Blackstone Valley Weather Service: Rain and Coastal Flood Threat Today

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Rain and Coastal Flood Threat Today

A developing area of low pressure will track over or near Southern New England today bringing heavy rain to the region. Thanks in part to the "King Tide" and "Supermoon" the tides are the highest of the year already. The low will add a few feet to the tide resulting in minor coastal flooding along the coast. Temperatures will struggle to get out of the 40's inland except for late this afternoon as the low moves over SE New England. As that happens temps will briefly spike into the upper 50's/low 60's.

General Overview
Here is the northeast regional radar as of 538 AM

NWS Northeast Regional Radar Loop

Here is the surface analysis as of 4 AM. Our storm is just getting its act together off the Mid-Atlantic coast.

WPC Surface Analysis 4 AM

Steady rain will begin to work into CT/RI by 8-9 AM. The first heavy band of rain that may have some thunder/lightning will move into MA between 10-11 AM. Some locations within these bands may see upwards of 1"/hr rainfall rates which will result in localized street flooding.

09z HRRR simulated radar 11 AM (image Weatherbell)

Look at all that moisture lurking offshore! It will be a wet afternoon/evening for the region. The low is forecast to gain some strength as it crosses over SE RI/SE MA. Here is the 1 PM surface fronts/precipitation.

WPC Surface Fronts/Precipitation Tuesday 1 PM

The NWS has issued several coastal flood watches/advisories/statements for our beaches. You can find them here.

NWS Boston Headlines

Moving forward to the evening commute we may see a lull in SE MA/RI before the center moves through. That said 1" of rain may have already fallen which will make roads slick. It will still be raining north of the MA Pike and east of 495 around this time.