Winter Storm To Significantly Impact Tuesday PM Commute

A winter storm will bring snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain to Southern New England Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.  Snow will begin Tuesday afternoon and will fall moderately to heavy at times through the evening commute.  Snow will transition to sleet and freezing rain after 7 PM and will change to rain after 1 AM.  The rain will end before the Wednesday AM commute. 

NWS Headlines

NWS Headlines

A *Winter Storm Watch* is in effect.  Some parts of this watch will be converted to a warning, while others will be converted to an advisory.  Either way, the impact to the evening commute remains the biggest threat. 

General Details

WPC Surface Fronts/Precipitation Monday 7 PM, Tuesday 7 AM, PM, Wednesday 7 AM, PM

High pressure is currently building to the north.  Light northerly winds will bring cold, dry air into Southern New England this evening.  By morning, temperatures will be in the low to mid-teens.  Temperatures will be in the low to mid 20's when precipitation arrives as snow Tuesday Afternoon.  Snowfall rates of 1-2"/per hour are possible between 3-7 PM. 

18z HRRR Sim Radar/P Type Tuesday 7 PM (image WeatherModels.com)

Snow transitions to sleet and freezing rain from south to north starting after 6 PM.  Warm air will begin to move in aloft.  It should reach the Worcester and Boston area after 7 PM.  Frozen precipitation will fall until 1-2 AM before finishing as a bit of rain Wednesday morning as surface warming finally catches up to the warming aloft. 

Storm Totals
A general 3-6" of snow will fall before the changeover to sleet and freezing rain.  

NWS Expected Snowfall (Click to enlarge)

A total of 0.1 to 0.2" of ice accretion is expected, which is below damage thresholds.  

NWS Expected Ice (click to enlarge)

Overall, this is not a huge deal except for the snowfall during the Tuesday PM commute.  It also adds more water to the system, which is near capacity.  If this weather pattern continues, spring flooding is going to be a story around here. 

-Zack Green