Massachusetts In Path Of Two Winter Storm Systems

MASSACHUSETTS — Two winter storm systems are heading to Massachusetts, with the second, larger storm set to arrive in the middle of the week.

But before then, Cape Cod, southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island can expect a mix of rain and snow Monday afternoon as the first storm system passes off the coast of Nantucket. That storm could begin as early as 10 a.m. Monday and is expected to last through the evening commute.

Monday's storm is not expected to drop much snow on paved surfaces in the interior parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. But the storm expected to hit the region on Wednesday night and continuing through midday Thursday could dump as much as 8 to 12 inches on parts of the region.

The National Weather Service said the amount of snow depends on how the storm tracks and interacts with an area of high pressure that will keep temperatures in the low 30s from Tuesday onward.

Under its current trajectory, the hardest-hit areas would cover an area from the Massachusetts Turnpike to the Upper Cape, with northern Massachusetts and the Outer Cape seeing lower snowfall totals. The storm could also bring heavy wind and cause minor coastal flooding problems around 1 p.m. Thursday, when high tide hits Boston.

Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).