Extreme MA Storm Shift As Flooding Rains Follow Heavy Weekend Snow

MASSACHUSETTS — Many across the state will be dealing with a weather mess of a different kind in the coming days as heavy rain and high winds follow a weekend storm that dumped up to 20 inches of snow across parts of Massachusetts.

The next storm will be much different from the Saturday night and Sunday snow that was followed by an ice freeze that night into Monday morning. But it could be even more damaging for some with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour on Cape Cod, gusts from 40 to 50 mph for much of eastern Massachusetts, a storm surge along the coast, and the potential for flooding from the deluge of rain and rapid snow melt.

Temperatures will be far too warm for another winter wallop with it expected to be in the 40s at the onset of the storm and rising into the high 50s on Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for most of Massachusetts and a High Wind Watch for coastal locations beginning Tuesday night at 7 and continuing until Wednesday morning at 9.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the NWS said on Monday. "Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Storm drains and ditches may
become clogged with snow."

See Also:

• Winter Storm Photos: Heavy Snow And Ice Ravage States

Residents, especially those who got more than a foot of snow on Saturday and Sunday, are advised to clear storm drains and flat roofs as the deep snow pack will become heavy with the onslaught of rain before melting occurs.

Those along the coast, some of whom got very little snow over the weekend compared to higher elevations inland, are most in danger of wind destruction from the next storm.

"Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines," the NWS said. "Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles."

The weekend storm was a very different situation depending on where in Massachusetts you lived.

While residents in the Merrimack Valley, northwestern Middlesex County and northern Worcester County were hit with between 16 and 20 inches of snow, some coastal locations got very little accumulation until the back end of the storm Sunday afternoon.

But those were the locations that had some of the toughest going Sunday night into Monday as the slushy mix froze solid on roads and sidewalks, while the big totals inland were mostly fluffy, light snow.

The final snow totals reported by the NWS had Tyngsboro taking the claim as the snow capital of Massachusetts in the storm with 18.2 inches, followed by Haverhill at 18 inches, Dunstable at 17.5 inches, Ashburnham at 17.5 inches, Leominster at 17.4 inches, Lunenberg at 17.1 inches, with Groveland and Methuen checking in at 17 inches.

By contrast, Logan Airport (Boston's official reporting station) had just 3.1 inches of snow, with 3.5 inches in Newton, 2.5 inches in Brookline, 1.8 inches in Braintree and 1 inch of snow recorded in Truro and Yarmouth on the Cape.

While some communities were able to quickly lift or forgo snow emergency parking bans Sunday morning, many others still had them in effect through Monday morning with cancellations and delays for dozens of school districts from Beverly to Gardner.

If there is some good news with the next storm it's that there will be no deep freeze to follow with temperatures in the 40s with sunny skies expected both Thursday and Friday before another bout of heavy rain and wind moves in for next weekend.