Winter Storm Brings Snow and Wintry Mix to New England; Flood Watch Issued for Parts of Massachusetts
A winter storm is heading for New England, bringing snow, wintry mix, rain, and gusty winds. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for much of Massachusetts, and a flood watch has been posted for parts of southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, the South Shore, and the Boston area.
The snow is forecasted to start around 5 AM on Wednesday morning and last through about 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Between the hours of 5 AM and 9 AM, a snowfall of one inch per hour is expected.[0] By noon, snow is expected to transition to a mix of sleet and freezing rain before eventually changing to rain. Towns and cities throughout the greater Seacoast New Hampshire area and southern Maine on Sunday night began seeing snow and rain, a wintry mix forecast to continue until late Monday.[1]
The snow will be washed away by heavy rain in the Boston-area, with temperatures rising to near 50 in Boston and even in the 40s north and west of the city Thursday morning.[2] Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Northern Bristol, Southeast Middlesex, Suffolk, Western Norfolk, Western Plymouth, Southern Bristol, and Southern Plymouth counties are under a flood watch from Wednesday night until Thursday morning.
Snow will end between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. and should be washed away by Thursday afternoon.[3] Damage to trees and disruption of power are both potential outcomes of this snowstorm, due to the high winds it will bring.[4] Most of the rain and snow will move out by sunrise Thursday and temperatures will reach well into the 40s, if not 50 in spots.[5] A blast of chilly air will arrive on Friday, but it won't stick around for long.[5] This weekend, we're taking it back to the 1940s with a mix of sun and clouds, but no storms in sight.[5]
It looks like next Wednesday night and Thursday could bring more snow, as this active weather pattern persists. We should pay close attention to this one since it may have some mixing issues.[6] Palmer noted that coastal communities in the Seacoast and southern Maine could expect to see up to 3-4 inches of snow at the conclusion of the storm, while communities further inland would likely receive more.[1] It appears that the active weather pattern is here to stay, as rain and snow are expected to begin on Sunday evening. There is a possibility of more inclement weather around the middle of next week.
0. “More winter weather expected Wednesday: How much snow will fall?” WKBN.com, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.wkbn.com/weather/more-winter-weather-is-on-the-way-wednesday-how-much-snow-will-fall
1. “Seacoast NH, southern Maine winter storm: Latest impact” Seacoastonline.com, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2023/01/23/seacoast-nh-southern-maine-winter-storm-snow-flooding-parking-ban/69831882007/
2. “Snow and rain are on the way again. Expect a messy evening commute.” The Boston Globe, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/25/metro/snow-rain-are-way-again-expect-messy-evening-commute/
3. “Boston will see snow Monday afternoon. Then another storm on Wednesday.” The Boston Globe, 23 Jan. 2023, https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/23/metro/boston-will-likely-see-snow-monday-afternoon-then-another-storm-wednesday/
4. “Massachusetts, here comes more snow: Up to 10 inches could be dumped, ‘hazardous’ road conditions and power outages possible” Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2023, https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/01/22/massachusetts-here-comes-more-snow-up-to-10-inches-could-be-dumped-hazardous-road-conditions-and-power-outages-possible/
5. “FIRST ALERT: Here Are the Latest Snowfall Predictions for Wednesday's Winter Storm” NBC10 Boston, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.nbcboston.com/weather/stories-weather/first-alert-here-are-the-latest-snowfall-expectations-for-wednesdays-winter-storm/2954136/
6. “Snow Sunday Night, Tracking Another Storm Midweek” WPTZ, 22 Jan. 2023, https://www.mynbc5.com/article/snow-sunday-night-tracking-another-storm-midweek-01-22-23/42612970