Nor'easter May Affect Wednesday Commute

A nor'easter will kick up winds and rain in the region today, with sleet and snow likely west of Boston and in the higher elevations.

According to WHDH meteorologist Chris Lambert, the precipitation should start between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., which would impact the afternoon commute. Atmospheric conditions may convert falling rain into snow in the area, though that would mean merely a dusting on grass before quickly melting away. The actual rain/snow line is harder to predict.

"I don't expect much, if any accumulation in the Boston area, maybe a slushy coating around Rte. 128 on grassy surfaces as rain and snow battle it out for a few hours in the early evening," wrote Lambert on the 7 Weather Blog. "The snow will lose that battle to rain, although that process takes longer outside 495."

The National Weather Service has issued wind, coastal flood advisories and a hazardous weather outlook ahead of the storm, calling for sustained winds of 20-25 MPH and gusts of 50 MPH. While not as strong as the winds from Sandy, the gusts are enough to cause damage.

NSTAR, city prepare for potential outages, damage

The nor'easter comes on the heels of Hurricane Sandy, which roughed up the Burlington area Oct. 28-29. NSTAR is gearing up for the storm, according to a release.

NSTAR warned that a storm with such strong winds could lead to some power outages.

"The high winds and heavy rain associated with the nor’easter forecasted to affect us beginning on Wednesday could likely result in power outages across our region," read a statement by the utility company. "NSTAR crews, contractors and support personnel will be ready to respond to any damage caused by this storm."