Meteorologists are dropping the B-word into their forecasts for Sunday night’s winterstorm into Monday, warning of heavy snow and winds that could cause power outages across eastern Massachusetts.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning that will go into effect Sunday afternoon and last until Tuesday morning, as meteorologists expect this storm to be more impactful than January’s, from which the region is still clearing out.
Portions of eastern, northeastern, and southeastern Massachusetts are included in the blizzard warning, covering the Boston-to-Providence corridor. It is set to go into effect at 4 p.m. Sunday and expire at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
“Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow,” the NWS warns. “The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause power outages.”
“Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” it adds. “Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. Strong winds could cause tree damage.”
The rapidly intensifying storm has also triggered blizzard warnings for New York City and New Jersey, with the National Weather Service increasing its assessment of the storm’s potential severity.
Meteorologists projected the storm to be much milder throughout the majority of the week before forecast models shifted on Friday, showing the system would be getting closer and closer to hitting the Bay State.
Snow is expected to pick up after 7 p.m. Sunday, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Scott Homan told the Herald Saturday evening. The storm will continue to develop and strengthen off the Mid-Atlantic, progressing through the day on Monday and passing close to the Cape and Islands, he added.
Total snow accumulations are expected to reach 8 to 12 inches north and west of Boston, 12 to 18 inches in the city and southern Massachusetts, with locally up to two feet for the Cape and Islands.
“Since it’s not going to be bitterly cold like the last storm, the snow will be a little bit heavier and more wet,” Homan said. “That could lead to shoveling problems if you wait until the storm is over.”
School vacation is likely to continue for another day or two in Massachusetts, Homan said.
“If everything pans out,” he added, “I would assume they’re going to have issues clearing things away before the school day starts.”
Winds could gust over 60 mph across the Cape and Islands, leading to potential “power outages, coastal flooding and beach erosion,” Homan said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised as you head toward the Cape and Islands that there could be some road closures and treacherous travel conditions as we head late Sunday night into Monday,” he said.
Some cities and towns across the Bay State alerted residents of parking bans that will go into effect Sunday, before the snow arrives.
In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu announced that a ban will take effect at 2 p.m., warning that vehicles parked on major roads and main arteries will be towed. In Cambridge, parking restrictions will start at 9 a.m.
Boston officials are set to outline emergency preparedness and orders at a news conference Sunday morning at 9:30. The city faced criticism for its response to January’s snowstorm, the eighth-largest in history.
Wu said earlier this month that her administration is considering clearing sidewalks for residents and businesses in future snowstorms and then making them pay for the service, citing the mess created by property owners who failed to clear snow as required. The system could go into effect next year.
Bitterly cold temperatures are not forecast later in the week, with daily highs hovering around the mid-to-high 30s. But that doesn’t mean Bay Staters should expect an easier cleanup, Homan said.
“The thing is, with that much snow, it doesn’t matter what the temperature is — it’s going to be a difficult cleanup,” the meteorologist said. “While it’s not going to be bitterly cold, it will remain chilly.”
Meteorologists are also warning of possible high astronomical tides that could bring the potential for minor to moderate coastal flooding along the coast Monday into Tuesday, depending on the timing of the highest surge.
“High confidence in these conditions across eastern MA/RI,” the NWS states. “Greatest uncertainty is how far west into western MA/CT do these conditions extend.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday that her department was working with state and local authorities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prepare for the storm, despite the government shutdown.
“We ask that you stay home, stay safe, stay warm, and stay off the roads to avoid these adverse weather conditions,” Noem stated in a social media post.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
