Power Outage Fears As 65+ MPH Winds Follow Storm: See MA Snow Totals

MASSACHUSETTS — There were widespread power outage fears across Massachusetts Sunday night into Monday as wind gusts up 65 miles per hour follow 24 hours of snow and ice accumulation in parts of the state.

The National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning from 7 p.m. on Sunday through 1 a.m. on Tuesday.

"Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines," the National Weather Service said on Sunday. "Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.

"Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution if you must drive."

Sustained winds are expected between 25 and 40 mph with gusts from 50 to 65 mph. The strongest winds are expected early Monday and through the afternoon before tapering at night.

Standing water from Sunday's rain will freeze Sunday night as temperatures fall into the teens and 20s.

Areas of ice accumulation from Sunday's freezing rain — primarily in western and northern Middlesex County and Worcester County — are the most susceptible to power outages during the peak winds.

Here are some of the top snow totals from Saturday night into Sunday morning before many areas of eastern Massachusetts changed to sleet and then rain (source: NWS spotters):

• 7.3 inches — Princeton
• 7 inches — Lowell
• 7 inches — Burlington
• 7 inches — Lunenberg
• 7 inches — Fitchburg
• 6.5 inches — Rockport
• 6.5 inches — Marblehead
• 6.5 inches — North Andover
• 6.5 inches — Acton
• 6.5 inches — Lexington
• 6.3 inches — Winchester
• 6 inches — Gloucester
• 6 inches — Hamilton
• 6 inches — Topsfield
• 6 inches — Salem
• 6 inches — Wakefield
• 6 inches — Leominster
• 6 inches — Framingham
• 5.8 inches — Beverly
• 5.8 inches — Melrose
• 5.6 inches — Medford
• 5.5 inches — Sudbury
• 5.4 inches — Worcester Airport
• 5.3 inches — Logan Airport, Boston

It will be a cold and blustery start to the shortened work week with highs in the 20s to near freezing and overnight lows in the teens and single-digits through Wednesday.

A coastal storm is forecast to head toward New England on Wednesday night into Thursday with its track still to be determined. A close pass could bring a strong nor'easter to Massachusetts while a more southerly track could bring more of a glancing blow of snow.

Temperatures are expected to moderate somewhat heading into next weekend with signs of a pattern change from the recent punishing stretch of snow, ice and frigid temperatures.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)