Warning Description: Winter Storm Watch

Warning Date: 3:28 PM EST on February 8, 2010

WarningSum:...Winter Storm Watch In Effect From Wednesday Morning Through
Late Wednesday Night...

Warning Message:The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a Winter Storm
Watch...which is in effect from Wednesday morning through late
Wednesday night. 
This Winter Storm Watch includes northern Connecticut...Rhode Island
and southeast Massachusetts.
Snow is expected to develop over the watch area Wednesday morning or
early afternoon. The snow may become heavy at times Wednesday
afternoon and continue into the evening. The Wednesday evening rush
hour may be quite messy with moderate to heavy snow falling.
Northeast wind gusts of 40 to 55 mph may also affect the southeast
New England coast Wednesday afternoon and night...with the strongest
winds across the cape and islands. This could result in poor
visibilities and some blowing and drifting snow. The snow will be
wet across the coast and bring the potential for a few power outages.
The snow should diminish in intensity and taper off to flurries after
midnight.
This storm is still 36 to 48 hours away and the exact track remains
uncertain. If the system GOES further north...the potential for heavy
snow would increase and the watch would likely have to be expanded
north. A track further south would likely confine the heavy snow to
the immediate South Coast.
The potential for 6 or more inches of snow exists across the entire
watch area.  At this time...the highest probability of reaching
warning criteria will be along the South Coast. There also is the
possibility that the snow mixes with or changes to rain for a time
across portions of the cape and islands. If this happens it would cut
down on snow amounts in that region.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Winter Storm Watch is issued for the potential of accumulating
snow of 6 or more inches in a 12 hour period...or 8 or more
inches in a 24 hour period. Anyone traveling in the next 24 to
36 hours should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to modify
travel plans should winter weather develop.