WInter Storm: Snow, High Winds Expected in Central MA Wednesday

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

John Ghiorse, GoLocalWorcester Meteorlogist

Worcester and Central Massachusetts may be spared from the brunt of the winter storm expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, but the area could still experience some significant snowfall.

Perhaps the most intense storm of this wild winter is taking shape this morning near the Gulf Stream just east of Florida. The storm will move rapidly northeastward today and swing by New England during the early part of tomorrow.

Meteorological "bomb"

It's just a kitten now but it will become what is called a meteorological "bomb" as it deepens rapidly later today.

Of course, as with most storms, the track of the center of low pressure is most important and with this one it looks like it will be just far enough away from Central Massachusetts to spare us its worst affects ... heavy, wet snow and near hurricane force winds ... that may happen over the Cape and Islands.

The rule of thumb with this storm is, the farther west you go, the weaker the affects from the storm. So Western and Northern New England should escape with very little.

The estimate is for snow to begin in New England tonight and taper late tomorrow morning with 2"-5" possible in Rhode Island, a bit less in the Worcester area and more over Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Cape and Islands could see a foot in some spots. I caution that any jog in the track of as little as 50 miles or so could change things greatly and require a major change in the forecast, more if closer and less if farther away.

From the National Weather Service:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
418 AM EDT TUE MAR 25 2014

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>016-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>006-008-260830-
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-
SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-
EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
418 AM EDT TUE MAR 25 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHERN NEW
HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

A VERY POWERFUL STORM WILL DEVELOP WELL OFFSHORE LATER TODAY. AT
THIS TIME IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE IMPACT FROM THIS STORM WILL
OVER SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHEAST RHODE ISLAND TONIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY THAT IF THE
TRACK SHIFTS A BIT TOO THE WEST... SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL COULD
REACH AS FAR WEST AS THE BOSTON TO PROVIDENCE CORRIDOR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.

Related Slideshow: Top 10 Blizzards in MA History

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10. Blizzard of 2006

Max Accumulation: Approximately 22"

February 11-13, 2006

Arriving on the evening of Feb. 13, this Nor’easter resulted in heavy snow, coastal flooding and a storm surge in Massachusetts. Wilbraham was the hardest hit area receiving more than 22 inches of snow.

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9. Blizzard of 2010

Max Accumulation: Approximately 24"

December 22-29, 2010

This historic blizzard brought as much as two feet of snow to parts of Massachusetts and caused Boston to declare a State of Emergency.

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8. Winter Storm Nemo

Max Accumulation: Approximately 25"

February 7-18, 2013

Total snowfall in Boston reached nearly 25 inches, making it the fifth-highest total ever recorded in the city.

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7. 1969 Nor’easter

Max Accumulation: Approximately 26"

February 8-10, 1969

This storm blanketed many parts of Massachusetts with upwards of 20 inches of snow, including 26.3 in Boston.

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6. Blizzard of 2003

Max Accumulation: Approximately 27.5"

February 14-19, 2013

Know as the President’s Day Storm II, this blizzard brought a record-setting 27.5 inches of snow to Boston.

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5. Blizzard of 1996

Max Accumulation: Approximately 30"

Jan. 6-10, 1996

One of two blizzards to receive an “extreme” rating on the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale, this storm blanketing parts of Western Massachusetts with upwards of 30 inches of snow.

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4. Blizzard of 1978

Max Accumulation: Approximately 32"

February 5-7, 1978

This historic nor’easter brought a then-record 27.1 inches of snowfall to Boston and over 32 inches to Rockport. Additionally, the storm killed 73 Bay State residents.

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3. April Fool's Day Blizzard

Max Accumulation: Approximately 33"

March 30 to April 1, 1997

This blizzard was no joke, dropping a record-breaking 33 inches on Worcester.

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2. Blizzard of 2005

Max Accumulation: Approximately 40"

January 20-23, 2005

This three-day storm delivered more than 40 inches of snow in Mashpee, Massachusetts, one of the hardest hit areas. Some portions of Massachusetts reported 6 foot snow drifts.

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1. Great Blizzard of 1888

Max Accumulation: Approximately 50"

March 11-14, 1888

One of the most severe recorded blizzards in the history of the United States, this superstorm dumped as much as 50 inches of snow in parts of Massachusetts.