Residents of Boston and the surrounding areas are preparing for a multifaceted winter storm that is predicted to bring a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain starting Saturday night and continuing into the early week, as reported by NBC Boston. The National Weather Service forecasts suggest a 90% chance of precipitation, with new snow accumulation ranging from 3 to 7 inches by early tomorrow morning, turning to rain later in the day.
Utility companies, including Eversource, have placed crews throughout Massachusetts to deal with potential power outages stemming from the expected ice accumulation and wind gusts. Nick Repekta, the highway division manager for the town of Shrewsbury, highlighted the challenges to NBC Boston, saying "Freezing rain uses a lot of material, a lot of salt, a lot of deicing material. Once it gets put down and applied to the road it gets diluted and washes out, so reapplication is necessary, which makes a lot of turns on the routes for our drivers."
The situation is expected to worsen as a High Wind Watch will be in effect from Sunday evening through Monday evening. According to National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA, residents should brace for west winds ranging from 20 to 30 mph, with the possibility of gusts reaching up to 60 mph. This may lead to downed trees and power lines, which could cause widespread power outages and make travel difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
Monday, known as Washington's Birthday, is forecasted to bring mostly sunny skies, albeit with brisk conditions as west winds could reach 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph, according to the Weather Forecast. The NWS also warns that the rest of the week could see sporadic snow events, particularly on Wednesday night and into Thursday, with a 60% chance of snowfall during this period. Towns are ensuring they're stocked an enough salt and are readying crews to respond to the evolving conditions.
