Winter Storm Bringing Snow, Wind, Flooding
Some Areas Expecting As Much As Foot Of Snow
POSTED: 6:08 am EST January 2, 2010
UPDATED: 7:56 pm EST January 2, 2010
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BOSTON -- Winter storm warnings have been issued for much of New England as the first storm of the year moves through on Saturday. The storm is also causing some minor issues on local roads.According to the Massachusetts State Police, there have been some spinouts on local roads, including the Massachusetts Turnpike. The speed limit on the Pike was reduced early Saturday to 40 mph from exit 11 in Millbury to exit 19 in Boston.The bands of snow may lighten a bit Saturday afternoon, but could become somewhat heavier again overnight Saturday, especially near the coast, StormTeam 5's Harvey Leonard said. A winter weather advisory will be in effect until 10 p.m. Saturday. A wind advisory will be in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday until 4 p.m. Sunday. 
There is a coastal flood advisory in effect from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The astronomically high tide in Boston at 11:56 a.m. could produce a surge of 1 to 2 feet with waves of 5 to 8 feet. Minor coastal flooding and minor beach erosion is expected, StormTeam 5's David Brown said. A portion of Morrissey Boulevard near the University of Massachusetts was blocked off in anticipation of flooding problems.The storm will strengthen and linger through the weekend, and will move closer to the Maine coast before drifting south toward the Massachusetts coast. Eventually the storm will head back out over the north Atlantic.In New Hampshire, the Mount Washington Valley through the southeast slopes of the White Mountains could see more than a foot and a half of snow. Six inches to a foot of snow could fall in central and southern New Hampshire.The snow will taper off late Sunday, but winds stay breezy through early next week.
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Winds will be strong and visibility may be reduced at times. Because of the long duration of the storm, snowfall totals will add up with 3 to 7 inches forecast from Worcester and west and 5 to 10 inches in the greater Boston metropolitan area, South Shore and the Cape. Cape Ann and northward areas could get as much as 6 inches to a foot. Parts of Maine could get as much as 2 feet of snow. There is a coastal flood advisory in effect from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The astronomically high tide in Boston at 11:56 a.m. could produce a surge of 1 to 2 feet with waves of 5 to 8 feet. Minor coastal flooding and minor beach erosion is expected, StormTeam 5's David Brown said. A portion of Morrissey Boulevard near the University of Massachusetts was blocked off in anticipation of flooding problems.The storm will strengthen and linger through the weekend, and will move closer to the Maine coast before drifting south toward the Massachusetts coast. Eventually the storm will head back out over the north Atlantic.In New Hampshire, the Mount Washington Valley through the southeast slopes of the White Mountains could see more than a foot and a half of snow. Six inches to a foot of snow could fall in central and southern New Hampshire.The snow will taper off late Sunday, but winds stay breezy through early next week.Copyright 2010 by TheBostonChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
