Storm to bring heavy snow
Worst predicted for south of Pike
The state’s first major weekday “plowable” snowstorm of the season is swooping in and will likely bring heavy snow, hazardous road conditions, strong winds and coastal flooding, the National Weather Service said Monday.
While the track of the nor’easter still remains uncertain, the heaviest snow is expected for areas south of the Mass Pike and in the southeast corridor of the Bay State. Meteorologists predict 8 to 12 inches of snow for that region, where there’s now a “Winter Storm Watch” in effect.
Rhode Island and Connecticut are also both in the “red zone,” the areas with the highest expectation of heavy snow. More than a foot of snow is possible in some pockets.
“It will be a plowable event with 6-inches-plus a pretty good possibility for Boston,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Simpson. “South of the Mass Pike looks like more snow, and less snow to the north.”
Meteorologists expect a sharp cutoff in snow on the storm’s northern edge, probably near Route 2 in Massachusetts.
The exact timing of the storm is still in question, but Simpson warned that it could arrive Wednesday afternoon when people are out on the roads.
“People should plan for extra travel time for their Wednesday evening commute because there could be an inch or two on the ground,” he said. “They should keep it in the back of their mind that it won’t just be an overnight event.”
Travel is expected to be difficult through Thursday morning for all of southern New England, and especially south of the Mass Pike.
Strong wind gusts of 45 mph are possible along the coast — resulting in blowing and drifting snow, minor wind damage and isolated power outages.
With the high astronomical tides Thursday afternoon, there’s a chance for moderate coastal flooding along the eastern coast of Massachusetts. That includes Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Gale force winds could hit 40 knots on Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal waters. That could trigger 12- to 18-foot seas offshore.
The heaviest snow is expected to fall Wednesday night, lingering into Thursday morning across eastern Massachusetts before tapering off by Thursday afternoon.