Blizzard Conditions, Feet Of Snow To Bring New England To A Standstill By Monday

A snowstorm with blizzard conditions will unleash feet of snow and threaten to bring travel to a halt across New England late on Sunday into Monday. In some areas, this will be the second storm in less than a week to unleash a blizzard and over a foot of snow.

Behind a weak system that will continue to push across New England with nuisance snow into Saturday afternoon, a second and more potent storm will follow late on Sunday into Monday. At this time, the corridor expected to be in the bulls-eye of heaviest snow will be portions of central and eastern Maine, including Bangor and Bar Harbor.

"The storm has the potential to bring 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) of snow to parts of central and northern New England and parts of the Maritime Provinces of Canada," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.Locally higher amounts can occur in parts of central and eastern Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Travel and daily activities could be brought to a standstill. Major airline delays and cancellations are likely. Even away from the storm, airline disruptions can occur as flight crews are displaced.

The intensity of the snow will make it difficult for road crews to keep roads clear. Travel will be dangerous, if not impossible, during the height of the storm.With a storm of this magnitude, it is not uncommon for dry air to be pulled in causing snow amounts to be greatly decreased in some areas. This scenario is most likely from northern Massachusetts to southern Maine.

In Boston, a period of all rain or a mix of rain and snow can fall during Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. Enough cold air should rush in behind the storm for all snow in the city on Monday. Winds will whip past 50 mph along the New England coast, causing blizzard conditions and blowing and drifting snow. 

This includes in Boston; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Portland and Bangor, Maine. “The weight of the snow, combined with fierce howling winds will be more than enough to bring down tree limbs and power lines,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott said. Portions of upstate New York should also be prepared for plowable snow from the storm.

Downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario, lake-effect snow will fall on the back edge of the storm. Along the corridor from Washington, D.C., to New York City, all rain is in store on Sunday as mild air takes over. However, strong wind gusts, perhaps topping 40 mph, will sweep across the corridor.

The weather pattern will remain active across the Northeast through mid-February as additional storms with the potential for snow will target the region later next week.