/O.EXA.KBOX.WS.A.0010.071213T1800Z- 071214T0400Z/ SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA- DUKES MA- NANTUCKET MA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD... MATTAPOISETT...CHATHAM... FALMOUTH...PROVINCETOWN... VINEYARD HAVEN...NANTUCKET 351 PM EST WED DEC 12 2007
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING.
A SHORT DURATION BUT HIGH IMPACT SNOWFALL WILL AFFECT SOUTH COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS THURSDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY EVENING. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 7 INCHES ARE LIKELY...WITH MOST OF THE SNOW FALLING IN A 6 HOUR PERIOD.
SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON AND QUICKLY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES WITH POSSIBLE SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL LIKELY FALL DURING THE EVENING RUSH HOUR.
HOWEVER...THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT WARMER AIR ALOFT MAY CAUSE A MIX OR BRIEF CHANGEOVER TO SLEET DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING ALONG THE IMMEDIATE SOUTH COAST.
IF THE SLEET OCCURS...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS COULD BE A LITTLE LESS THAN FORECAST. HOWEVER...IF THE SLEET DOES NOT MATERIALIZE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL LIKELY BE HEAVIER THAN FORECAST.
THE SNOW SHOULD QUICKLY TAPER OFF AFTER 9 PM.
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 HOURS SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO MODIFY TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD WINTER WEATHER DEVELOP.