this evening.
Berkshire County Forecast (July 3rd):
The National Weather Service in Albany
forecasts that its entire service area, including Berkshire County, is at risk
of severe thunderstorms throughout today.
Any thunderstorms that occur may produce damaging winds, frequent
lightning, heavy rainfall capable of causing flash flooding, and large
hail. Total rainfall today could
exceed one inch. There is a slight
risk of tornados this afternoon and evening.
Forecast for
Massachusetts (excluding Berkshire County) (July 3rd):
The National
Weather Service in Taunton forecasts that showers and thunderstorms are
expected this afternoon. Heavy
rain and severe thunderstorms (along with frequent lightning and damaging
winds) are expected. Localized
flash flooding from heavy rains is possible, particularly in Hampden, Hampshire
and Franklin Counties (where Flash Flood Watches have been posted). There may be a period of clearing this
evening, particularly in eastern Massachusetts.
Hurricane
Arthur:
At 5 AM,
Hurricane Arthur was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75
mph. Arthur is located 340 miles
southwest of Cape Hatteras, NC and moving to the north at 10 mph. Arthur is forecast to turn to the
northeast with an increase in forward speed today. On its current projected track, Arthur would pass about 100
miles to the southeast of Nantucket late Friday into early Saturday as a
Category 1 hurricane. Note that
Nantucket and the outer Cape remain within the ‘cone of error’ for Arthur’s
track. If Arthur follows its
current projected track, hurricane and tropical storm force winds would remain
over the ocean and the greatest threats to Massachusetts would be heavy rain,
particularly in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state, dangerous rip
currents along south and east facing beaches, and dangerous seas for mariners.
Notice About July 4th Celebrations on the Esplanade in Boston
The
events, concert and fireworks scheduled for Friday, July 4th on the
Esplanade/Charles River in Boston have been cancelled due to the weather
forecast. Instead, the concert and
fireworks will take place this evening (July 3rd). The security areas on the Esplanade
(the Oval and the Lagoon) will open to the public at 5 PM today. Storrow Drive in Boston will close
(both directions) at 12 PM today.
The Massachusetts Avenue Bridge and Memorial Drive in Cambridge will
close at 6 PM today. For more
details, see www.mspnews.org.
MEMA Operations:
MEMA
will operate at Level II (Partial Activation) today. MEMA continues to prepare
for a worst case scenario for Hurricane Arthur (meaning landfall on the Cape or
Islands). MEMA is engaged with its
Emergency Support Function partners and has developed a staffing plan for the
State Emergency Operations Center if it becomes necessary to activate on July
4-5. MEMA continues to monitor the
track of Hurricane Arthur. MEMA
expects to hold at least three conference calls today with the National Weather
Service and will disseminate additional Situational Awareness Statements
throughout the day.
Stay Informed
· For
additional information and updated forecasts, see www.weather.gov/boston (National Weather Service Taunton), www.weather.gov/albany (National Weather Service Albany), www.nhc.noaa.gov (National Hurricane Center).
· 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.
Online Resources:
For additional information
and resources, visit:
Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency at www.mass.gov/mema (Hurricane preparedness tips and other
preparedness information are available through the “Hurricane” link on MEMA’s
homepage).
MEMA's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA
MEMA Twitter: @MassEMA
Federal Emergency
Management Agency at www.fema.gov
National Hurricane Center
website at www.nhc.noaa.gov
National Weather
Service/Taunton at www.weather.gov/boston
National Weather Service/Albany,
NY at www.weather.gov/albany
Mass211 at www.mass211.org
Stay Informed
·
For additional information and updated forecasts, see www.weather.gov/boston (National Weather Service Taunton), www.weather.gov/albany (National Weather Service Albany), www.nhc.noaa.gov (National Hurricane Center).
·
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.
Online Resources:
For additional information
and resources, visit:
Massachusetts Emergency
Management Agency at www.mass.gov/mema (Hurricane preparedness tips and other
preparedness information are available through the “Hurricane” link on MEMA’s
homepage).
MEMA's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA
MEMA Twitter: @MassEMA
Federal Emergency
Management Agency at www.fema.gov
National Hurricane Center
website at www.nhc.noaa.gov
National Weather
Service/Taunton at www.weather.gov/boston
National Weather
Service/Albany, NY at www.weather.gov/albany
Mass211 at www.mass211.org
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