MA Winter Storm Latest: What To Know Ahead Of Heavy Rain, High Winds

MASSACHUSETTS — A combination of heavy rains coming in overnight on Tuesday with melting snow from up to 19 inches that fell in some interior Massachusetts cities and towns could add up to big problems from the next winter storm approaching New England.

A Flood Watch remains in effect for most of Massachusetts starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and lasting into Wednesday, while a Wind Advisory is in effect for coastal locations starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS on Tuesday also issued a Coastal Flood Watch for eastern Essex, Suffolk, eastern Norfolk, eastern Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes counties and Nantucket starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday for the morning high tide.

"Minor coastal flooding is expected along the North Shore from Gloucester to Newburyport," the NWS said. "Wave action will likely cause some washover onto coastal roads around the time of high tide.

"If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone
property."

The NWS said a half foot of inundation is possible in coastal areas susceptible to tidal flooding.

The rest of the forecast is largely unchanged from Monday when it was forecast that a mild winter storm would follow up this weekend's dumping of snow for many and slick, icy conditions for others.

Up to 3 inches of rain is expected in a short amount of time overnight with precipitation beginning as wet snow in the far-reaching north and west suburbs of Boston and changing to rain everywhere in the state by the time the storm ramps up at about 9 p.m.

Rain will continue very heavy overnight with winds gusting out of the southeast as high as 60 to 70 mph on Cape Cod and the Islands, 50 mph along the South Shore and Cape Ann, and 30 to 40 mph inland.

Those winds could produce widespread power outages along coastal locations and some outages inland where trees are still weighed down from the weekend snow.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency issued a warning to those in areas with heavy snowpacks ahead of the storm.

"As you shovel out, don't forget to clear snow, ice and debris from any storm drains and downspouts near your property to allow water to flow through," MEMA said in a statement. "Another high-impact storm expected (Tuesday) night is forecast to bring heavy rain, which combined with snowmelt may lead to flooding."

Residents with heavy snowpacks should clear storm drains and move piles of snow away from a home's foundation if it is susceptible to basement water damage.

Those with flat roofs or relatively low-angle roofs are advised to clear as much snow as possible from those roofs as the water density of the snow, combined with 2 to 3 inches of additional rainwater, will make the snow heavy and could cause a collapse or structural damage.

While many coastal areas that received less than 4 inches of snow will see that wash away as temperatures rise well into the 50s overnight and throughout the day on Wednesday, areas that received 15 to 18 inches of snow will deal with a very dense snowpack despite some melting.

The good news from this storm is that there is no hard freeze to follow like there was on Sunday when a late burst of slush turned treacherous on many roadways.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the 50s on Wednesday with highs in the 40s on both Thursday and Friday ahead of the next storm Friday night — also set to be a mild one and bring heavy rain with some wind.