National Weather Service National Headquarters

• Home
• Site Map
• News
• Organization
• Search for: NWS All NOAA 

000
NOUS41 KBOX 202237
PNSBOX
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-RIZ001>008-211430-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Taunton MA
637 PM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

...Hurricane Preparedness Week in Southern New England...
...Rules of Thumb for southern New England Hurricanes - Part 4...

The National Weather Service has declared this week as hurricane
preparedness week in southern New England. The following is the
fourth in a series of five statements.

Another rule of thumb for New England hurricanes is to know that
the most significant threat from hurricanes is flooding, either
due to coastal inundation or heavy rainfall. In both cases, it
is best to leave areas prone to flooding and seek shelter in
structures which can withstand the wind. This is also a good idea
for those in areas which may not flood themselves, but become
isolated asall access points into that area are closed.

Along a coastline, the main threat is the storm surge. The storm
surge is simply water from the ocean pushed toward shore by the
wind. Besides the intensity and speed of a tropical system, the
arrival time and slope of the ocean bottom play a large role in
determining the severity of a storm surge. A storm surge arriving
during the peak of a high tide will be different than the same
storm surge arriving during a low tide. Areas with a steep
coastline will not experience as much storm surge as areas with a
more shallow coast.

Beginning with the 2017 Hurricane Season, the National Weather
Service will issue storm surge watches and warnings to highlight
areas along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the continental
United States that have significant risk of life-threatening
inundation from a tropical cylone, subtropical cyclone,
post tropical cyclone, or a potenital tropical cyclone. Storm
surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a
tropical cyclone, and it doesn`t always occur at the same times
or locations as a storm`s hazardous winds. In addition, while in
most cases coastsal residents can remain in their homes (or in a
secure structure nearby) and be safe from a tropical cyclone`s
winds,
evacuations are generally needed to keep people safe from storm
surge.
Having separate warnings for these two hazards will save lives by
better identifying the specific tropical cyclone hazards
communities
face, and by enhancing public response to instructions from local
officials.

The storm surge watch/warning areas are determined by a
collaborative
process between the National Hurricane Center and local NWS
Weather
Forecast Offices.

Issued for the danger of life-threatening inundation from rising
water
moving inland from the shoreline somewhere within the specified
area,
generally within 36 hours, in association with an ongoing or
potential
tropical cyclone, a subtropical cyclone, or a post-tropical
cyclone. The
warning may be issued earlier when other conditions, such as the
onset
of tropical storm-force winds, are expected to limit the time
available
to take protective actions for surge (e.g., evacuations). The
warning may
also issued for locations not expected to receive life-
threatening
inundation, but which could potentially be isolated by inundation
in
adjacent areas.

For more information on the new storm surge watches and warnings
please
visit www.nhc.noaa.gov

$$


For the latest updates...please visit our webpage at
www.weather.gov/boston

You can follow us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/NWSBoston

You can follow us on Twitter at
@NWSBoston