Bostonians braved a wintry mix Sunday, as heavy snowfall blanketed the city and surrounding areas thanks to a severe snowstorm sweeping through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and other parts of New England. According to the WCVB, residents were warned of "a second burst" of snow expected to strike by midday, reducing visibility and complicating travel.
Even as the storm's intensity eased early Sunday morning, forecasts by the National Weather Service (NWS) anticipated a quick resurgence. The NWS initially issued a winter storm warning for much of Massachusetts, including the capital. But as conditions evolved, the warning morphed into a winter weather advisory indicating that the greater Boston area could see total accumulations of 2 to 5 inches of snow, with wind gusts as high as 35 mph, and lasting until 1 AM EST Monday.
StormTeam 5 Chief Meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon advised locals to be prepared for the change in weather patterns, as she told WCVB, "It's going to ramp back up late morning through about 3 this afternoon. During that time, we're going to see the flip from rain in southeastern Massachusetts to snow as temperatures start dropping late day into the evening." Fitzgibbon also warned of a potential "freeze-up" which could pose additional risks as the day cooled down further.
Residents were advised to finish any needed snow removal before nightfall to avoid the additional hazard of ice. Monitoring conditions closely, the advisory from NWS, found on their website, urged locals to "plan on slippery road conditions" and to "slow down and use caution while traveling." The disruptive weather is forecast to give way to a clearer Monday, with sunny skies and a high near 36 degrees expected, providing a brief respite before the next bout of precipitation arrives on Tuesday.
