The messy winter storm that has already dumped more than 5 inches of snow in parts of Massachusetts will continue to make its presence felt throughout the day Tuesday, but forecasters say the precipitation should wrap up by daybreak.
A ridge of high pressure is expected to build to the southwest of Massachusetts on Wednesday, bringing in sunshine and diminishing winds. Temperatures should remain below normal for early December, in the mid-30s in high terrain and high-30s to low-40s elsewhere.
And while the precipitation is expected to have wrapped up, National Weather Service forecasters did issue a Coastal Flood Statement along the eastern coast.
“Any impacts should be very minor … but with building seas offshore and a gusty wind some very minor coastal flooding/splashover will be possible during the time of high tide with the best chance south of Boston,” forecasters wrote.
But before relief arrives on Wednesday, Massachusetts will have to weather the ongoing impacts of the storm.
“An initial burst of snow through early afternoon will change to mainly rain south of I-90 by mid-to-late afternoon,” forecasters wrote. “A few inches of snow may occur in this region before the transition to rain across southwest/south central MA perhaps into far northern CT.”
“There remains some uncertainty how far north this mid-level warm layer will reach before stalling out … but we are thinking this will mainly stay south of the Route 2 corridor and possibly not make it much further north than I-90.”
Where precipitation does stay snow, 1 to 2 inches could fall per hour into the early evening, leading to a significant impact for those commuting north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, and particularly near the Route 2 Corridor.
Areas south of the Mass. Pike and along Interstate 95 should continue to see moderate to heavy rain for the late-day commute.
As temperatures cool overnight, many areas will see the precipitation transition to snow before the precipitation winds down ahead of daybreak. A coating to an inch of snow is possible on the I-95 corridor and into interior eastern Massachusetts.
Further northwest in the lower elevations of Western and Central Massachusetts, along with interior northeast Massachusetts, accumulations between 2 and 5 inches are expected. The highest snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches should be common in the northern Worcester Hills and Berkshires as well as areas north of Route 2.
Gusty northern winds are expected to work into the region as the system moves through Tuesday evening and overnight. Forecasters expect wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph, with some 35-40 mph gusts possible along the outer Cape and Nantucket.
“Not expecting many issues with roads along and southeast of I-95 corridor … but northwest of I-95 untreated roads will be slippery for the Wednesday [morning] commute despite the precipitation having ended,” forecasters wrote.
