ATTLEBORO CITYWIDE NEWS

Heavy Rains Expected NWS Issues Flood Warning

ATTLEBORO AREA- The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Attleboro area this morning. Heavy rain over the next 48 hours could bring rainfall amounts of 3 to possibly 6 inches to the area. See NWS warning below.

* FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING

AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.  RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE
REGION BY MID MORNING. THE RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND
MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON.

PERIODS OF RAIN WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. THE
RAIN WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO AN END SOMETIME
EARLY ON SUNDAY. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS LOOK TO RANGE BETWEEN 3 AND
4.50 INCHES WITH ISOLATED 6 INCH AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

THESE RAIN AMOUNTS MAY CAUSE FLOODING ACROSS URBAN CENTERS AND POOR
DRAINAGE AREAS. ROADWAYS COULD BECOME IMPASSABLE AT TIMES. A
SECONDARY CONCERN WILL BE THE POTENTIAL OF PERHAPS SOME MINOR RIVER
FLOODING.

UPDATE: Recent information indicates Tropical Storm Kyle will intensify into a minimum hurricane and pass very near Cape Cod Sunday Morning.

Storm Damage Minor

ATTLEBORO AREA- After receiving over 2 inches of rain and heavy winds, especially overnight, the Attleboro area was spared any major damage from Saturday's storm. There were the usual reports of limbs and wires down along with some localized power outages and a few minor motor vehicle accidents. False alarms were also received at many area police and fire department due to the power outages.

Overall the area was spared any major damage and while the winds were still strong this morning the area was expected to dry out and become cooler today.

ACN REMINDER *DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGAN AT 2AM TODAY SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR . ALSO BATTERIES IN YOUR SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS SHOULD BE CHANGED*

Rain and Winds to Pound Area

ATTLEBORO AREA- Heavy rain and winds are forecast to strike Attleboro and the surrounding towns this afternoon and tonight. The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a flood warning for all of Bristol County including the Attleboros until 6:15 pm. NWS has also issued a wind warning for the area until 8:am Sunday morning

A strong line of rain and thunderstorms was moving into the region around 12:30PM today. Rainfalls of 1 inch per hour were expected fall thru the afternoon. There is the potential for localized small stream flooding along with poor traveling conditions on roadways.

Resident and motorists are urged to use caution and to be aware for the possibility of problems. Log on to ACW for all the storm coverage as it happens.

Heavy Snow Expected this Afternoon

After a fairly quiet morning, with just under 1 inch of snow reported, heavy snowfall is expected to overtake the region for a period of several hours this afternoon. Driving will be hazardous and motorist are urged to use caution. Snowfall is expected at 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Storm Begins with Accidents

ATTLEBORO AREA- In what has become a normal occurrence during the winter, a rash of accidents took place this morning as the approaching winter storm started to make its presence felt.

In North Attleboro a rollover accident was reported just before 7:30am in the area of exit 5 on Route 95 North. The driver freed himself from the upside down vehicle in the median strip before firefighters arrived and was transported to Sturdy Hospital with minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Attleboro Fire crews were receiving calls during the same time period for their stretch of Route 95 and responded to 3 separate accidents on 95 North in the span of 90 minutes. All 3 accidents were minor with transport to Sturdy Hospital from each scene. Fire crews also responded to Oakdale Ave for a car into a tree and that subject was taken to Sturdy Hospital.

Log on to ACN for further updates.

Winter Storm Heads This Way

TAUNTON- The National Weather Service has issued the following Winter Storm Watch for tommorrow thru Saturday and covering the Attleboro area. The Watch is expected to be upgraded to a Warning as further time passes.

4:09pm: The NWS has now issued a Winter Storm Warning, below.

409 PM EST THU FEB 21 2008

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 7 AM EST
SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 7 AM EST
SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

THIS WARNING INCLUDES NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...NORTHERN RHODE
ISLAND...AS WELL AS SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT FOR THE SOUTH COAST.

SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD SOUTHWEST MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT
BETWEEN 5 AM AND 7 AM FRIDAY.  THE SNOW SHOULD OVERSPREAD CENTRAL
MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND BETWEEN 6 AM AND 8
AM...REACHING SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN 8 AND 10 AM.

ONCE THE SNOW OVERSPREADS THE REGION...IT SHOULD QUICKLY BECOME
MODERATE TO HEAVY REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT
TIMES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SURFACE TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING
SHOULD ALLOW FOR THE SNOW TO QUICKLY ACCUMULATE ON UNTREATED
ROADWAYS...MAKING FOR HAZARDOUS TRAVEL.

WARMER AIR WILL MOVE IN ALOFT FROM THE SOUTH DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. THEREFORE...TO THE SOUTH OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE WE EXPECT THE SNOW TO CHANGE TO SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN. THIS LOOKS TO OCCUR BETWEEN 5 PM AND 8 PM ON
FRIDAY FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. SOME ICE ACCRETION IS
POSSIBLE...PARTICULARLY IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY.  THE
PRECIPITATION MAY EVEN CHANGE TO A PERIOD OF PLAIN RAIN FRIDAY NIGHT
IN THE TAUNTON TO PLYMOUTH CORRIDOR...WITH TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO
FREEZING BUT THAT WILL BE A CLOSE CALL.

THE EVENING RUSH HOUR IS EXPECTED TO BE QUITE MESSY ACROSS THE
REGION AND UNTREATED ROADWAYS WILL LIKELY BE VERY SLIPPERY.

THE PRECIPITATION WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF IN INTENSITY BY LATE
FRIDAY EVENING...BUT CHANGE BACK TO LIGHT SNOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE
REGION BY DAYBREAK SATURDAY.

TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN THE 6 TO 10 INCH RANGE ARE EXPECTED NEAR
THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED
SOUTH OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE...WHERE THERE WILL BE A CHANGE OVER TO
SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN FOR A TIME.

Storm Damage:Basements and Roads

ATTLEBRO AREA- Damage from the "double punch" storm yesterday, that delivered over 2 inches of rain and 2 inches of snow, was mainly limited to basements and roadways. Attleboro and North Attleboro fire departments responded to many flooded basements and water problems within homes. While no major damage was reported in either area the North Attleboro Fire dept. responded to 8 calls for assistance in a 12 hour period.Other area departments reported similar water emergencies.

Deteriorating roadways also became a problem as water got under the concrete and caused large chunks of pavement to wash away. The worst was in Plainville where several vehicles sustained damage from a large pot hole on Route 1.Temperatures were cooler and skies were sunny today as the weather front moved out of the area.

Storms Give Area Double Hit

ATTLEBORO- Two back to back storms overnight and today caused problems for commuters and schoolchildren. Slippery road conditions in the area led to several crashes during the morning rush hour with Attleboro, Norton, Rehoboth, Foxboro and Mansfield fire departments all responding to auto accidents. None were reported as serious although some occupants were transported to the hospital. School openings were delayed 1 1/2 hours in Attleboro and 2 hours in North Attleboro. The storm last night brought 2 to 3 inches of snow to the greater Attleboro area with the second storm expected to bring heavy rain all day and into the evening. Log on to attleborocitywidenews.com for area storm coverage as it develops during the day.

*The NWS in Taunton has issued a flood advisory for Bristol County in Massachusetts, including the Attleboro area, until 4:30 pm today. Flooding may occur in poor drainage areas and travelers are urged to use caution.*

*12:00pm- The NWS Taunton has upgraded the flood advisory to a flood watch until 7:00 am Thursday. Expect 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain in the area with poor drainage flooding.*

*3:00pm- Many calls for water emergencies are being recieved thru out the area , especially in North Attleboro. Also water is causing numerous false alarms. Rain is falling very heavy at this time with many roadways flooded.*

*5:00pm- Some of the heaviest rains of the day move through the area and street and basement flooding is becoming more prevalent.*

*10:00pm- The rains have stopped but the NWS issues a flood warning until 6:00pm on Thurdays for rising streams and rivers.Full coverage of storm damage on Thursday.*

Winter Storm Wimps Out

ATTLEBORO- The big Nor'easter storm that was forecast for the area never reached its full potential as a little over 3 inches fell in the Attleboro area today. The forecast had called for 10-12 inches with high winds but the area saw no heavy snowfall except for a brief spurt from 5:00 -8-00 am. Classes were canceled in Attleboro and North Attleboro early in this morning, most likely due to the heavy snowfall at the time and the potential for more throughout the day, but the storm never materialized and by 10:00 am the snow had stopped and main roadways were down to bare pavement. Attleboro and North Attleboro Fire and Police Departments, as well other area fire and police depts., responded to numerous power, telephone and cable lines down, due to the heavy weight of the snow on tree limbs. There were also numerous car crashes reported this morning, with most being the "fender bender" type. The area departments continued to responded to incidents at the time of this post with no major problems reported.

Winter Storm On the Way

ATTLEBORO- The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Attleboro area due to a rapidly developing low pressure system that is to bring heavy snow to the area after midnight today. The forecast is for this classic Nor'easter to drop at least 10-12 inches of snow in the greater Attleboro area. This will make driving Monday morning and throughout the day very treacherous. Motorists are urged to use caution. Log on to Attleboro Citywide News for future updates and any public safety news that may arise due to this serious winter storm.