Midday Update On The Ongoing Storm

Snow is expected to continue for several more hours across the entire area. Overall, the intensity of the snow will fluctuate between light and moderate throughout this afternoon.

The snow is expected to come to an end first across Western Mass by about 4-5 pm this afternoon and then end across Central Mass by about 6 pm or so today.

Additional snow amounts will range from 1 to 3 more inches across Western Mass to 2 to 4 more inches of snow across Central Mass.

As of the time of this writing, almost 9 inches of snow has accumulated thus far here in Sturbridge.

Beyond this, it continues to look very likely that heavy rain is likely during Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. This heavy rain is going to be falling on top of a rapidly melting snow pack (due to temperatures rising to near 50 Degrees) and because of this, significant flooding is looking likely. This will include flooding of poor drainage areas, basements which are susceptible to flooding and river and stream flooding. In addition, quite a bit in the way of ponding of water on roads and highways is very likely during Tuesday night and Wednesday. Total rainfall amounts still look to average around 2 inches or so.

In addition to the heavy rain, we are going to also have to keep an eye on the potential for strong winds. The winds late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning will be blowing very hard at just above our heads at around 1,000 feet above the ground. The big unknown right now is how much of these winds will be pulled down to the surface. At this time, I’m thinking that Southeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40-45 mph seems most probable. That said, if there is any convection around, it could pull down some of those strong winds leading to wind gusts to reach 50-60 mph. Something to certainly watch.

Update On Tonight & Sunday's Snowfall

The snow is still coming and it's expected to come down quite heavily after midnight tonight.

Snow is now spreading across southern and central Pennsylvania at the time of this writing and it's expected to begin snowing first across the Berkshires by about 6-7 pm and then across the Pioneer Valley of Western Mass between 7 and 8 pm this evening. Snow will then overspread Central Mass between 8 and 9 pm this evening.

While it will snow lightly at first, it is expected that the snow will become heavy in intensity by about midnight tonight. This heavy snow with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are then expected throughout the after midnight hours of tonight.

Please be aware that poor travel conditions are expected between midnight tonight and sunrise Sunday morning due to the expectation of heavy snow.

The snow will lighten up dramatically in intensity by sunrise Sunday morning with very light snow expected during Sunday morning.

A second round of light to moderate snow is then expected during Sunday afternoon.

All snow will come to an end during the late afternoon and early evening hours of Sunday.

Our Latest Snowfall Forecast Map For This Storm Is Attached To This Post

Temperatures tonight will be around 30 Degrees. Temperatures during Sunday will be between 30 and 35 Degrees.

Winds throughout tonight and Sunday will be East to Northeast at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Heavy Rain Looks Very Likely During Tuesday Night & Wednesday: A strong low pressure system is expected to track across New England during Tuesday night and Wednesday bringing with it heavy rain with the potential for about 2 inches of rain accumulation. The combination of snowmelt and the heavy rain is likely to lead to flood issues across the area.

Precipitation is expected to start out as snow around 6-8 pm Tuesday evening and accumulate about 1 to 2 inches before it changes to rain by about 10-11 pm Tuesday night.

Rain, which will fall at a heavy intensity at times, is then expected throughout the remaining parts of Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning. Rain then lightens up in intensity by late Wednesday morning with periods of light rain continuing through Wednesday afternoon.

Rain ends during Wednesday evening.

Around 2 inches of total rainfall can be expected during Tuesday night and Wednesday. This heavy amount of rain combined with a melting snow pack and a very saturated ground is quite worrisome in terms of flood issues.

I would definitely plan on substantial amounts of ponding on roads, as well as flooding of underpasses and areas of poor drainage. Stream and river flooding is also something that’s a serious concern as substantial rises in the area rivers and streams are likely.

In addition to all of this, it looks windy throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with southeast winds gusting up to 40-45 mph at times.

Moderate To Heavy Amounts Of Snow Is Expected From Saturday Night Through All Day Sunday Across Western & Central Mass

For The Rest Of This Afternoon: A big high pressure system will continue to control the weather this afternoon with plenty of sunshine expected. Temperatures will be around 30 Degrees. Winds will be Northwest at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight: High pressure brings the area clear skies with low temperatures between 15 and 20 Degrees tonight. Winds will be West at 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Morning sunshine will give way to increasing clouds during the afternoon. It’s looking more likely that snow will overspread the area earlier than previously expected. Current indications seem to point towards the snow beginning first across the northern Worcester Hills between 4 and 6 pm Saturday due to some ocean effect snow and then across the rest of the region by about 6-7 pm Saturday as the main area of snow from the coastal storm moves in.

High temperatures will be near 35 Degrees. Winds will be East to Northeast at 5 to 10 mph.

Moderate To Heavy Amounts Of Snow Is Expected From Saturday Night Through All Day Sunday: There aren’t a whole lot of changes to the forecast in terms of the expectation of a moderate to heavy snowfall across the entire area throughout Saturday night and Sunday.

An area of low pressure is now forming over the northwestern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to push into the southeastern United States late tonight. This low pressure system is then expected to move up the East Coast of the United States during the day on Saturday. This storm system is then expected to strengthen as it tracks near the south coast of New England from later Saturday night into the day on Sunday.

As I already mentioned, it looks like snow will initially develop over the northern Worcester Hills between 4 and 6 pm Saturday and then begin across the rest of Western and Central Mass by about 6 to 7 pm Saturday evening.

It is then expected to snow throughout all of Saturday night and the snow will be moderate to heavy in intensity at times during Saturday night with snow rates of up to 1 inch per hour likely at times.

During Sunday, the snow looks to continue throughout the day before it comes to an end during Sunday evening. It should be noted that the snow will fall at a moderate intensity at times across Central Mass during the morning into the early afternoon hours.

Our latest forecast for snow amounts can be found with the map attached to this post.

In addition to the snow, I still think that east to northeast winds will gust up to 35 mph at times during late Saturday night and much of Sunday leading to some blowing snow.

Also, I still think that the snow consistency will be wet, sticky and heavy and thus, it’ll be tough to plow and shovel. The exception may be across the northern Worcester Hills where the snow may be a little lighter and fluffier in nature.

Temperatures on Saturday night will be between 25 and 30 Degrees. Temperatures during Sunday will be between 30 and 35 Degrees.

I continue to keep very close tabs on this storm and will have more updates as needed.