BOSTON — The Coast Guard is urging mariners and the coastal community to take precautions in preparation for Winter Storm Juno, expected to impact the Northeast late Monday through Wednesday.
The Coast Guard is flying storm tracks today to warn mariners of the impending blizzard. Air Station Cape Cod is using HC-144a Ocean Sentry airplanes to circumvent the storm while radioing information to mariners below. The Coast Guard will continuously update conditions and issue marine broadcast warnings.The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for all of Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts, including the Cape and Islands.
"I was living here in Massachusetts in 1978 when a storm shut down the city for a week, this has all the ingredients to be a historical event," said Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, commander of the 1st Coast Guard District in Boston. "I've ensured our crews are ready, and prepared for the worst."
Sustained winds will likely be 20 to 40 mph in a large area with gusts up to 55 mph. Even higher winds are expected in eastern Massachussetts, including Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard where gusts of 70+ mph are possible. Snow accumulation is estimated at 20-30 inches.
Hurricane force wind warnings are in effect for portions of the nearshore waters around Cape Cod and the nearby islands. Seas could exceed 25 feet and winds could gust over 80 mph over water, making this an extremely dangerous storm for mariners.