Above: Hurricane Earl’s projected path (from the National Hurricane Center)
Hurricane Earl is on it’s way, and while it looks like it will be staying off the Massachusetts coast, Earl is still expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to our area.
Fire Chief John Mauro Jr. has been tracking the storm through twice-daily conference calls with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service. Mauro said the storm is expected to pass within 75 miles of Nantucket as a Category 2 or 3 storm.
Mauro said the heaviest rain in Southborough will likely be between 3:00 and 4:00 pm on Friday, with a total of two to four inches falling over the course of up to 12 hours. Rain is expected to end by 1:00 am on Saturday.
Winds are expected to be below tropical storm levels in our area, but gusts could reach nearly 40 miles per hour, Mauro said.
The storm is expected to be more intense on the Cape, with winds at hurricane force speeds for as many as six hours. If you have property on the Cape, Mauro says preparations should be completed by noon on Friday. The Cape bridges will close if sustained winds reach 70 miles per hour.
