The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning from Saturday evening through Sunday for large swathes of Massachusetts, including Essex, Middlesex, and Worcester counties, anticipating at least 6 inches of snow accumulation. According to an update from the National Weather Service, Boston's forecast calls for snowfall tonight with a possible mix of rain, a 90% chance of snow on Sunday with as much as 8 inches accumulating, and a sunny, but chilly Monday with highs near 36 degrees.
Starting earlier than expected, the nor'easter's onset will bring moderate to heavy snowfall on Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning, with some areas seeing snowfall rates that could exceed 1 inch per hour. Despite a slight temperature increase causing light to moderate snow and potential mix with rain especially east of I-95, higher totals are expected north and west of Boston, as reported by CBS Boston. Accumulation is expected to cease by Sunday evening, giving way to a sharp temperature drop, a phenomenon known as a flash freeze, where temperatures will plummet 5-10 degrees in minutes, causing rapid icing over untreated surfaces.
In terms of snow accumulation, final estimates suggest 6-10 inches for regions north and west of I-95 and 128, with 3-6 inches anticipated in areas extending into northern Plymouth and Bristol counties. Coastal areas, however, may see only 1-3 inches due to the mixing of snow and rain. As the storm progresses inland, snow is predicted to be lighter while coastal regions can expect heavier, wetter snow leading to concerns of scattered power outages. CBS Boston highlights that northeastern gusts near shorelines could reach 35-45 mph, while Cape Cod and the Islands might experience winds up to 55 mph.
Although the astronomical tides are low this weekend, which reduces the risk of significant coastal flooding. East-northeast facing beaches during Sunday morning's tide, and north-northeast facing beaches in the evening for potential flooding. The upcoming weather pattern shows no sign of settling down, with another storm predicted to hit New England late Tuesday. This could start with a wintry mix, quickly turning into heavy rain with the potential to cause rapid snowmelt and subsequent flooding as mentioned by CBS Boston.
