Low pressure will develop off the New Jersey coast and move southeast of Nantucket on Tuesday. This system is expected to bring the areas north and west of Boston accumulating snow, with the North Shore probably picking up the highest snow totals. This is one of those storms in which the coastal sections may actually pick up more snow than interior communities. Areas over southeast Massachusetts and along coastal North Shore communities could see over 4 inches of snow, with the possibility of some 8 inch totals. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Essex County for the possibility of 4 to 8 inches of snow. Meanwhile, snow depths could only be 1 to 3 inches in Middlesex County, per the National Weather Service. Cape Ann northward to coastal Merrimack Valley has the best chance for highest accumulations, as of this writing.
The tricky part about this forecast is where the heaviest bands of snow set up. The bands are the key to who gets the heaviest accumulations. If these bands set up further north or east, in the Atlantic, then all bets are off and snowfall totals will be much lighter. This is a developing situation that will need to be monitored very closely throughout today and tonight. The snow is expected to begin early tonight, although a few flurries could break out this afternoon.
Tuesday, the snowfall winds down and ends around midday. It could take a while longer along the immediate coast. With the storm departing another rush of very cold air will overtake the region and it stays with us the remainder of the work week. The coldest air mass in two years will be with us for a few days. Gusty winds will add to the discomfort and keep wind chill values 10 to 15 degrees colder from the actual temperature.
By late week, Friday night or into early next weekend, a coastal storm could impact the area with additional snow. More on that as we get to the mid week time period.
Five Day Forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny to start, followed by increasing cloudiness. Chance of flurries this afternoon. Much colder, highs in the mid to upper 20s. Lighter winds from the west at 5 to 15 mph.
Monday night: Snow, possibly heavy at times along the coast. Cold, lows in the upper teens to 20 degrees on the shore. Winds becoming northeast 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday: Snow early, ending around midday and becoming windy in the afternoon. Highs around 25 degrees. Winds backing to the northwest and increasing 15 to 25 mph and gusty.
Tuesday night: Partly to mostly cloudy and bitterly cold. Lows around 5 above zero. Gusty winds early will diminish overnight.
Wednesday through Thursday night: Fair skies, quite cold with gusty winds. Highs 15 to 20. Overnight lows near zero Wednesday night, 5 to 10 above Thursday night.
Friday: Increasing clouds and not as cold. Highs mid 20s.
Friday night: Chance of snow developing. Lows near 20.
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