Massachusetts is in for quite the nor’easter later this week.
A strong winter storm is expected to batter the Bay State and the rest of the Northeast with heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding Wednesday evening into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Significant amounts of snow - over 6 inches - are expected across much of the state. Although there remains some uncertainty about how heavy the precipitation will be in northern areas of the commonwealth, the weather service has released its snowfall predictions ahead of the major coastal storm.
Snow will develop Wednesday evening and becoming heavy at times throughout the night, lasting into early Thursday and clearing from west to east by the afternoon, the agency said.
Southeastern Massachusetts is expected to be hit the hardest by the nor’easter, where total snow accumulations could reach 8-12 inches. The Boston area and Norfolk County will see similar amounts. Winds may gust as high as 50 miles per hour as well, forecasters pointed out.
A winter storm watch, which will go into effect Wednesday evening and last through Thursday afternoon, includes not only Bristol and Plymouth Counties, also includes nearly all of Berkshire, Hampden and Hampshire Counties in Western Massachusetts as well as southern Worcester, Suffolk, Norfolk and part of Middlesex counties. Snowfall amounts in these areas could reach as high as 7-10 inches, and wind gusts of 35 mph are not out of the picture, according to officials.
Lesser amounts of snow, 4-6 inches, are expected in northern Berkshire, Franklin and northern Worcester counties as well as most of Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Nantucket should see closer to 1-2 inches, the weather service said.
“Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute,” the the agency warned.
The key period of the greatest regional snowfall will take place overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to the federal agency. Moderate to heavy precipitation will combine with strong northeast winds of 35-40 mph, especially in areas along and south of the Massachusetts Turnpike.
“It certainly could resemble whiteout to near-blizzard conditions for a time overnight in this area,” the weather service said.
Significant enough uncertainty remains regarding snow amounts in Northern Massachusetts that forecasters opted to hold off on issuing a storm watch for the Route 2-Merrimack Valley region. However, portions of or all of these areas may need to be considered for a watch based on how the forecast pans out, officials noted.
“There are still a number of uncertainties and unknowns that could shape final outcomes,” the weather service said.
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Nor’easter to hit Massachusetts with as much as 8-12 inches of snow Wednesday; Winter storm watch issued for - masslive.com
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