Boston faces wintry mix, ice and flooding as active weather pattern continues
Boston is bracing for yet another round of wintry weather as an active pattern persists. Following Tuesday night's mix of rain and snow, a new NEXT Weather Alert has been issued for Thursday night and early Friday. While the snowfall is expected to be less impactful overall, concerns linger about a higher-end ice event and potential flooding in parts of Massachusetts.
When the rain and snow start?
Daytime Thursday will see scattered, low-impact rain showers, with the atmosphere feeling gloomy, cool and damp. As night falls, steadier precipitation moves in, with temperatures dropping in the northwest of Route 495, shifting rain to freezing rain.
Throughout the overnight hours, northern Worcester County and southern New Hampshire can expect ice accumulation on power lines, trees and untreated surfaces around homes. With ice thickness potentially reaching 0.25-0.50 inches in elevated areas of Worcester County, this could lead to power outages due to the weight of the ice on tree limbs.
How much snow?
As the storm progresses into early Friday morning, the ice will transition to snow in southern New Hampshire and northeast Massachusetts, with localized totals ranging from 3-6 inches in areas like Essex County. Snowfall will rapidly decrease as you head north into northern Middlesex County.
The precipitation is expected to gradually come to an end by dawn on Friday, with the most treacherous travel conditions occurring between 7pm Thursday and 7am Friday. Conditions will slowly improve throughout the day on Friday.
Flooding concerns in boston area
In the Boston Metro area and points south, it's not the ice that will pose the greatest threat, but rather the heavy rain that could lead to flooding. With around an inch of water expected, this could result in large puddles and potentially flooded roadways and basements.
Residents are advised to clear their gutters and nearby storm drains to allow water to flow safely away from homes. Creating 'channels' for water to escape is also recommended.
Warmer weather on the horizon
Once this event passes, the weather story will shift towards warmth and melting. Temperatures are expected to rise into the 50s in parts of the area this weekend, with a mild week ahead featuring a shot at 70 degrees by midweek. With temperatures that high and a more direct sun angle, most of the snow cover should be gone by this time next week.