Massachusetts Weather Forecast Latest Nor'Easter Details: 45-60 MPH Winds; Snowfall Uncertainty

Even as forecasters struggle with last-minute snow predictions for today's fast-moving nor'easter, the certainty of very strong winds tonight have added another layer of danger to what is expected to be a very messy Thursday.

The storm was quickly cutting through Massachusetts Thursday morning, making its way into the Berkshires. The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the rest of the state, anticipating dangerous winds of up to 55-60 miles per hour that could result it power outages and downed tree limbs into the evening.

The NWS also revised its snow estimates again, particularly in Central Massachusetts where the snow/rain line has forecasters uncertain about how much snow will fall.

"Confidence in snowfall amounts along the I-495 corridor to the north of the Turnpike and along the Massachusetts Turnpike west of I-495 (Springfield to Worcester) is lower due to uncertainty regarding the amount of rain that will mix with the snow," said the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Thursday morning.

MEMA also said it expects 1-2 inches of snowfall per hour in the north and west parts of the state, the only place still expected to get a foot snow.

Initially, the Worcester area was anticipating up to a foot of snow; the most recent update now has Worcester around 2-3 inches but is allowing for several inches more or less depending on the temperatures. The same applies for up into parts of the Merrimack Valley, where 1-2 inches could turn into simply rain.

Areas south and east of I-95 are still expected to get almost exclusively rain.

The wind gusts will reach 45-55 mph in Eastern and Central Mass., with especially strong winds on the North Shore. It could get as high as 60 mph from Boston to Cape Ann. The strongest gusts are expected to last from 8 p.m. Thursday - 4 a.m. Friday.

A winter storm warning remains in effect through Friday morning.

Sign up for free local news alerts and daily newsletters for your town

"In addition to snow, strong winds and an astronomical high tide will help to build seas, resulting in some enhanced tides," said NECN meteorologist Aaron Perry.

The pressure over New England will intensify Thursday night into Friday, and the storm will move on fairly quickly into Canada. Massachusetts could see its fair amount of sunshine Friday.

Check back with Patch as the forecast narrows down.