Snow Squalls With Strong Winds Expected This Afternoon Across Western & Central Mass

Obviously , this has been a MUCH bigger snowfall for many than what was forecast. Also, the wet and heavy snowfall on trees and wires has led to quite a bit in the way of downed trees and power lines leading to some power outages.

Here in Sturbridge, I have recorded 8.3 inches of snow so far from this storm, more than double of what I forecast.

With the snow now coming to an end, we need to turn our attention to very windy conditions and a pretty robust snow squall threat for this afternoon. This snow squall threat is something that should be taken seriously.

A strong cold front is expected to sweep across the region during the afternoon hours of Thursday. There is expected to be strong dynamics and forcing with this front and because of that, snow showers and potentially quite intense snow squalls will occur between about 12 pm and 3 pm this afternoon.

I do think that any snow squalls could be very intense. This will include very heavy snow that might drop a quick 1 to 2 inches of snow accumulation in just a half-hour, wind gusts of up to 50 mph that’ll produce blizzard conditions for a short period of time and even the chance of a rumble of thunder or a flash or two of lightning. Any snow squalls will both be quick hitting and relatively short-lived lasting for about 15-30 minutes, but even that they may leave a mark.

All of this means that any of the snow squalls this afternoon between 12 pm and 3 pm will lead to extremely hazardous travel conditions. My recommendation is to watch the weather extremely closely and be prepared to curtail any unnecessary travel when any snow squalls move through your location.

I am watching this closely and will have updates for you as needed.

Latest On Tonight & Thursday Morning’s Snowfall For Western & Central Mass

Latest On The Expected Snowfall For Tonight & Thursday Morning: A pretty robust cold front is expected to work its way eastward from the Great Lakes region. This front will bring with it the first widespread accumulating snowfall of the season, especially for the Worcester Hills.

Some periods of light snow may occur over the next few hours before the really steady snow begins.

That steady snow is expected to begin across Western Mass between about 8 and 9 pm this evening. Steady snow then looks to begin across Central Mass between about 9 and 10 pm or so this evening. The exception to this looks to be across southeastern Worcester County (areas east of I-395) where the precipitation will start out as rain.

Snow is then expected to continue throughout the overnight hours of tonight. It still looks like there will be a period of moderate snow across an area from the eastern hilltowns of Western Mass eastward through the Worcester Hills and areas west of I-190 and southward into the I-84 corridor and areas west of I-395 between 11 pm and 3 am tonight.

The exception to all of this looks to be across southeastern parts of Worcester County, from about Route 146 and points east where the precipitation will be mainly rain or a rain-snow mix during the overnight hours of tonight. A slow changeover to snow is possible just before sunrise, however, areas near the Rhode Island border may not change to snow at all.

The snow looks to continue for a while during Thursday morning before it tapers off to some scattered snow showers during the late morning hours. This means that travel impacts are likely for the Thursday morning commute due to falling and accumulating snow and slippery roads.

Our latest snowfall forecast map for tonight into Thursday morning is attached to this post. The highest snow amounts are expected to occur in the Worcester Hills where the precipitation will be all snow & there will be a period of moderate snow intensity for a few hours tonight. The lowest snow amounts are expected to occur across southeastern parts of Worcester County where the precipitation is likely to be rain or a rain-snow mix to start with tonight before it very slowly changes to snow early Thursday morning.

Low temperatures tonight will be near 30 Degrees, except near 35 Degrees in southeastern Worcester County. Winds tonight will be South to Southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Temperatures on Thursday morning will be between 30 and 35 Degrees. Winds on Thursday morning will be Southwest at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph.

Sharply Colder Temperatures With Scattered Snow Showers & Snow Squalls Thursday Afternoon: The actual strong cold front is expected to push through the region during Thursday afternoon bringing with it strong winds, falling temperatures and the threat for scattered snow showers and snow squalls.

Expect a mixture of sunshine and clouds throughout Thursday afternoon. In addition, there are likely to be some scattered snow showers and a few snow squalls around, especially between 12 pm and 3 pm or so. Any snow squalls will lead to very hazardous travel conditions due to low visibility, blowing snow and a quick coating of snow on roads leading to them becoming quite slick very quickly.

Snow showers then come to an end shortly after 3 pm.

It is expected to become very windy during Thursday afternoon with West winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph.

Temperatures during Thursday afternoon will fall from 30 to 35 Degrees early in the afternoon to 25 to 30 Degrees by mid to late afternoon.

Cold & Very Windy Thursday Night: A tight pressure gradient behind that cold front will lead to very windy conditions on Thursday night. It will also be cold, which combined with the winds will lead to some bitter cold wind chill temperatures.

Skies on Thursday night will be partly cloudy. Low temperatures will be near 20 Degrees. Winds will be West at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Wind chill temperatures will be between Zero and 5 Above Zero.

Accumulating Snow Is Still Expected Wednesday Night Into Thursday Morning; This Will Be Followed By The Coldest Temperatures So Far This Season

For Tonight: Any leftover snow showers will come to an end by 8 pm this evening. This will be followed by clear skies during the overnight hours of tonight. Low temperatures will be between 20 and 25 Degrees. Winds will be West to Northwest at 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Skies start out sunny during the morning with skies becoming cloudy during the afternoon as a low pressure system and its associated frontal boundary approaches the region from the west. High temperatures will be near 35 Degrees. Winds will be West at 5 to 10 mph in the morning and Southwest at 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Snow Is Expected Wednesday Night Into The First Part Of Thursday Morning: That low pressure system and its associated frontal system is expected to push across the region during Wednesday night into the first part of Thursday morning bringing with it the first widespread accumulating snowfall of the season, especially for the Worcester Hills.

Precipitation in the form of snow is expected to overspread Western Mass between 8 and 10 pm. The exception might be on the valley floor of the lower Pioneer Valley where precipitation might start as a rain-snow mix.

Across Central Mass, precipitation in the form of snow is expected to begin between 9 and 11 pm across most of Central Mass. The exception will be across southeastern Worcester County (areas near and east of Route 146) where the precipitation will be rain to start with.

Snow is then expected to continue throughout the rest of the night across a majority of Western and Central Mass. Across the lower Pioneer Valley of Western Mass and across southeastern Worcester County, however, it will probably rain for a while, but even here the precipitation will change to snow just before sunrise Thursday morning.

I also wanted to mention that there could be a period of moderate snow across areas from far eastern Hampden County through far western Worcester County and northward through the Worcester Hills west of I-190 between midnight and 5 am.

During Thursday morning, snow is expected to continue until about mid-morning and then taper off to snow showers from west to east by late morning.

Our latest snowfall forecast map for Wednesday night into Thursday morning is attached to this post. The highest snow amounts are likely to occur in the Worcester Hills, especially if a band of moderate snow occurs during the after midnight hours of Wednesday night. The lowest snow amounts are expected to occur in the lower Pioneer Valley of Western Mass and across southeastern parts of Worcester County where the precipitation is likely to be rain or a rain-snow mix to start with on Wednesday night leading to less than one inch of snow.

Low temperatures Wednesday night will be near 30 Degrees. Winds on Wednesday night will be Southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Temperatures on Thursday morning will be between 30 and 35 Degrees. Winds on Thursday morning will be Southwest at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph.

Sharply Colder Temperatures With Scattered Snow Showers & Snow Squalls Thursday Afternoon: A piece of atmospheric energy following closely behind that frontal system will usher in strong winds, falling temperatures and the threat for snow showers and snow squalls during Thursday afternoon.

Expect a mixture of sunshine and clouds throughout Thursday afternoon and there will be scattered snow showers and a few snow squalls around. Any snow squalls will be capable of producing localized very low visibilities and a quick coating of snow which could lead to hazardous travel.

It will be quite windy during Thursday afternoon with West winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40-50 mph. Temperatures during Thursday afternoon will fall from 30 to 35 Degrees early in the afternoon to 25 to 30 Degrees by mid to late afternoon.

Thursday Night: A cold and quite windy night is expected on Thursday night under clear to partly cloudy skies. Low temperatures will be between 15 and 20 Degrees. Winds will be West at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40-50 mph. Wind chill temperatures Thursday night will be between zero and 10 above zero.

Friday Through Sunday: It still looks quite cold from Friday right into this weekend across the entire area.

Friday is expected to be sunny, windy and cold with high temperatures near 25 Degrees. Northwest winds are likely to gust up to 40 mph at times with wind chill temperatures in the teens all day long.

Friday night looks clear with low temperatures of 10 to 15 Degrees.

Saturday looks sunny, windy and cold. High temperatures will be between 25 and 30 Degrees. Wind chill temperatures on Saturday may be in the teens all day long.

Saturday night is expected to be partly cloudy with low temperatures near 15 Degrees.

Sunday is expected to be partly sunny with high temperatures between 35 and 40 Degrees.