'Powerful' Snowstorm In MA: Warnings Extended Across State

MASSACHUSETTS — The National Weather Service has extended winter storm warnings farther east across Massachusetts with a nor'easter set to hit starting Monday night — but forecasters are having trouble nailing down snow totals due to uncertainty over the storm timing.

Monday morning forecasts said 12 to 18 inches could fall in a wide area between I-495 and the Quabbin Reservoir. Between I-495 and Route 128, totals could be in the 4 to 8 inch range, with up to 5 inches in the Boston area.

Precipitation will begin as rain Monday afternoon, but a changeover to snow could reach Worcester by 9 p.m., according to the weather service. That snow line will remain until the Tuesday morning rush hour, when snow will spread east of I-495, according to forecasts released Monday morning.

But if that timing changes and snow moves east earlier, higher totals could shift toward Boston, according to forecasts.

"There was a trend overnight to end precip much earlier Tuesday evening. If this happens areas east of Route 495 will see even less snow than forecast. Still a tough call for the most populous areas of our region," GBH forecaster Dave Epstein said Monday morning.

The National Weather Service on Monday morning extended winter storm warnings east to the Norfolk County line and Route 128 and as far north as Lawrence. Winter storm watches were issued for Norfolk County, the South Shore and the Boston area.

"Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact both the morning and evening commutes on Tuesday. Strong winds could cause tree damage," the winter storm warning said.

Apart from snow, high winds will be a factor in the storm. Gusts could reach between 50 and 55 mph between Worcester and Framingham. Along the coast — including Boston — and Cape Cod, gusts could reach 60 mph or higher, according to forecasts.

A high wind warning will be in effect for the whole coast from Provincetown to Newburyport through Wednesday morning.