Good morning! New England is bracing for a significant, long-lasting storm system that will bring several weather hazards over the next few days, including heavy rain, wet snow accumulations, strong winds, isolated power outages, and minor coastal flooding/beach erosion (in eastern MA).
An update this morning reveals that a “Winter Storm Warning” has been issued for NW RI, where 6 inches or more of snow is expected to accumulate. Meanwhile, a “Winter Storm Watch” is still in effect for Kent County, SE Providence County, Bristol County (in RI), and northern Bristol County in MA, which means the potential for 6 inches or more of snow.
A “High Wind Warning” has also been issued for far eastern MA, with gusts of 50-65mph expected (Cape, eastern Plymouth, Boston, etc.). It’s important to note that it’ll be heavy wet snow, which could cling to trees and power lines, potentially leading to power outages – again, mainly for northwest Rhode Island.
Here’s what the timeline looks like: Today will be dry and cloudy, with rain showers developing during the afternoon, although they won’t have a significant impact. Rainfall will become heavy at times tonight and continue into Tuesday morning, with 1 to 2.5 inches of rainfall possible. Strong wind gusts will also develop, with northeast winds gusting 35-50mph on Tuesday afternoon and night.
By Tuesday afternoon, the rain will switch to snow and start accumulating – especially in northwest Rhode Island. As the storm pulls away and colder air filters in, most areas will see a changeover to snow, with some accumulations, especially inland.
As far as impacts go, we’re looking at 1 to 2.5 inches of rain, which could lead to localized street flooding. The larger rivers in the area should remain in their banks, but winds could gust to 50mph from the northeast and north, potentially creating power outages. An early prediction calls for 6-8 inches of snow in northwest RI and as much as 3-6 inches across the central part of the state.
If you’re planning to hit the slopes, check out the updated Ski Report for the New England forecast and resort conditions. Stay safe and stay tuned for more updates.