Weather Alert: Monday Nor’easter

POTENTIAL BLIZZARD

We woke up to some light snow in spots this morning, but the main event is still on the way. A powerful coastal storm will move in late Sunday and ramp up Sunday night into Monday, and this one will bring major impacts.

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for eastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island, including Boston, the Cape and Islands. Areas west of Route 128 are under a Winter Storm Warning. A Winter Storm Watch has been posted for southern NH. That tells you confidence is growing in significant impacts, especially closer to the coast.

A blizzard is classified as having sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater, combined with falling and/or blowing snow that reduces visibility to a quarter mile or less for at least three consecutive hours. It’s not just about how much snow falls — it’s about the combination of wind and visibility. Late Sunday night into Monday, eastern MA and RI could meet that criteria.

Snow develops Sunday afternoon, likely light at first, then becomes heavier Sunday night. The peak of the storm will be Monday, when we will see heavy snow, very low visibility, and strong winds all coming together. Snow tapers Monday night, but winds may continue to cause blowing and drifting.

The highest snow totals 1-2 feet are favored across eastern MA. Exactly where the heaviest bands set up will depend on the precise track of the storm, and even a small shift could mean noticeable changes in totals.

Gusts between 30 and 65 mph will be possible, strongest across eastern Massachusetts, the Cape, and the Islands. With heavy snow and those kinds of gusts, scattered power outages are possible.

We’re also watching coastal flooding and erosion concerns, especially around the Monday and Tuesday morning high tides. Astronomical tides combined with strong onshore winds could lead to minor to moderate flooding along parts of the eastern Massachusetts coastline.

This is shaping up to be a high-impact storm, particularly for eastern MA and Rhode Island. Travel on Monday could be dangerous at times, and conditions may deteriorate quickly once heavier snow and stronger winds arrive. The forecast is coming into better focus, but small track shifts still matter, so stay with us for the latest updates.

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