Potentially Historic Winter Storm Grayson Is Here

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Gray ME
343 PM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

...AREAS OF MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING EXPECTED ON THURSDAY...

.Low pressure will intensify east of Cape Hatterus tonight,
before passing east of Cape Cod as an intense storm Thursday.
Very high astronomical tides will combine with up to a 1.5
foot storm surge to produce moderate flooding along the coast
from Portland and points south where a coastal flood warning
is in effect. Further up the coast, minor flooding is expected
in the flood advisory area.

The storm tide in Portland is expected to be around 13 feet.
This will allow for foot of water to inundate side streets
along the wharfs in Portland. In some areas, water will reach
the tailpipes of parked cars in this area. Expect about a foot
of water to inundation Granite Point Road in Biddeford and
localized flooding of other shoreline communities.

In New Hampshire, inundation will reach a depth up to two feet
along the Backbay area of Hampton. Asheworth street in Hampton
may flood.

Nearshore waves up to 10 feet will allow for beach erosion
and splash-over near the time of high tide. The beach erosion,
splash-over and coastal flooding may continue for a couple hours
after high tide as the brunt of the storm passes by, especially
in the estuaries which are normally slow to recede.

Specific coastal impacts will ultimately be determined by the
exact track and timing of the passage of the storm.

MEZ023-024-NHZ014-041000-
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/O.NEW.KGYX.CF.W.0001.180104T1600Z-180104T2000Z/
Coastal York-Coastal Cumberland-Coastal Rockingham-
343 PM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 3 PM EST
THURSDAY...

The National Weather Service in Gray has issued a Coastal Flood
Warning, which is in effect from 11 AM to 3 PM EST Thursday. The
Coastal Flood Watch is no longer in effect.

* Location...The southwest coast of Maine and Seacoast of New
  Hampshire.

* Coastal Flooding...Areas of moderate coastal flooding expected.

* Timing...During the midday hours on Thursday.

* Impacts...Moderate coastal flooding, beach erosion and
  splash-over is expected.

&&

Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour.

FORT POINT NH
MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 12.0 FT, MODERATE 13.0 FT, MAJOR 14.0 FT

             TOTAL      TOTAL    DEPARTURE
 DAY/TIME    TIDE       TIDE     FROM NORM   WAVES    FLOOD
            FT MLLW    FT MHHW       FT       FT      IMPACT
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 04/12 AM     9.4       -0.1       -0.5       1.0      NONE
 04/12 PM    12.9        3.4        1.8       1.0    MODERATE
 05/01 AM     8.8       -0.7       -1.0       1.0      NONE
 05/01 PM     9.0       -0.5       -1.7       1.0      NONE
 06/02 AM     8.2       -1.3       -1.4       3.0      NONE

HAMPTON HARBOR NH
MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 11.0 FT, MODERATE 12.0 FT, MAJOR 13.0 FT

             TOTAL      TOTAL    DEPARTURE
 DAY/TIME    TIDE       TIDE     FROM NORM   WAVES    FLOOD
            FT MLLW    FT MHHW       FT       FT      IMPACT
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 04/12 AM     9.0       -0.5       -0.5       1.0      NONE
 04/01 PM    12.9        3.4        2.3       11.0    MODERATE
 05/01 AM     8.4       -1.1       -1.0       10.0     NONE
 05/02 PM     8.6       -0.9       -1.6       5.0      NONE
 06/02 AM     7.9       -1.6       -1.4       3.0      NONE

PORTLAND ME
MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 12.0 FT, MODERATE 13.0 FT, MAJOR 14.0 FT

             TOTAL      TOTAL    DEPARTURE
 DAY/TIME    TIDE       TIDE     FROM NORM   WAVES    FLOOD
            FT MLLW    FT MHHW       FT       FT      IMPACT
 --------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------  --------
 04/12 AM     9.6       -0.1       -0.5       2.0      NONE
 04/12 PM    12.9        3.2        1.6       6.0    MODERATE
 05/01 AM     8.7       -1.0       -1.3       10.0     NONE
 05/01 PM     9.1       -0.6       -1.9       5.0      NONE
 06/02 AM     8.1       -1.6       -1.7       2.0      NONE

&&
$$

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Caribou ME
255 PM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

...Major Nor`easter Blizzard will be Accompanied by Strong and
Gusty Northeast to North Winds...

.Intense low pressure east of the southeastern U.S. will move
north toward Western Nova Scotia on Thursday and track toward the
northern Canadian Maritimes on Friday. Heavy snow and wind is
expected throughout the region with blizzard conditions over
Downeast and Eastern Maine.

MEZ002-005-006-011-040400-
/O.UPG.KCAR.WS.A.0001.180104T1700Z-180105T1400Z/
/O.EXA.KCAR.BZ.W.0001.180104T1700Z-180105T1200Z/
Northeast Aroostook-Northern Penobscot-Southeast Aroostook-
Central Penobscot-
Including the cities of Presque Isle, Caribou, Van Buren,
Mars Hill, Millinocket, East Millinocket, Patten, Medway,
Houlton, Hodgdon, Sherman, Smyrna Mills, Lincoln, Howland,
and Springfield
255 PM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST
FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Travel will be very
  dangerous to impossible, including during the evening commute
  on Thursday. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 14 inches are
  expected.

* WHERE...Northeast Aroostook, Northern Penobscot, Southeast
  Aroostook and Central Penobscot County.

* WHEN...Noon Thursday to 7 AM Friday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will
  cause whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant
  drifting of the snow is likely.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you.  If you get
stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for
Maine can be obtained by going to newengland511.org.

$$

3:56 PM AST Wednesday 03 January 2018
Winter storm warning in effect for:

Fredericton and Southern York County
Hazardous winter conditions are expected.

A developing low pressure system east of Florida will intensify rapidly into a major winter storm tonight and Thursday as it approaches the Maritimes from the southwest. The intense storm centre will track near the Bay of Fundy Thursday night and into the Gulf of St Lawrence Friday morning.

Snow at times heavy and blowing snow will develop on Thursday morning across southern New Brunswick and will spread to northern regions by early afternoon. On Thursday evening the snow will change to a mixture of freezing rain and ice pellets and finally to rain over most eastern regions. Total snowfall amounts ranging from 25 to 40 centimetres are expected with this system. Rainfall amounts of up to 10 millimetres can be expected for regions east of a line extending from Bathurst to Grand Lake Thursday night. Parts of the Fundy coast however will see heavier rain with anywhere from 20 to 30 millemetres expected over those regions.

Northeasterly winds will steadily increase Thursday ahead of the storm, likely gusting to 80 or 90 km/h late in the day giving reduced visibilities in blowing snow. Winds will shift to strong northwesterlies behind the system late Thursday night.

Very strong northeast winds will result in elevated water levels which could lead to some minor coastal flooding along northeast-facing coastlines of eastern New Brunswick near high tide Thursday afternoon or evening, and again with the next high tide towards dawn Friday.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.weatheraspc.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #NBStorm.