10:0 am Sunday - Digging out
Roadways are clearing, slowly the power is going back on. NSTAR tweets this morning "We have hundreds
of workers on #CapeCod working to restore power. # of outages decreasing, check map for latest: http://ow.ly/tFLUv"
The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee has decided not to open shelters at this time. They will make another assessment of the need at 1pm today.
Jim Weinberg of West Falmouth (on Cape Cod) is using his snow blower to clear the driveway. Our reporter Elsa Partan asked him what the snow is like.
FORECAST from the NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:
- TodayMostly sunny, with a high near 31. Breezy, with a west wind around 21 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.
- TonightMostly cloudy, with a low around 13. West wind 15 to 17 mph.
- Washington's BirthdaySunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as -2. Northwest wind 13 to 16 mph.
"Can't believe I didn't lose power last night! Time to trim the trees near my house."
Credit Elsa Partan
7:15 am Sunday - Snow totals 6 - 12 inches. Branches &High Winds, Power Outage culprit.
This morning the Coastal Communities are a winter wonderland, but close to 11,000 + homes are still without power. NSTAR has been working away, restoring 25,000 + homes system wide since the storm began.
MEMA@MassEMA As of 6AM, approximately 12K outages statewide (mostly Cape Cod area) down from high of ~22K overnight #MAsnow
Our Signal to WNAN was restored at 1:25am.
FORECAST: Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 29F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. It's those gust that may cause the most trouble this morning. Tonight is going to be mostly cloudy, lows around 13, West winds 15-17mph according to the National Weather Service.
Sean Corcoran @CorcoranWCAI: Looking at a few of the side roads on the Upper Cape, looks like plows did a good job keeping up with this one. Heavy stuff.
If you can stay home do! Plows have been moving, and making their way for emergency crews to restore power. Emergency officials are asking for help removing snow around fire hydrants and storm drains. There is a wind advisory this morning:
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING… THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM EST THIS MORNING. * LOCATION…CAPE COD AND NANTUCKET * WINDS…NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. * TIMING…UNTIL MID MORNING.
12:10 pm Saturday - WNAN Signal Down / 7,000 without Power.
As of 11:40 reports that out WNAN Signal was down. A report was sent to National Grid. Wind gusts of up to 52mph have been recorded on the island. Close to 7,000
are without power on the cape. Snow totals continue to rise, however most roads seem well maintained.
WCAI's Sarah Reynolds reports back driving up 28 from North Falmouth that the roads were mostly clear. Listeners on Facebook Shared with us their observations across the Cape:
Donna: Just measured 7+ on my railing in Hyannis.
Grace: Still have power in Monument Beach and not that much yet. Stay safe Cape residents.
Stephanie: There's at least 10 here in Yarmouthport, if not more...
Reminder: Blizzard Warning in effect until 5 am EST Sunday...
Coastal Flood Advisory in effect until 4 am EST Sunday...
As we hunker down overnight, check back here in the Morning, and Elsa Partan will bring you updates on Sunday's Weekend Edition. Don't forget Your Guide to Local Winter Storm Coverage.
We'll be tweeting overnight! Follow us @WCAI_NPR and let us know how your stormy weekend is going.
9:40 pm Saturday - Power outages in Sandwich, 46mph Winds on Nantucket & Snow Totals Rising.
Approximately 1420 NSTAR Customers without power currently in Sandwich, as heavy snow grows to 6 to 10 inches on the Cape. Current Rate of Accumulation is 1-2inches an hour according to NOAA.
Forecast from the National Weather Service: Snow with areas of blowing snow before 3am, then a chance of snow between 3am and 4am, then a slight chance of snow after 4am. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 26. Blustery, with a northwest wind 21 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 8 to 12 inches possible.
Dukes County Totals up to 8 to 12 inches as-well.
DUKES MA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VINEYARD HAVEN 715 PM EST SAT FEB 15 2014 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EST SUNDAY... .TONIGHT...SNOW. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW. SNOW MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES THIS EVENING WITH VISIBILITY ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 8 TO 12 INCHES.WINDY WITH LOWS IN THE MID 20S. NORTH WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH...BECOMING NORTHWEST WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT. .SUNDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY AND BLUSTERY. COOLER. NEAR STEADY TEMPERATURE IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH IN THE MORNING.
6:30 pm Saturday - Morning Cancellations, Snow totals Growing.
Experts are now calling for snow fall totals of 10-20 inches for the Cape, Islands and South Coast. There are already many cancellations for tomorrow morning, the Cape Cod Times and the Standard Times are listing closures and cancellations for tonight and tomorrow. If you are unsure, call ahead.
Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard should expect 1-2 inches falling per hour:
SNOW WILL MAKE DRIVING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT THIS EVENING. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL RESULT IN NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AT TIMES ALONG WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS BY LATE EVENING. THE POWERFUL WINDS AND HEAVY SNOW WILL RESULT IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES AND SOME DOWNED TREES. SOME ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED WITH WIND GUSTS OF 60 TO 70 MPH EXPECTED! THE STRONGEST OF THOSE WINDS WILL BE ACROSS NANTUCKET. WINDS...NORTH 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 70 MPH.
3:30 pm Saturday - Gov. Patrick calling for motorists to be off the road by 5pm tonight east of Worcester.
In the early hours of the storm, people are reporting steady snowfall that is sticking to roads. The amount of snowfall is likely to cause some power outages across the South Eastern Mass. This is your friendly reminder to break out flashlights, candles and other emergency preparedness kits for the storm.
Here is the latest from the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee:
BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2014, to discuss the upcoming winter storm.
The most recent forecasts indicate that the storm will arrive Saturday evening and hit peak intensity overnight. It is a fairly fast moving system and is expected pull away from the area by Sunday morning.
The BCREPC is closely monitoring the storm has taken the following actions:
The Regional Shelter System volunteer personnel have been put on alert.
The Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) operated by the Barnstable County Incident Management Team will begin operations at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 15.
A conference call will be held on Sunday morning, February 16, to assess the impact of the storm.
If necessary, the BCREPC is positioned to open the regional shelters on Sunday afternoon.
Governor Patrick has asked people east of Worcester to stay off the roads from 5 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday because of the possibility of dangerous travel conditions.
For information about preparedness and sheltering visit the Barnstable County REPC website atwww.bcrepc.org. Follow the BCREPC on Twitter @bcrepc.
1:15pm Saturday - Blizzard Warning for the Cape and Islands, Winter Storm Warning for the South Coast.
This most recent storm may bring upwards of 6 to 12 plus inches to our region. Minor coastal flooding is a possibility due to the coinciding high tides and storm surge.
Here are the Details from the National Weather Service:
This Afternoon Rain and snow. High near 39. Northeast wind 13 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tonight Rain and snow before 3am, then a chance of snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 26. Blustery, with a north wind 21 to 25 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.
The region most at risk is from Sandwich eastward to Brewster and Orleans. The typical shoreline spots may deal with some washover and large battering waves are likely to cause substantial erosion. - CapeCodWeather.net
A Coastal Flooding Advisory will remain in effect starting at 9pm tonight. Cape Cod's north facing beaches, as well as shore roads in low lying areas will be at risk.
More information can be found at CapeCodWeather.net
