Show’s over in terms of our thaw as winter comes back with a vengeance. An arctic front arrives this evening with snow showers and squalls moving through. Initially, temps are well above freezing, but as the flakes fly, the numbers start dropping this evening, so icy spots are certainly possible this evening and overnight. Temps crash into the upper single digits and teens by sunrise Tuesday.
That arctic air sets the stage for an all snow event across the area. Light snow is spotty in the mid to late afternoon hours Tuesday, before becoming steady after sunset and heavy at times overnight as a developing area of low pressure passes to our southeast.
Here’s the breakdown:
Coastal Plymouth County and the Cape/Islands – Blizzard Watch: Late Tuesday to 1:00PM Wednesday. Height of the storm from 7:00PM Tuesday to 10:00AM Wednesday. Snow totals run 8-12″ (Bristol/Plymouth Counties/Cape/Islands) with wind gusts 40-50mph overnight Tuesday-Wednesday morning near the coast. Strong winds along with heavy snow/blowing snow may produce whiteout conditions at times, prompting that Blizzard Watch. Temps run in the 20s, wind chills near 0.
Coastal Flooding?: Despite strong winds, they are more north vs.east, meaning the water doesn’t pile toward the shore as much, and tides are on the astronomical lower side, so moderate to major coastal flooding is not expected. Minor coastal flooding/splash-over is still possible.
Boston Metro, 128 & 495 Belt, Worcester: Winter storm warning in effect. Some mid to late afternoon light snow, but heaviest 7:00PM Tuesday – 7:00AM Wednesday. Snow totals 5-8″ of fluffy snow, wind chills drop to -5 to -15 at night as winds gust to 30mph and temps fall into the single digits and teens. Bitter wind chills and blowing snow still an issue Wednesday morning.
Northwest of 495: Several inches of snow still likely. Bitter cold with wind chills -15 to -20 overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday as air temps near 0.
Snow is the low density variety for most, meaning blowing and drifting is easily accomplished with a gusty wind and roads will be mainly snow covered Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
We’ll keep you updated on air and online… via twitter too. @clamberton7, @jreineron7, @pbouchardon7 are the twitter handles we’ll update you through.