Ocean Conditions And Heavy Rains From Bill Remain Major Concern
The latest from The National Weather Service RE: Hurricane Bill
Conditions will become increasingly dangerous off the southeast New England coastline during the day on Saturday and peaking late Saturday night into Sunday morning. Hurricane Bill may pass across central or eastern Georges Bank as a category 2 or 3 hurricane, making it a very dangerous storm for mariners. Tropical Storm force winds may be experienced along the coastal waters just east of Cape Cod and just east and south of Nantucket. A slight westward shift in track could bring tropical storm force winds, at least in gusts, to Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds, Cape Cod Bay, and Stellwagen Bank. The strongest winds are expected to be from the north or northeast. Seas will be a major concern with the passage of Bill. For Saturday night and Sunday morning, seas may build to 20 to 30 feet east and southeast of Nantucket and up to at least 35 feet over portions of Georges Bank. Seas of 15 to 20 feet are possible south of Martha’s Vineyard and south of Block Island as well as immediately east of Cape Cod. Seas of 10 to 12 feet, mostly in the form of swell, are possible across Massachusetts Bay during Saturday night and Sunday morning. Preparedness actions to consider would be for boaters to refrain from venturing far from port from Friday through Sunday. Extremely dangerous conditions are expected to develop this weekend across the offshore waters including Georges Bank, portions of the Gulf of Maine, and portions of the offshore waters south of New England. Another recommended preparedness action is for boaters to check their moorings now before conditions become rough during the weekend.
The greatest uncertainty exists with respect to rainfall as much due to a stalled cold front as the hurricane. The rain shield of the hurricane, depending upon the precise track, may dump 2 to 4 inches over portions of the Cape and Islands Saturday into early Sunday and possibly 1 to 3 inches across other areas of eastern Massachusetts. Localized street flooding in poor drainage areas is a possibility. It is just as possible, however, that some areas in eastern Massachusetts will stay dry through the weekend. Across western Massachusetts and western Connecticut, there is a risk of locally heavy rainfall from thunderstorms associated with a stalling cold front Friday and Saturday. Localized 3 to 5 inches of rain in just several hours is possible where any thunderstorms repeatedly affect the same location. If such rainfall does develop, then there will be a risk of localized flash flooding
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, and local resources to protect the public during disasters and emergencies. RIEMA helps develop plans for effective response to all hazards, trains emergency personnel, provides information to families and communities, and assists in recovery from disaster losses. You can learn more about RIEMA by visiting the RIEMA homepage at www.riema.ri.gov