The fast-moving and potent snowstorm is developing as anticipated. As of 5 pm, most of RI, CT, and MA are seeing moderate to heavy precipitation, with all but the coast seeing snow. The storm will continue to intensify as it moves very quickly to the northeast this evening. Snowfall rates of 1-2″ per hour are possible in the heaviest bands through late this evening. By all accounts, area roads were in tough shape early in the evening, and there is little that road crews can do to try and keep up with 1-2″ per hour snowfall rates this evening.
If anything, the storm is moving a bit quicker than anticipated, so the heavy snow threat may end in CT and RI between 8 and 10 pm from west to east. The threat of heavy snow in SE MA will wind down around midnight. There will be some lingering flurries and snow showers late tonight as the storm races for and then wallops Nova Scotia by early tomorrow morning. The wind will become briefly very strong on Nantucket, and some powerful gusts are possible on Lower Cape Cod, too. Wind gusts over 50 mph may develop as the storm “bombs out” while passing southeast of Nantucket.
Final snow totals will be similar to the largest storm that hit coastal Southern New England last winter. Most of the area will be within an inch or two of a half foot, with a few spots possibly picking up 10″ if a heavy snow band stalls overhead. The forward speed of the storm is the biggest limiting factor for final accumulations. If a storm this intense moved slower, the totals would be huge.
Travel conditions should be much better by mid to late morning Sunday once road crews have a chance to catch up. It will be a partly to mostly cloudy, blustery, and very cold day. The high temperatures will be in the 20s, with wind chills in the high single digits and teens. Overall, it looks like a mainly dry and cold week, with the coldest weather of the season likely in the mid to late workweek.
[/signoff]
