Happy Leap Year

Finally, we have a storm to talk about. A strong area of low pressure is slowly moving north east of the Great Lakes and with it pushing warm air out ahead of it and into New England. A strong area of high pressure has been providing cold air from overnight and once the advancing warm air encounters the cold air, its game on! Snow should start to fall in much of the area between 2-3.

A secondary low will try to develop just south of Long Island and then move directly east. But it never really gets the chance to do so, as the primary storm in the mid-west, hangs on to a fair amount of energy, somewhat a-typical of what usually happens with redeveloping storms. Then again, everything has been a-typical this winter.

Initial burst of snow should drop anywhere from 2-5 inches by Thursday morning. Rain/snow line questions loom large with this storm. The departing first Low gives us an east wind for several hours, warming many locations inside of 495 and below the Mass Pike to above freezing.

By Thursday morning, another somewhat stronger secondary low develops close to New Jersey. The main storm will move very little over 24 hours, almost stalling out and refusing to transfer all of her energy to the developing storms. Snowfall will pick up in intensity again on Thursday afternoon as the main storm finally begins to push eastward. There remains the possibility that some areas along the hilly areas of Route 2 and even eastward will see isolated pockets of 12 inches. Snowfall could become heavier on Thursday afternoon than it was on Wednesday afternoon.

Overall, expect a total snowfall total (over 48 hours) is 6-10 inches in the 495 below with isolated higher amounts, 4-8 east of 495. Boston itself will see 3-6 but expect a sharp cutoff downtown and at areas right near the water as an easterly wind direction will create a small coastal warm front. The South Shore will mix with rain and see lower amount.Drive safe and leave early this afternoon if you can!